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Xing PY, Agrawal R, Jayaraman A, Martin KA, Zhang GW, Ngu EL, Faylon LE, Kjelleberg S, Rice SA, Wang Y, Bello AT, Holmes E, Nicholson JK, Whiley L, Pettersson S. Microbial Indoles: Key Regulators of Organ Growth and Metabolic Function. Microorganisms 2024; 12:719. [PMID: 38674663 PMCID: PMC11052216 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Gut microbes supporting body growth are known but the mechanisms are less well documented. Using the microbial tryptophan metabolite indole, known to regulate prokaryotic cell division and metabolic stress conditions, we mono-colonized germ-free (GF) mice with indole-producing wild-type Escherichia coli (E. coli) or tryptophanase-encoding tnaA knockout mutant indole-non-producing E. coli. Indole mutant E. coli mice showed multiorgan growth retardation and lower levels of glycogen, cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose, resulting in an energy deficiency despite increased food intake. Detailed analysis revealed a malfunctioning intestine, enlarged cecum, and reduced numbers of enterochromaffin cells, correlating with a metabolic phenotype consisting of impaired gut motility, diminished digestion, and lower energy harvest. Furthermore, indole mutant mice displayed reduction in serum levels of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates and lipids. In stark contrast, a massive increase in serum melatonin was observed-frequently associated with accelerated oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. This observational report discloses functional roles of microbe-derived indoles regulating multiple organ functions and extends our previous report of indole-linked regulation of adult neurogenesis. Since indoles decline by age, these results imply a correlation with age-linked organ decline and levels of indoles. Interestingly, increased levels of indole-3-acetic acid, a known indole metabolite, have been shown to correlate with younger biological age, further supporting a link between biological age and levels of microbe-derived indole metabolites. The results presented in this resource paper will be useful for the future design of food intervention studies to reduce accelerated age-linked organ decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Yuli Xing
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Singapore 637551, Singapore
- Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637335, Singapore
| | - Ruchi Agrawal
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore
| | - Anusha Jayaraman
- ASEAN Microbiome Nutrition Centre, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore 308433, Singapore
| | - Katherine Ann Martin
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore
| | - George Wei Zhang
- ASEAN Microbiome Nutrition Centre, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore 308433, Singapore
| | - Ee Ling Ngu
- ASEAN Microbiome Nutrition Centre, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore 308433, Singapore
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Sunway University, Subang Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Llanto Elma Faylon
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Staffan Kjelleberg
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Singapore 637551, Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Scott A. Rice
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Singapore 637551, Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Yulan Wang
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore
- Singapore Phenome Centre, Singapore 636921, Singapore
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Adesola T. Bello
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London W1T 7NF, UK
| | - Elaine Holmes
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Australian National Phenome Centre, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Jeremy K. Nicholson
- Australian National Phenome Centre, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
- Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London, London SW7 2NA, UK
| | - Luke Whiley
- Australian National Phenome Centre, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
- Perron Institute, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Sven Pettersson
- ASEAN Microbiome Nutrition Centre, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore 308433, Singapore
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Sunway University, Subang Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
- Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Solna, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, National University Singapore, Singapore 117545, Singapore
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Newton A, McCann L, Huo L, Liu A. Kynurenine Pathway Regulation at Its Critical Junctions with Fluctuation of Tryptophan. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13040500. [PMID: 37110158 PMCID: PMC10143591 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13040500] [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: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The kynurenine pathway (KP) is the primary route for the catabolism of the essential amino acid tryptophan. The central KP metabolites are neurologically active molecules or biosynthetic precursors to critical molecules, such as NAD+. Within this pathway are three enzymes of interest, HAO, ACMSD, and AMSDH, whose substrates and/or products can spontaneously cyclize to form side products such as quinolinic acid (QA or QUIN) and picolinic acid. Due to their unstable nature for spontaneous autocyclization, it might be expected that the levels of these side products would be dependent on tryptophan intake; however, this is not the case in healthy individuals. On top of that, the regulatory mechanisms of the KP remain unknown, even after a deeper understanding of the structure and mechanism of the enzymes that handle these unstable KP metabolic intermediates. Thus, the question arises, how do these enzymes compete with the autocyclization of their substrates, especially amidst increased tryptophan levels? Here, we propose the formation of a transient enzyme complex as a regulatory mechanism for metabolite distribution between enzymatic and non-enzymatic routes during periods of increased metabolic intake. Amid high levels of tryptophan, HAO, ACMSD, and AMSDH may bind together, forming a tunnel to shuttle the metabolites through each enzyme, consequently regulating the autocyclization of their products. Though further research is required to establish the formation of transient complexation as a solution to the regulatory mysteries of the KP, our docking model studies support this new hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Newton
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Luree McCann
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Lu Huo
- Department of Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Aimin Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
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Joisten N, Ruas JL, Braidy N, Guillemin GJ, Zimmer P. The kynurenine pathway in chronic diseases: a compensatory mechanism or a driving force? Trends Mol Med 2021; 27:946-954. [PMID: 34373202 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2021.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The kynurenine (KYN) pathway (KP) of tryptophan (TRP) metabolism is dysregulated in inflammation-driven pathologies including oncological and brain diseases [e.g., multiple sclerosis (MS), depression] and thus is a promising therapeutic target. Both pathological and compensatory mechanisms underlie disease-associated KP activation. There is growing evidence for bioenergetic roles of certain KP metabolites such as kynurenic acid (KA), or quinolinic acid (QA) as an NAD+ precursor, which may explain its frequently observed 'pathological' overactivation. Disease- and tissue-specific aspects, negative feedback on inflammatory signals, and the balance of downstream metabolites are likely to be decisive factors in the interpretation of an imbalanced KP. Therapeutic strategies should consider the compensatory actions and bioenergetic roles of KP metabolites to successfully design future theragnostic approaches aimed at attenuating disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Joisten
- Division of Performance and Health (Sports Medicine), Institute for Sport and Sport Science, Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany.
| | - Jorge L Ruas
- Molecular and Cellular Exercise Physiology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nady Braidy
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Gilles J Guillemin
- Neuroinflammation Group, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Philipp Zimmer
- Division of Performance and Health (Sports Medicine), Institute for Sport and Sport Science, Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
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Braidy N, Berg J, Clement J, Khorshidi F, Poljak A, Jayasena T, Grant R, Sachdev P. Role of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide and Related Precursors as Therapeutic Targets for Age-Related Degenerative Diseases: Rationale, Biochemistry, Pharmacokinetics, and Outcomes. Antioxid Redox Signal 2019; 30:251-294. [PMID: 29634344 PMCID: PMC6277084 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2017.7269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Significance: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is an essential pyridine nucleotide that serves as an essential cofactor and substrate for a number of critical cellular processes involved in oxidative phosphorylation and ATP production, DNA repair, epigenetically modulated gene expression, intracellular calcium signaling, and immunological functions. NAD+ depletion may occur in response to either excessive DNA damage due to free radical or ultraviolet attack, resulting in significant poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) activation and a high turnover and subsequent depletion of NAD+, and/or chronic immune activation and inflammatory cytokine production resulting in accelerated CD38 activity and decline in NAD+ levels. Recent studies have shown that enhancing NAD+ levels can profoundly reduce oxidative cell damage in catabolic tissue, including the brain. Therefore, promotion of intracellular NAD+ anabolism represents a promising therapeutic strategy for age-associated degenerative diseases in general, and is essential to the effective realization of multiple benefits of healthy sirtuin activity. The kynurenine pathway represents the de novo NAD+ synthesis pathway in mammalian cells. NAD+ can also be produced by the NAD+ salvage pathway. Recent Advances: In this review, we describe and discuss recent insights regarding the efficacy and benefits of the NAD+ precursors, nicotinamide (NAM), nicotinic acid (NA), nicotinamide riboside (NR), and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), in attenuating NAD+ decline in degenerative disease states and physiological aging. Critical Issues: Results obtained in recent years have shown that NAD+ precursors can play important protective roles in several diseases. However, in some cases, these precursors may vary in their ability to enhance NAD+ synthesis via their location in the NAD+ anabolic pathway. Increased synthesis of NAD+ promotes protective cell responses, further demonstrating that NAD+ is a regulatory molecule associated with several biochemical pathways. Future Directions: In the next few years, the refinement of personalized therapy for the use of NAD+ precursors and improved detection methodologies allowing the administration of specific NAD+ precursors in the context of patients' NAD+ levels will lead to a better understanding of the therapeutic role of NAD+ precursors in human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nady Braidy
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jade Berg
- Australasian Research Institute, Sydney Adventist Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Fatemeh Khorshidi
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Anne Poljak
- Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Tharusha Jayasena
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ross Grant
- Australasian Research Institute, Sydney Adventist Hospital, Sydney, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Perminder Sachdev
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Neuropsychiatric Institute, Euroa Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia
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Lahiri P, Dhaware D, Singh A, Panchagnula V, Ghosh D. Quantitation of Neurotoxic Metabolites of the Kynurenine Pathway by Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry (LDI-MS). Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1996:113-129. [PMID: 31127552 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9488-5_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The metabolites of the mammalian kynurenine (KYN) pathway are generated from a branch of tryptophan metabolic pathway. The latter generates 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK), kynurenic acid (KYNA), quinolinic acid (QUIN), and picolinic acid (PIC) which are all strongly neuroactive, often with dramatically contrasting functional outcomes. Whereas KYNA and PIC are neuroprotective, 3-HK and QUIN are potently neurotoxic and attributed in major neurodegenerative diseases like schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, bipolar disorder, and depression. It is increasingly evident that the ratio(s) between the neurotoxic and neuroprotective metabolites may help predict the manifestations of disease vs. health. Therefore high-throughput platforms for determining the relative levels of these kynurenine metabolites in biofluids offer considerable potential. Current analytical tools for studying KYN pathway include assays of branching enzymes, PCR, immunoanalysis, and LCMS. None of these offer high-throughput, cost-effective analyses suited for clinical or drug-screening applications. In this report a laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) method is described using SBA-15 mesoporous silica. The system allows fast, high-resolution quantitation of neurotoxic kynurenines using targeted metabolomics on conventional MALDI platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pallavi Lahiri
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Deepika Dhaware
- Chemical Engineering and Process Development Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India
| | - Ajeet Singh
- Chemical Engineering and Process Development Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India
| | - Venkateswarlu Panchagnula
- Chemical Engineering and Process Development Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India
| | - Dipankar Ghosh
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
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Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and its related precursors for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Curr Opin Psychiatry 2018; 31:160-166. [PMID: 29232252 DOI: 10.1097/yco.0000000000000394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The current review discusses the biology and metabolism of the essential pyridine nucleotide nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) in the central nervous system. We also review recent work suggesting important neuroprotective effects that may be associated with the promotion of NAD+ levels through NAD+ precursors against Alzheimer's disease. RECENT FINDINGS Perturbations in the physiological homoeostatic state of the brain during the ageing process can lead to impaired cellular function, and ultimately leads to loss of brain integrity and accelerates cognitive and memory decline. Increased oxidative stress has been shown to impair normal cellular bioenergetics and enhance the depletion of the essential nucleotides NAD+ and ATP. NAD+ and its precursors have been shown to improve cellular homoeostasis based on association with dietary requirements, and treatment and management of several inflammatory and metabolic diseases in vivo. Cellular NAD+ pools have been shown to be reduced in the ageing brain, and treatment with NAD+ precursors has been hypothesized to restore these levels and attenuate disruption in cellular bioenergetics. SUMMARY NAD+ and its precursors may represent an important therapeutic strategy to maintain optimal cellular homoeostatic functions in the brain. NAD+ precursors are available in a variety of foods and may be translated to the clinic in the form of supplements.
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Koola MM, Sklar J, Davis W, Nikiforuk A, Meissen JK, Sawant-Basak A, Aaronson ST, Kozak R. Kynurenine pathway in schizophrenia: Galantamine-memantine combination for cognitive impairments. Schizophr Res 2018; 193:459-460. [PMID: 28705532 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2017.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Revised: 07/02/2017] [Accepted: 07/02/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maju Mathew Koola
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Jennifer Sklar
- Clinical Research Program, Sheppard Pratt Health System, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Whitney Davis
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Agnieszka Nikiforuk
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - John K Meissen
- Department of Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, Pfizer, Inc., Groton, CT, USA
| | - Aarti Sawant-Basak
- Department of Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics, and Metabolism, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Scott T Aaronson
- Clinical Research Program, Sheppard Pratt Health System, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rouba Kozak
- Neuroscience Research Unit, Pfizer, Inc, Cambridge, MA, USA
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