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Erythrocytes Prevent Degradation of Carnosine by Human Serum Carnosinase. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222312802. [PMID: 34884603 PMCID: PMC8657436 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The naturally occurring dipeptide carnosine (β-alanyl-l-histidine) has beneficial effects in different diseases. It is also frequently used as a food supplement to improve exercise performance and because of its anti-aging effects. Nevertheless, after oral ingestion, the dipeptide is not detectable in human serum because of rapid degradation by serum carnosinase. At the same time, intact carnosine is excreted in urine up to five hours after intake. Therefore, an unknown compartment protecting the dipeptide from degradation has long been hypothesized. Considering that erythrocytes may constitute this compartment, we investigated the uptake and intracellular amounts of carnosine in human erythrocytes cultivated in the presence of the dipeptide and human serum using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. In addition, we studied carnosine’s effect on ATP production in red blood cells and on their response to oxidative stress. Our experiments revealed uptake of carnosine into erythrocytes and protection from carnosinase degradation. In addition, no negative effect on ATP production or defense against oxidative stress was observed. In conclusion, our results for the first time demonstrate that erythrocytes can take up carnosine, and, most importantly, thereby prevent its degradation by human serum carnosinase.
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Anti-cancer actions of carnosine and the restoration of normal cellular homeostasis. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2021; 1868:119117. [PMID: 34384791 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2021.119117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Carnosine is a naturally occurring dipeptide found in meat. Alternatively it can be formed through synthesis from the amino acids, β-alanine and L-histidine. Carnosine has long been advocated for use as an anti-oxidant and anti-glycating agent to facilitate healthy ageing, and there have also been reports of it having anti-proliferative effects that have beneficial actions against the development of a number of different cancers. Carnosine is able to undertake multiple molecular processes, and it's mechanism of action therefore remains controversial - both in healthy tissues and those associated with cancer or metabolic diseases. Here we review current understanding of its mechanistic role in different physiological contexts, and how this relates to cancer. Carnosine turns over rapidly in the body due to the presence of both serum and tissue carnosinase enzymes however, so its use as a dietary supplement would require ingestion of multiple daily doses. Strategies are therefore being developed that are based upon either resistance of carnosine analogs to enzymatic turnover, or else β-alanine supplementation, and the development of these potential therapeutic agents is discussed.
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Pan G, Ma Y, Suo J, Li W, Zhang Y, Qin S, Jiao Y, Zhang S, Li S, Kong Y, Du Y, Gao S, Wang D. Discovering Biomarkers in Peritoneal Metastasis of Gastric Cancer by Metabolomics. Onco Targets Ther 2020; 13:7199-7211. [PMID: 32801750 PMCID: PMC7394602 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s245663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objective Metabolomics has recently been applied in the field of oncology. In this study, we aimed to use metabolomics to explore biomarkers in peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer. Methods Peritoneal lavage fluid (PLF) of 65 gastric cancer patients and related clinical data were collected from the First Hospital of Jilin University. The metabolic components were identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Total ion current (TIC) spectra, principal component analysis (PCA), and the Student's t-test were used to identify differential metabolites in PLF. A support vector machine (SVM) was used to screen the differential metabolites in PLF with a weight of 100%. Cluster analysis was used to evaluate the similarity between samples. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess the diagnostic ability of the metabolites. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify potential risk factors for peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer. Results We found the differential levels of PLF metabolites by LC-MS, TIC spectra, PCA and the t-test. Cluster analysis showed the co-occurrence of metabolites in the peritoneal metastasis group (p<0.05). ROC analysis showed the diagnostic ability of metabolites (p<0.05). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed the potential independent risk factors for peritoneal metastasis in gastric cancer patients (p<0.05). Conclusion Through the statistical analysis of metabolomics, we found that TG (54:2), G3P, α-aminobutyric acid, α-CEHC, dodecanol, glutamyl alanine, 3-methylalanine, sulfite, CL (63:4), PE-NMe (40:5), TG (53:4), retinol, 3-hydroxysterol, tetradecanoic acid, MG (21:0/0:0/0:0), tridecanoic acid, myristate glycine and octacosanoic acid may be biomarkers for peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqiang Pan
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuehan Ma
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130000, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Suo
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130000, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130000, People's Republic of China
| | - Shanshan Qin
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao, Qingdao 266000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Jiao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130000, People's Republic of China
| | - Shaopeng Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130000, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuang Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Kong
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Du
- Department of First Operation Room, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130000, People's Republic of China
| | - Shengnan Gao
- Department of First Operation Room, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130000, People's Republic of China
| | - Daguang Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130000, People's Republic of China
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Moldogazieva NT, Mokhosoev IM, Terentiev AA. Metabolic Heterogeneity of Cancer Cells: An Interplay between HIF-1, GLUTs, and AMPK. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E862. [PMID: 32252351 PMCID: PMC7226606 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12040862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been long recognized that cancer cells reprogram their metabolism under hypoxia conditions due to a shift from oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to glycolysis in order to meet elevated requirements in energy and nutrients for proliferation, migration, and survival. However, data accumulated over recent years has increasingly provided evidence that cancer cells can revert from glycolysis to OXPHOS and maintain both reprogrammed and oxidative metabolism, even in the same tumor. This phenomenon, denoted as cancer cell metabolic plasticity or hybrid metabolism, depends on a tumor micro-environment that is highly heterogeneous and influenced by an intensity of vasculature and blood flow, oxygen concentration, and nutrient and energy supply, and requires regulatory interplay between multiple oncogenes, transcription factors, growth factors, and reactive oxygen species (ROS), among others. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) represent key modulators of a switch between reprogrammed and oxidative metabolism. The present review focuses on cross-talks between HIF-1, glucose transporters (GLUTs), and AMPK with other regulatory proteins including oncogenes such as c-Myc, p53, and KRAS; growth factor-initiated protein kinase B (PKB)/Akt, phosphatydyl-3-kinase (PI3K), and mTOR signaling pathways; and tumor suppressors such as liver kinase B1 (LKB1) and TSC1 in controlling cancer cell metabolism. The multiple switches between metabolic pathways can underlie chemo-resistance to conventional anti-cancer therapy and should be taken into account in choosing molecular targets to discover novel anti-cancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurbubu T. Moldogazieva
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Innokenty M. Mokhosoev
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (I.M.M.); (A.A.T.)
| | - Alexander A. Terentiev
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (I.M.M.); (A.A.T.)
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Oppermann H, Birkemeyer C, Meixensberger J, Gaunitz F. Non-enzymatic reaction of carnosine and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate accompanies metabolic changes of the pentose phosphate pathway. Cell Prolif 2020; 53:e12702. [PMID: 31628715 PMCID: PMC7046307 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.12702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Carnosine (β-alanyl-l-histidine) is a naturally occurring dipeptide that selectively inhibits cancer cell growth, possibly by influencing glucose metabolism. As its precise mode of action and its primary targets are unknown, we analysed carnosine's effect on metabolites and pathways in glioblastoma cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS Glioblastoma cells, U87, T98G and LN229, were treated with carnosine, and metabolites were analysed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Furthermore, mitochondrial ATP production was determined by extracellular flux analysis and reaction products of carnosine were investigated using mass spectrometry. RESULTS Carnosine decreased the intracellular abundance of several metabolites indicating a reduced activity of the pentose phosphate pathway, the malate-aspartate shuttle and the glycerol phosphate shuttle. Mitochondrial respiration was reduced in U87 and T98G but not in LN229 cells, independent of whether glucose or pyruvate was used as substrate. Finally, we demonstrate non-enzymatic reaction of carnosine with dihydroxyacetone phosphate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. However, glycolytic flux from glucose to l-lactate appeared not to be affected by the reaction of carnosine with the metabolites. CONCLUSIONS Carnosine reacts non-enzymatically with glycolytic intermediates reducing the activity of the pentose phosphate pathway which is required for cell proliferation. Although the activity of the malate-aspartate and the glycerol phosphate shuttle appear to be affected, reduced mitochondrial ATP production under the influence of the dipeptide is cell-specific and appears to be independent of the effect on the shuttles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry Oppermann
- Klinik und Poliklinik für NeurochirurgieUniversitätsklinikum Leipzig AöRLeipzigGermany
| | | | - Jürgen Meixensberger
- Klinik und Poliklinik für NeurochirurgieUniversitätsklinikum Leipzig AöRLeipzigGermany
| | - Frank Gaunitz
- Klinik und Poliklinik für NeurochirurgieUniversitätsklinikum Leipzig AöRLeipzigGermany
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