Inhibition of semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase/vascular adhesion protein-1 reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation

Midbrain FA initiates neuroinflammation and depression onset in both acute and chronic LPS-induced depressive model mice

Both exogenous gaseous and liquid forms of formaldehyde (FA) can induce depressive-like behaviors in both animals and humans. Stress and neuronal excitation can elicit brain FA generation. However, whether endogenous FA participates in depression occurrence remains largely unknown. In this study, we report that midbrain FA derived from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a direct trigger of depression. Using an acute depressive model in mice, we found that one-week intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of LPS activated semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) leading to FA production from the midbrain vascular endothelium. In both in vitro and in vivo experiments, FA stimulated the production of cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Strikingly, one-week microinfusion of FA as well as LPS into the midbrain dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN, a 5-HT-nergic nucleus) induced depressive-like behaviors and concurrent neuroinflammation. Conversely, NaHSO3 (a FA scavenger), improved depressive symptoms associated with a reduction in the levels of midbrain FA and cytokines. Moreover, the chronic depressive model of mice injected with four-week i.p. LPS exhibited a marked elevation in the levels of midbrain LPS accompanied by a substantial increase in the levels of FA and cytokines. Notably, four-week i.p. injection of FA as well as LPS elicited cytokine storm in the midbrain and disrupted the blood-brain barrier (BBB) by activating microglia and reducing the expression of claudin 5 (CLDN5, a protein with tight junctions in the BBB). However, the administration of 30 nm nano-packed coenzyme-Q10 (Q10, an endogenous FA scavenger), phototherapy (PT) utilizing 630-nm red light to degrade FA, and the combination of PT and Q10, reduced FA accumulation and neuroinflammation in the midbrain. Moreover, the combined therapy exhibited superior therapeutic efficacy in attenuating depressive symptoms compared to individual treatments. Thus, LPS-derived FA directly initiates depression onset, thereby suggesting that scavenging FA represents a promising strategy for depression treatment.

Cell morphologies in the nervous system: Glia steal the limelight

Neurons and glia have distinct yet interactive functions but are both characterized by branching morphology. Dendritic trees have been digitally traced for over 40 years in many animal species, anatomical regions, and neuron types. Recently, long-range axons also are being reconstructed throughout the brain of many organisms from invertebrates to primates. In contrast, less attention has been paid until lately to glial morphology. Thus, although glia and neurons are similarly abundant in the nervous systems of humans and most animal models, glia have traditionally been much less represented than neurons in morphological reconstruction repositories such as NeuroMorpho.Org. This is rapidly changing with the advent of high-throughput glia tracing. NeuroMorpho.Org introduced glial cells in 2017 and today they constitute nearly a third of the database content. It took NeuroMorpho.Org 10 years to collect the first 40,000 neurons and now that amount of data can be produced in a single publication. This not only demonstrates the spectacular technological progress in data production, but also demands a corresponding advancement in informatics processing. At the same time, these publicly available data also open new opportunities for quantitative analysis and computational modeling to identify universal or cell-type-specific design principles in the cellular architecture of nervous systems. As a first application, we demonstrated that supervised machine learning of tree geometry classifies neurons and glia with practically perfect accuracy. Furthermore, we discovered a new morphometric biomarker capable of robustly separating these cell classes across multiple species, brain regions, and experimental preparations, with only sparse sampling of branch measurements.

Sestrin2 provides cerebral protection through activation of Nrf2 signaling in microglia following subarachnoid hemorrhage

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a neurological emergency characterized by dysfunctional inflammatory response. However, no effective therapeutic options have been reported so far. Microglia polarization has been proposed to exert an essential role in modulating inflammatory response after SAH. Sestrin2 is a stress response protein. Growing evidence has reported that sestrin2 could inhibit M1 microglia and promote M2 microglia polarization. The current study investigated the effects of sestrin2 on microglia phenotype switching and the subsequent brain injury and sought to elucidate the underlying mechanism. We conducted an endovascular perforation SAH model in mice. It was found that sestrin2 was significantly increased after SAH and was mainly distributed in neurons and microglia. Exogenous recombinant human sestrin2 (rh-sestrin2) evidently alleviated inflammatory insults and oxidative stress, and improved neurofunction after SAH. Moreover, rh-sestrin2 increased M2-like microglia polarization and suppressed the number of M1-like microglia after SAH. The protection by rh-sestrin2 was correlated with the activation of Nrf2 signaling. Nrf2 inhibition by ML385 abated the cerebroprotective effects of rh-sestrin2 against SAH and further manifested M1 microglia polarization. In conclusion, promoting microglia polarization from the M1 to M2 phenotype and inducing Nrf2 signaling might be the major mechanism by which sestrin2 protects against SAH insults. Sestrin2 might be a new molecular target for treating SAH.

PHLDA1 modulates microglial response and NLRP3 inflammasome signaling following experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage

Balancing microglia M1/M2 polarization is an effective therapeutic strategy for neuroinflammation after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Pleckstrin homology-like domain family A member 1 (PHLDA1) has been demonstrated to play a crucial role in immune response. However, the function roles of PHLDA1 in neuroinflammation and microglial polarization after SAH remain unclear. In this study, SAH mouse models were assigned to treat with scramble or PHLDA1 small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). We observed that PHLDA1 was significantly increased and mainly distributed in microglia after SAH. Concomitant with PHLDA1 activation, nod-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome expression in microglia was also evidently enhanced after SAH. In addition, PHLDA1 siRNA treatment significantly reduced microglia-mediated neuroinflammation by inhibiting M1 microglia and promoting M2 microglia polarization. Meanwhile, PHLDA1 deficiency reduced neuronal apoptosis and improved neurological outcomes after SAH. Further investigation revealed that PHLDA1 blockade suppressed the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling after SAH. In contrast, NLRP3 inflammasome activator nigericin abated the beneficial effects of PHLDA1 deficiency against SAH by promoting microglial polarization to M1 phenotype. In all, we proposed that PHLDA1 blockade might ameliorate SAH-induced brain injury by balancing microglia M1/M2 polarization via suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome signaling. Targeting PHLDA1 might be a feasible strategy for treating SAH.

Combining monoamine oxidase B and semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase enzyme inhibition to address inflammatory disease

The discovery of a dual MAO-B/SSAO inhibitor PXS-5131 is reported. The compound offers a compact and rigid three-dimensional structure with superior selectivity over MAO-A. Potency and selectivity are linked to both the double bond geometry and stereochemistry of the allylamine moiety, highlighting the importance of optimal set up of these features in the class of amine oxidase inhibitors. PXS-5131 possesses an attractive preclinical pharmacokinetic profile and has anti-inflammatory properties in models of acute inflammation and neuroinflammation.

Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) in vascular inflammatory diseases

Summary: Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) also known as amino oxidase copper containing 3 (AOC3) is a pro-inflammatory and versatile molecule with adhesive and enzymatic properties. VAP-1 is a primary amine oxidase belonging to the semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) family, which catalyzes the oxidation of primary amines leading to the production of ammonium, formaldehyde, methylglyoxal, and hydrogen peroxide. VAP-1 is mainly expressed by endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, adipocytes and pericytes. It is involved in a repertoire of biological functions, e.g., immune cell extravasation, angiogenesis, and vascularization. Research into VAP-1 has intensified within the last decade on its role as a novel clinical biomarker and as a potential therapeutic target of vascular inflammatory disorders such as atherosclerosis, stroke, diabetes, neurovascular disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s Disease), hepatic disease (e.g., non-alcoholic steatohepatitis), and skin conditions (e.g., psoriasis). This is the most up-to-date and comprehensive review on VAP-1 focusing on the translational aspects of VAP-1. Compared to recent reviews, our review provides novel insights on VAP-1 and heart failure, stroke and frailty, diabetes, endometriosis, osteoarthritis, COVID-19, conjunctivitis associated systemic lupus erythematosus, hematopoietic stem cells, gliomas, treatment of colorectal cancer with a novel VAP-1 inhibitor (U-V269), promoting recovery of motor functions and habit learning with a novel VAP-1 inhibitor (PXS-4681A), and 68Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9, a labelled peptide of Siglec-9 (a VAP-1 ligand), which appears to be a safe PET tracer for inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. Finally, we present the emerging role of VAP-1 in pregnancy as a gatekeeper of immune cells, which are critical for spiral arterial remodeling, the deficiency of which could lead to vascular disorders of pregnancy such as preeclampsia. Future research should prioritize clinical trials on VAP-1 small-molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies, thus, maximizing the potential of VAP-1 targeted therapy as well as research into sVAP-1 as a clinical biomarker of diseases and its prognosis.

Vascular adhesion protein-1 and microvascular diabetic complications

Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) is a bifunctional protein that has the ability to catalyze the deamination of primary amines and is involved in the production of hydrogen peroxide, aldehydes, and advanced glycation end products (AGEs). VAP-1 is usually stored in intracellular vesicles of endothelial cells, smooth muscles, and adipocytes. It is responsible for leukocyte transmigration and adhesion. Overexpression of VAP-1 exacerbates oxidative stress and modulates a variety of inflammatory mediators linked with diabetic complications. Numerous studies have suggested the association of increased insulin levels with serum VAP-1 (sVAP-1). Preclinical research evidence suggests the increased activity of sVAP-1 in type 1 and 2 diabetes. Scientific reports on VAP-1 inhibitors have shown a reduction in severity in diabetic animal models. VAP-1 is a potential target of a therapeutically effective line of treatment for diabetes and diabetic complications such as nephropathy and retinopathy. The primary focus of this review is the role of VAP-1 in diabetes and its associated microvascular complications.

Efficient metadata mining of web-accessible neural morphologies

Advancements in neuroscience research have led to steadily accelerating data production and sharing. The online community repository of neural reconstructions NeuroMorpho.Org grew from fewer than 1000 digitally traced neurons in 2006 to more than 140,000 cells today, including glia that now constitute 10.1% of the content. Every reconstruction consists of a detailed 3D representation of branch geometry and connectivity in a standardized format, from which a collection of morphometric features is extracted and stored. Moreover, each entry in the database is accompanied by rich metadata annotation describing the animal subject, anatomy, and experimental details. The rapid expansion of this resource in the past decade was accompanied by a parallel rise in the complexity of the available information, creating both opportunities and challenges for knowledge mining. Here, we introduce a new summary reporting functionality, allowing NeuroMorpho.Org users to efficiently download digests of metadata and morphometrics from multiple groups of similar cells for further analysis. We demonstrate the capabilities of the tool for both glia and neurons and present an illustrative statistical analysis of the resulting data.

Inhibition of vascular adhesion protein 1 protects dopamine neurons from the effects of acute inflammation and restores habit learning in the striatum

Background

Changes in dopaminergic neural function can be induced by an acute inflammatory state that, by altering the integrity of the neurovasculature, induces neuronal stress, cell death and causes functional deficits. Effectively blocking these effects of inflammation could, therefore, reduce both neuronal and functional decline. To test this hypothesis, we inhibited vascular adhesion protein 1 (VAP-1), a membrane-bound protein expressed on the endothelial cell surface, that mediates leukocyte extravasation and induces oxidative stress.

Method

We induced dopaminergic neuronal loss by infusing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) directly into the substantia nigra (SN) in rats and administered the VAP-1 inhibitor, PXS-4681A, daily.

Results

LPS produced: an acute inflammatory response, the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the SN, reduced the dopaminergic projection to SN target regions, particularly the dorsolateral striatum (DLS), and a deficit in habit learning, a key function of the DLS. In an attempt to protect SN neurons from this inflammatory response we found that VAP-1 inhibition not only reduced neutrophil infiltration in the SN and striatum, but also reduced the associated striatal microglia and astrocyte response. We found VAP-1 inhibition protected dopamine neurons in the SN, their projections to the striatum and promoted the functional recovery of habit learning. Thus, we reversed the loss of habitual actions, a function usually dependent on dopamine release in DLS and sensitive to striatal dysfunction.

Conclusions

We establish, therefore, that VAP-1 inhibition has an anti-inflammatory profile that may be beneficial in the treatment of dopamine neuron dysfunction caused by an acute inflammatory state in the brain.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12974-021-02288-8.

SSAO/VAP-1 in Cerebrovascular Disorders: A Potential Therapeutic Target for Stroke and Alzheimer's Disease

The semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO), also known as vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) or primary amine oxidase (PrAO), is a deaminating enzyme highly expressed in vessels that generates harmful products as a result of its enzymatic activity. As a multifunctional enzyme, it is also involved in inflammation through its ability to bind and promote the transmigration of circulating leukocytes into inflamed tissues. Inflammation is present in different systemic and cerebral diseases, including stroke and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). These pathologies show important affectations on cerebral vessels, together with increased SSAO levels. This review summarizes the main roles of SSAO/VAP-1 in human physiology and pathophysiology and discusses the mechanisms by which it can affect the onset and progression of both stroke and AD. As there is an evident interrelationship between stroke and AD, basically through the vascular system dysfunction, the possibility that SSAO/VAP-1 could be involved in the transition between these two pathologies is suggested. Hence, its inhibition is proposed to be an interesting therapeutical approach to the brain damage induced in these both cerebral pathologies.

Astaxanthin ameliorates oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis via SIRT1/NRF2/Prx2/ASK1/p38 after traumatic brain injury in mice

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis play key roles in traumatic brain injury. We investigated the protective effects of astaxanthin against traumatic brain injury and its underlying mechanisms of action.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

A weight-drop model of traumatic brain injury in vivo and hydrogen peroxide exposure in vitro model were established. Brain oedema, behaviour tests, western blot, biochemical analysis, lesion volume, histopathological study and cell viability were performed.

KEY RESULTS

Astaxanthin significantly reduced oxidative insults on Days 1, 3 and 7 after traumatic brain injury. Neuronal apoptosis was also ameliorated on Day 3. Additionally, astaxanthin improved neurological functions up to 3 weeks after traumatic brain injury. Astaxanthin treatment dramatically enhanced the expression of peroxiredoxin 2 (Prx2), nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2/Nrf2) and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), while it down-regulated the phosphorylation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) and p38. Inhibition of Prx2 by siRNA injection reversed the beneficial effects of astaxanthin against traumatic brain injury. Additionally, Nrf2 knockout prevented the neuroprotective effects of astaxanthin in traumatic brain injury. In contrast, overexpression of Prx2 in Nrf2 knockout mice attenuated the secondary brain injury after traumatic brain injury. Moreover, inhibiting SIRT1 by EX527 dramatically inhibited the neuroprotective effects of astaxanthin and suppressed SIRT1/Nrf2/Prx2/ASK1/p38 pathway both in vivo and in vitro.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Astaxanthin improved the neurological functions and protected the brain from injury after traumatic brain injury, primarily by reducing oxidative stress and neuronal death via SIRT1/Nrf2/Prx2/ASK1/p38 signalling pathway and might be a new candidate to ameliorate traumatic brain injury.

Environmental Circadian Disruption Increases Stroke Severity and Dysregulates Immune Response

Understanding the health consequences of chronic disruption of circadian rhythms can contribute to improving prevention strategies for shift workers. Chronic circadian disruption in shift work has been linked to a higher risk of stroke. Dysregulated immune responses are also linked to circadian disruption and may be a factor in stroke outcomes in shift workers. In this study, we test the hypotheses that specific schedules of circadian disruption exacerbate inflammatory responses in the brain, causing an increase in infarct size after experimentally induced ischemic stroke. Mice were exposed to 1 of 5 different lighting schedules followed by a 30-min middle cerebral artery occlusion, then reperfusion and 3-day recovery. A history of weekly phase advances resulted in an increased infarct volume versus the control lighting schedule. These effects were shift-direction specific, nonpermanent, and required multiple shifts to occur. In a separate cohort, stereotaxic injections of lipopolysaccharide were given bilaterally after exposure to 1 of 3 different lighting schedules. Ratios of pro- to anti-inflammatory cytokine expression show dysregulated responses after a history of phase advances. We conclude that chronic circadian disruption leads to worsened stroke outcome in a direction- and schedule-specific manner likely because of priming of the inflammatory response in the brain. These pieces of evidence suggest that the health impacts of shift work may be improved by targeting shift work scheduling, inflammatory mediators, or both.

Environmental Circadian Disruption Increases Stroke Severity and Dysregulates Immune Response

Understanding the health consequences of chronic disruption of circadian rhythms can contribute to improving prevention strategies for shift workers. Chronic circadian disruption in shift work has been linked to a higher risk of stroke. Dysregulated immune responses are also linked to circadian disruption and may be a factor in stroke outcomes in shift workers. In this study, we test the hypotheses that specific schedules of circadian disruption exacerbate inflammatory responses in the brain, causing an increase in infarct size after experimentally induced ischemic stroke. Mice were exposed to 1 of 5 different lighting schedules followed by a 30-min middle cerebral artery occlusion, then reperfusion and 3-day recovery. A history of weekly phase advances resulted in an increased infarct volume versus the control lighting schedule. These effects were shift-direction specific, nonpermanent, and required multiple shifts to occur. In a separate cohort, stereotaxic injections of lipopolysaccharide were given bilaterally after exposure to 1 of 3 different lighting schedules. Ratios of pro- to anti-inflammatory cytokine expression show dysregulated responses after a history of phase advances. We conclude that chronic circadian disruption leads to worsened stroke outcome in a direction- and schedule-specific manner likely because of priming of the inflammatory response in the brain. These pieces of evidence suggest that the health impacts of shift work may be improved by targeting shift work scheduling, inflammatory mediators, or both.

Comparison of Inhibitor and Substrate Selectivity between Rodent and Human Vascular Adhesion Protein-1

Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) is an ectoenzyme that functions as a copper-containing amine oxidase and is involved in leukocyte adhesion at sites of inflammation. Inhibition of VAP-1 oxidative deamination has become an attractive target for anti-inflammatory therapy with demonstrated efficacy in rodent models of inflammation. A previous comparison of purified recombinant VAP-1 from mouse, rat, monkey, and human gene sequences predicted that rodent VAP-1 would have higher affinity for smaller hydrophilic substrates/inhibitors because of its narrower and more hydrophilic active site channel. An optimized in vitro oxidative deamination fluorescence assay with benzylamine (BA) was used to compare inhibition of five known inhibitors in recombinant mouse, rat, and human VAP-1. Human VAP-1 was more sensitive compared to rat or mouse VAP-1 (lowest IC₅₀ concentration) to semicarbazide but was least sensitive to hydralazine and LJP-1207. Hydralazine had a lower IC₅₀ in rats compared to humans, although not significant. However, the IC₅₀ of hydralazine was significantly higher in the rat compared to mouse VAP-1. The larger hydrophobic compounds from Astellas (compound 35c) and Boehringer Ingelheim (PXS-4728A) were hypothesized to have higher binding affinity for human VAP-1 compared to rodent VAP-1 since the channel in human VAP-1 is larger and more hydrophobic than that in rodent VAP-1. Although the sensitivity of these two inhibitors was the lowest in the mouse enzyme, we found no significant differences between mouse, rat, and human VAP-1. Michaelis-Menten kinetics of the small primary amines phenylethylamine and tyramine were also compared to the common marker substrate BA demonstrating that BA had the highest affinity among the substrates. Rat VAP-1 had the highest affinity for all three substrates and mouse VAP-1 had intermediate affinity for BA and phenylethylamine, but tyramine was not a substrate for mouse VAP-1 under these assay conditions. These results suggest that comparing oxidative deamination in mouse and rat VAP-1 may be important if using these species for preclinical efficacy models.

Human Copper-Containing Amine Oxidases in Drug Design and Development

Two members of the copper-containing amine oxidase family are physiologically important proteins: (1) Diamine oxidase (hDAO; AOC1) with a preference for diamines is involved in degradation of histamine and (2) Vascular adhesion protein-1 (hVAP-1; AOC3) with a preference for monoamines is a multifunctional cell-surface receptor and an enzyme. hVAP-1-targeted inhibitors are designed to treat inflammatory diseases and cancer, whereas the off-target binding of the designed inhibitors to hDAO might result in adverse drug reactions. The X-ray structures for both human enzymes are solved and provide the basis for computer-aided inhibitor design, which has been reported by several research groups. Although the putative off-target effect of hDAO is less studied, computational methods could be easily utilized to avoid the binding of VAP-1-targeted inhibitors to hDAO. The choice of the model organism for preclinical testing of hVAP-1 inhibitors is not either trivial due to species-specific binding properties of designed inhibitors and different repertoire of copper-containing amine oxidase family members in mammalian species. Thus, the facts that should be considered in hVAP-1-targeted inhibitor design are discussed in light of the applied structural bioinformatics and structural biology approaches.

Attenuation of Weight Gain and Prevention of Associated Pathologies by Inhibiting SSAO

Obesity is a worldwide prevalent metabolic disorder that is associated with diabetes, among many other diseases. Bearing this in mind, prevention and treatment ways need to be improved. Notably, activity of the enzyme semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) is found to be elevated in overweight subjects. Moreover, SSAO inhibition has resulted in an increase of histamine activity in adipose tissue and the limitation of body fat. The current review aims to overview the risks of obesity, rationalize the molecular ways of SSAO activity, and outline the strategies of inhibiting upregulated enzyme levels. It describes the differences between SSAO inhibitors and advances the prospective agents. Based on evidence, caffeine is proposed as an effective, safe, and reliable choice to inhibit SSAO activity. Furthermore, the histamine in adipocytes has been associated with SSAO activity. Therefore, it is suggested as one of the key compounds to be studied for obesity management. To conclude, inhibiting SSAO may attenuate weight gain and prevent related diseases.

BAP31 regulates IRAK1-dependent neuroinflammation in microglia

BACKGROUND

Microglia, the mononuclear immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), are essential for the maintenance of CNS homeostasis. BAP31, a resident and ubiquitously expressed protein of the endoplasmic reticulum, serves as a sorting factor for its client proteins, mediating the subsequent export, retention, and degradation or survival. Recently, BAP31 has been defined as a regulatory molecule in the CNS, but the function of BAP31 in microglia has yet to be determined. In the present study, we investigated whether BAP31 is involved in the inflammatory response of microglia.

METHODS

This study used the BV2 cell line and BAP31 conditional knockdown mice generated via the Cre/LoxP system. A BAP31 knockdown experiment was performed to elucidate the role of BAP31 in the endogenous inflammatory cytokine production by microglial BV2 cells. A mouse model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cognitive impairment was established to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of BAP31 against neuroinflammation-induced memory deficits. Behavioral alterations were assessed with the open field test (OFT), Y maze, and Morris water maze. The activation of microglia in the hippocampus of mice was observed by immunohistochemistry. Western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence staining, and reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to clarify the mechanisms.

RESULTS

BAP31 deficiency upregulates LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokines in BV2 cells and mice by upregulating the protein level of IRAK1, which in turn increases the translocation and transcriptional activity of NF-κB p65 and c-Jun, and moreover, knockdown of IRAK1 or use of an IRAK1 inhibitor reverses these functions. In the cognitive impairment animal model, the BAP31 knockdown mice displayed increased severity in memory deficiency accompanied by an increased expression of proinflammatory factors in the hippocampus.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that BAP31 may modulate inflammatory cytokines and cognitive impairment induced by neuroinflammation through IRAK1, which demonstrates that BAP31 plays an essential role in microglial inflammation and prevention of memory deficits caused by neuroinflammation.

Development of a HPLC-FL method to determine benzaldehyde after derivatization with N-acetylhydrazine acridone and its application for determination of semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase activity in human serum

A novel fluorescence labeling reagent N-acetylhydrazine acridone (AHAD) was designed and synthesized. A highly sensitive high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method coupled with fluorescence detection to determine benzaldehyde after derivatization with AHAD was developed. Optimum derivatization was obtained at 40 °C for 30 min with trichloroacetic acid as catalyst. Benzaldehyde derivative was separated on a reversed-phase SB-C18 column in conjunction with a gradient elution and detected by fluorescence detection at excitation and emission wavelengths of 371 nm and 421 nm. The established method exhibited excellent linearity over the injected amount of benzaldehyde of 0.003 to 5 nmol mL⁻¹. The method was successfully applied to the determination of serum semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) activity in humans. SSAO is a significant biomarker because serum SSAO activity is elevated in patients with Alzheimer's disease, vascular disorders, heart disease and diabetes mellitus. It was demonstrated that the SSAO activity of the hyperglycemic group (60 ± 4 nmol mL⁻¹ h⁻¹) was significantly higher than that of normal blood sugar group (44 ± 4 nmol mL⁻¹ h⁻¹) with P < 0.05.

A highly sensitive HPLC-FL method to determine semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase activity was developed utilizing AHAD as the novel fluorescence labeling reagent.

Vascular Adhesion Protein-1: A Cell Surface Amine Oxidase in Translation

Significance: Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) is an ectoenzyme that oxidates primary amines in a reaction producing also hydrogen peroxide. VAP-1 on the blood vessel endothelium regulates leukocyte extravasation from the blood into tissues under physiological and pathological conditions. Recent Advances: Inhibition of VAP-1 by neutralizing antibodies and by several novel small-molecule enzyme inhibitors interferes with leukocyte trafficking and alleviates inflammation in many experimental models. Targeting of VAP-1 also shows beneficial effects in several other diseases, such as ischemia/reperfusion, fibrosis, and cancer. Moreover, soluble VAP-1 levels may serve as a new prognostic biomarker in selected diseases. Critical Issues: Understanding the contribution of the enzyme activity-independent and enzyme activity-dependent functions, which often appear to be mediated by the hydrogen peroxide production, in the VAP-1 biology will be crucial. Similarly, there is a pressing need to understand which of the VAP-1 functions are regulated through the modulation of leukocyte trafficking, and what is the role of VAP-1 synthesized in adipose and smooth muscle cells. Future Directions: The specificity and selectivity of new VAP-1 inhibitors, and their value in animal models under therapeutic settings need to be addressed. Results from several programs studying the therapeutic potential of VAP-1 inhibition, which now are in clinical trials, will reveal the relevance of this amine oxidase in humans.

Inhibition of semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase/vascular adhesion protein-1 reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Neuroinflammation is initiated by a variety of stimuli including infections, sepsis, neurodegenerative diseases or traumatic brain injury and, if not adequately controlled, can lead to various degrees of neuronal damage and behavioural impairment. A critical event in the initial steps of inflammation is neutrophil extravasation. Semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO, also known as vascular adhesion protein 1 or VAP-1) regulates neutrophil adhesion and extravasation. Here, we elucidate the role of SSAO/VAP-1 in the early stage inflammatory response after LPS insult in the brain.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

PXS-4681A, a selective and irreversible SSAO/VAP-1 inhibitor, was tested in two rat models of neuroinflammation, following systemic or i.c.v. LPS. Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence techniques were used to measure neutrophils and microglia. VAP-1 was quantitated by Western blotting.

KEY RESULTS

Both systemic and i.c.v. administration of LPS induced an increase in neutrophil recruitment and microglial response in various brain areas including the substantia nigra and striatum. PXS-4681A produced a significant inhibition of neutrophil recruitment and extravasation after i.c.v. LPS injection and also reversed microglial cell recruitment and morphological changes to the level of the sham controls in both LPS models.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

PXS-4681A acted as an effective anti-inflammatory agent after both systemic and i.c.v. LPS injections suggesting that SSAO/VAP-1 inhibition could be beneficial in the treatment of brain inflammation.