Di-retinoid-pyridinium-ethanolamine (A2E) Accumulation and the Maintenance of the Visual Cycle Are Independent of Atg7-mediated Autophagy in the Retinal Pigmented Epithelium

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved catabolic mechanism that relieves cellular stress by removing/recycling damaged organelles and debris through the action of lysosomes. Compromised autophagy has been implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases, including retinal degeneration. Here we examined retinal phenotypes resulting from RPE-specific deletion of the autophagy regulatory gene Atg7 by generating Atg7^flox/flox;VMD2-rtTA-cre+ mice to determine whether autophagy is essential for RPE functions including retinoid recycling. Atg7-deficient RPE displayed abnormal morphology with increased RPE thickness, cellular debris and vacuole formation indicating that autophagy is important in maintaining RPE homeostasis. In contrast, 11-cis-retinal content, ERGs and retinal histology were normal in mice with Atg7-deficient RPE in both fasted and fed states. Because A2E accumulation in the RPE is associated with pathogenesis of both Stargardt disease and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in humans, deletion of Abca4 was introduced into Atg7^flox/flox;VMD2-rtTA-cre+ mice to investigate the role of autophagy during A2E accumulation. Comparable A2E concentrations were detected in the eyes of 6-month-old mice with and without Atg7 from both Abca4^−/− and Abca4^+/+ backgrounds. To identify other autophagy-related molecules involved in A2E accumulation, we performed gene expression array analysis on A2E-treated human RPE cells and found up-regulation of four autophagy related genes; DRAM1, NPC1, CASP3, and EIF2AK3/PERK. These observations indicate that Atg7-mediated autophagy is dispensable for retinoid recycling and A2E deposition; however, autophagy plays a role in coping with stress caused by A2E accumulation.     

Expression and function of P2X(7) receptor and CD39/Entpd1 in patients with type 2 diabetes and their association with biochemical parameters

Chronic inflammation is an important contributor to the insulin resistance observed in type 2 diabetes (T2D). We evaluated the expression and function of the P2X₇ receptor and CD39/Entpd1, molecules involved in the cellular regulation of inflammation, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from T2D patients, and their correlation with the concentration of HbA1c in blood. T2D patients with deficient metabolic control (DC) showed increased proportion of P2X₇⁺ cells compared with healthy individuals; T2D-DC subjects also displayed higher proportion of CD14⁺, CD4⁺ and CD19⁺ subpopulations of P2X₇⁺ cells when compared with T2D patients with acceptable metabolic control. A significant association was observed between the proportion of P2X₇⁺CD14⁺ cells and blood concentration of LDL-c. In addition, the percentages of CD39⁺ cells and CD39⁺CD19⁺ cells were significantly associated with HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose levels. No changes were observed in the function of P2X₇⁺ cells from T2D patients; however, enhanced CD39/Entpd1 enzyme activity and low serum levels of IL-17 were detected. Therefore, CD39⁺ cells could have a balancing regulatory role in the inflammatory process observed in patients with T2D.     

Hydroxylation of quinocetone and carbadox is mediated by CYP1As in the chicken (Gallus gallus)

Quinoxaline derivatives (quinoxalines) comprise a class of drugs that have been widely used as animal antimicrobial agents and feed additives. Although the metabolism of quinoxaline drugs has been mostly studied using chicken liver microsomes, the biochemical mechanism of biotransformation of these chemicals in the chicken has yet to be characterized. In this study, using bacteria produced enzymes, we demonstrated that both CYP1A4 and CYP1A5 participate in the oxidative metabolism of quinoxalines. For CYP1A5, three hydroxylated metabolites of quinocetone were generated. In addition, CYP1A5 is able to hydroxylate carbadox. For CYP1A4, only one hydroxylated product of quinocetone on the phenyl ring was identified. Neither CYP1A5 nor CYP1A4 showed hydroxylation activity towards mequindox and cyadox. Our results suggest that CYP1A4 and CYP1A5 have different and somewhat overlapping substrate specificity in quinoxaline metabolism, and CYP1A5 represents a crucial enzyme in hydroxylation of both quinocetone and carbadox.     

Early steps in bilirubin-mediated apoptosis in murine hepatoma (Hepa 1c1c7) cells are characterized by aryl hydrocarbon receptor-independent oxidative stress and activation of the mitochondrial pathway

Unconjugated bilirubin (UCB), the end product of heme catabolism, causes apoptosis in cells of the central nervous system, endothelial cells, and hepatotoma cells. However, the molecular mechanisms that contribute to UCB cytotoxicity remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to characterize the sequence of early events leading to UCB-mediated cytotoxicity in murine hepatoma Hepa 1c1c7 cells. In the present study, UCB (5-50 microM) was found to markedly increase the intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a concentration-dependent manner, which is significantly elevated by 30 min post-treatment. This generation of ROS by UCB is not dependent on aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr) signaling, as cells deficient in the Ahr (C12 cells) or the Ahr nuclear translocator protein (Arnt; C4 cells) were as efficient at generating ROS as wild type (WT) Hepa 1c1c7 cells. Mitochondrial membrane depolarization, evaluated with the lipophilic cationic dye, JC-1, occurred at least by 2 h after treatment with 50 muM UCB. Analysis of the caspase cascade demonstrated that activation of caspase-9 preceded activation of caspase-3. No conversion of procaspase-2 to active caspase-2 was detected in this study. These results demonstrate that UCB-mediated apoptosis in Hepa 1c1c7 cells is associated with increased oxidative stress and that caspase-9, and definitely not caspase-2, is the initiator caspase for apoptosis in UCB-treated Hepa 1c1c7 cells.     

Knock-in of the duck retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) into the Mx gene in DF-1 cells enables both stable and immune response-dependent RIG-I expression

Waterfowls, such as ducks, are natural hosts of avian influenza virus (AIV) and can genetically limit the pathogenicity. On the other hand, some AIV strains cause severe pathogenicity in chickens. It is suggested that differences in the pathogenicity of AIV infection between waterfowls and chickens are related to the expression of retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I), a pattern recognition receptor that chickens evolutionally lack. Here, we knocked-in the duck RIG-I bearing the T2A peptide sequence at the 3′ region of the Mx, an interferon-stimulated gene (ISG), in chicken embryo fibroblast cells (DF-1) using the precise integration into target chromosome (PITCh) system to control the duck RIG-I expression in chickens. The expression patterns of the duck RIG-I were then analyzed using qPCR. The knocked-in DF-1 cells expressed RIG-I via the stimulation of IFN-β and poly(I:C) in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, poly(I:C) stimulation in the knocked-in DF-1 cells upregulated RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) family signaling pathway-related genes IFN-β, OASL, and IRF7. The IFN-β-dependent expression of RIG-I and upregulation of IFN-β in the poly(I:C) stimulation demonstrated a positive-feedback loop via RIG-I, usually evident in ducks. Overall, this novel strategy established RIG-I-dependent immune response in chickens without overexpression of RIG-I and disruption of the host genes.