Region-specific bioconversion of dynorphin neuropeptide detected by in situ histochemistry and MALDI imaging mass spectrometry

Brain region-specific expression of proteolytic enzymes can control the biological activity of endogenous neuropeptides and has recently been targeted for the development of novel drugs, for neuropathic pain, cancer, and Parkinson’s disease. Rapid and sensitive analytical methods to profile modulators of enzymatic activity are important for finding effective inhibitors with high therapeutic value.Combination of in situ enzyme histochemistry with MALDI imaging mass spectrometry allowed developing a highly sensitive method for analysis of brain-area specific neuropeptide conversion of synthetic and endogenous neuropeptides, and for selection of peptidase inhibitors that differentially target conversion enzymes at specific anatomical sites. Conversion and degradation products of Dynorphin B as model neuropeptide and effects of peptidase inhibitors applied to native brain tissue sections were analyzed at different brain locations. Synthetic dynorphin B (2 pmol) was found to be converted to the N-terminal fragments on brain sections whereas fewer C-terminal fragments were detected. N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), a non-selective inhibitor of cysteine peptidases, almost completely blocked the conversion of dynorphin B to dynorphin B(1–6; Leu-Enk-Arg), (1–9), (2–13), and (7–13). Proteinase inhibitor cocktail, and also incubation with acetic acid displayed similar results.Bioconversion of synthetic dynorphin B was region-specific producing dynorphin B(1–7) in the cortex and dynorphin B (2–13) in the striatum. Enzyme inhibitors showed region- and enzyme-specific inhibition of dynorphin bioconversion. Both phosphoramidon (inhibitor of the known dynorphin converting enzyme neprilysin) and opiorphin (inhibitor of neprilysin and aminopeptidase N) blocked cortical bioconversion to dynorphin B(1–7), wheras only opiorphin blocked striatal bioconversion to dynorphin B(2–13).This method may impact the development of novel therapies with aim to strengthen the effects of endogenous neuropeptides under pathological conditions such as chronic pain. Combining histochemistry and MALDI imaging MS is a powerful and sensitive tool for the study of inhibition of enzyme activity directly in native tissue sections.     

活动期溃疡性结肠炎血清S100A2、S100A12与炎症因子的相关性分析及对复发的预测价值

摘要 目的：探讨活动期溃疡性结肠炎（UC）血清S100钙结合蛋白（S100）A2、S100A12与炎症因子的相关性分析及对复发的预测价值。方法：选取2019年1月～2021年1月我院收治的102例活动期UC患者为活动期组,根据2年后是否复发分为复发组和未复发组,另选取同期来院复查的50名缓解期UC患者为缓解期组,50名体检健康者为对照组。检测并比较三组血清S100A2、S100A12与炎症因子[C反应蛋白（CRP）、白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）]水平。采用Pearson/Spearman相关性分析活动期UC患者血清S100A2、S100A12与炎症因子水平的相关性,单因素及多因素Logistic回归分析活动期UC复发的影响因素,受试者工作特征曲线分析血清S100A2、S100A12水平对活动期UC复发的预测价值。结果：对照组、缓解期组、活动期组血清S100A2、S100A12、CRP、IL-6、TNF-α水平依次升高（P＜0.05）。活动期UC患者血清S100A2、S100A12与CRP、IL-6、TNF-α水平均呈正相关（P均＜0.001）。随访2年,102例活动期UC患者复发率为56.86%（58/102）。单因素分析显示,病情严重程度、CRP、IL-6、TNF-α、S100A2、S100A12为活动期UC患者复发的影响因素（P＜0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,病情严重程度为重度和CRP、IL-6、TNF-α、S100A2、S100A12升高为活动期UC患者复发的独立危险因素（P＜0.05）。血清S100A2、S100A12水平单独和联合预测活动期UC复发的曲线下面积分别为0.782、0.784、0.876,两指标联合预测活动期UC患者复发的预测价值大于各指标单独预测。结论：活动期UC患者血清S100A2、S100A12与炎症因子水平和复发密切相关,血清S100A2、S100A12联合预测活动期UC患者复发的价值较高。     

S100A10‐Mediated Translocation of Annexin‐A2 to SNARE Proteins in Adrenergic Chromaffin Cells Undergoing Exocytosis

In neuroendocrine cells, annexin‐A2 is implicated as a promoter of monosialotetrahexosylganglioside (GM1)‐containing lipid microdomains that are required for calcium‐regulated exocytosis. As soluble N‐ethylmaleimide‐sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) require a specific lipid environment to mediate granule docking and fusion, we investigated whether annexin‐A2‐induced lipid microdomains might be linked to the SNAREs present at the plasma membrane. Stimulation of adrenergic chromaffin cells induces the translocation of cytosolic annexin‐A2 to the plasma membrane, where it colocalizes with SNAP‐25 and S100A10. Cross‐linking experiments performed in stimulated chromaffin cells indicate that annexin‐A2 directly interacts with S100A10 to form a tetramer at the plasma membrane. Here, we demonstrate that S100A10 can interact with vesicle‐associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2) and show that VAMP2 is present at the plasma membrane in resting adrenergic chromaffin cells. Tetanus toxin that cleaves VAMP2 solubilizes S100A10 from the plasma membrane and inhibits the translocation of annexin‐A2 to the plasma membrane. Immunogold labelling of plasma membrane sheets combined with spatial point pattern analysis confirmed that S100A10 is present in VAMP2 microdomains at the plasma membrane and that annexin‐A2 is observed close to S100A10 and to syntaxin in stimulated chromaffin cells. In addition, these results showed that the formation of phosphatidylinositol (4,5)‐bisphosphate (PIP₂) microdomains colocalized with S100A10 in the vicinity of docked granules, suggesting a functional interplay between annexin‐A2‐mediated lipid microdomains and SNAREs during exocytosis.     

S100A7, Jab1, and p27kip1 expression in psoriasis and S100A7 CRISPR-activated human keratinocyte cell line

Psoriasis, a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease, is characterized by dysregulated keratinocyte proliferation. The EF-hand calcium binding protein S100A7 has been found to be overexpressed in psoriatic keratinocytes. It is know that S100A7 may interact with Jab1, a cofactor that stabilizes c-Jun. Jab1 is known to downregulate the expression of the cell cycle inhibitor p27^Kip1 in some cancer models. In this study, we aimed to investigate the possible interaction between S100A7 and Jab1 and the downstream effects on p27 ^Kip1 expression in normal human keratinocyte cells transfected with S100A7 CRISPR activation plasmid and in archival psoriatic skin samples. Our results showed that the upregulated S100A7 colocalizes with Jab1 at the nuclear level in transfected cells and psoriatic skin samples. We also showed a differential protein expression of Jab1 between cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments, thus suggesting Jab1 translocation from nucleus to cytoplasm. p27 ^Kip1 protein expression patterns would imply a translocation from nucleus and a subsequent degradation of this protein. The upregulation of S1007 and its interaction with Jab1 would contribute to the p27 ^Kip1-dependent impaired proliferation that characterizes psoriatic skin.     

Membrane-lipid homeostasis in a prodromal rat model of Alzheimer's disease: Characteristic profiles in ganglioside distributions during aging detected using MALDI imaging mass spectrometry

Background

Accumulation of simple gangliosides GM2 and GM3, and gangliosides with longer long-chain bases (d20:1) have been linked to toxicity and the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Conversely, complex gangliosides, such as GM1, have been shown to be neuroprotective. Recent evidence using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS) has demonstrated that a-series gangliosides are differentially altered during normal aging, yet it remains unclear how simple species are shifting relative to complex gangliosides in the prodromal stages of AD.