Siderocalin (Lcn 2) Also Binds Carboxymycobactins, Potentially Defending against Mycobacterial Infections through Iron Sequestration

Microbiota-shaped neutrophil senescence regulates sexual dimorphism in bladder cancer

Sex disparities have been epidemiologically demonstrated in non-reproductive cancers, yet how the sex-specific intrinsic microbiome orchestrates the immune system to affect these disparities is unclear. Here we identify a subpopulation of RETNLG+LCN2+ senescence-like neutrophils (RLSNs) that preferentially accumulate in the male tumor microenvironment and exert a strong immunosuppressive effect to limit antitumor immunity, resulting in poor prognosis for patients with bladder cancer. This difference in enrichment of RLSNs between sexes can be attributed to intestinal bacterium Alistipes shahii, which preferentially populates in females rather than males. A. shahii-associated metabolite lurasidone directly targets iron sequestrator LCN2 in RLSNs. By freeing Fe2+, lurasidone induces ferroptosis, thereby eliminating RLSNs and promoting antitumor immunity in females. In males lacking A. shahii and lurasidone, RLSNs have a survival advantage. Together, these findings demonstrate that a microbiota-lurasidone-LCN2 circuit regulates sexual disparity in bladder cancer and indicates the therapeutic potential of lurasidone for male cancer patients.

Deficiency of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin elicits a hemophilia-like bleeding and clotting disorder in mice

ABSTRACT

Coagulation is related to inflammation, but the key pathway, especially innate immune system and coagulation regulation, is not well understood and need to be further explored. Here, we demonstrated that neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), an innate immune inflammatory mediator, is upregulated in patients with thrombosis. Furthermore, it contributes to the initiation and amplification of coagulation, hemostasis, and thrombosis. This occurs by enhancing tissue factor expression on the cell surface, potentiating various clotting factors such as thrombin, kallikrein, factor XIa (FXIa), and FVIIa, promoting thrombin-induced platelet aggregation, and inhibiting antithrombin. NGAL knockout led to strikingly prolonged clot reaction time and kinetic time in thromboelastography analysis, along with reduced thrombus generation angle and lower thrombus maximum amplitude, which were in line with remarkably prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time. In several mouse hemostasis and thrombosis models, NGAL overexpression or IV administration promoted coagulation and hemostasis and aggravated thrombosis, whereas NGAL knockout or treatment with anti-NGAL monoclonal antibody significantly prolonged bleeding time and alleviated thrombus formation. Notably, NGAL knockout prolonged mouse tail bleeding time or artery occlusion time to over 40 or 60 minutes, respectively, resembling uncontrollable bleeding and clotting disorder seen in hemophilic mice. Furthermore, anti-NGAL monoclonal antibody treatment markedly reduced the formation of blood clots in inflammation-induced thrombosis models. Collectively, these findings unveil a previously unidentified role of NGAL in the processes of coagulation, hemostasis, and thrombosis, as well as the cross talk between innate immunity, inflammation, and coagulation. Thus, modulating NGAL levels could potentially help balance thrombotic and hemorrhagic risks.

Lipocalin-2 and intestinal diseases

Dysfunction of the intestinal barrier is a prevalent phenomenon observed across a spectrum of diseases, encompassing conditions such as mesenteric artery dissection, inflammatory bowel disease, cirrhosis, and sepsis. In these pathological states, the integrity of the intestinal barrier, which normally serves to regulate the selective passage of substances between the gut lumen and the bloodstream, becomes compromised. This compromised barrier function can lead to a range of adverse consequences, including increased permeability to harmful substances, the translocation of bacteria and their products into systemic circulation, and heightened inflammatory responses within the gut and beyond. Understanding the mechanisms underlying intestinal barrier dysfunction in these diverse disease contexts is crucial for the development of targeted therapeutic interventions aimed at restoring barrier integrity and ameliorating disease progression. Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) expression is significantly upregulated during episodes of intestinal inflammation, making it a pivotal indicator for gauging the extent of such inflammatory processes. Notably, however, LCN2 derived from distinct cellular sources, whether intestinal epithelial cells or immune cells, exhibits notably divergent functional characteristics. Furthermore, the multifaceted nature of LCN2 is underscored by its varying roles across different diseases, sometimes even demonstrating contradictory effects.

Siderophores as tools and treatments

In the search for iron, an essential element in many biochemical processes, microorganisms biosynthesise dedicated chelators, known as siderophores, to sequester iron from their environment and actively transport the siderophore complex into the cell. This process has been implicated in bacterial pathogenesis and exploited through siderophore-antibiotic conjugates as a method for selective antibiotic delivery. Here we review this Trojan-horse approach including design considerations and potential in diagnostics and infection imaging.

Metals in the gut: microbial strategies to overcome nutritional immunity in the intestinal tract

Trace metals are indispensable nutritional factors for all living organisms. During host-pathogen interactions, they serve as crucial resources that dictate infection outcomes. Accordingly, the host uses a defense strategy known as nutritional immunity, which relies on coordinated metal chelation to mitigate bacterial advances. In response, pathogens employ complex strategies to secure these resources at sites of infection. In the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the microbiota must also acquire metals for survival, making metals a central line of competition in this complex ecosystem. In this minireview, we outline how bacteria secure iron, zinc, and manganese from the host with a focus on the GI tract. We also reflect on how host dietary changes impact disease outcomes and discuss therapeutic opportunities to target bacterial metal uptake systems. Ultimately, we find that recent discoveries on the dynamics of transition metals at the host-pathogen-microbiota interface have reshaped our understanding of enteric infections and provided insights into virulence strategies, microbial cooperation, and antibacterial strategies.

Mechanistic insights into Lipocalin-2 in ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic brain injury: Integrating animal and clinical studies

Brain injuries, including strokes and traumatic brain injuries (TBI), are a major global health concern, contributing significantly to both mortality and long-term disability. Recent research has identified lipocalin-2 (LCN2), a glycoprotein secreted by various brain cells, as a key factor in influencing brain injury outcomes. Evidence from animal and clinical studies firmly establishes the pivotal role of LCN2 in driving the inflammatory responses triggered by damage to brain tissue. Furthermore, increased LCN2 promotes cellular differentiation, blood-brain barrier breakdown, and decreases cell viability. Interventions with LCN2 inhibitors attenuated brain injury through a reduction in the inflammation process and enhanced cellular viability. Potential mechanisms of LCN2 involve several pathways including the Janus kinase-2 (JAK2)-signal transducers and the transcription-3 (STAT3) signaling, hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α)-LCN2-vascular endothelial growth factor alpha (VEGFα), and the PKR-like ER kinase (PERK) pathways. LCN2 itself interacts with diverse inflammatory cytokines in TBI and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), resulting in disruption of the blood-brain barrier, increased programmed cell death, and an imbalance in iron homeostasis. Clinical studies have also shown that increased LCN2 level can act as a prognostic biomarker of outcomes following brain injuries. Therefore, this review aims to comprehensively evaluate the role and underlying mechanisms of LCN2 in brain injuries, including stroke and TBI, and explore potential therapeutic interventions targeting LCN2 in these conditions.

Overview of the expression patterns and roles of Lipocalin 2 in the reproductive system

The 25 kDa-sized protein Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) was originally isolated from human neutrophil granulocytes more than 30 years ago. LCN2 is an emerging player in innate immune defense, as it reduces bacterial growth due to its ability to sequester iron-containing bacterial siderophores. On the other hand, LCN2 also serves as a transporter for various hydrophobic substances due to its β-barrel shaped structure. Over the years, LCN2 has been detected in many other cell types including epithelial cells, astrocytes, and hepatocytes. Studies have clearly shown that aberrant expression of LCN2 is associated with a variety of disorders and malignancies, including several diseases of the reproductive system. Furthermore, LCN2 was proposed as a non-invasive prognostic and/or diagnostic biomarker in this context. Although several studies have shed light on the role of LCN2 in various disorders of the female and male reproductive systems, including tumorigenesis, a comprehensive understanding of the physiological function of LCN2 in the reproductive tract is still lacking. However, there is evidence that LCN2 is directly related to fertility, as global depletion of Lcn2 in mice has a negative effect on their pregnancy rate. Since LCN2 expression can be regulated by steroid hormones, it is not surprising that its expression fluctuates greatly during remodeling processes in the female reproductive tract, especially in the uterus. Well-founded details about the expression and regulation of LCN2 in a healthy reproductive state and also about possible changes during reproductive aging could contribute to a better understanding of LCN2 as a target in various diseases. Therefore, the present review summarizes current knowledge about LCN2 in the reproductive system, including studies in rodents and humans, and discusses changes in LCN2 expression during pathological events. The limited data suggest that LCN2 is expressed and regulated differently in healthy male and female reproductive organs.

Loss of SREBP-1c ameliorates iron-induced liver fibrosis by decreasing lipocalin-2

Sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1c is involved in cellular lipid homeostasis and cholesterol biosynthesis and is highly increased in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, the molecular mechanism by which SREBP-1c regulates hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation in NASH animal models and patients have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we examined the role of SREBP-1c in NASH and the regulation of LCN2 gene expression. Wild-type and SREBP-1c knockout (1cKO) mice were fed a high-fat/high-sucrose diet, treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), and subjected to lipocalin-2 (LCN2) overexpression. The role of LCN2 in NASH progression was assessed using mouse primary hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, and HSCs. LCN2 expression was examined in samples from normal patients and those with NASH. LCN2 gene expression and secretion increased in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis mice model, and SREBP-1c regulated LCN2 gene transcription. Moreover, treatment with holo-LCN2 stimulated intracellular iron accumulation and fibrosis-related gene expression in mouse primary HSCs, but these effects were not observed in 1cKO HSCs, indicating that SREBP-1c-induced LCN2 expression and secretion could stimulate HSCs activation through iron accumulation. Furthermore, LCN2 expression was strongly correlated with inflammation and fibrosis in patients with NASH. Our findings indicate that SREBP-1c regulates Lcn2 gene expression, contributing to diet-induced NASH. Reduced Lcn2 expression in 1cKO mice protects against NASH development. Therefore, the activation of Lcn2 by SREBP-1c establishes a new connection between iron and lipid metabolism, affecting inflammation and HSCs activation. These findings may lead to new therapeutic strategies for NASH.

Specificity and mechanism of TonB-dependent ferric catecholate uptake by Fiu

We studied the Escherichia coli outer membrane protein Fiu, a presumed transporter of monomeric ferric catecholates, by introducing Cys residues in its surface loops and modifying them with fluorescein maleimide (FM). Fiu-FM bound iron complexes of the tricatecholate siderophore enterobactin (FeEnt) and glucosylated enterobactin (FeGEnt), their dicatecholate degradation product Fe(DHBS)2 (FeEnt*), the monocatecholates dihydroxybenzoic acid (FeDHBA) and dihydroxybenzoyl serine (FeDHBS), and the siderophore antibiotics cefiderocol (FDC) and MB-1. Unlike high-affinity ligand-gated porins (LGPs), Fiu-FM had only micromolar affinity for iron complexes. Its apparent KD values for FeDHBS, FeDHBA, FeEnt*, FeEnt, FeGEnt, FeFDC, and FeMB-1 were 0.1, 0.7, 0.7, 1.0, 0.3, 0.4, and 4 μM, respectively. Despite its broad binding abilities, the transport repertoires of E. coli Fiu, as well as those of Cir and FepA, were less broad. Fiu only transported FeEnt*. Cir transported FeEnt* and FeDHBS (weakly); FepA transported FeEnt, FeEnt*, and FeDHBA. Both Cir and FepA bound FeGEnt, albeit with lower affinity. Related transporters of Acinetobacter baumannii (PiuA, PirA, BauA) had similarly moderate affinity and broad specificity for di- or monomeric ferric catecholates. Both microbiological and radioisotopic experiments showed Fiu's exclusive transport of FeEnt*, rather than ferric monocatecholate compounds. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations predicted three binding sites for FeEnt*in the external vestibule of Fiu, and a fourth site deeper in its interior. Alanine scanning mutagenesis in the outermost sites (1a, 1b, and 2) decreased FeEnt* binding affinity as much as 20-fold and reduced or eliminated FeEnt* uptake. Finally, the molecular dynamics simulations suggested a pathway of FeEnt* movement through Fiu that may generally describe the process of metal transport by TonB-dependent receptors.

Conjugation to Native and Nonnative Triscatecholate Siderophores Enhances Delivery and Antibacterial Activity of a β-Lactam to Gram-Negative Bacterial Pathogens

Developing new antibiotics and delivery strategies is of critical importance for treating infections caused by Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. Hijacking bacterial iron uptake machinery, such as that of the siderophore enterobactin (Ent), represents one promising approach toward these goals. Here, we report a novel Ent-inspired siderophore-antibiotic conjugate (SAC) employing an alternative siderophore moiety as the delivery vector and demonstrate the potency of our SACs harboring the β-lactam antibiotic ampicillin (Amp) against multiple pathogenic Gram-negative bacterial strains. We establish the ability of N,N',N''-(nitrilotris(ethane-2,1-diyl))tris(2,3-dihydroxybenzamide) (TRENCAM, hereafter TC), a synthetic mimic of Ent, to facilitate drug delivery across the outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative pathogens. Conjugation of Amp to a new monofunctionalized TC scaffold affords TC-Amp, which displays markedly enhanced antibacterial activity against the gastrointestinal pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (STm) compared with unmodified Amp. Bacterial uptake, antibiotic susceptibility, and microscopy studies with STm show that the TC moiety facilitates TC-Amp uptake by the OM receptors FepA and IroN and that the Amp warhead inhibits penicillin-binding proteins. Moreover, TC-Amp achieves targeted activity, selectively killing STm in the presence of a commensal lactobacillus. Remarkably, we uncover that TC-Amp and its Ent-based predecessor Ent-Amp achieve enhanced antibacterial activity against diverse Gram-negative ESKAPE pathogens that express Ent uptake machinery, including strains that possess intrinsic β-lactam resistance. TC-Amp and Ent-Amp exhibit potency comparable to that of the FDA-approved SAC cefiderocol against Gram-negative pathogens. These results demonstrate the effective application of native and appropriately designed nonnative siderophores as vectors for drug delivery across the OM of multiple Gram-negative bacterial pathogens.

The interaction of lipocalin-2 and astrocytes in neuroinflammation: mechanisms and therapeutic application

Neuroinflammation is a common pathological process in various neurological disorders, including stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and others. It involves the activation of glial cells, particularly astrocytes, and the release of inflammatory mediators. Lipocalin-2 (Lcn-2) is a secretory protein mainly secreted by activated astrocytes, which can affect neuroinflammation through various pathways. It can also act as a pro-inflammatory factor by modulating astrocyte activation and polarization through different signaling pathways, such as NF-κB, and JAK-STAT, amplifying the inflammatory response and aggravating neural injury. Consequently, Lcn-2 and astrocytes may be potential therapeutic targets for neuroinflammation and related diseases. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the role mechanisms, interactions, and therapeutic implications of Lcn-2 and astrocytes in neuroinflammation.

Dynamic changes and clinical value of lipocalin 2 in liver diseases caused by microbial infections

Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) plays a pivotal role in iron metabolism, particularly in the context of microbial infection resistance (e.g., viruses, bacteria, parasites, etc.). LCN2 combats microbial infection by directly assisting the body in competing with microorganisms for iron, inducing immune cells to secrete various cytokines to enhance systemic immune responses, or recruiting neutrophils to infectious sites. The liver serves as the primary organ for LCN2 secretion during microbial infections. This review encapsulates recent advances in dynamic changes, clinical values, and the effects of LCN2 in infectious liver diseases caused by various microbial microorganisms.

Detection of Microorganisms Using Artificial Siderophore-FeIII Complex-Modified Substrates

Four FeIII complexes of typical artificial siderophore ligands containing catecholate and/or hydroxamate groups of tricatecholate, biscatecholate-monohydroxamate, monocatecholate-bishydroxamate, and trihydroxamate type artificial siderophores (K3[FeIIILC3], K2[FeIIILC2H1], K[FeIIILC1H2], and [FeIIILH3]) were modified on Au substrate surfaces. Their abilities to adsorb microorganisms were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, quartz crystal microbalance, and AC impedance methods. The artificial siderophore-iron complexes modified on Au substrates (FeLC3/Au, FeLC2H1/Au, FeLC1H2/Au, and FeLH3/Au) showed the selective immobilization behavior for various microorganisms, depending on the structural features of the artificial siderophores (the number of catecholate and hydroxamate arms). Their specificities corresponded well with the structural characteristics of natural siderophores released by microorganisms and used for FeIII ion uptake. These findings suggest that they were generated via specific interactions between the artificial siderophore-FeIII complexes and the receptors on microorganism surfaces. Our observations revealed that the FeL/Au systems may be potentially used as effective microbe-capturing probes that can enable rapid and simple detection and identification of various microorganisms.

LCN2: Versatile players in breast cancer

Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) is a secreted glycoprotein that is produced by immune cells, including neutrophils and macrophages. It serves various functions such as transporting hydrophobic ligands across the cellular membrane, regulating immune responses, keeping iron balance, and fostering epithelial cell differentiation. LCN2 plays a crucial role in several physiological processes. LCN2 expression is upregulated in a variety of human diseases and cancers. High levels of LCN2 are specifically linked to breast cancer (BC) cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, migration, angiogenesis, immune regulation, chemotherapy resistance, and prognosis. As a result, LCN2 has gained attention as a potential therapeutic target for BC. This article offered an in-depth review of the advancement of LCN2 in the context of BC occurrence and development.

Serum lipocalin-2 levels are decreased in patients with leprosy

Background Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae affecting the skin, peripheral nerves and mucosae. Lipocalin-2 is a key component of the immune system's antimicrobial defence - it prevents iron uptake by binding and sequestering iron-scavenging siderophores and thus inhibits bacterial growth. Aim We evaluated serum lipocalin-2 levels in leprosy patients and its relationship to the pathogenesis and prognosis of the disease. Materials and methods In this case-control study, serum lipocalin-2 levels were measured by ELISA in 20 patients with leprosy and 20 healthy controls. Results Serum levels of lipocalin-2 were significantly reduced (P < 0.001) in leprosy patients as compared to controls. The levels were significantly higher (P < 0.014) in patients with multibacillary leprosy than in those with paucibacillary leprosy. Although the levels of lipocalin-2 were higher in patients with multiple nerve involvement as compared to those with involvement of 1 or 2 nerves, the results were not statistically significant. Limitation of the study The small sample size and the lack of different ethnic groups in the study were the major limitations of this study. Conclusion The lower lipocalin-2 concentrations in leprosy patients point to the importance of the protective functions of lipocalin-2. The elevated levels of lipocalin-2 observed in leprosy patients with neural involvement may be related to the reported neurodegenerative role of lipocalin-2.

A Differential Protein Study on Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid at Different Stages of Silicosis

OBJECTIVES

In this study, by comparing the difference in protein expression in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid between silicosis patients in different stages and healthy controls, the pathogenesis of pneumoconiosis was discussed, and a new idea for the prevention and treatment of pneumoconiosis was provided.

METHODS

The lung lavage fluid was pretreated by 10 K ultrafiltration tube, Agilent 1100 conventional liquid phase separation, strong cation exchange column (SCX) HPLC pre-separation, and C18 reverse phase chromatography desalting purification, and protein was labeled with isotope. GO, KEGG pathway, and PPI analysis of differential proteins were conducted by bioinformatics, and protein types and corresponding signal pathways were obtained.

RESULTS

Thermo Q-Exactive mass spectrometry identified 943 proteins. T-test analysis was used to evaluate the different significance of the results, and the different protein of each group was obtained by screening with the Ratio≥1.2 or Ratio≤0.83 and P<0.05. We found that there are 16 kinds of protein throughout the process of silicosis. There are different expressions of protein in stages III/control, stages II/control, stage I/control, stages III/ stages II, stages III/ stage I and stages II/ stage I groups. The results of ontology enrichment analysis of total differential protein genes show that KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of differential protein suggested that there were nine pathways related to silicosis.

CONCLUSION

The main biological changes in the early stage of silicosis are glycolysis or gluconeogenesis, autoimmunity, carbon metabolism, phagocytosis, etc., and microfibril-associated glycoprotein 4 may be involved in the early stage of silicosis. The main biological changes in the late stage of silicosis are autoimmunity, intercellular adhesion, etc. Calcium hippocampus binding protein may participate in the biological changes in the late stage of silicosis. It provides a new idea to understand the pathogenesis of silicosis and also raises new questions for follow-up research.

Iron(III) Complexes with Hybrid-Type Artificial Siderophores Containing Catecholate and Hydroxamate Sites

Two hybrid-type artificial siderophore ligands containing both catecholate and hydroxamate groups as iron-capturing sites, bis(2,3-dihydroxybenzamidepropyl)mono[2-propyl]aminomethane (H5LC2H1) and mono(2,3-dihydroxybenzamide-propyl)bis[2-propyl]aminomethane (H4LC1H2), were designed and synthesized. Iron(III) complexes, K2[FeIIILC2H1] and K[FeIIILC1H2], were prepared and characterized spectroscopically, potentiometrically, and electrochemically. The results were compared with those previously reported for iron complexes with non-hybridized siderophores containing either catecholate or hydroxamate groups, K3[FeIIILC3] and [FeIIILH3]. Both K2[FeIIILC2H1] and K[FeIIILC1H2] formed six-coordinate octahedral iron(III) complexes. Evaluation of the thermodynamic properties of the complexes in an aqueous solution indicated high log β values of 37.3 and 32.3 for K2[FeIIILC2H1] and K[FeIIILC1H2], respectively, which were intermediate between those of K3[FeIIILC3] (44.2) and [FeIIILH3] (31). Evaluation of the ultraviolet-visible and Fourier transform infrared spectra of the two hybrid siderophore-iron complexes under different pH or pD (potential of dueterium) conditions showed that the protonation of K2[FeIIILC2H1] and K[FeIIILC1H2] generated the corresponding protonated species, [FeIIIHnLC2H1](2-n)- and [FeIIIHnLC1H2](1-n)-, accompanied by a significant change in the coordination mode. The protonated hybrid-type siderophore-iron complexes showed high reduction potentials, which were well within the range of those of biological reductants. The results suggest that the hybrid-type siderophore easily releases an iron(III) ion at low pH. The biological activity of the four artificial siderophore-iron complexes against Microbacterium flavescens and Escherichia coli clearly depends on the structural differences between the complexes. This finding demonstrates that the changes in the coordination sites of the siderophores enable close control of the interactions between the siderophores and receptors in the cell membrane.

Transcriptional profiling of a fungal granuloma reveals a low metabolic activity of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeasts and an actively regulated host immune response

Granulomas are important immunological structures in the host defense against the fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, the main etiologic agent of Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a granulomatous systemic mycosis endemic in Latin America. We have performed transcriptional and proteomic studies of yeasts present in the pulmonary granulomas of PCM aiming to identify relevant genes and proteins that act under stressing conditions. C57BL/6 mice were infected with 1x106 yeasts and after 8- and 12-weeks of infection, granulomatous lesions were obtained for extraction of fungal and murine RNAs and fungal proteins. Dual transcriptional profiling was done comparing lung cells and P. brasiliensis yeasts from granulomas with uninfected lung cells and the original yeast suspension used in the infection, respectively. Mouse transcripts indicated a lung malfunction, with low expression of genes related to muscle contraction and organization. In addition, an increased expression of transcripts related to the activity of neutrophils, eosinophils, macrophages, lymphocytes as well as an elevated expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-17 transcripts were observed. The increased expression of transcripts for CTLA-4, PD-1 and arginase-1, provided evidence of immune regulatory mechanisms within the granulomatous lesions. Also, our results indicate iron as a key element for the granuloma to function, where a high number of transcripts related to fungal siderophores for iron uptake was observed, a mechanism of fungal virulence not previously described in granulomas. Furthermore, transcriptomics and proteomics analyzes indicated a low fungal activity within the granuloma, as demonstrated by the decreased expression of genes and proteins related to energy metabolism and cell cycle.

Lipocalin 2 receptors: facts, fictions, and myths

The human 25-kDa Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) was first identified and purified as a protein that in part is associated with gelatinase from neutrophils. This protein shows a high degree of sequence similarity with the deduced sequences of rat α2-microglobulin-related protein and the mouse protein 24p3. Based on its typical lipocalin fold, which consists of an eight-stranded, anti-parallel, symmetrical β-barrel fold structure it was initially thought that LCN2 is a circulating protein functioning as a transporter of small lipophilic molecules. However, studies in Lcn2 null mice have shown that LCN2 has bacteriostatic properties and plays a key role in innate immunity by sequestering bacterial iron siderophores. Numerous reports have further shown that LCN2 is involved in the control of cell differentiation, energy expenditure, cell death, chemotaxis, cell migration, and many other biological processes. In addition, important roles for LCN2 in health and disease have been identified in Lcn2 null mice and multiple molecular pathways required for regulation of Lcn2 expression have been identified. Nevertheless, although six putative receptors for LCN2 have been proposed, there is a fundamental lack in understanding of how these cell-surface receptors transmit and amplify LCN2 to the cell. In the present review we summarize the current knowledge on LCN2 receptors and discuss inconsistencies, misinterpretations and false assumptions in the understanding of these potential LCN2 receptors.

Mind the Gap-A Perspective on Strategies for Protecting against Bacterial Infections during the Period from Infection to Eradication

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a pressing public health concern, highlighting the need for alternative approaches to control bacterial infections. Promising approaches include the development of therapeutic vaccines and the utilization of innate immune activation techniques, which may prove useful in conjunction with antibiotics, as well as other antibacterial modalities. However, innate activation should be fast and self- or actively- contained to prevent detrimental consequences. TLR ligand adjuvants are effective at rapidly activating, within minutes to hours, the innate immune system by inducing cytokine production and other signaling molecules that bolster the host's immune response. Neutrophils serve as the first line of defense against invading pathogens by capturing and destroying them through various mechanisms, such as phagocytosis, intracellular degradation, and the formation of NETs. Nutritional immunity is another host defense mechanism that limits the availability of essential metals, such as iron, from invading bacterial pathogens. Thus, iron starvation has been proposed as a potential antibacterial strategy. In this review, we focus on approaches that have the potential to enhance rapid and precise antibacterial responses, bridging the gap between the onset of infection and the elimination of bacteria, hence limiting the infection by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Lipocalin family proteins and their diverse roles in cardiovascular disease

The lipocalin (LCN) family members, a group of small extracellular proteins with 160-180 amino acids in length, can be detected in all kingdoms of life from bacteria to human beings. They are characterized by low similarity of amino acid sequence but highly conserved tertiary structures with an eight-stranded antiparallel β-barrel which forms a cup-shaped ligand binding pocket. In addition to bind small hydrophobic ligands (i.e., fatty acids, odorants, retinoids, and steroids) and transport them to specific cells, lipocalins (LCNs) can interact with specific cell membrane receptors to activate their downstream signaling pathways, and with soluble macromolecules to form the complex. Consequently, LCNs exhibit great functional diversity. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that LCN family proteins exert multiple layers of function in the regulation of many physiological processes and human diseases (i.e., cancers, immune disorders, metabolic disease, neurological/psychiatric disorders, and cardiovascular disease). In this review, we firstly introduce the structural and sequence properties of LCNs. Next, six LCNs including apolipoprotein D (ApoD), ApoM, lipocalin 2 (LCN2), LCN10, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), and Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) which have been characterized so far are highlighted for their diagnostic/prognostic values and their potential effects on coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction injury. The roles of these 6 LCNs in cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, diabetes-induced cardiac disorder, and septic cardiomyopathy are also summarized. Finally, their therapeutic potential for cardiovascular disease is discussed in each section.

LCN2-Fungal siderophore-iron binding and uptake leads to oxidative stress and cell death in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2

Microorganisms produce non-ribosomal peptides called siderophores for the purpose of iron acquisition. Mammalian immune system is well-known for producing small secretory proteins called lipocalins upon bacterial infection. These proteins sequester siderophores produced by invading bacterial pathogens rendering them unable to acquire iron from the host. However, this is not their sole function. In addition to transferrin and lactoferrin, lipocalins are also known to transport siderophore-bound iron to the host cells. While binding of bacterial siderophores with human lipocalin is well studied, binding of the fungal counterpart is still not confirmed and fully understood. Apart from pathogen-affected cells, developing cancerous cells also show varying expression level of different proteins including those involved in iron transport. The possibility of exogenous fungal siderophore-mediated iron transport via lipocalin and its receptor in mammalian cells has not yet been explored much. In present investigation we have checked differential expression of human lipocalin, LCN2 in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HepG2 as well as its normal counterpart WRL-68 and computationally determined the feasibility of LCN2 binding with fungal siderophore. Further in case of a stable complex being formed, whether this complex has the ability to transport iron through its specific receptor was assessed. Also, we have tried to explore possible mechanism of fungal-siderophore mediated oxidative stress leading to significant cell death in cancerous cells. This study will thus be useful towards finding a new way of treating hepatocellular carcinoma via inducing siderophore-mediated cell death in cancerous cells.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Iron Dyshomeostasis in COVID-19: Biomarkers Reveal a Functional Link to 5-Lipoxygenase Activation

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by a broad spectrum of clinical symptoms. After acute infection, some subjects develop a post-COVID-19 syndrome known as long-COVID. This study aims to recognize the molecular and functional mechanisms that occur in COVID-19 and long-COVID patients and identify useful biomarkers for the management of patients with COVID-19 and long-COVID. Here, we profiled the response to COVID-19 by performing a proteomic analysis of lymphocytes isolated from patients. We identified significant changes in proteins involved in iron metabolism using different biochemical analyses, considering ceruloplasmin (Cp), transferrin (Tf), hemopexin (HPX), lipocalin 2 (LCN2), and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). Moreover, our results show an activation of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) in COVID-19 and in long-COVID possibly through an iron-dependent post-translational mechanism. Furthermore, this work defines leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and lipocalin 2 (LCN2) as possible markers of COVID-19 and long-COVID and suggests novel opportunities for prevention and treatment.

Mycobiota and diet-derived fungal xenosiderophores promote Salmonella gastrointestinal colonization

The fungal gut microbiota (mycobiota) has been implicated in diseases that disturb gut homeostasis, such as inflammatory bowel disease. However, little is known about functional relationships between bacteria and fungi in the gut during infectious colitis. Here we investigated the role of fungal metabolites during infection with the intestinal pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, a major cause of gastroenteritis worldwide. We found that, in the gut lumen, both the mycobiota and fungi present in the diet can be a source of siderophores, small molecules that scavenge iron from the host. The ability to use fungal siderophores, such as ferrichrome and coprogen, conferred a competitive growth advantage to Salmonella strains expressing the fungal siderophore receptors FhuA or FhuE in vitro and in a mouse model. Our study highlights the role of inter-kingdom cross-feeding between fungi and Salmonella and elucidates an additional function of the gut mycobiota, revealing the importance of these understudied members of the gut ecosystem during bacterial infection.

New anionic cobalt(III) complexes enable enantioselective synthesis of spiro-fused oxazoline and iodoacetal derivatives

Anionic salicylimine-based cobalt (III) complexes featuring chiral ligands derived from isoleucine amino acids were used as efficient bifunctional phase-transfer catalysts for electrophilic iodination of enol ethers. The Brønsted acids of these complexes enabled the enantioselective asymmetric iodocyclization of enol ethers, furnishing spiro-fused oxazoline derivatives in high yields with up to 90:10 er. In addition, chiral cobalt (III) complexes catalyze the asymmetric intermolecular iodoacetalization of enol ethers with various alcohols to afford 3-iodoacetal derivatives in high yields with up to 92:8 er.

The role of lipocalin 2 in brain injury and recovery after ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke

Ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke (including intracerebral hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage) is the dominating cause of disability and death worldwide. Neuroinflammation, blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, neuronal death are the main pathological progress, which eventually causes brain injury. Increasing evidence indicated that lipocalin 2 (LCN2), a 25k-Da acute phase protein from the lipocalin superfamily, significantly increased immediately after the stroke and played a vital role in these events. Meanwhile, there exists a close relationship between LCN2 levels and the worse clinical outcome of patients with stroke. Further research revealed that LCN2 elimination is associated with reduced immune infiltrates, infarct volume, brain edema, BBB leakage, neuronal death, and neurological deficits. However, some studies revealed that LCN2 might also act as a beneficial factor in ischemic stroke. Nevertheless, the specific mechanism of LCN2 and its primary receptors (24p3R and megalin) involving in brain injury remains unclear. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the mechanism of LCN2 induced brain damage after stroke. This review focuses on the role of LCN2 and its receptors in brain injury and aiming to find out possible therapeutic targets to reduce brain damage following stroke.

Lipocalin-2 is an essential component of the innate immune response to Acinetobacter baumannii infection

Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen and an emerging global health threat. Within healthcare settings, major presentations of A. baumannii include bloodstream infections and ventilator-associated pneumonia. The increased prevalence of ventilated patients during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rise in secondary bacterial pneumonia caused by multidrug resistant (MDR) A. baumannii. Additionally, due to its MDR status and the lack of antimicrobial drugs in the development pipeline, the World Health Organization has designated carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii to be its priority critical pathogen for the development of novel therapeutics. To better inform the design of new treatment options, a comprehensive understanding of how the host contains A. baumannii infection is required. Here, we investigate the innate immune response to A. baumannii by assessing the impact of infection on host gene expression using NanoString technology. The transcriptional profile observed in the A. baumannii infected host is characteristic of Gram-negative bacteremia and reveals expression patterns consistent with the induction of nutritional immunity, a process by which the host exploits the availability of essential nutrient metals to curtail bacterial proliferation. The gene encoding for lipocalin-2 (Lcn2), a siderophore sequestering protein, was the most highly upregulated during A. baumannii bacteremia, of the targets assessed, and corresponds to robust LCN2 expression in tissues. Lcn2^-/- mice exhibited distinct organ-specific gene expression changes including increased transcription of genes involved in metal sequestration, such as S100A8 and S100A9, suggesting a potential compensatory mechanism to perturbed metal homeostasis. In vitro, LCN2 inhibits the iron-dependent growth of A. baumannii and induces iron-regulated gene expression. To elucidate the role of LCN2 in infection, WT and Lcn2^-/- mice were infected with A. baumannii using both bacteremia and pneumonia models. LCN2 was not required to control bacterial growth during bacteremia but was protective against mortality. In contrast, during pneumonia Lcn2^-/- mice had increased bacterial burdens in all organs evaluated, suggesting that LCN2 plays an important role in inhibiting the survival and dissemination of A. baumannii. The control of A. baumannii infection by LCN2 is likely multifactorial, and our results suggest that impairment of iron acquisition by the pathogen is a contributing factor. Modulation of LCN2 expression or modifying the structure of LCN2 to expand upon its ability to sequester siderophores may thus represent feasible avenues for therapeutic development against this pathogen.

A lack of therapeutic options has prompted the World Health Organization to designate multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii as its priority critical pathogen for research into new treatment strategies. The mechanisms employed by A. baumannii to cause disease and the host tactics exercised to constrain infection are not fully understood. Here, we further characterize the innate immune response to A. baumannii infection. We identify nutritional immunity, a process where the availability of nutrient metals is exploited to restrain bacterial growth, as being induced during infection. The gene encoding for lipocalin-2 (Lcn2), a protein that can impede iron uptake by bacteria, is highly upregulated in infected mice, and corresponds to robust LCN2 detection in the tissues. We find that LCN2 is crucial to reducing mortality from A. baumannii bacteremia and inhibits dissemination of the pathogen during pneumonia. In wild-type and Lcn2-deficient mice, broader transcriptional profiling reveals expression patterns consistent with the known response to Gram-negative bacteremia. Although the role of LCN2 in infection is likely multifactorial, we find its antimicrobial effects are at least partly exerted by impairing iron acquisition by A. baumannii. Facets of nutritional immunity, such as LCN2, may be exploited as novel therapeutics in combating A. baumannii infection.

Fluorescent sensors of siderophores produced by bacterial pathogens

Siderophores are iron-chelating molecules that solubilize Fe3+ for microbial utilization and facilitate colonization or infection of eukaryotes by liberating host iron for bacterial uptake. By fluorescently labeling membrane receptors and binding proteins, we created 20 sensors that detect, discriminate, and quantify apo- and ferric siderophores. The sensor proteins originated from TonB-dependent ligand-gated porins (LGPs) of Escherichia coli (Fiu, FepA, Cir, FhuA, IutA, BtuB), Klebsiella pneumoniae (IroN, FepA, FyuA), Acinetobacter baumannii (PiuA, FepA, PirA, BauA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (FepA, FpvA), and Caulobacter crescentus (HutA) from a periplasmic E. coli binding protein (FepB) and from a human serum binding protein (siderocalin). They detected ferric catecholates (enterobactin, degraded enterobactin, glucosylated enterobactin, dihydroxybenzoate, dihydroxybenzoyl serine, cefidericol, MB-1), ferric hydroxamates (ferrichromes, aerobactin), mixed iron complexes (yersiniabactin, acinetobactin, pyoverdine), and porphyrins (hemin, vitamin B12). The sensors defined the specificities and corresponding affinities of the LGPs and binding proteins and monitored ferric siderophore and porphyrin transport by microbial pathogens. We also quantified, for the first time, broad recognition of diverse ferric complexes by some LGPs, as well as monospecificity for a single metal chelate by others. In addition to their primary ferric siderophore ligands, most LGPs bound the corresponding aposiderophore with ∼100-fold lower affinity. These sensors provide insights into ferric siderophore biosynthesis and uptake pathways in free-living, commensal, and pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria.

The effect of lipocalin-2 (LCN2) on apoptosis: a proteomics analysis study in an LCN2 deficient mouse model

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have shown that lipocalin-2 (LCN2) has multiple functions involved in various biological and pathological processes including energy homeostasis, cancer, inflammation, and apoptosis. We aimed to investigate the effect of LCN2 on apoptosis that influences the pathogenetic process of metabolic diseases and cancer.

METHODS

We performed a proteomics analysis of livers taken from LCN2-knockout mice and wild type mice by using label-free LC-MS/MS quantitative proteomics.

RESULTS

Proteomic analysis revealed that there were 132 significantly differentially expressed proteins (49 upregulated and 83 downregulated) among 2140 proteins in the liver of LCN2-knockout mice compared with wild type mice. Of these, seven apoptosis-associated proteins were significantly upregulated and seven apoptosis-associated proteins downregulated.

CONCLUSION

Proteomics demonstrated that there were seven upregulated and seven downregulated apoptosis-associated proteins in liver of LCN2-knockout mice. It is important to clarify the effect of LCN2 on apoptosis that might contribute to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, cancer, and various nervous system diseases.

Depletion of Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) in Mice Leads to Dysbiosis and Persistent Colonization with Segmented Filamentous Bacteria

Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) mediates key roles in innate immune responses. It has affinity for many lipophilic ligands and binds various siderophores, thereby limiting bacterial growth by iron sequestration. Furthermore, LCN2 protects against obesity and metabolic syndrome by interfering with the composition of gut microbiota. Consequently, complete or hepatocyte-specific ablation of the Lcn2 gene is associated with higher susceptibility to bacterial infections. In the present study, we comparatively profiled microbiota in fecal samples of wild type and Lcn2 null mice and show, in contrast to previous reports, that the quantity of DNA in feces of Lcn2 null mice is significantly lower than that in wild type mice (p < 0.001). By using the hypervariable V4 region of the 16S rDNA gene and Next-Generation Sequencing methods, we found a statistically significant change in 16 taxonomic units in Lcn2^-/- mice, including eight gender-specific deviations. In particular, members of Clostridium, Escherichia, Helicobacter, Lactococcus, Prevotellaceae_UCG-001 and Staphylococcus appeared to expand in the intestinal tract of knockout mice. Interestingly, the proportion of Escherichia (200-fold) and Staphylococcus (10-fold) as well as the abundance of intestinal bacteria encoding the LCN2-sensitive siderphore enterobactin (entA) was significantly increased in male Lcn2 null mice (743-fold, p < 0.001). This was accompanied by significant higher immune cell infiltration in the ileum as demonstrated by increased immunoreactivity against the pan-leukocyte protein CD45, the lymphocyte transcription factor MUM-1/IRF4, and the macrophage antigen CD68/Macrosialin. In addition, we found a higher expression of mucosal mast cell proteases indicating a higher number of those innate immune cells. Finally, the ileum of Lcn2 null mice displayed a high abundance of segmented filamentous bacteria, which are intimately associated with the mucosal cell layer, provoking epithelial antimicrobial responses and affecting T-helper cell polarization.

Lipocalin 2 regulates expression of MHC class I molecules in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected dendritic cells via ROS production

Background

Iron has important roles as an essential nutrient for all life forms and as an effector of the host defense mechanism against pathogenic infection. Lipocalin 2 (LCN2), an innate immune protein, plays a crucial role in iron transport and inflammation. In the present study, we examined the role of LCN2 in immune cells during Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection.

Results

We found that infection with Mtb H37Ra induced LCN2 production in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). Notably, expression of MHC class I molecules was significantly reduced in LCN2^−/− BMDCs during Mtb infection. The reduced expression of MHC class I molecules was associated with the formation of a peptide loading complex through LCN2-mediated reactive oxygen species production. The reduced expression of MHC class I molecules affected CD8⁺ T-cell proliferation in LCN2^−/− mice infected with Mtb. The difference in the population of CD8⁺ effector T cells might affect the survival of intracellular Mtb. We also found a reduction of the inflammation response, including serum inflammatory cytokines and lung inflammation in LCN2^−/− mice, compared with wild-type mice, during Mtb infection.

Conclusions

These data suggest that LCN2-mediated reactive oxygen species affects expression of MHC class I molecules in BMDCs, leading to lower levels of CD8⁺ effector T-cell proliferation during mycobacterial infection.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13578-021-00686-2.

Lipocalin-2: Structure, function, distribution and role in metabolic disorders

Lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) is a novel, 198 amino acid adipocytokine also referred to as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). LCN-2 is a circulatory protein responsible for the transportation of small and hydrophobic molecules (steroid, free fatty acids, prostaglandins and hormones) to target organs after binding to megalin/glycoprotein and GP330 SLC22A17 or 24p3R LCN-2 receptors. LCN-2 has been used as a biomarker for acute and chronic renal injury. It is present in a large variety of cells including neutrophil, hepatocytes, lung, bone marrow, adipose tissue, macrophages, thymus, non-neoplastic breast duct, prostate, and renal cells. Different functions have been associated with LCN-2. These functions include antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and protection against cell and tissue stress. Moreover, LCN-2 can increase the pool of matrix metalloproteinase 9 in human neutrophil granulocytes. Other reported functions of LCN-2 include its ability to destroy the extracellular matrix, which could enable cancer progression and spread of metastasis. Recent reports show that the tissue level of LCN-2 is increased in metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, suggesting an association between LCN-2 and insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis. The precise role of LCN-2 in the modulation of insulin sensitivity, glucose and lipid metabolism is still unclear. This review explores the structure of LCN-2, tissue distribution, and its interaction with important metabolic pathways.

Lipocalin 2 as a link between ageing, risk factor conditions and age-related brain diseases

Chronic (neuro)inflammation plays an important role in many age-related central nervous system (CNS) diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and vascular dementia. Inflammation also characterizes many conditions that form a risk factor for these CNS disorders, such as physical inactivity, obesity and cardiovascular disease. Lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) is an inflammatory protein shown to be involved in different age-related CNS diseases, as well as risk factor conditions thereof. Lcn2 expression is increased in the periphery and the brain in different age-related CNS diseases and also their risk factor conditions. Experimental studies indicate that Lcn2 contributes to various neuropathophysiological processes of age-related CNS diseases, including exacerbated neuroinflammation, cell death and iron dysregulation, which may negatively impact cognitive function. We hypothesize that increased Lcn2 levels as a result of age-related risk factor conditions may sensitize the brain and increase the risk to develop age-related CNS diseases. In this review we first provide a comprehensive overview of the known functions of Lcn2, and its effects in the CNS. Subsequently, this review explores Lcn2 as a potential (neuro)inflammatory link between different risk factor conditions and the development of age-related CNS disorders. Altogether, evidence convincingly indicates Lcn2 as a key constituent in ageing and age-related brain diseases.

Lipocalin 2 stimulates bone fibroblast growth factor 23 production in chronic kidney disease

Bone-produced fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) increases in response to inflammation and iron deficiency and contributes to cardiovascular mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL or lipocalin 2; LCN2 the murine homolog) is a pro-inflammatory and iron-shuttling molecule that is secreted in response to kidney injury and may promote CKD progression. We investigated bone FGF23 regulation by circulating LCN2. At 23 weeks, Col4a3^KO mice showed impaired kidney function, increased levels of kidney and serum LCN2, increased bone and serum FGF23, anemia, and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Deletion of Lcn2 in CKD mice did not improve kidney function or anemia but prevented the development of LVH and improved survival in association with marked reductions in serum FGF23. Lcn2 deletion specifically prevented FGF23 elevations in response to inflammation, but not iron deficiency or phosphate, and administration of LCN2 increased serum FGF23 in healthy and CKD mice by stimulating Fgf23 transcription via activation of cAMP-mediated signaling in bone cells. These results show that kidney-produced LCN2 is an important mediator of increased FGF23 production by bone in response to inflammation and in CKD. LCN2 inhibition might represent a potential therapeutic approach to lower FGF23 and improve outcomes in CKD.

β-Lactoglobulin and Glycodelin: Two Sides of the Same Coin?

The two lipocalins, β-lactoglobulin (βLg) and glycodelin (Gd), are possibly the most closely related members of the large and widely distributed lipocalin family, yet their functions appear to be substantially different. Indeed, the function of β-lactoglobulin, a major component of ruminant milk, is still unclear although neonatal nutrition is clearly important. On the other hand, glycodelin has several specific functions in reproduction conferred through distinct, tissue specific glycosylation of the polypeptide backbone. It is also associated with some cancer outcomes. The glycodelin gene, PAEP, reflecting one of its names, progestagen-associated endometrial protein, is expressed in many though not all primates, but the name has now also been adopted for the β-lactoglobulin gene (HGNC, www.genenames.org). After a general overview of the two proteins in the context of the lipocalin family, this review considers the properties of each in the light of their physiological functional significance, supplementing earlier reviews to include studies from the past decade. While the biological function of glycodelin is reasonably well defined, that of β-lactoglobulin remains elusive.

Iron Acquisition Systems of Gram-negative Bacterial Pathogens Define TonB-Dependent Pathways to Novel Antibiotics

Iron is an indispensable metabolic cofactor in both pro- and eukaryotes, which engenders a natural competition for the metal between bacterial pathogens and their human or animal hosts. Bacteria secrete siderophores that extract Fe3+ from tissues, fluids, cells, and proteins; the ligand gated porins of the Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane actively acquire the resulting ferric siderophores, as well as other iron-containing molecules like heme. Conversely, eukaryotic hosts combat bacterial iron scavenging by sequestering Fe3+ in binding proteins and ferritin. The variety of iron uptake systems in Gram-negative bacterial pathogens illustrates a range of chemical and biochemical mechanisms that facilitate microbial pathogenesis. This document attempts to summarize and understand these processes, to guide discovery of immunological or chemical interventions that may thwart infectious disease.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin: a potential predictor of embolic events in endocarditis

BACKGROUND

As the complication of infective endocarditis (IE), embolic events (EE) are associated with increased mortality and morbidity. However, there are no reliable indicators to predict embolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as a biomarker to identify IE patients at high risk of embolism.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective observational study of IE patients from January 2018 to December 2020. Plasma NGAL levels were measured in 88 IE patients (37 patients with EE and 51 patients without EE), 91 noninfectious heart valve disease (HVD) patients, and 20 healthy blood donors by ELISA. Native valve tissue was obtained from 16 IE patients and 16 HVD patients. Western blot and immunohistochemical staining were performed to detect NGAL and matrix metalloproteinas-9 (MMP-9).

RESULTS

Higher levels of NGAL were observed in IE patients than HVD patients (P<0.001) or healthy blood donors (P<0.01). In addition, NGAL levels were higher in IE patients with EE compared to those without EE (P<0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that NGAL acted as a potential EE predictor with the cutoff value of 166.78 ng/ml. IE patients with higher NGAL levels were significantly related to more severe native valve morphologic changes. NGAL was co-localized with MMP-9, and their expression in the valves of IE patients was higher than those of HVD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

NGAL is a potential predictor of EE in IE. This may be attributed to its potency of increasing the proteolytic activity of MMP-9, which leads to valve morphologic impairment.

The Underlying Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Traditional Chinese Medicine Smilax china L. for the Treatment of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Smilax china L. (SCL) is extensively used in the treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This study aimed to clarify the potential active ingredients of SCL and mechanisms on PID. SCL was widely distributed in Japan, South Korea, and China, which was traditionally considered heat-clearing, detoxicating, and dampness-eliminating medicine. Systems pharmacology revealed that 32 compounds in SCL may interact with 19 targets for immunoenhancement, antiapoptosis, anti-inflammation, and antioxidant activity of the PID model. Molecular docking revealed that isorhamnetin, moracin M, rutin, and oxyresveratrol may have higher binding potential with prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1), siderocalin (LCN2), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and matrix metalloprotein-9 (MMP9), respectively. Molecular dynamics simulation showed that the binding modes of moracin M-MAPK1, rutin-TNF, and oxyresveratrol-MMP9 complexes were more stable, evidenced by relatively smaller fluctuations in root mean square deviation values. Conclusively, SCL may treat PID by inhibiting inflammatory factors, antitissue fibrosis, and microbial growth.

Virulence Factors in Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) has spread globally since first described in the Asian Pacific Rim. It is an invasive variant that differs from the classical K. pneumoniae (cKP), with hypermucoviscosity and hypervirulence, causing community-acquired infections, including pyogenic liver abscess, pneumonia, meningitis, and endophthalmitis. It utilizes a battery of virulence factors for survival and pathogenesis, such as capsule, siderophores, lipopolysaccharide, fimbriae, outer membrane proteins, and type 6 secretion system, of which the former two are dominant. This review summarizes these hvKP-associated virulence factors in order to understand its molecular pathogenesis and shed light on new strategies to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of hvKP-causing infection.

A Scoping Review on Lipocalin-2 and Its Role in Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Excess calorie intake and a sedentary lifestyle have made non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) one of the fastest growing forms of liver disease of the modern world. It is characterized by abnormal accumulation of fat in the liver and can range from simple steatosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to cirrhosis as well as development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Biopsy is the golden standard for the diagnosis and differentiation of all NAFLD stages, but its invasiveness poses a risk for patients, which is why new, non-invasive ways of diagnostics ought to be discovered. Lipocalin-2 (LCN2), which is a part of the lipocalin transport protein family, is a protein formally known for its role in iron transport and in inflammatory response. However, in recent years, its implication in the pathogenesis of NAFLD has become apparent. LCN2 shows significant upregulation in several benign and malignant liver diseases, making it a good candidate for the NAFLD biomarker or even a therapeutic target. What makes LCN2 more interesting to study is the fact that it is overexpressed in HCC development induced by chronic NASH, which is one of the primary causes of cancer-related deaths. However, to this day, neither its role as a biomarker for NAFLD nor the molecular mechanisms of its implication in NAFLD pathogenesis have been completely elucidated. This review aims to gather and closely dissect the current knowledge about, sometimes conflicting, evidence on LCN2 as a biomarker for NAFLD, its involvement in NAFLD, and NAFLD-HCC related pathogenesis, while comparing it to the findings in similar pathologies.

Iron uptake and transport by the carboxymycobactin-mycobactin siderophore machinery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is dependent on the iron-regulated protein HupB

Iron-starved Mycobacterium tuberculosis utilises the carboxymycobactin-mycobactin siderophore machinery to acquire iron. These two siderophores have high affinity for ferric iron and can withdraw the metal ion from insoluble iron hydroxides and iron-binding proteins. We first reported HupB, a multi-functional mycobacterial protein to be associated with iron acquisition in M. tuberculosis. This 28 kDa cell wall protein, up regulated upon iron limitation functions as a transcriptional activator of mycobactin biosynthesis and is essential for the pathogen to survive inside macrophages. The focus of this study is to understand the role of HupB in iron uptake and transport by the carboxmycobactin-mycobactin siderophore machinery in M. tuberculosis. Experimental approaches included radiolabelled iron uptake studies by viable organisms and protein-ligand binding studies using the purified HupB and the two siderophores. Uptake of ⁵⁵Fe-carboxymycobactin by wild type M. tuberculosis (WT M.tb.H37Rv) and not by the hupB KO mutant (M.tb.ΔhupB) showed that HupB is necessary for the uptake of ferri-carboxymycobactin. Additionally, the radiolabel recovery was high in HupB-incorporated liposomes upon addition of the labelled siderophore. Bioinformatic and experimental studies using spectrofluorimetry, CD analysis and surface plasmon resonance not only confirmed the binding of HupB with ferri-carboxymycobactin and ferri-mycobactin but also with free iron. In conclusion, HupB is established as a ferri- carboxymycobactin receptor and by virtue of its property to bind ferric iron, functions as a transporter of the ferric iron from the extracellular siderophore to mycobactin within the cell envelope.

Acute phase α1-acid glycoprotein as a siderophore-capturing component of the human plasma: A molecular modeling study

Siderophores are ferric ion-specific organic compounds that are used by bacteria and fungi to secure their iron supply when infecting target organisms. There are a few proteins in the human body, named siderocalins, which bind these important virulence factors and so starve microorganisms of iron. In this study, we analyzed in silico if serum α₁-acid glycoprotein (AAG), the major acute phase lipocalin component of the human plasma, could functionally belong to this group. The real biological function of AAG is elusive and its concentration substantially increases in response to pathological stimuli, including bacterial infections. We computationally evaluated the potential binding of nine microbial siderophores into the β-barrel cavity of AAG and compared the results with the corresponding experimental data reported for siderophore-neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin complexes. According to the results, petrobactin and Fe-BisHaCam are putative candidates to be recognized by this protein. It is proposed that AAG may function as a siderophore capturing component of the innate immune system being able to neutralize bacterial iron chelators not recognized by other siderocalins.

Kidney Diseases: The Age of Molecular Markers

Kidney diseases are conditions that increase the morbidity and mortality of those afflicted. Diagnosis of these conditions is based on parameters such as the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), measurement of serum and urinary creatinine levels and equations derived from these measurements (Wasung, Chawla, Madero. Clin Chim Acta 438:350-357, 2015). However, serum creatinine as a marker for measuring renal dysfunction has its limitations since it is altered in several other physiological situations, such as in patients with muscle loss, after intense physical exercise or in people on a high protein diet (Riley, Powers, Welch. Res Q Exerc Sport 52(3):339-347, 1981; Juraschek, Appel, Anderson, Miller. Am J Kidney Dis 61(4):547-554, 2013). Besides the fact that serum creatinine is a marker that indicates glomerular damage, it is necessary the discovery of new biomarkers that reflect not only glomerular damage but also tubular impairment. Recent advances in Molecular Biology have led to the generation or identification of new biomarkers for kidney diseases such as: Acute Kidney Failure (AKI), chronic kidney disease (CKD), nephritis or nephrotic syndrome. There are recent markers that have been used to aid in diagnosis and have been shown to be more sensitive and specific than classical markers, such as neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) or kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) (Wasung, Chawla, Madero. Clin Chim Acta 438:350-357, 2015; George, Gounden. Adv Clin Chem 88:91-119, 2019; Han, Bailly, Abichandani, Thadhani, Bonventre. Kidney Int 62(1):237-244, 2002; Fontanilla, Han. Expert Opin Med Diagn 5(2):161-173, 2011). However, early diagnostic biomarkers are still necessary to assist the intervention and monitor of the progression of these conditions.

Metallotherapeutics development in the age of iron-clad bacteria

Drug-resistant infections pose a significant risk to global health as pathogenic bacteria become increasingly difficult to treat. The rapid selection of resistant strains through poor antibiotic stewardship has reduced the number of viable treatments and increased morbidity of infections, especially among the immunocompromised. To circumvent such challenges, new strategies are required to stay ahead of emerging resistance trends, yet research and funding for antibiotic development lags other classes of therapeutics. Though the use of metals in therapeutics has been around for centuries, recent strategies have devoted a great deal of effort into the pathways through which bacteria acquire and utilize iron, which is critical for the establishment of infection. To target iron uptake systems, siderophore-drug conjugates have been developed that hijack siderophore-based iron uptake for delivery of antibiotics. While this strategy has produced several potential leads, the use of siderophores in infection is diminished over time when bacteria adapt to utilize heme as an iron source, leading to a need for the development of porphyrin mimetics as therapeutics. The use of such strategies as well as the inclusion of gallium, a redox-inert iron mimic, are herein reviewed.

The mRNA expression of visfatin and lipocalin-2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

BACKGROUND

In this study, we aimed to assess mRNA expressions of visfatin and lipocalin-2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB).

METHODS

Overall, 79 PTB patients and 71 healthy controls were enrolled. In PBMCs, mRNA expressions of visfatin and lipocalin-2 were detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and the diagnostic value of these adipokine mRNAs in PTB patients was calculated through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

RESULTS

In PBMCs from PTB patients, the visfatin mRNA level was significantly higher than in healthy controls (P < .001), with no significant association between the lipocalin-2 mRNA level and PTB patients (P = .933). In PTB patients, lipocalin-2 mRNA expression positively correlated with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (P = .010). However, the visfatin mRNA level was not associated with any major clinical and laboratory parameter in PTB patients. The ROC curve demonstrated that visfatin could help distinguish PTB patients from healthy controls, with an optimal cutoff value of 0.645 and a corresponding sensitivity of 79.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

The altered visfatin mRNA expression indicated that this adipokine might play a role in PTB and could be an auxiliary biomarker for PTB diagnosis.

Neutralization of Lipocalin-2 Diminishes Stroke-Reperfusion Injury

Oxidative stress is a key contributor to the pathogenesis of stroke-reperfusion injury. Neuroinflammatory peptides released after ischemic stroke mediate reperfusion injury. Previous studies, including ours, have shown that lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is secreted in response to cerebral ischemia to promote reperfusion injury. Genetic deletion of LCN2 significantly reduces brain injury after stroke, suggesting that LCN2 is a mediator of reperfusion injury and a potential therapeutic target. Immunotherapy has the potential to harness neuroinflammatory responses and provides neuroprotection against stroke. Here we report that LCN2 was induced on the inner surface of cerebral endothelial cells, neutrophils, and astrocytes that gatekeep the blood–brain barrier (BBB) after stroke. LCN2 monoclonal antibody (mAb) specifically targeted LCN2 in vitro and in vivo, attenuating the induction of LCN2 and pro-inflammatory mediators (iNOS, IL-6, CCL2, and CCL9) after stroke. Administration of LCN2 mAb at 4 h after stroke significantly reduced neurological deficits, cerebral infarction, edema, BBB leakage, and infiltration of neutrophils. The binding epitope of LCN2 mAb was mapped to the β3 and β4 strands, which are responsible for maintaining the integrity of LCN2 cup-shaped structure. These data indicate that LCN2 can be pharmacologically targeted using a specific mAb to reduce reperfusion injury after stroke.

Biological Functions and Therapeutic Potential of Lipocalin 2 in Cancer

Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is a secreted glycoprotein linked to several physiological roles, including transporting hydrophobic ligands across cell membranes, modulating immune responses, maintaining iron homeostasis, and promoting epithelial cell differentiation. Although LNC2 is expressed at low levels in most human tissues, it is abundant in aggressive subtypes of cancer, including breast, pancreas, thyroid, ovarian, colon, and bile duct cancers. High levels of LCN2 have been associated with increased cell proliferation, angiogenesis, cell invasion, and metastasis. Moreover, LCN2 modulates the degradation, allosteric events, and enzymatic activity of matrix metalloprotease-9, a metalloprotease that promotes tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Hence, LCN2 has emerged as a potential therapeutic target against many cancer types. This review summarizes the most relevant findings regarding the expression, biological roles, and regulation of LCN2, as well as the proteins LCN2 interacts with in cancer. We also discuss the approaches to targeting LCN2 for cancer treatment that are currently under investigation, including the use of interference RNAs, antibodies, and gene editing.

The Three Lipocalins of Egg-White: Only Ex-FABP Inhibits Siderophore-Dependent Iron Sequestration by Salmonella Enteritidis

Salmonella Enteritidis is the most prevalent food-borne pathogen associated with egg-related outbreaks in the European Union. During egg colonization, S. Enteritidis must resist the powerful anti-bacterial activities of egg white (EW) and overcome ovotransferrin-imposed iron-restriction (the most important anti-bacterial mechanism of EW). Many pathogens respond to iron restriction by secreting iron-chelating chemicals called siderophores but EW contains a siderophore-sequestering "lipocalin" protein (Ex-FABP) that is predicted to limit the usefulness of siderophores in EW. S. Enteritidis produces two siderophores: enterobactin, which is strongly bound by Ex-FABP; and the di-glucosylated enterobactin-derivative, salmochelin (a so-called "stealth" siderophore), which is not recognized by Ex-FABP. Thus, production of salmochelin may allow S. Enteritidis to escape Ex-FABP-mediated growth inhibition under iron restriction although it is unclear whether its EW concentration is sufficient to inhibit pathogens. Further, two other lipocalins (Cal-γ and α-1-ovoglycoprotein) are found in EW but their siderophore sequestration potential remains unexplored. In addition, the effect of EW lipocalins on the major EW pathogen, S. Enteritidis, has yet to be reported. We overexpressed and purified the three lipocalins of EW and investigated their ability to interact with the siderophores of S. Enteritidis, as well as their EW concentrations. The results show that Ex-FABP is present in EW at concentrations (5.1 μM) sufficient to inhibit growth of a salmochelin-deficient S. Enteritidis mutant under iron restriction but has little impact on the salmochelin-producing wildtype. Neither Cal-γ nor α-1-ovoglycoprotein bind salmochelin or enterobactin, nor do they inhibit iron-restricted growth of S. Enteritidis. However, both are present in EW at significant concentrations (5.6 and 233 μM, respectively) indicating that α-1-ovoglycoprotein is the 4th most abundant protein in EW, with Cal-γ and Ex-FABP at 11th and 12th most abundant. Further, we confirm the preference (16-fold) of Ex-FABP for the ferrated form (K d of 5.3 nM) of enterobactin over the iron-free form (K d of 86.2 nM), and its lack of affinity for salmochelin. In conclusion, our findings show that salmochelin production by S. Enteritidis enables this key egg-associated pathogen to overcome the enterobactin-sequestration activity of Ex-FABP when this lipocalin is provided at levels found in EW.

Lipocalin2 Induced by Bacterial Flagellin Protects Mice against Cyclophosphamide Mediated Neutropenic Sepsis

Neutropenic sepsis is a fatal consequence of chemotherapy, and septic complications are the principal cause of mortality. Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia leads to the formation of microscopic ulcers in the gastrointestinal epithelium that function as a portal of entry for intraluminal bacteria, which translocate across the intestinal mucosal barrier and gain access to systemic sites, causing septicemia. A cyclophosphamide-induced mouse model was developed to mimic the pathophysiologic sequence of events that occurs in patients with neutropenic sepsis. The TLR5 agonist bacterial flagellin derived from Vibrio vulnificus extended the survival of cyclophosphamide-treated mice by reducing the bacterial load in internal organs. The protective effect of flagellin was mediated by the antimicrobial protein lipocalin 2 (Lcn2), which is induced by TLR5-NF-κB activation in hepatocytes. Lcn2 sequestered iron from infecting bacteria, particularly siderophore enterobactin-dependent members of the Enterobacteriaceae family, thereby limiting their proliferation. Lcn2 should be considered for the treatment of neutropenic sepsis and gastrointestinal damage during chemotherapy to prevent or minimize the adverse effects of cancer chemotherapy.

Human host-defense peptide LL-37 targets stealth siderophores

A growing number of evidence shows that human-associated microbiota is an important contributor in health and disease. However, much of the complexity of host-microbiota interaction remains to be elucidated both at cellular and molecular levels. Siderophores are chemically diverse, ferric-specific chelators synthesized and secreted by microbes to secure their iron acquisition. The host defense peptide LL-37 is ubiquitously produced at epithelial surfaces modulating microbial communities and suppressing pathogenic strains. The present work demonstrates that LL-37 binds tightly siderocalin-resistant stealth siderophores which are important contributors to the virulence of several pathogens. As indicated by circular dichroism spectroscopic experiments, addition of aerobactin and rhizoferrin increases the membrane active α-helical conformation of the partially folded peptide. The cationic nature of LL-37 (+6 net charge at pH 7.4) and the multiple carboxylate groups present in siderophores refer to the dominant contribution of electrostatic interactions in the stabilization of peptide-chelator adducts. It is proposed that aside siderocalin proteins, LL-37 may be a complementary, less specific component of the siderophore scavenging repertoire of the innate immune system.