Quantitation of spin probe-detectable oxidants in cells using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy: To probe or to trap?

Peptide nanocarriers co-delivering an antisense oligonucleotide and photosensitizer elicit synergistic cytotoxicity

Combination therapies demand co-delivery platforms with efficient entrapment of distinct payloads and specific delivery to cells and possibly organelles. Herein, we introduce the combination of two therapeutic modalities, gene and photodynamic therapy, in a purely peptidic platform. The simultaneous formation and cargo loading of the multi-micellar platform is governed by self-assembly at the nanoscale. The multi-micellar architecture of the nanocarrier and the positive charge of its constituent micelles offer controlled dual loading capacity with distinct locations for a hydrophobic photosensitizer (PS) and negatively charged antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). Moreover, the nuclear localization signal (NLS) sequence built-in the peptide targets PS + ASO-loaded nanocarriers to the nucleus. Breast cancer cells treated with nanocarriers demonstrated photo-triggered enhancement of radical oxygen species (ROS) associated with increased cell death. Besides, delivery of ASO payloads resulted in up to 90 % knockdown of Bcl-2, an inhibitor of apoptosis that is overexpressed in more than half of all human cancers. Simultaneous delivery of PS and ASO elicited synergistic apoptosis to an extent that could not be reached by singly loaded nanocarriers or the free form of the drugs. Both, the distinct location of loaded compounds that prevents them from interfering with each other, and the highly efficient cellular delivery support the great potential of this versatile peptide platform in combination therapy.

The protective role of vagus nerve stimulation in ischemia-reperfusion injury

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) encompasses the damage resulting from the restoration of blood supply following tissue ischemia. This phenomenon commonly occurs in clinical scenarios such as hemorrhagic shock, severe trauma, organ transplantation, and thrombolytic therapy. Despite its prevalence, existing treatments exhibit limited efficacy against IRI. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a widely utilized technique for modulating the autonomic nervous system. Numerous studies have demonstrated that VNS significantly reduces IRI in various organs, including the heart, brain, and liver. This article reviews the pathological processes during IRI and summarizes the role and possible mechanisms of VNS in IRI of different organs. Furthermore, this review addresses the current challenges of VNS clinical applications, providing a novel perspective on IRI treatment.

The Role of the Redox Enzyme p66Shc in Biological Aging of the Lung

The mitochondrial adaptor protein p66Shc has been suggested to control life span in mice via the release of hydrogen peroxide. However, the role of p66Shc in lung aging remains unsolved. Thus, we investigated the effects of p66Shc-/- on the aging of the lung and pulmonary circulation. In vivo lung and cardiac characteristics were investigated in p66Shc-/- and wild type (WT) mice at 3, 12, and 24 months of age by lung function measurements, micro-computed tomography (µCT), and echocardiography. Alveolar number and muscularization of small pulmonary arteries were measured by stereology and vascular morphometry, respectively. Protein and mRNA levels of senescent markers were measured by western blot and PCR, respectively. Lung function declined similarly in WT and p66Shc-/- mice during aging. However, µCT analyses and stereology showed slightly enhanced signs of aging-related parameters in p66Shc-/- mice, such as a decline of alveolar density. Accordingly, p66Shc-/- mice showed higher protein expression of the senescence marker p21 in lung homogenate compared to WT mice of the corresponding age. Pulmonary vascular remodeling was increased during aging, but aged p66Shc-/- mice showed similar muscularization of pulmonary vessels and hemodynamics like WT mice. In the heart, p66Shc-/- prevented the deterioration of right ventricular (RV) function but promoted the decline of left ventricular (LV) function during aging. p66Shc-/- affects the aging process of the lung and the heart differently. While p66Shc-/- slightly accelerates lung aging and deteriorates LV function in aged mice, it seems to exert protective effects on RV function during aging.

Advancing the Design of Artificial Nano-organelles for Targeted Cellular Detoxification of Reactive Oxygen Species

Artificial organelles (AnOs) are in the spotlight as systems to supplement biochemical pathways in cells. While polymersome-based artificial organelles containing enzymes to reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known, applications requiring control of their enzymatic activity and cell-targeting to promote intracellular ROS detoxification are underexplored. Here, we introduce advanced AnOs where the chemical composition of the membrane supports the insertion of pore-forming melittin, enabling molecular exchange between the AnO cavity and the environment, while the encapsulated lactoperoxidase (LPO) maintains its catalytic function. We show that H2O2 outside AnOs penetrates through the melittin pores and is rapidly degraded by the encapsulated enzyme. As surface attachment of cell-penetrating peptides facilitates AnOs uptake by cells, electron spin resonance revealed a remarkable enhancement in intracellular ROS detoxification by these cell-targeted AnOs compared to nontargeted AnOs, thereby opening new avenues for a significant reduction of oxidative stress in cells.

DNA mismatch repair protects the genome from oxygen-induced replicative mutagenesis

DNA mismatch repair (MMR) corrects mismatched DNA bases arising from multiple sources including polymerase errors and base damage. By detecting spontaneous mutagenesis using whole genome sequencing of cultured MMR deficient human cell lines, we show that a primary role of MMR is the repair of oxygen-induced mismatches. We found an approximately twofold higher mutation rate in MSH6 deficient DLD-1 cells or MHL1 deficient HCT116 cells exposed to atmospheric conditions as opposed to mild hypoxia, which correlated with oxidant levels measured using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The oxygen-induced mutations were dominated by T to C base substitutions and single T deletions found primarily on the lagging strand. A broad sequence context preference, dependence on replication timing and a lack of transcriptional strand bias further suggested that oxygen-induced mutations arise from polymerase errors rather than oxidative base damage. We defined separate low and high oxygen-specific MMR deficiency mutation signatures common to the two cell lines and showed that the effect of oxygen is observable in MMR deficient cancer genomes, where it best correlates with the contribution of mutation signature SBS21. Our results imply that MMR corrects oxygen-induced genomic mismatches introduced by a replicative process in proliferating cells.

Hydropersulfides (RSSH) attenuate doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity while boosting its anticancer action

Cardiotoxicity is a frequent and often lethal complication of doxorubicin (DOX)-based chemotherapy. Here, we report that hydropersulfides (RSSH) are the most effective reactive sulfur species in conferring protection against DOX-induced toxicity in H9c2 cardiac cells. Mechanistically, RSSH supplementation alleviates the DOX-evoked surge in reactive oxygen species (ROS), activating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-dependent pathways, thus boosting endogenous antioxidant defenses. Simultaneously, RSSH turns on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α), a master regulator of mitochondrial function, while decreasing caspase-3 activity to inhibit apoptosis. Of note, we find that RSSH potentiate anticancer DOX effects in three different cancer cell lines, with evidence that suggests this occurs via induction of reductive stress. Indeed, cancer cells already exhibit much higher basal hydrogen sulfide (H2S), sulfane sulfur, and reducing equivalents compared to cardiac cells. Thus, RSSH may represent a new promising avenue to fend off DOX-induced cardiotoxicity while boosting its anticancer effects.

The Effect of β-Carotene, Tocopherols and Ascorbic Acid as Anti-Oxidant Molecules on Human and Animal In Vitro/In Vivo Studies: A Review of Research Design and Analytical Techniques Used

Prolonged elevated oxidative stress (OS) possesses negative effect on cell structure and functioning, and is associated with the development of numerous disorders. Naturally occurred anti-oxidant compounds reduce the oxidative stress in living organisms. In this review, antioxidant properties of β-carotene, tocopherols and ascorbic acid are presented based on in vitro, in vivo and populational studies. Firstly, environmental factors contributing to the OS occurrence and intracellular sources of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation, as well as ROS-mediated cellular structure degradation, are introduced. Secondly, enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanism of anti-oxidant defence against OS development, is presented. Furthermore, ROS-preventing mechanisms and effectiveness of β-carotene, tocopherols and ascorbic acid as anti-oxidants are summarized, based on studies where different ROS-generating (oxidizing) agents are used. Oxidative stress biomarkers, as indicators on OS level and prevention by anti-oxidant supplementation, are presented with a focus on the methods (spectrophotometric, fluorometric, chromatographic, immuno-enzymatic) of their detection. Finally, the application of Raman spectroscopy and imaging as a tool for monitoring the effect of anti-oxidant (β-carotene, ascorbic acid) on cell structure and metabolism, is proposed. Literature data gathered suggest that β-carotene, tocopherols and ascorbic acid possess potential to mitigate oxidative stress in various biological systems. Moreover, Raman spectroscopy and imaging can be a valuable technique to study the effect of oxidative stress and anti-oxidant molecules in cell studies.

Lifespan and ROS levels in different Drosophila melanogaster strains after 24 h hypoxia exposure

During recent decades, model organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster have made it possible to study the effects of different environmental oxygen conditions on lifespan and oxidative stress. However, many studies have often yielded controversial results usually assigned to variations in Drosophila genetic background and differences in study design. In this study, we compared longevity and ROS levels in young, unmated males of three laboratory wild-type lines (Canton-S, Oregon-R and Berlin-K) and one mutant line (Sod1ⁿ¹) as a positive control of redox imbalance, under both normoxic and hypoxic (2% oxygen for 24 h) conditions. Lifespan was used to detect the effects of hypoxic treatment and differences were analysed by means of Kaplan–Meier survival curves and log-rank tests. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to measure ROS levels and analysis of variance was used to estimate the effects of hypoxic treatment and to assess ROS differences between strains. We observed that the genetic background is a relevant factor involved in D. melanogaster longevity and ROS levels. Indeed, as expected, in normoxia Sod1ⁿ¹ are the shortest-lived, while the wild-type strains, despite a longer lifespan, show some differences, with the Canton-S line displaying the lowest mortality rate. After hypoxic stress these variances are amplified, with Berlin-K flies showing the highest mortality rate and most evident reduction of lifespan. Moreover, our analysis highlighted differential effects of hypoxia on redox balance/unbalance. Canton-S flies had the lowest increase of ROS level compared to all the other strains, confirming it to be the less sensitive to hypoxic stress. Sod1ⁿ¹ flies displayed the highest ROS levels in normoxia and after hypoxia. These results should be used to further standardize future Drosophila research models designed to investigate genes and pathways that may be involved in lifespan and/or ROS, as well as comparative studies on specific mutant strains.

Summary: In our study Drosophila melanogaster was used to evaluate the effects of different environmental oxygen conditions on survival and ROS levels in three wild-type and one mutant strain.

Harnessing Electron Spin Hyperpolarization in Chromophore-Radical Spin Probes for Subcellular Resolution in Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Imaging: Concept and Feasibility

Obtaining a subcellular resolution for biological samples doped with stable radicals at room temperature (RT) is a long-sought goal in electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI). The spatial resolution in current EPRI methods is constrained either because of low electron spin polarization at RT or the experimental limitations associated with the field gradients and the radical linewidth. Inspired by the recent demonstration of a large electron spin hyperpolarization in chromophore-nitroxyl spin probe molecules, the present work proposes a novel optically hyperpolarized EPR imaging (OH-EPRI) method, which combines the optical method of two-photon confocal microscopy for hyperpolarization generation and the rapid scan (RS) EPR method for signal detection. An important aspect of OH-EPRI is that it is not limited by the abovementioned restrictions of conventional EPRI since the large hyperpolarization in the spin probes overcomes the poor thermal spin polarization at RT, and the use of two-photon optical excitation of the chromophore naturally generates the required spatial resolution, without the need for any magnetic field gradient. Simulations based on time-dependent Bloch equations, which took into account both the RS field modulation and the hyperpolarization generation by optical means, were performed to examine the feasibility of OH-EPRI. The simulation results revealed that a spatial resolution of up to 2 fL can be achieved in OH-EPRI at RT under in vitro conditions. Notably, the majority of the requirements for an OH-EPRI experiment can be fulfilled by the currently available technologies, thereby paving the way for its easy implementation. Thus, the proposed method could potentially bridge the sensitivity gap between the optical and magnetic imaging techniques.

A turn-on probe for detecting antituberculotic drug-induced liver injury in mice via NIR-II fluorescence/optoacoustic imaging

A turn-on optoacoustic and NIR-II fluorescent probe for imaging antituberculotic drug-induced liver injury has been developed. Probe TC-H2O2 responds to hepatic H2O2, thus releasing chromophore TC-NN, which displays prominent NIR-II fluorescence and optoacoustic signals for diagnosing liver injury.