Hybrid methods of surface plasmon resonance coupled to mass spectrometry for biomolecular interaction analysis

β-elemene, a sesquiterpene constituent from Curcuma phaeocaulis inhibits the development of endometriosis by inducing ferroptosis via the MAPK and STAT3 signaling pathways

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The rhizome of Curcuma phaeocaulis Valeton, Curcuma wenyujin Y.H. Chen & C. Ling, or Curcuma kwangsiensis S. G. Lee et C. F. Liang, commonly known as Wen-E-Zhu and E'zhu, has been utilized in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of cancer and gynecological diseases since antiquity. This traditional medicinal herb is highly esteemed for its efficacy in promoting blood circulation, dissolving blood stasis, reducing swelling, and alleviating pain. β-Elemene (β-ELE), a sesquiterpene compound derived from Curcuma phaeocaulis, has demonstrated potential in inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and inducing ferroptosis, which have been extensively studied in various malignant neoplasms. Previous studies have confirmed that Sparganium stoloniferum-Curcuma phaeocaulis containing β-ELE may possess anti-endometriotic properties. However, the exact mechanism underlying β-ELE's anti-endometriosis activity remains largely unknown and requires further research and investigation.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To identify the anti-endometriosis target of β-ELE and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism of β-ELE in endometriosis, focusing on inducing ferroptosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The target pathway of β-ELE in endometriosis treatment was predicted through network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis. Surface plasmon resonance-high performance liquid chromatography-protein mass spectrometry (SPR-HPLC-MS) and molecular docking were used to further identify the potential targets of β-ELE in endometriosis. The immortalized endometriosis epithelial cell line 12Z was used for in vitro study. The effect of β-ELE on cell proliferation and migration was detected by CCK-8, EdU and wound healing assay, and ultrastructural changes were examined via transmission electron microscopy. The effect of β-ELE-induced ferroptosis was determined by western blot, immunohistochemistry staining and flow cytometry. SPR affinity analysis was performed to specific the direct interaction between β-ELE and FTH1, FTL, GPX4, STAT3 and MAPK14. To establish a mouse model of endometriosis and to assess the inhibitory effects of β-ELE and ELE injection on endometriosis in vivo as well as safety profile of administration, and investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of β-ELE and ELE injection on ferroptosis in ectopic lesions.

RESULTS

SPR-HPLC-MS was employed to identify 76 potential targets of β-ELE for endometriosis treatment, closely linked to ferroptosis. Molecular docking revealed that glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1), ferritin light chain (FTL), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14) are key action targets of β-ELE in endometriosis. Further investigations revealed that β-ELE inhibited the proliferation and migration of endometriotic cells in vitro while inducing ferroptosis, as evidenced by increased levels of iron, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and lipid peroxidation. In a mouse model, β-ELE inhibited the growth of endometriotic lesions, induced ferroptosis, suppressed fibrosis, and exhibited anti-endometriotic effects. Mechanistically, β-ELE downregulates the expression levels of GPX4, FTH1, and FTL and inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT3 and MAPK14, which may elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that the inhibitory effect of β-ELE on endometriosis by inducing ferroptosis in vitro and in vivo. Our results revealed that β-ELE exerts anti-endometriosis effects by inducing ferroptosis via the MAPK and STAT3 signaling pathways.

Optical Methods for Label-Free Detection of Bacteria

Pathogenic bacteria are the leading causes of food-borne and water-borne infections, and one of the most serious public threats. Traditional bacterial detection techniques, including plate culture, polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay are time-consuming, while hindering precise therapy initiation. Thus, rapid detection of bacteria is of vital clinical importance in reducing the misuse of antibiotics. Among the most recently developed methods, the label-free optical approach is one of the most promising methods that is able to address this challenge due to its rapidity, simplicity, and relatively low-cost. This paper reviews optical methods such as surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonance, and dark-field microscopic imaging techniques for the rapid detection of pathogenic bacteria in a label-free manner. The advantages and disadvantages of these label-free technologies for bacterial detection are summarized in order to promote their application for rapid bacterial detection in source-limited environments and for drug resistance assessments.

Label-free differentiation and quantification of ricin, abrin from their agglutinin biotoxins by surface plasmon resonance

Here we describe an affinity molecule-directed surface plasmon resonance (SPR) immunosensor for a label-free, differentiation and quantification of ricin and abrin from their structural highly like agglutinin biotoxins. By an introduction of protein G as the affinity capturing molecule, we fulfilled a complete strategy contains (i) screening monoclonal antibodies to be paired in a sandwiched format, (ii) differentiate quantification from the agglutinin, (iii) ascertain of active from inactive biotoxin, and (iv) structural identification of captured biotoxins on a single chip. By the aid of an enrichment step from immunomagnetic beads, we could accurately measure ricin or abrin with a concentration lowered to 0.6 ng/mL (10 pM) in different complex matrices such as stevia, protein powder, and human plasma, with linear ranges of two or three orders of magnitude, and satisfied recovery. We then differentially quantified the mixed crude extracts from castor beans and jequirity peas, and real samples from the fourth OPCW biotoxin exercise to prove the practical availability. We further provided a SPR-mass spectrometric evidence directly obtained from Protein G affinity chip via a noncovalent molecule surface for the first time for definitely structural identification for crude extracts.

A strategy of screening and binding analysis of bioactive components from traditional Chinese medicine based on surface plasmon resonance biosensor

Elucidating the active components of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is essential for understanding the mechanisms of TCM and promote its rational use as well as TCM-derived drug development. Recent studies have shown that surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology is promising in this field. In the present study, we propose an SPR-based integrated strategy to screen and analyze the major active components of TCM. We used Radix Paeoniae Alba (RPA) as an example to identify the compounds that can account for its anti-inflammatory mechanism via tumor necrosis factor receptor type 1 (TNF-R1). First, RPA extraction was analyzed using an SPR-based screening system, and the potential active ingredients were collected, enriched, and identified as paeoniflorin and paeonol. Next, the affinity constants of paeoniflorin and paeonol were determined as 4.9 and 11.8 μM, respectively. Then, SPR-based competition assays and molecular docking were performed to show that the two compounds could compete with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) while binding to the subdomain 1 site of TNF-R1. Finally, in biological assays, the two compounds suppressed cytotoxicity and apoptosis induced by TNF-α in the L929 cell line. These findings prove that SPR technology is a useful tool for determining the active ingredients of TCM at the molecular level and can be used in various aspects of drug development. The SPR-based integrated strategy is reliable and feasible in TCM studies and will shed light on the elucidation of the pharmacological mechanism of TCM and facilitate its modernization.

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A surface plasmon resonance-based integrated strategy was established to analyze traditional Chinese medicine.

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Surface plasmon resonance technology can be used for ligand screening, affinity detection, and binding site confirmation.

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Paeoniflorin and paeonol were identified as TNF-R1-bound ingredients in RPA.

Direct effect of RFRP-3 microinjection into the lateral ventricle on the hypothalamic kisspeptin neurons in ovariectomized estrogen-primed rats

RFamide-related peptide-3 (RFRP-3) may be involved in the inhibition of kisspeptin, but there is no direct evidence that RFRP-3 can directly act on kisspeptin neurons. The present study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of RFRP-3 and kisspeptin in the hypothalamic-pituitary reproductive axis. In order to detect the expression and localization of RFRP-3 and kisspeptin in dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, double immunofluorescence method combined with confocal microscopy were performed. RFRP-3 was injected into the lateral ventricle of ovariectomized estrogen primed rats. Blood and brain tissues were collected at 60-, 120-, 240- and 360-min. Serum levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone were detected by ELISA. Kisspeptin expression in hypothalamus was detected by western blotting. Finally, surface plasmon resonance was used to verify whether RFRP-3 can directly interact with kisspeptin. Confocal images indicated that RFRP-3 and kisspeptin were co-expressed in the same neurons in the hypothalamus of ovariectomized estrogen-primed rats. Serum concentrations of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone were demonstrated to be significantly reduced following microinjection of RFRP-3 into the lateral ventricle for 60, 120, 240 and 360 min compared with the corresponding saline groups. The expression levels of kisspeptin in hypothalamus were gradually decreased following microinjection of RFRP-3 into the lateral ventricle. In addition, the affinity constant (K_D) of RFRP-3 binding to kisspeptin was 6.005x10^-5 M, indicating that RFRP-3 bound directly to kisspeptin in the range of protein-protein binding strength (K_D, 10^-3-10^-6 M). In conclusion, RFRP-3 may regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary reproductive axis by inhibiting the expression of hypothalamic kisspeptin and direct binding.

THE USE OF MASS SPECTROMETRY TO STUDY ZN-METALLOPROTEASE-SUBSTRATE INTERACTIONS

Zinc metalloproteases (ZnMPs) participate in diverse biological reactions, encompassing the synthesis and degradation of all the major metabolites in living organisms. In particular, ZnMPs have been recognized to play a very important role in controlling the concentration level of several peptides and/or proteins whose homeostasis has to be finely regulated for the correct physiology of cells. Dyshomeostasis of aggregation-prone proteins causes pathological conditions and the development of several different diseases. For this reason, in recent years, many analytical approaches have been applied for studying the interaction between ZnMPs and their substrates and how environmental factors can affect enzyme activities. In this scenario, mass spectrometric methods occupy a very important role in elucidating different aspects of ZnMPs-substrates interaction. These range from identification of cleavage sites to quantitation of kinetic parameters. In this work, an overview of all the main achievements regarding the application of mass spectrometric methods to investigating ZnMPs-substrates interactions is presented. A general experimental protocol is also described which may prove useful to the study of similar interactions. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Mass Spec Rev.

Portable and field-deployed surface plasmon resonance and plasmonic sensors

Plasmonic sensors are ideally suited for the design of small, integrated, and portable devices that can be employed in situ for the detection of analytes relevant to environmental sciences, clinical diagnostics, infectious diseases, food, and industrial applications. To successfully deploy plasmonic sensors, scaled-down analytical devices based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) must integrate optics, plasmonic materials, surface chemistry, fluidics, detectors and data processing in a functional instrument with a small footprint. The field has significantly progressed from the implementation of the various components in specifically designed prism-based instruments to the use of nanomaterials, optical fibers and smartphones to yield increasingly portable devices, which have been shown for a number of applications in the laboratory and deployed on site for environmental, biomedical/clinical, and food applications. A roadmap to deploy plasmonic sensors is provided by reviewing the current successes and by laying out the directions the field is currently taking to increase the use of field-deployed plasmonic sensors at the point-of-care, in the environment and in industries.