1
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Peters S, Mohort K, Claus H, Stigloher C, Schubert-Unkmeir A. Interaction of Neisseria meningitidis carrier and disease isolates of MenB cc32 and MenW cc22 with epithelial cells of the nasopharyngeal barrier. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1389527. [PMID: 38756230 PMCID: PMC11096551 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1389527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis (Nm, the meningococcus) is considered an asymptomatic colonizer of the upper respiratory tract and a transient member of its microbiome. It is assumed that the spread of N. meningitidis into the bloodstream occurs via transcytosis of the nasopharyngeal epithelial barrier without destroying the barrier layer. Here, we used Calu-3 respiratory epithelial cells that were grown under air-liquid-interface conditions to induce formation of pseudostratified layers and mucus production. The number of bacterial localizations in the outer mucus, as well as cellular adhesion, invasion and transmigration of different carrier and disease N. meningitidis isolates belonging to MenB:cc32 and MenW:cc22 lineages was assessed. In addition, the effect on barrier integrity and cytokine release was determined. Our findings showed that all strains tested resided primarily in the outer mucus layer after 24 h of infection (>80%). Nonetheless, both MenB:cc32 and MenW:cc22 carrier and disease isolates reached the surface of the epithelial cells and overcame the barrier. Interestingly, we observed a significant difference in the number of bacteria transmigrating the epithelial cell barrier, with the representative disease isolates being more efficient to transmigrate compared to carrier isolates. This could be attributed to the capacity of the disease isolates to invade, however could not be assigned to expression of the outer membrane protein Opc. Moreover, we found that the representative meningococcal isolates tested in this study did not damage the epithelial barrier, as shown by TEER measurement, FITC-dextran permeability assays, and expression of cell-junction components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Peters
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Julius-Maximilian University Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Katherina Mohort
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Julius-Maximilian University Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Heike Claus
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Julius-Maximilian University Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Christian Stigloher
- Imaging Core Facility, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilian University Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
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2
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Zhao L, Arias SL, Zipfel W, Brito IL, Yeo J. Coarse-grained modeling and dynamics tracking of nanoparticles diffusion in human gut mucus. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 267:131434. [PMID: 38614182 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract's mucus layer serves as a critical barrier and a mediator in drug nanoparticle delivery. The mucus layer's diverse molecular structures and spatial complexity complicates the mechanistic study of the diffusion dynamics of particulate materials. In response, we developed a bi-component coarse-grained mucus model, specifically tailored for the colorectal cancer environment, that contained the two most abundant glycoproteins in GI mucus: Muc2 and Muc5AC. This model demonstrated the effects of molecular composition and concentration on mucus pore size, a key determinant in the permeability of nanoparticles. Using this computational model, we investigated the diffusion rate of polyethylene glycol (PEG) coated nanoparticles, a widely used muco-penetrating nanoparticle. We validated our model with experimentally characterized mucus pore sizes and the diffusional coefficients of PEG-coated nanoparticles in the mucus collected from cultured human colorectal goblet cells. Machine learning fingerprints were then employed to provide a mechanistic understanding of nanoparticle diffusional behavior. We found that larger nanoparticles tended to be trapped in mucus over longer durations but exhibited more ballistic diffusion over shorter time spans. Through these discoveries, our model provides a promising platform to study pharmacokinetics in the GI mucus layer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liming Zhao
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Sandra L Arias
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Warren Zipfel
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Ilana L Brito
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
| | - Jingjie Yeo
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
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3
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Tafech B, Rokhforouz MR, Leung J, Sung MM, Lin PJ, Sin DD, Lauster D, Block S, Quon BS, Tam Y, Cullis P, Feng JJ, Hedtrich S. Exploring Mechanisms of Lipid Nanoparticle-Mucus Interactions in Healthy and Cystic Fibrosis Conditions. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2304525. [PMID: 38563726 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202304525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Mucus forms the first defense line of human lungs, and as such hampers the efficient delivery of therapeutics to the underlying epithelium. This holds particularly true for genetic cargo such as CRISPR-based gene editing tools which cannot readily surmount the mucosal barrier. While lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) emerge as versatile non-viral gene delivery systems that can help overcome the delivery challenge, many knowledge gaps remain, especially for diseased states such as cystic fibrosis (CF). This study provides fundamental insights into Cas9 mRNA or ribonucleoprotein-loaded LNP-mucus interactions in healthy and diseased states by assessing the impact of the genetic cargo, mucin sialylation, mucin concentration, ionic strength, pH, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentration and nature on LNP diffusivity leveraging experimental approaches and Brownian dynamics (BD) simulations. Taken together, this study identifies key mucus and LNP characteristics that are critical to enabling a rational LNP design for transmucosal delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belal Tafech
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Mohammad-Reza Rokhforouz
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Jerry Leung
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Molly Mh Sung
- Acuitas Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Paulo Jc Lin
- Acuitas Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Don D Sin
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Daniel Lauster
- Institute of Pharmacy, Biopharmaceuticals, Freie Universität Berlin, 12169, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stephan Block
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bradley S Quon
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Adult Cystic Fibrosis Clinic, St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Ying Tam
- Acuitas Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Pieter Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - James J Feng
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Mathematics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z2, Canada
| | - Sarah Hedtrich
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Center of Biological Design, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125, Berlin, Germany
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4
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Al Zahabi K, Hassan L, Maldonado R, Boehm MW, Baier SK, Sharma V. Pinching dynamics, extensional rheology, and stringiness of saliva substitutes. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:2547-2561. [PMID: 38407364 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01662e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Saliva substitutes are human-made formulations extensively used in medicine, food, and pharmaceutical research to emulate human saliva's biochemical, tribological, and rheological properties. Even though extensional flows involving saliva are commonly encountered in situations such as swallowing, coughing, sneezing, licking, drooling, gleeking, and blowing spit bubbles, rheological evaluations of saliva and its substitutes in most studies rely on measured values of shear viscosity. Natural saliva possesses stringiness or spinnbarkeit, governed by extensional rheology response, which cannot be evaluated or anticipated from the knowledge of shear rheology response. In this contribution, we comprehensively examine the rheology of twelve commercially available saliva substitutes using torsional rheometry for rate-dependent shear viscosity and dripping-onto-substrate (DoS) protocols for extensional rheology characterization. Even though most formulations are marketed as having suitable rheology, only three displayed measurable viscoelasticity and strain-hardening. Still, these too, failed to emulate the viscosity reduction with the shear rate observed for saliva or match perceived stringiness. Finally, we explore the challenges in creating saliva-like formulations for dysphagia patients and opportunities for using DoS rheometry for diagnostics and designing biomimetic fluids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim Al Zahabi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.
| | - Lena Hassan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.
| | - Ramiro Maldonado
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.
| | | | - Stefan K Baier
- Motif FoodWorks Inc., Boston, MA 02210, USA
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Vivek Sharma
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.
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5
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Galashov A, Kazakova E, Stieger CE, Hackenberger CPR, Seitz O. Rapid building block-economic synthesis of long, multi- O-GalNAcylated MUC5AC tandem repeat peptides. Chem Sci 2024; 15:1297-1305. [PMID: 38274058 PMCID: PMC10806717 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc05006h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The study of mucin function requires access to highly O-glycosylated peptides with multiple tandem repeats. Solid-phase synthesis would be a suitable method, however, the central problem in the synthesis of mucin glycopeptides is the need to use precious and potentially vulnerable glycoamino acid building blocks in excess. In this article, we report the development of a method based on SPPS and native chemical ligation/desulfurization chemistry that allows the rapid, reliable, and glyco-economical synthesis of long multi-O-GalNAcylated peptides. To facilitate access to the glycosyl donor required for the preparation of Fmoc-Ser/Thr(αAc3GalNAc)-OH we used an easily scalable azidophenylselenylation of galactal instead of azidonitration. The problem of low yield when coupling glycoamino acids in small excess was solved by carrying out the reactions in 2-MeTHF instead of DMF and using DIC/Oxyma. Remarkably, quantitative coupling was achieved within 10 minutes using only 1.5 equivalents of glycoamino acid. The method does not require (microwave) heating, thus avoiding side reactions such as acetyl transfer to the N-terminal amino acid. This method also improved the difficult coupling of glycoamino acid to the hydrazine-resin and furnished peptides carrying 10 GalNAc units in high purities (>95%) of crude products. Combined with a one-pot method involving native chemical ligation at a glycoamino acid junction and superfast desulfurization, the method yielded highly pure MUC5AC glycopeptides comprising 10 octapeptide tandem repeats with 20 α-O-linked GalNAc residues within a week.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arseniy Galashov
- Department of Chemistry, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Brook-Taylor-Straße 2 12489 Berlin Germany
| | - Ekaterina Kazakova
- Department of Chemistry, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Brook-Taylor-Straße 2 12489 Berlin Germany
| | - Christian E Stieger
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10 13125 Berlin Germany
| | - Christian P R Hackenberger
- Department of Chemistry, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Brook-Taylor-Straße 2 12489 Berlin Germany
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10 13125 Berlin Germany
| | - Oliver Seitz
- Department of Chemistry, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Brook-Taylor-Straße 2 12489 Berlin Germany
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6
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Leo F, Lood R, Thomsson KA, Nilsson J, Svensäter G, Wickström C. Characterization of MdpS: an in-depth analysis of a MUC5B-degrading protease from Streptococcus oralis. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1340109. [PMID: 38304711 PMCID: PMC10830703 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1340109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Oral biofilms, comprising hundreds of bacteria and other microorganisms on oral mucosal and dental surfaces, play a central role in oral health and disease dynamics. Streptococcus oralis, a key constituent of these biofilms, contributes significantly to the formation of which, serving as an early colonizer and microcolony scaffold. The interaction between S. oralis and the orally predominant mucin, MUC5B, is pivotal in biofilm development, yet the mechanism underlying MUC5B degradation remains poorly understood. This study introduces MdpS (Mucin Degrading Protease from Streptococcus oralis), a protease that extensively hydrolyses MUC5B and offers an insight into its evolutionary conservation, physicochemical properties, and substrate- and amino acid specificity. MdpS exhibits high sequence conservation within the species and also explicitly among early biofilm colonizing streptococci. It is a calcium or magnesium dependent serine protease with strict physicochemical preferences, including narrow pH and temperature tolerance, and high sensitivity to increasing concentrations of sodium chloride and reducing agents. Furthermore, MdpS primarily hydrolyzes proteins with O-glycans, but also shows activity toward immunoglobulins IgA1/2 and IgM, suggesting potential immunomodulatory effects. Significantly, MdpS extensively degrades MUC5B in the N- and C-terminal domains, emphasizing its role in mucin degradation, with implications for carbon and nitrogen sequestration for S. oralis or oral biofilm cross-feeding. Moreover, depending on substrate glycosylation, the amino acids serine, threonine or cysteine triggers the enzymatic action. Understanding the interplay between S. oralis and MUC5B, facilitated by MdpS, has significant implications for the management of a healthy eubiotic oral microenvironment, offering potential targets for interventions aimed at modulating oral biofilm composition and succession. Additionally, since MdpS does not rely on O-glycan removal prior to extensive peptide backbone hydrolysis, the MdpS data challenges the current model of MUC5B degradation. These findings emphasize the necessity for further research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrik Leo
- Department of Oral Biology and Pathology, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
- Genovis AB, Kävlinge, Sweden
| | - Rolf Lood
- Genovis AB, Kävlinge, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Division of Infection Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kristina A. Thomsson
- Proteomics Core Facility, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jonas Nilsson
- Proteomics Core Facility, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Gunnel Svensäter
- Department of Oral Biology and Pathology, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Claes Wickström
- Department of Oral Biology and Pathology, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
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7
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Çevik-Aras H, Musa S, Olofsson R, Almståhl A, Almhöjd U. Patients with oral lichen planus display lower levels of salivary acidic glycoproteins than individuals without oral mucosal disease. Clin Oral Investig 2023; 28:2. [PMID: 38114810 PMCID: PMC10730629 DOI: 10.1007/s00784-023-05411-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Salivary proteins, acidic glycoproteins, and free calcium might take part in oral mucosal defence against inflammation in oral lichen planus (OLP). The study aimed to investigate whether the levels of sulfated and sialylated glycoproteins, total protein, and free calcium in saliva from patients with OLP differ from those of individuals without oral mucosal diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients diagnosed with OLP (n = 25) and two control groups without any oral mucosal disease; age- and gender-matched controls (n = 25, 65.6 ± 2.9 years), and younger controls (n = 25, 41.8 ± 2.5 years) were included. Subjective dry mouth (xerostomia) was assessed by asking a single-item question. Chew-stimulated whole saliva was collected to measure sulfated and sialylated glycoproteins by the Alcian Blue method. The total protein was determined spectrophotometrically, and the free calcium measured using an electrode. RESULTS The output of salivary sulfated and sialylated glycoproteins in the OLP group (21.8 ± 2.4 µg/min) was lower than in the age- and gender-matched controls (43.0 ± 2.9 µg/min, p = 0.0002), whereas the total protein and calcium output did not differ between the three groups (p > 0.05). The prevalence of xerostomia was significantly higher in the OLP group compared to both control groups (p = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS Patients with OLP showed a high prevalence of xerostomia and lower levels of salivary acidic type glycoproteins compared to the individuals without oral mucosa disease. CLINICAL RELEVANCE It is relevant to investigate the role of acidic glycoproteins in the pathogenesis of OLP.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Çevik-Aras
- Department of Oral Medicine and Pathology, Institute of Odontology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Specialist Clinic for Orofacial Medicine, Northern Älvsborg County Hospital, Public Dental Service, Trollhättan, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden.
| | - Shehed Musa
- Public Dental Service, Gothenburg, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden
| | - Richard Olofsson
- Specialist Clinic for Orofacial Medicine, Public Dental Service, Uddevalla-Trollhättan, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden
| | - Annica Almståhl
- Section 4, -Oral Health, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
- Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Odontology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ulrica Almhöjd
- Department of Cariology, Institute of Odontology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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8
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Bos MF, Ermund A, Hansson GC, de Graaf J. Goblet cell interactions reorient bundled mucus strands for efficient airway clearance. PNAS NEXUS 2023; 2:pgad388. [PMID: 38024407 PMCID: PMC10661087 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
The respiratory tract of larger animals is cleared by sweeping bundled strands along the airway surface. These bundled strands can be millimetric in length and consist of MUC5B mucin. They are produced by submucosal glands, and upon emerging from these glands, the long axis of the bundled strands is oriented along the cilia-mediated flow toward the oral cavity. However, after release, the bundled strands are found to have turned orthogonal to the flow, which maximizes their clearance potential. How this unexpected reorientation is accomplished is presently not well understood. Recent experiments suggest that the reorientation process involves bundled strands sticking to MUC5AC mucus threads, which are tethered to the goblet cells. Such goblet cells are present in small numbers throughout the airway epithelium. Here, we develop a minimal model for reorientation of bundled mucus strands through adhesive interactions with surface goblet cells. Our simulations reveal that goblet cell interactions can reorient the bundled strands within 10 mm of release-making reorientation on the length scale of the tracheal tube feasible-and can stabilize the orthogonal orientation. Our model also reproduces other experimental observations such as strong velocity fluctuations and significant slow-down of the bundled strand with respect to the cilia-mediated flow. We further provide insight into the strand turning mechanism by examining the effect of strand shape on the impulse exerted by a single goblet cell. We conclude that goblet cell-mediated reorientation is a viable route for bundled strand reorientation, which should be further validated in future experiment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meike F Bos
- Institute for Theoretical Physics, Center for Extreme Matter and Emergent Phenomena, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Anna Ermund
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 440, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Gunnar C Hansson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 440, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Joost de Graaf
- Institute for Theoretical Physics, Center for Extreme Matter and Emergent Phenomena, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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9
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Graeber SY, Mall MA. The future of cystic fibrosis treatment: from disease mechanisms to novel therapeutic approaches. Lancet 2023; 402:1185-1198. [PMID: 37699417 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(23)01608-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
With the 2019 breakthrough in the development of highly effective modulator therapy providing unprecedented clinical benefits for over 90% of patients with cystic fibrosis who are genetically eligible for treatment, this rare disease has become a front runner of transformative molecular therapy. This success is based on fundamental research, which led to the identification of the disease-causing CFTR gene and our subsequent understanding of the disease mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis, working together with a continuously evolving clinical research and drug development pipeline. In this Series paper, we focus on advances since 2018, and remaining knowledge gaps in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of CFTR dysfunction in the airway epithelium and their links to mucus dysfunction, impaired host defences, airway infection, and chronic inflammation of the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis. We review progress in (and the remaining obstacles to) pharmacological approaches to rescue CFTR function, and novel strategies for improved symptomatic therapies for cystic fibrosis, including how these might be applicable to common lung diseases, such as bronchiectasis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Finally, we discuss the promise of genetic therapies and gene editing approaches to restore CFTR function in the lungs of all patients with cystic fibrosis independent of their CFTR genotype, and the unprecedented opportunities to transform cystic fibrosis from a fatal disease to a treatable and potentially curable one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Y Graeber
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Cystic Fibrosis Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; German Center for Lung Research, associated partner site, Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcus A Mall
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Cystic Fibrosis Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; German Center for Lung Research, associated partner site, Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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10
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Cerullo AR, McDermott MB, Pepi LE, Liu ZL, Barry D, Zhang S, Yang X, Chen X, Azadi P, Holford M, Braunschweig AB. Comparative mucomic analysis of three functionally distinct Cornu aspersum Secretions. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5361. [PMID: 37660066 PMCID: PMC10475054 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41094-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Every animal secretes mucus, placing them among the most diverse biological materials. Mucus hydrogels are complex mixtures of water, ions, carbohydrates, and proteins. Uncertainty surrounding their composition and how interactions between components contribute to mucus function complicates efforts to exploit their properties. There is substantial interest in commercializing mucus from the garden snail, Cornu aspersum, for skincare, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and composite materials. C. aspersum secretes three mucus-one shielding the animal from environmental threats, one adhesive mucus from the pedal surface of the foot, and another pedal mucus that is lubricating. It remains a mystery how compositional differences account for their substantially different properties. Here, we characterize mucus proteins, glycosylation, ion content, and mechanical properties that could be used to provide insight into structure-function relationships through an integrative "mucomics" approach. We identify macromolecular components of these hydrogels, including a previously unreported protein class termed Conserved Anterior Mollusk Proteins (CAMPs). Revealing differences between C. aspersum mucus shows how considering structure at all levels can inform the design of mucus-inspired materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio R Cerullo
- The Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 85 St. Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY, 10031, USA
- The PhD Program in Biochemistry, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hunter College, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Maxwell B McDermott
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hunter College, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Lauren E Pepi
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Zhi-Lun Liu
- The Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 85 St. Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY, 10031, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The City College of New York, New York, NY, 10031, USA
| | - Diariou Barry
- The Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 85 St. Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY, 10031, USA
| | - Sheng Zhang
- The Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 85 St. Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY, 10031, USA
| | - Xu Yang
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Xi Chen
- The Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 85 St. Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY, 10031, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The City College of New York, New York, NY, 10031, USA
- The PhD Program in Chemistry, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- The PhD Program in Physics, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Parastoo Azadi
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Mande Holford
- The PhD Program in Biochemistry, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hunter College, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- The PhD Program in Chemistry, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- The PhD Program in Biology, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, The American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, 10024, USA
| | - Adam B Braunschweig
- The Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 85 St. Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY, 10031, USA.
- The PhD Program in Biochemistry, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hunter College, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- The PhD Program in Chemistry, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
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11
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Kumar P, Tamayo J, Shiu RF, Chin WC, Gopinath A. Size-Dependent Diffusion and Dispersion of Particles in Mucin. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:3241. [PMID: 37571134 PMCID: PMC10422640 DOI: 10.3390/polym15153241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucus, composed significantly of glycosylated mucins, is a soft and rheologically complex material that lines respiratory, reproductive, and gastrointestinal tracts in mammals. Mucus may present as a gel, as a highly viscous fluid, or as a viscoelastic fluid. Mucus acts as a barrier to the transport of harmful microbes and inhaled atmospheric pollutants to underlying cellular tissue. Studies on mucin gels have provided critical insights into the chemistry of the gels, their swelling kinetics, and the diffusion and permeability of molecular constituents such as water. The transport and dispersion of micron and sub-micron particles in mucin gels and solutions, however, differs from the motion of small molecules since the much larger tracers may interact with microstructure of the mucin network. Here, using brightfield and fluorescence microscopy, high-speed particle tracking, and passive microrheology, we study the thermally driven stochastic movement of 0.5-5.0 μm tracer particles in 10% mucin solutions at neutral pH, and in 10% mucin mixed with industrially relevant dust; specifically, unmodified limestone rock dust, modified limestone, and crystalline silica. Particle trajectories are used to calculate mean square displacements and the displacement probability distributions; these are then used to assess tracer diffusion and transport. Complex moduli are concomitantly extracted using established microrheology techniques. We find that under the conditions analyzed, the reconstituted mucin behaves as a weak viscoelastic fluid rather than as a viscoelastic gel. For small- to moderately sized tracers with a diameter of lessthan 2 μm, we find that effective diffusion coefficients follow the classical Stokes-Einstein relationship. Tracer diffusivity in dust-laden mucin is surprisingly larger than in bare mucin. Probability distributions of mean squared displacements suggest that heterogeneity, transient trapping, and electrostatic interactions impact dispersion and overall transport, especially for larger tracers. Our results motivate further exploration of physiochemical and rheological mechanisms mediating particle transport in mucin solutions and gels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parveen Kumar
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA; (P.K.); (J.T.)
| | - Joshua Tamayo
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA; (P.K.); (J.T.)
| | - Ruei-Feng Shiu
- Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202301, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chun Chin
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA; (P.K.); (J.T.)
| | - Arvind Gopinath
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA; (P.K.); (J.T.)
- Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA
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12
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Reynolds CJ, Del Greco M F, Allen RJ, Flores C, Jenkins RG, Maher TM, Molyneaux PL, Noth I, Oldham JM, Wain LV, An J, Ong JS, MacGregor S, Yates TA, Cullinan P, Minelli C. The causal relationship between gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomisation study. Eur Respir J 2023; 61:2201585. [PMID: 37080571 PMCID: PMC10209472 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01585-2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in observational studies. It is not known if this association arises because GORD causes IPF or because IPF causes GORD, or because of confounding by factors, such as smoking, associated with both GORD and IPF. We used bidirectional Mendelian randomisation (MR), where genetic variants are used as instrumental variables to address issues of confounding and reverse causation, to examine how, if at all, GORD and IPF are causally related. METHODS A bidirectional two-sample MR was performed to estimate the causal effect of GORD on IPF risk and of IPF on GORD risk, using genetic data from the largest GORD (78 707 cases and 288 734 controls) and IPF (4125 cases and 20 464 controls) genome-wide association meta-analyses currently available. RESULTS GORD increased the risk of IPF, with an OR of 1.6 (95% CI 1.04-2.49; p=0.032). There was no evidence of a causal effect of IPF on the risk of GORD, with an OR of 0.999 (95% CI 0.997-1.000; p=0.245). CONCLUSIONS We found that GORD increases the risk of IPF, but found no evidence that IPF increases the risk of GORD. GORD should be considered in future studies of IPF risk and interest in it as a potential therapeutic target should be renewed. The mechanisms underlying the effect of GORD on IPF should also be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl J Reynolds
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Richard J Allen
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
- National Institute for Health Research, Leicester Respiratory Biomedical Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK
| | - Carlos Flores
- Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Genomics Division, Instituto Tecnológico y de Energías Renovables, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Fernando Pessoa Canarias, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - R Gisli Jenkins
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Toby M Maher
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Imre Noth
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Justin M Oldham
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Louise V Wain
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
- National Institute for Health Research, Leicester Respiratory Biomedical Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK
| | - Jiyuan An
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jue-Sheng Ong
- Population Health Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Australia
| | - Stuart MacGregor
- Population Health Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Australia
| | - Tom A Yates
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Faculty of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Paul Cullinan
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Cosetta Minelli
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
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13
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Weston A, Vladescu SC, Reddyhoff T, Griffiths A, Crouzier T, Fielden M, Garnett JA, Carpenter GH. The influence of ions on the lubricative abilities of mucin and the role of sialic acids. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2023; 227:113327. [PMID: 37172419 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2023.113327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Mucus reduces friction between epithelial surfaces by providing lubrication in the boundary and mixed regime. Mucins, the main macromolecule, are heavily glycosylated proteins that polymerise and retain water molecules, resulting in a hydrated biogel. It is assumed that positively charged ions can influence mucin film structure by screening the electrostatic repulsions between the negatively charged glycans on mucin moieties and draw in water molecules via hydration shells. The ionic concentration can vary significantly in different mucus systems and here we show that increasing the ionic concentration in mucin films leads to an increase in lubrication between two polydimethylsiloxane surfaces at sliding contact in a compliant oral mimic. Mucins were found to bind sodium ions in a concentration-dependent manner and increased ionic concentration appears to cause mucin films to swell when assessed by Quartz Crystal hiMicrobalance with Dissipation (QCM-D) analysis. Furthermore, we determined that the removal of negatively charged sialic acid moieties by sialidase digestion resulted in reduced adsorption to hydrophilic surfaces but did not affect the swelling of mucin films with increasing ionic concentrations. Moreover, the coefficient of friction was increased with sialic acid removal, but lubrication was still increased with increasing ionic concentrations. Taken together this suggests that sialic acids are important for lubrication and may exert this through the sacrificial layer mechanism. Ionic concentration appears to influence mucin films and their lubrication, and sialic acids, at least partly, may be important for ion binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abby Weston
- Centre for Host Microbiome Interactions, Salivary Research, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Science, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Sorin-Cristian Vladescu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, UK
| | - Tom Reddyhoff
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, UK
| | - Alex Griffiths
- London Metallomics Facility, King's College London, Waterloo Campus, London, UK
| | - Thomas Crouzier
- Division of Glycoscience, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Albanova Unversity Centre, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Matthew Fielden
- Division of Surface and Corrosion Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Albanova University Centre, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - James A Garnett
- Centre for Host Microbiome Interactions, Salivary Research, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Science, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Guy H Carpenter
- Centre for Host Microbiome Interactions, Salivary Research, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Science, King's College London, London, UK
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14
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Fass D, Thornton DJ. Mucin networks: Dynamic structural assemblies controlling mucus function. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2023; 79:102524. [PMID: 36753925 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2022.102524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Contrary to first appearances, mucus structural biology is not an oxymoron. Though mucus hydrogels derive their characteristics largely from intrinsically disordered, heavily glycosylated polypeptide segments, the secreted mucin glycoproteins that constitute mucus undergo an orderly assembly process controlled by folded domains at their termini. Recent structural studies revealed how mucin complexes promote disulphide-mediated polymerization to produce the mucus gel scaffold. Additional protein-protein and protein-glycan interactions likely tune the mesoscale properties, stability, and activities of mucins. Evidence is emerging that even intrinsically disordered glycosylated segments have specific structural roles in the production and properties of mucus. Though soft-matter biophysical approaches to understanding mucus remain highly relevant, high-resolution structural studies of mucins and other mucus components are providing new perspectives on these vital, protective hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Fass
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - David J Thornton
- Wellcome Centre for Cell-Matrix Research and the Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
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15
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Barmpatsalou V, Rodler A, Jacobson M, Karlsson EML, Pedersen BL, Bergström CAS. Development and validation of a porcine artificial colonic mucus model reflecting the properties of native colonic mucus in pigs. Eur J Pharm Sci 2023; 181:106361. [PMID: 36528165 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2022.106361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Colonic mucus plays a key role in colonic drug absorption. Mucus permeation assays could therefore provide useful insights and support rational formulation development in the early stages of drug development. However, the collection of native colonic mucus from animal sources is labor-intensive, does not yield amounts that allow for routine experimentation, and raises ethical concerns. In the present study, we developed an in vitro porcine artificial colonic mucus model based on the characterization of native colonic mucus. The structural properties of the artificial colonic mucus were validated against the native secretion for their ability to capture key diffusion patterns of macromolecules in native mucus. Moreover, the artificial colonic mucus could be stored under common laboratory conditions, without compromising its barrier properties. In conclusion, the porcine artificial colonic mucus model can be considered a biorelevant way to study the diffusion behavior of drug candidates in colonic mucus. It is a cost-efficient screening tool easily incorporated into the early stages of drug development and it contributes to the implementation of the 3Rs (refinement, reduction, and replacement of animals) in the drug development process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicky Barmpatsalou
- The Swedish Drug Delivery Center, Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Box 580, SE-751 23, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Agnes Rodler
- The Swedish Drug Delivery Center, Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Box 580, SE-751 23, Uppsala, Sweden; The Swedish Drug Delivery Center, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Box 574, SE-751 23, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Magdalena Jacobson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7054, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Eva Marie-Louise Karlsson
- Oral Product Development, Pharmaceutical Technology & Development, Operations, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Betty Lomstein Pedersen
- Product Development & Drug Delivery, Global Pharmaceutical R&D, Ferring Pharmaceuticals A/S, Amager Strandvej 405, Kastrup 2770, Denmark
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16
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Ilani T, Reznik N, Yeshaya N, Feldman T, Vilela P, Lansky Z, Javitt G, Shemesh M, Brenner O, Elkis Y, Varsano N, Jaramillo AM, Evans CM, Fass D. The disulfide catalyst QSOX1 maintains the colon mucosal barrier by regulating Golgi glycosyltransferases. EMBO J 2023; 42:e111869. [PMID: 36245281 PMCID: PMC9841341 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022111869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucus is made of enormous mucin glycoproteins that polymerize by disulfide crosslinking in the Golgi apparatus. QSOX1 is a catalyst of disulfide bond formation localized to the Golgi. Both QSOX1 and mucins are highly expressed in goblet cells of mucosal tissues, leading to the hypothesis that QSOX1 catalyzes disulfide-mediated mucin polymerization. We found that knockout mice lacking QSOX1 had impaired mucus barrier function due to production of defective mucus. However, an investigation on the molecular level revealed normal disulfide-mediated polymerization of mucins and related glycoproteins. Instead, we detected a drastic decrease in sialic acid in the gut mucus glycome of the QSOX1 knockout mice, leading to the discovery that QSOX1 forms regulatory disulfides in Golgi glycosyltransferases. Sialylation defects in the colon are known to cause colitis in humans. Here we show that QSOX1 redox control of sialylation is essential for maintaining mucosal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tal Ilani
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Nava Reznik
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Noa Yeshaya
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tal Feldman
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Patrick Vilela
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Zipora Lansky
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Gabriel Javitt
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Michal Shemesh
- Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ori Brenner
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Neta Varsano
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ana M Jaramillo
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Christopher M Evans
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.,Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Deborah Fass
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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17
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Dommer A, Casalino L, Kearns F, Rosenfeld M, Wauer N, Ahn SH, Russo J, Oliveira S, Morris C, Bogetti A, Trifan A, Brace A, Sztain T, Clyde A, Ma H, Chennubhotla C, Lee H, Turilli M, Khalid S, Tamayo-Mendoza T, Welborn M, Christensen A, Smith DG, Qiao Z, Sirumalla SK, O'Connor M, Manby F, Anandkumar A, Hardy D, Phillips J, Stern A, Romero J, Clark D, Dorrell M, Maiden T, Huang L, McCalpin J, Woods C, Gray A, Williams M, Barker B, Rajapaksha H, Pitts R, Gibbs T, Stone J, Zuckerman DM, Mulholland AJ, Miller T, Jha S, Ramanathan A, Chong L, Amaro RE. #COVIDisAirborne: AI-enabled multiscale computational microscopy of delta SARS-CoV-2 in a respiratory aerosol. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING APPLICATIONS 2023; 37:28-44. [PMID: 36647365 PMCID: PMC9527558 DOI: 10.1177/10943420221128233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
We seek to completely revise current models of airborne transmission of respiratory viruses by providing never-before-seen atomic-level views of the SARS-CoV-2 virus within a respiratory aerosol. Our work dramatically extends the capabilities of multiscale computational microscopy to address the significant gaps that exist in current experimental methods, which are limited in their ability to interrogate aerosols at the atomic/molecular level and thus obscure our understanding of airborne transmission. We demonstrate how our integrated data-driven platform provides a new way of exploring the composition, structure, and dynamics of aerosols and aerosolized viruses, while driving simulation method development along several important axes. We present a series of initial scientific discoveries for the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, noting that the full scientific impact of this work has yet to be realized.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - John Russo
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | | | | | | | - Anda Trifan
- Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, USA
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Alexander Brace
- Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, USA
- University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Terra Sztain
- UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Freie Universitat Berlin
| | - Austin Clyde
- Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, USA
- University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Heng Ma
- Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, USA
| | | | - Hyungro Lee
- Brookhaven National Lab and Rutgers University
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Zhuoran Qiao
- California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Anima Anandkumar
- California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- NVIDIA Corp, Santa Clara, CA, USA
| | - David Hardy
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - James Phillips
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Tom Maiden
- Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Lei Huang
- Texas Advanced Computing Center, Austin, TX, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - John Stone
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- NVIDIA Corp, Santa Clara, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Thomas Miller
- Entos, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
- California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
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18
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Detwiler RE, Kramer JR. Preparation and applications of artificial mucins in biomedicine. CURRENT OPINION IN SOLID STATE & MATERIALS SCIENCE 2022; 26:101031. [PMID: 37283850 PMCID: PMC10243510 DOI: 10.1016/j.cossms.2022.101031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Mucus is an essential barrier material that separates organisms from the outside world. This slippery material regulates the transport of nutrients, drugs, gases, and pathogens toward the cell surface. The surface of the cell itself is coated in a mucus-like barrier of glycoproteins and glycolipids. Mucin glycoproteins are the primary component of mucus and the epithelial glycocalyx. Aberrant mucin production is implicated in diverse disease states from cancer and inflammation to pre-term birth and infection. Biological mucins are inherently heterogenous in structure, which has challenged understanding their molecular functions as a barrier and as biochemically active proteins. Therefore, many synthetic materials have been developed as artificial mucins with precisely tunable structures. This review highlights advances in design and synthesis of artificial mucins and their application in biomedical studies of mucin chemistry, biology, and physics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E. Detwiler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, 36 S. Wasatch
Dr., Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Jessica R. Kramer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, 36 S. Wasatch
Dr., Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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19
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Kohout VR, Wardzala CL, Kramer JR. Synthesis and biomedical applications of mucin mimic materials. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 191:114540. [PMID: 36228896 PMCID: PMC10066857 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Mucin glycoproteins are the major component of mucus and coat epithelial cell surfaces forming the glycocalyx. The glycocalyx and mucus are involved in the transport of nutrients, drugs, gases, and pathogens toward the cell surface. Mucins are also involved in diverse diseases such as cystic fibrosis and cancer. Due to inherent heterogeneity in native mucin structure, many synthetic materials have been designed to probe mucin chemistry, biology, and physics. Such materials include various glycopolymers, low molecular weight glycopeptides, glycopolypeptides, polysaccharides, and polysaccharide-protein conjugates. This review highlights advances in the area of design and synthesis of mucin mimic materials, and their biomedical applications in glycan binding, epithelial models of infection, therapeutic delivery, vaccine formulation, and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria R Kohout
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, 36 S. Wasatch Dr., Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Casia L Wardzala
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, 36 S. Wasatch Dr., Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Jessica R Kramer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, 36 S. Wasatch Dr., Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
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20
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A review on the role of salivary MUC5B in oral health. J Oral Biosci 2022; 64:392-399. [DOI: 10.1016/j.job.2022.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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21
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Abstract
![]()
Mucus hydrogels at biointerfaces are crucial for protecting
against
foreign pathogens and for the biological functions of the underlying
cells. Since mucus can bind to and host both viruses and bacteria,
establishing a synthetic model system that can emulate the properties
and functions of native mucus and can be synthesized at large scale
would revolutionize the mucus-related research that is essential for
understanding the pathways of many infectious diseases. The synthesis
of such biofunctional hydrogels in the laboratory is highly challenging,
owing to their complex chemical compositions and the specific chemical
interactions that occur throughout the gel network. In this perspective,
we discuss the basic chemical structures and diverse physicochemical
interactions responsible for the unique properties and functions of
mucus hydrogels. We scrutinize the different approaches for preparing
mucus-inspired hydrogels, with specific examples. We also discuss
recent research and what it reveals about the challenges that must
be addressed and the opportunities to be considered to achieve desirable de novo synthetic mucus hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raju Bej
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraße 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Rainer Haag
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraße 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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22
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Ince D, Lucas TM, Malaker SA. Current strategies for characterization of mucin-domain glycoproteins. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2022; 69:102174. [PMID: 35752002 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.102174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Glycosylation, and especially O-linked glycosylation, remains a critical blind spot in the understanding of post-translational modifications. Due to their nature as proteins defined by a large density and abundance of O-glycosylation, mucins present extra challenges in the analysis of their structure and function. However, recent breakthroughs in multiple areas of research have rendered mucin-domain glycoproteins more accessible to current characterization techniques. In particular, the adaptation of mucinases to glycoproteomic workflows, the manipulation of cellular glycosylation pathways, and the advances in synthetic methods to more closely mimic mucin domains have introduced new and exciting avenues to study mucin glycoproteins. Here, we summarize recent developments in understanding the structure and biological function of mucin domains and their associated glycans, from glycoproteomic tools and visualization methods to synthetic glycopeptide mimetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Ince
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, 275 Prospect St, New Haven, CT 06511, United States
| | - Taryn M Lucas
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, 275 Prospect St, New Haven, CT 06511, United States
| | - Stacy A Malaker
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, 275 Prospect St, New Haven, CT 06511, United States.
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23
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Sheng YH, Hasnain SZ. Mucus and Mucins: The Underappreciated Host Defence System. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:856962. [PMID: 35774401 PMCID: PMC9238349 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.856962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The mucosal surfaces that form the boundary between the external environment and the underlying tissue are protected by a mucus barrier. Mucin glycoproteins, both secreted and cell surface mucins, are the major components of the barrier. They can exclude pathogens and toxins while hosting the commensal bacteria. In this review, we highlight the dynamic function of the mucins and mucus during infection, how this mucosal barrier is regulated, and how pathogens have evolved mechanisms to evade this defence system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Hua Sheng
- Immunopathology Group, Mater Research Institute−The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Sumaira Z. Hasnain
- Immunopathology Group, Mater Research Institute−The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
- *Correspondence: Sumaira Z. Hasnain,
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24
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Kishimoto H, Ridley C, Thornton DJ. The lipophilic cyclic peptide cyclosporin A induces aggregation of gel-forming mucins. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6153. [PMID: 35418571 PMCID: PMC9008041 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10125-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclic peptides are good candidates for orally delivered therapeutics, however, issues remain in their development due to low intestinal permeability. Although some of the biological factors have been reported that regulate intestinal permeation of cyclic peptides, the influence of the mucus barrier, a major hurdle to epithelial drug delivery, on cyclic peptide bioavailability is unclear. In this study, we show that the lipophilic cyclic peptide, cyclosporin A (CsA), interacted with, and likely induced aggregation, of polymeric, gel-forming mucins (MUC2, MUC5AC and MUC5B) which underpin the mucus gel-networks in the gastrointestinal tract. Under similar conditions, two other cyclic peptides (daptomycin and polymyxin B) did not cause mucin aggregation. Using rate-zonal centrifugation, purified MUC2, MUC5AC and MUC5B mucins sedimented faster in the presence of CsA, with a significant increase in mucins in the pellet fraction. In contrast, mucin sedimentation profiles were largely unaltered after treatment with daptomycin or polymyxin B. CsA increased MUC5B sedimentation was concentration-dependent, and sedimentation studies using recombinant mucin protein domains suggests CsA most likely causes aggregation of the relatively non-O-glycosylated N-terminal and C-terminal regions of MUC5B. Furthermore, the aggregation of the N-terminal region, but not the C-terminal region, was affected by pH. CsA has partially N-methylated amide groups, this unique molecular structure, not present in daptomycin and polymyxin B, may potentially be involved in interaction with gel-forming mucin. Taken together, our results indicate that the interaction of gel-forming mucins with the cyclic peptide CsA is mediated at the N- and C-terminal domains of mucin polymers under physiological conditions. Our findings demonstrate that the mucus barrier is an important physiological factor regulating the intestinal permeation of cyclic peptides in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisanao Kishimoto
- Department of Biopharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1, Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan. .,Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
| | - Caroline Ridley
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - David J Thornton
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
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25
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Bergstrom K, Xia L. The barrier and beyond: Roles of intestinal mucus and mucin-type O-glycosylation in resistance and tolerance defense strategies guiding host-microbe symbiosis. Gut Microbes 2022; 14:2052699. [PMID: 35380912 PMCID: PMC8986245 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2022.2052699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past two decades, our appreciation of the gut mucus has moved from a static lubricant to a dynamic and essential component of the gut ecosystem that not only mediates the interface between host tissues and vast microbiota, but regulates how this ecosystem functions to promote mutualistic symbioses and protect from microbe-driven diseases. By delving into the complex chemistry and biology of the mucus, combined with innovative in vivo and ex vivo approaches, recent studies have revealed novel insights into the formation and function of the mucus system, the O-glycans that make up this system, and how they mediate two major host-defense strategies - resistance and tolerance - to reduce damage caused by indigenous microbes and opportunistic pathogens. This current review summarizes these findings by highlighting the emerging roles of mucus and mucin-type O-glycans in influencing host and microbial physiology with an emphasis on host defense strategies against bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirk Bergstrom
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, British ColumbiaV1V 1V7, Canada,Kirk Bergstrom Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, B.C. Canada
| | - Lijun Xia
- Cardiovascular Biology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, OK, Oklahoma73104, USA,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, OK, Oklahoma73104, USA,CONTACT Lijun Xia Cardiovascular Biology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, OK, Oklahoma73104, USA
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26
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Wardman JF, Bains RK, Rahfeld P, Withers SG. Carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) in the gut microbiome. Nat Rev Microbiol 2022; 20:542-556. [PMID: 35347288 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-022-00712-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The 1013-1014 microorganisms present in the human gut (collectively known as the human gut microbiota) dedicate substantial percentages of their genomes to the degradation and uptake of carbohydrates, indicating the importance of this class of molecules. Carbohydrates function not only as a carbon source for these bacteria but also as a means of attachment to the host, and a barrier to infection of the host. In this Review, we focus on the diversity of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), how gut microorganisms use them for carbohydrate degradation, the different chemical mechanisms of these CAZymes and the roles that these microorganisms and their CAZymes have in human health and disease. We also highlight examples of how enzymes from this treasure trove have been used in manipulation of the microbiota for improved health and treatment of disease, in remodelling the glycans on biopharmaceuticals and in the potential production of universal O-type donor blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob F Wardman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Rajneesh K Bains
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Peter Rahfeld
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stephen G Withers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. .,Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. .,Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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27
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Dommer A, Casalino L, Kearns F, Rosenfeld M, Wauer N, Ahn SH, Russo J, Oliveira S, Morris C, Bogetti A, Trifan A, Brace A, Sztain T, Clyde A, Ma H, Chennubhotla C, Lee H, Turilli M, Khalid S, Tamayo-Mendoza T, Welborn M, Christensen A, Smith DGA, Qiao Z, Sirumalla SK, O'Connor M, Manby F, Anandkumar A, Hardy D, Phillips J, Stern A, Romero J, Clark D, Dorrell M, Maiden T, Huang L, McCalpin J, Woods C, Gray A, Williams M, Barker B, Rajapaksha H, Pitts R, Gibbs T, Stone J, Zuckerman D, Mulholland A, Miller T, Jha S, Ramanathan A, Chong L, Amaro R. #COVIDisAirborne: AI-Enabled Multiscale Computational Microscopy of Delta SARS-CoV-2 in a Respiratory Aerosol. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2021:2021.11.12.468428. [PMID: 34816263 PMCID: PMC8609898 DOI: 10.1101/2021.11.12.468428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
We seek to completely revise current models of airborne transmission of respiratory viruses by providing never-before-seen atomic-level views of the SARS-CoV-2 virus within a respiratory aerosol. Our work dramatically extends the capabilities of multiscale computational microscopy to address the significant gaps that exist in current experimental methods, which are limited in their ability to interrogate aerosols at the atomic/molecular level and thus ob-scure our understanding of airborne transmission. We demonstrate how our integrated data-driven platform provides a new way of exploring the composition, structure, and dynamics of aerosols and aerosolized viruses, while driving simulation method development along several important axes. We present a series of initial scientific discoveries for the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, noting that the full scientific impact of this work has yet to be realized. ACM REFERENCE FORMAT Abigail Dommer 1† , Lorenzo Casalino 1† , Fiona Kearns 1† , Mia Rosenfeld 1 , Nicholas Wauer 1 , Surl-Hee Ahn 1 , John Russo, 2 Sofia Oliveira 3 , Clare Morris 1 , AnthonyBogetti 4 , AndaTrifan 5,6 , Alexander Brace 5,7 , TerraSztain 1,8 , Austin Clyde 5,7 , Heng Ma 5 , Chakra Chennubhotla 4 , Hyungro Lee 9 , Matteo Turilli 9 , Syma Khalid 10 , Teresa Tamayo-Mendoza 11 , Matthew Welborn 11 , Anders Christensen 11 , Daniel G. A. Smith 11 , Zhuoran Qiao 12 , Sai Krishna Sirumalla 11 , Michael O'Connor 11 , Frederick Manby 11 , Anima Anandkumar 12,13 , David Hardy 6 , James Phillips 6 , Abraham Stern 13 , Josh Romero 13 , David Clark 13 , Mitchell Dorrell 14 , Tom Maiden 14 , Lei Huang 15 , John McCalpin 15 , Christo- pherWoods 3 , Alan Gray 13 , MattWilliams 3 , Bryan Barker 16 , HarindaRajapaksha 16 , Richard Pitts 16 , Tom Gibbs 13 , John Stone 6 , Daniel Zuckerman 2 *, Adrian Mulholland 3 *, Thomas MillerIII 11,12 *, ShantenuJha 9 *, Arvind Ramanathan 5 *, Lillian Chong 4 *, Rommie Amaro 1 *. 2021. #COVIDisAirborne: AI-Enabled Multiscale Computational Microscopy ofDeltaSARS-CoV-2 in a Respiratory Aerosol. In Supercomputing '21: International Conference for High Perfor-mance Computing, Networking, Storage, and Analysis . ACM, New York, NY, USA, 14 pages. https://doi.org/finalDOI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Anda Trifan
- Argonne National Laboratory
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
| | | | | | - Austin Clyde
- Argonne National Laboratory
- University of Chicago
| | | | | | - Hyungro Lee
- Brookhaven National Lab & Rutgers University
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - John Stone
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Ford AG, Cao XZ, Papanikolas MJ, Kato T, Boucher RC, Markovetz MR, Hill DB, Freeman R, Forest MG. Molecular Dynamics Simulations to Explore the Structure and Rheological Properties of Normal and Hyperconcentrated Airway Mucus. STUDIES IN APPLIED MATHEMATICS (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2021; 147:1369-1387. [PMID: 35221375 PMCID: PMC8871504 DOI: 10.1111/sapm.12433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
We develop the first molecular dynamics model of airway mucus based on the detailed physical properties and chemical structure of the predominant gel-forming mucin MUC5B. Our airway mucus model leverages the LAMMPS open-source code [https://lammps.sandia.gov], based on the statistical physics of polymers, from single molecules to networks. On top of the LAMMPS platform, the chemical structure of MUC5B is used to superimpose proximity-based, non-covalent, transient interactions within and between the specific domains of MUC5B polymers. We explore feasible ranges of hydrophobic and electrostatic interaction strengths between MUC5B domains with 9 nanometer spatial and 1 nanosecond temporal resolution. Our goal here is to propose and test a mechanistic hypothesis for a striking clinical observation with respect to airway mucus: a 10-fold increase in non-swellable, dense structures called flakes during progression of cystic fibrosis disease. Among the myriad possible effects that might promote self-organization of MUC5B networks into flake structures, we hypothesize and confirm that the clinically confirmed increase in mucin concentration, from 1.5 to 5 mg/mL, alone is sufficient to drive the structure changes observed with scanning electron microscopy images from experimental samples. We post-process the LAMMPS simulated datasets at 1.5 and 5 mg/mL, both to image the structure transition and compare with scanning electron micrographs and to show that the 3.33-fold increase in concentration induces closer proximity of interacting electrostatic and hydrophobic domains, thereby amplifying the proximity-based strength of the interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G Ford
- Dept. of Mathematics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | | | - Micah J Papanikolas
- Dept. of Applied Physical Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Takafumi Kato
- Marsico Lung Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | | | | | - David B Hill
- Marsico Lung Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Ronit Freeman
- Dept. of Applied Physical Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - M Gregory Forest
- Dept. of Mathematics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Dept. of Applied Physical Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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29
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Almhöjd U, Cevik-Aras H, Karlsson N, Chuncheng J, Almståhl A. Stimulated saliva composition in patients with cancer of the head and neck region. BMC Oral Health 2021; 21:509. [PMID: 34627217 PMCID: PMC8501675 DOI: 10.1186/s12903-021-01872-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To analyse over time changes in stimulated whole saliva regarding total protein, Immunoglobulin A (IgA), and mucin type O-glycans (mostly MUC5B and MUC7) in head and neck cancer patients. METHODS 29 dentate patients (20 men and 9 women, 59 ± 8 years) treated with curative radiation therapy and chemotherapy for cancer of the head and neck region were included. The stimulated whole salivary secretion rate was determined and saliva collected at four time-points: at pretreatment, and at 6 months, 1 and 2 years post treatment. The total protein concentration was determined spectrophotometrically by using Bicinchoninic Acid assay and Immunoglobulin A (IgA) by using ELISA technique. Glycosylation pattern of salivary mucins was determined in samples collected pre- and post treatment by using LC/MS electrospray and mucin content quantified using SDS-AgPAGE gels and PAS staining. RESULTS Compared with pretreatment, the total protein concentration was increased already at 6 months post treatment (p < 0.01), and continued to increase up to 2 years post treatment (p < 0.001). During that period no significant changes in IgA concentration was detected. At pretreatment, the output/min of both total protein and IgA was significantly higher than at all time-points post treatment. Saliva from the cancer patients showed a low abundance/no detectable MUC7, while the MUC5B level remained, compared to saliva from a healthy control. The glycomic analysis showed that the percentage of core 2 O-glycans was increased as core 1, 3 and 4 O-glycans were decreased. The level of sialylation was higher at 6 months post treatment, while sulfation was lower. CONCLUSION A decreased output per minute of proteins at decreased salivary secretion rate, as well as reduced sulfation of MUC5B at 6 months post treatment tended to correlate with the patients' experience of sticky saliva and oral dryness. At 2 years post treatment, the decreased amount of IgA combined with a lowered salivary secretion rate indicate a reduced oral defense with increased risk of oral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrica Almhöjd
- Department of Cariology, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Hulya Cevik-Aras
- Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,NÄL Hospital, Trollhättan, Sweden
| | - Niclas Karlsson
- BioMS, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jin Chuncheng
- BioMS, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Annica Almståhl
- Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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30
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Architecturally complex O-glycopeptidases are customized for mucin recognition and hydrolysis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2019220118. [PMID: 33658366 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2019220118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
A challenge faced by peptidases is the recognition of highly diverse substrates. A feature of some peptidase families is the capacity to specifically use post-translationally added glycans present on their protein substrates as a recognition determinant. This is ultimately critical to enabling peptide bond hydrolysis. This class of enzyme is also frequently large and architecturally sophisticated. However, the molecular details underpinning glycan recognition by these O-glycopeptidases, the importance of these interactions, and the functional roles of their ancillary domains remain unclear. Here, using the Clostridium perfringens ZmpA, ZmpB, and ZmpC M60 peptidases as model proteins, we provide structural and functional insight into how these intricate proteins recognize glycans as part of catalytic and noncatalytic substrate recognition. Structural, kinetic, and mutagenic analyses support the key role of glycan recognition within the M60 domain catalytic site, though they point to ZmpA as an apparently inactive enzyme. Wider examination of the Zmp domain content reveals noncatalytic carbohydrate binding as a feature of these proteins. The complete three-dimensional structure of ZmpB provides rare insight into the overall molecular organization of a highly multimodular enzyme and reveals how the interplay of individual domain function may influence biological activity. O-glycopeptidases frequently occur in host-adapted microbes that inhabit or attack mucus layers. Therefore, we anticipate that these results will be fundamental to informing more detailed models of how the glycoproteins that are abundant in mucus are destroyed as part of pathogenic processes or liberated as energy sources during normal commensal lifestyles.
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31
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Gelardi M, Giancaspro R, Cassano M. Role of fern test in rhinosinusitis. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol 2021; 11:1712-1713. [PMID: 34176227 DOI: 10.1002/alr.22857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Gelardi
- Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Rossana Giancaspro
- Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Michele Cassano
- Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
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32
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Tsai YY, Vazquez CI, Shiu RF, Garcia AK, Le C, Patel P, Sadqi M, Chin WC. Effects of Rock Dust Particles on Airway Mucus Viscosity. BIOTECHNOL BIOPROC E 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12257-020-0236-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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33
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Schepler H, Wang X, Neufurth M, Wang S, Schröder HC, Müller WEG. The therapeutic potential of inorganic polyphosphate: A versatile physiological polymer to control coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Theranostics 2021; 11:6193-6213. [PMID: 33995653 PMCID: PMC8120197 DOI: 10.7150/thno.59535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: The pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is advancing rapidly. In particular, the number of severe courses of the disease is still dramatically high. An efficient drug therapy that helps to improve significantly the fatal combination of damages in the airway epithelia, in the extensive pulmonary microvascularization and finally multiorgan failure, is missing. The physiological, inorganic polymer, polyphosphate (polyP) is a molecule which could prevent the initial phase of the virus life cycle, the attachment of the virus to the target cells, and improve the epithelial integrity as well as the mucus barrier. Results: Surprisingly, polyP matches perfectly with the cationic groove on the RBD. Subsequent binding studies disclosed that polyP, with a physiological chain length of 40 phosphate residues, abolishes the binding propensity of the RBD to the ACE2 receptor. In addition to this first mode of action of polyP, this polymer causes in epithelial cells an increased gene expression of the major mucins in the airways, of MUC5AC and MUC1, as well as a subsequent glycoprotein production. MUC5AC forms a gel-like mucus layer trapping inhaled particles which are then transported out of the airways, while MUC1 constitutes the periciliary liquid layer and supports ciliary beating. As a third mode of action, polyP undergoes enzymatic hydrolysis of the anhydride bonds in the airway system by alkaline phosphatase, releasing metabolic energy. Conclusions: This review summarizes the state of the art of the biotherapeutic potential of the polymer polyP and the findings from basic research and outlines future biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadrian Schepler
- Department of Dermatology, University Clinic Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Xiaohong Wang
- ERC Advanced Investigator Grant Research Group at the Institute for Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Meik Neufurth
- ERC Advanced Investigator Grant Research Group at the Institute for Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Shunfeng Wang
- ERC Advanced Investigator Grant Research Group at the Institute for Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Heinz C. Schröder
- ERC Advanced Investigator Grant Research Group at the Institute for Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Werner E. G. Müller
- ERC Advanced Investigator Grant Research Group at the Institute for Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55128 Mainz, Germany
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34
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Song D, Cahn D, Duncan GA. Mucin Biopolymers and Their Barrier Function at Airway Surfaces. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2020; 36:12773-12783. [PMID: 33094612 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c02410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In the lung, the airway epithelium produces secreted and tethered mucin biopolymers to form a mucus hydrogel layer and a surface-attached polymer brush layer. These layers work in concert to facilitate the cilia-mediated transport of mucus for the capture and clearance of inhaled materials to prevent lung damage. The mechanisms by which mucin biopolymers protect the lung from injury have been an intense area of study in airway biology for the past several decades. In this feature article, we will discuss how airway mucins achieve these protective barrier functions. We will present the key findings, rooted in polymer and surface science, that have aided in understanding mucin barrier function. In addition, we will describe how this work may influence the design of nanoparticles to overcome the mucus barrier to effective drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Song
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Devorah Cahn
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Gregg A Duncan
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
- Biophysics Program, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
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35
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Javitt G, Khmelnitsky L, Albert L, Bigman LS, Elad N, Morgenstern D, Ilani T, Levy Y, Diskin R, Fass D. Assembly Mechanism of Mucin and von Willebrand Factor Polymers. Cell 2020; 183:717-729.e16. [PMID: 33031746 PMCID: PMC7599080 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The respiratory and intestinal tracts are exposed to physical and biological hazards accompanying the intake of air and food. Likewise, the vasculature is threatened by inflammation and trauma. Mucin glycoproteins and the related von Willebrand factor guard the vulnerable cell layers in these diverse systems. Colon mucins additionally house and feed the gut microbiome. Here, we present an integrated structural analysis of the intestinal mucin MUC2. Our findings reveal the shared mechanism by which complex macromolecules responsible for blood clotting, mucociliary clearance, and the intestinal mucosal barrier form protective polymers and hydrogels. Specifically, cryo-electron microscopy and crystal structures show how disulfide-rich bridges and pH-tunable interfaces control successive assembly steps in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. Remarkably, a densely O-glycosylated mucin domain performs an organizational role in MUC2. The mucin assembly mechanism and its adaptation for hemostasis provide the foundation for rational manipulation of barrier function and coagulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Javitt
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Lev Khmelnitsky
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Lis Albert
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Lavi Shlomo Bigman
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Nadav Elad
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - David Morgenstern
- De Botton Institute for Protein Profiling, Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Tal Ilani
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Yaakov Levy
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Ron Diskin
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Deborah Fass
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
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Briottet M, Shum M, Urbach V. The Role of Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators in Cystic Fibrosis Airways Disease. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:1290. [PMID: 32982730 PMCID: PMC7493015 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.01290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a recessive genetic disease due to mutations of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene encoding the CFTR chloride channel. The ion transport abnormalities related to CFTR mutation generate a dehydrated airway surface liquid (ASL) layer, which is responsible for an altered mucociliary clearance, favors infections and persistent inflammation that lead to progressive lung destruction and respiratory failure. The inflammatory response is normally followed by an active resolution phase to return to tissue homeostasis, which involves specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs). SPMs promote resolution of inflammation, clearance of microbes, tissue regeneration and reduce pain, but do not evoke unwanted immunosuppression. The airways of CF patients showed a decreased production of SPMs even in the absence of pathogens. SPMs levels in the airway correlated with CF patients' lung function. The prognosis for CF has greatly improved but there remains a critical need for more effective treatments that prevent excessive inflammation, lung damage, and declining pulmonary function for all CF patients. This review aims to highlight the recent understanding of CF airway inflammation and the possible impact of SPMs on functions that are altered in CF airways.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Valerie Urbach
- Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (Inserm) U955, Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale (IMRB), Créteil, France
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Xie Y, Lu L, Tang XX, Moninger TO, Huang TJ, Stoltz DA, Welsh MJ. Acidic Submucosal Gland pH and Elevated Protein Concentration Produce Abnormal Cystic Fibrosis Mucus. Dev Cell 2020; 54:488-500.e5. [PMID: 32730755 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2020.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
In response to respiratory insults, airway submucosal glands secrete copious mucus strands to increase mucociliary clearance and protect the lung. However, in cystic fibrosis, stimulating submucosal glands has the opposite effect, disrupting mucociliary transport. In cystic fibrosis (CF) pigs, loss of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) anion channels produced submucosal gland mucus that was abnormally acidic with an increased protein concentration. To test whether these variables alter mucus, we produced a microfluidic model of submucosal glands using mucus vesicles from banana slugs. Acidic pH and increased protein concentration decreased mucus gel volume and increased mucus strand elasticity and tensile strength. However, once mucus strands were formed, changing pH or protein concentration largely failed to alter the biophysical properties. Likewise, raising pH or apical perfusion did not improve clearance of mucus strands from CF airways. These findings reveal mechanisms responsible for impaired mucociliary transport in CF and have important implications for potential treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuliang Xie
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Lin Lu
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Xiao Xiao Tang
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Thomas O Moninger
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Tony Jun Huang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - David A Stoltz
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Roy J and Lucille A Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Michael J Welsh
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Roy J and Lucille A Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
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Abstract
Generating the barriers that protect our inner surfaces from bacteria and other challenges requires large glycoproteins called mucins. These come in two types, gel-forming and transmembrane, all characterized by large, highly O-glycosylated mucin domains that are diversely decorated by Golgi glycosyltransferases to become extended rodlike structures. The general functions of mucins on internal epithelial surfaces are to wash away microorganisms and, even more importantly, to build protective barriers. The latter function is most evident in the large intestine, where the inner mucus layer separates the numerous commensal bacteria from the epithelial cells. The host's conversion of MUC2 to the outer mucus layer allows bacteria to degrade the mucin glycans and recover the energy content that is then shared with the host. The molecular nature of the mucins is complex, and how they construct the extracellular complex glycocalyx and mucus is poorly understood and a future biochemical challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunnar C Hansson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Gothenburg, SE 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden;
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Liao YSJ, Kuan SP, Guevara MV, Collins EN, Atanasova KR, Dadural JS, Vogt K, Schurmann V, Bravo L, Eken E, Sponchiado M, Reznikov LR. Acid exposure disrupts mucus secretion and impairs mucociliary transport in neonatal piglet airways. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2020; 318:L873-L887. [PMID: 32160007 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00025.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Tenacious mucus produced by tracheal and bronchial submucosal glands is a defining feature of several airway diseases, including cystic fibrosis (CF). Airway acidification as a driving force of CF airway pathology has been controversial. Here we tested the hypothesis that transient airway acidification produces pathologic mucus and impairs mucociliary transport. We studied pigs challenged with intra-airway acid. Acid had a minimal effect on mucus properties under basal conditions. However, cholinergic stimulation in acid-challenged pigs revealed retention of mucin 5B (MUC5B) in the submucosal glands, decreased concentrations of MUC5B in the lung lavage fluid, and airway obstruction. To more closely mimic a CF-like environment, we also examined mucus secretion and transport following cholinergic stimulation under diminished bicarbonate and chloride transport conditions ex vivo. Under these conditions, airways from acid-challenged pigs displayed extensive mucus films and decreased mucociliary transport. Pretreatment with diminazene aceturate, a small molecule with ability to inhibit acid detection through blockade of the acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC) at the doses provided, did not prevent acid-induced pathologic mucus or transport defects but did mitigate airway obstruction. These findings suggest that transient airway acidification early in life has significant impacts on mucus secretion and transport properties. Furthermore, they highlight diminazene aceturate as an agent that might be beneficial in alleviating airway obstruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Shin J Liao
- Department of Physiological Sciences University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Shin Ping Kuan
- Department of Physiological Sciences University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Maria V Guevara
- Department of Physiological Sciences University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Emily N Collins
- Department of Physiological Sciences University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Kalina R Atanasova
- Department of Physiological Sciences University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Joshua S Dadural
- Department of Physiological Sciences University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Kevin Vogt
- Department of Physiological Sciences University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Veronica Schurmann
- Department of Physiological Sciences University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Laura Bravo
- Department of Physiological Sciences University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Eda Eken
- Department of Physiological Sciences University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Mariana Sponchiado
- Department of Physiological Sciences University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Leah R Reznikov
- Department of Physiological Sciences University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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