Glycated Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase in rat lenses: evidence for the presence of fragmentation in vivo

Glycation With Fructose: The Bitter Side of Nature's Own Sweetener

Fructose is a ketohexose and sweetest among all the natural sugars. Like other reducing sugars, it reacts readily with the amino- and nucleophilic groups of proteins, nucleic acids and other biomolecules resulting in glycation reactions. The non-enzymatic glycation reactions comprise Schiff base formation, their Amadori rearrangement followed by complex and partly incompletely understood reactions culminating in the formation of Advance Glycation End products (AGEs). The AGEs are implicated in complications associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, Parkinson's disease, etc. Fructose is highly reactive and forms glycation products that differ both in structure and reactivity as compared to those formed from glucose. Nearly all tissues of higher organisms utilize fructose but only a few like the ocular lens, peripheral nerves erythrocytes and testis have polyol pathway active for the synthesis of fructose. Fructose levels rarely exceed those of glucose but, in tissues that operate the polyol pathway, its concentration may rise remarkably during diabetes and related disorders. Diet contributes significantly to the body fructose levels however, availability of technologies for the large scale and inexpensive production of fructose, popularity of high fructose syrups as well as the promotion of vegetarianism have resulted in a remarkable increase in the consumption of fructose. In vivo glycation reactions by fructose, therefore, assume remarkable significance. The review, therefore, aims to highlight the uniqueness of glycation reactions with fructose and its role in some pathophysiological situations.

Serum copper profile in patients with type 1 diabetes in comparison to other metals

BACKGROUND

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic condition in which the pancreas loses the ability to produce insulin due to an autoimmune destruction of the insulin producing beta cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. Pathophysiological complications related to diabetes include micro and macrovascular disease, nephropathy, and neuropathy that can also be affected by environmental factors such as lifestyle and diet.

OBJECTIVES

The current study aimed to evaluate the serum levels of total copper, the copper-carrying protein, ceruloplasmin and nonceruloplasmin bound copper (nonceruloplasmin-Cu) and other essential and environmental metals and metalloids in subjects with T1D compared with healthy controls.

METHODS

A cohort of 63 subjects with T1D attending Diabetes Clinics at the University of Miami and 65 healthy control subjects was studied. Metals and metalloids were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

A main finding of this study was that total copper and ceruloplasmin levels were higher in persons with T1D compared to healthy controls. In comparison to other metals and clinical variables, elevated copper was the strongest factor associated with T1D resulting in a15-fold increased odds of having the disease per standard deviation increase.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest a metal and metalloid perturbation in T1D with a significant involvement of Copper dysfunction in the disease pathology, possibly linked to inflammatory processes.

Tryptophan 32 Potentiates Aggregation and Cytotoxicity of a Copper/Zinc Superoxide Dismutase Mutant Associated with Familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

One familial form of the neurodegenerative disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is caused by gain-of-function mutations in the gene encoding copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD-1). This study provides in vivo evidence that normally occurring oxidative modification to SOD-1 promotes aggregation and toxicity of mutant proteins. The oxidation of Trp-32 was identified as a normal modification being present in both wild-type enzyme and SOD-1 with the disease-causing mutation, G93A, isolated from erythrocytes. Mutating Trp-32 to a residue with a slower rate of oxidative modification, phenylalanine, decreased both the cytotoxicity of mutant SOD-1 and its propensity to form cytoplasmic inclusions in motor neurons of dissociated mouse spinal cord cultures.

Copper-catalyzed ascorbate oxidation results in glyoxal/AGE formation and cytotoxicity

Previously we showed that 10 muM glyoxal compromised hepatocyte resistance to hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) by increasing glutathione (GSH) and NADPH oxidation and decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) before cytotoxicity ensued. Since transition metal-catalyzed oxidation of ascorbate (Asc) has been shown to result in the generation of both glyoxal and H(2)O(2), we hypothesized that glyoxal formation during this process compromises hepatocyte resistance to H(2)O(2). We used isolated rat hepatocytes and incubated them with Asc/copper and measured cytotoxicity, glyoxal levels, H(2)O(2), GSH levels, and MMP. To investigate the role of Asc/copper on glyoxal-BSA adducts, we measured the appearance of advanced glycation end-products (AGE) in the presence and absence of catalase or aminoguanidine (AG). Asc/copper increased glyoxal and H(2)O(2) formation. Hepatocyte GSH levels were decreased and cytotoxicity ensued after a collapse of the hepatocyte MMP. Glyoxal traps protected hepatocytes against Asc/copper-induced cytotoxicity. In cell-free studies with BSA, incubation with Asc and copper resulted in glyoxal-hydroimidazolone formation, which was decreased by both AG and catalase. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that illustrates the importance of glyoxal production by transition metal-catalyzed Asc autoxidation. Understanding this mechanism of toxicity could lead to the development of novel copper chelating drug therapies to treat diabetic complications.

Copper, oxidative stress, and human health

Copper (Cu), a redox active metal, is an essential nutrient for all species studied to date. During the past decade, there has been increasing interest in the concept that marginal deficits of this element can contribute to the development and progression of a number of disease states including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Deficits of this nutrient during pregnancy can result in gross structural malformations in the conceptus, and persistent neurological and immunological abnormalities in the offspring. Excessive amounts of Cu in the body can also pose a risk. Acute Cu toxicity can result in a number of pathologies, and in severe cases, death. Chronic Cu toxicity can result in liver disease and severe neurological defects. The concept that elevated ceruloplasmin is a risk factor for certain diseases is discussed. In this paper, we will review recent literature on the potential causes of Cu deficiency and Cu toxicity, and the pathological consequences associated with the above. Finally, we will review some of the potential biochemical lesions that might underlie these pathologies. Given that oxidative stress is a characteristic of Cu deficiency, the role of Cu in the oxidative defense system will receive special attention. The concept that excess Cu may be a precipitating factor in Alzheimer's disease is discussed.

Diabetes and dietary copper alter 67Cu metabolism and oxidant defense in the rat

Perturbations in copper (Cu) metabolism are a characteristic of diabetes, for example, elevated plasma Cu and compromised oxidant defense related to diabetes-induced effects on Cu-containing enzymes. Herein, the redistribution of Cu in selected tissues is described in response to diabetic and nondiabetic states in rats that were fed diets adequate in (12 mg Cu/kg of diet) or deficient in (no added Cu) Cu. Diabetes was induced by intravenous administration of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg body weight). After 5 weeks, rats were gavaged with (67)Cu (0.74 MBq per rat) using the Cu-deficient diet as a vehicle (suspended 1:3 in water) and killed at various time points. The use of (67)Cu allowed for the assessment of short-term Cu distribution and its comparison to the steady-state Cu distribution, as determined by direct Cu analysis. In contrast to control rats, the adaptive mechanisms for Cu homeostasis in diabetic rats were impaired. In general, measures of Cu retention were reduced in diabetic rats compared to corresponding values for control rats. Moreover, diabetic rats had low copper, zinc superoxide dismutase activity that was reduced even further when diabetic rats were fed with low-Cu diets. However, liver and kidney metallothionein and plasma ceruloplasmin levels were elevated in diabetic rats compared to control rats. Such diabetes-related metabolic alterations were taken as measures of increased oxidative stress and inflammation, which may have implications in the progression of diabetes-related pathologies.

Structural and functional analysis of glycosylated Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase from the fungal strain Humicola lutea 103

The fungal strain Humicola lutea 103 produces a naturally glycosylated Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu/ZnSOD) (HLSOD). To improve its yield, the effect of increased concentration of Cu2+ (from 1 to 750 microg/ml) on growth and enzyme biosynthesis was studied. The primary structure of this fungal enzyme has been determined by Edman degradation of peptide fragments derived from proteolytic digest. A single chain of the protein, consisting of 152 amino acid residues, reveals a very high degree (74-85%) of structural homology in comparison to the amino acid sequences of other fungal Cu/ZnSODs. The difference of the molecular masses of H. lutea Cu/ZnSOD, measured by MALDI-MS (15,935 Da) and calculated by its amino acid sequence (15,716 Da), is attributed to the carbohydrate chain of one mole of N-acetylglucosamine, attached to the N-glycosylation site Asn23-Glu-Ser. HLSOD protected mice from mortality after experimental influenza A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2) virus infection. Using the glycosylated HLSOD, the survival rate is increased by 66% (protective index=86.1%) and the survival time prolonged by 5.2 days, similar to the application of ribavarin, while non-glycosylated bovine SOD conferred lower protection.

Modification of proteins in vitro by physiological levels of glucose: pyridoxamine inhibits conversion of Amadori intermediate to advanced glycation end-products through binding of redox metal ions

Hyperglycemic conditions of diabetes accelerate protein modifications by glucose leading to the accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). We have investigated the conversion of protein-Amadori intermediate to protein-AGE and the mechanism of its inhibition by pyridoxamine (PM), a potent AGE inhibitor that has been shown to prevent diabetic complications in animal models. During incubation of proteins with physiological diabetic concentrations of glucose, PM prevented the degradation of the protein glycation intermediate identified as fructosyllysine (Amadori) by 13C NMR using [2-13C]-enriched glucose. Subsequent removal of glucose and PM led to conversion of protein-Amadori to AGE Nepsilon-carboxymethyllysine (CML). We utilized this inhibition of post-Amadori reactions by PM to isolate protein-Amadori intermediate and to study the inhibitory effect of PM on its degradation to protein-CML. We first tested the hypothesis that PM blocks Amadori-to-CML conversion by interfering with the catalytic role of redox metal ions that are required for this glycoxidative reaction. Support for this hypothesis was obtained by examining structural analogs of PM in which its known bidentate metal ion binding sites were modified and by determining the effect of endogenous metal ions on PM inhibition. We also tested the alternative hypothesis that the inhibitory mechanism involves formation of covalent adducts between PM and protein-Amadori. However, our 13C NMR studies demonstrated that PM does not react with the Amadori. Because the mechanism of interference with redox metal catalysis is operative under the conditions closely mimicking the diabetic state, it may contribute significantly to PM efficacy in preventing diabetic complications in vivo. Inhibition of protein-Amadori degradation by PM also provides a simple procedure for the isolation of protein-Amadori intermediate, prepared at physiological levels of glucose for relevancy, to study both the biological effects and the chemistry of post-Amadori pathways of AGE formation.

Oxidative stress caused by inactivation of glutathione peroxidase and adaptive responses

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated as by-products of cellular metabolism, primarily in the mitochondria. When the cellular production of ROS exceeds the cell's antioxidant capacity, cellular macromolecules such as lipids, proteins and DNA can be damaged. Because of this, 'oxidative stress' is thought to contribute to aging and pathogenesis of a variety of human diseases. However, in the last 10-15 years, a considerable body of evidence has accumulated that ROS serve as subcellular messengers, and play a role in gene regulation and signal transduction pathways, which may be involved in defensive mechanisms against oxidative stress. This review focuses on oxidative stress caused by the inactivation of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), a major peroxide scavenging enzyme. GPx is inactivated by a variety of physiological substances, including nitric oxide and carbonyl compounds in vitro and in cell culture. Decreased GPx activity has also been reported in tissues where oxidative stress occurs in several pathological animal models. The accumulation of increased levels of peroxide resulting from inactivation of GPx may act as a second messenger and regulate expression of anti-apoptotic genes and the GPx itself to protect against cell damage. These findings suggest that GPx undergoes inactivation under various conditions such as nitroxidative stress and glycoxidative stress, and that these changes are a common feature of various types of oxidative stress which may be associated with the modification of redox regulation and cellular function.

Chemical tests as alternatives to animal tests in research on late symptoms in diabetes

Glycation reactions, such as those seen in late diabetes, can be mimicked in purely chemical systems. The glycation is time-dependent, and in in vitro systems it can continue for days. Ascorbate seems to enhance the reactions. The reactions are associated with free-radical formation through transformation of an Amadori product to (deoxy-)glycoson, catalysed by heavy metals. Ascorbate enhances the reaction by a factor of 5-10 compared with in vitro systems without ascorbate. In vitro systems containing bovine serum albumin retard the formation of free-radicals, because of the formation of advanced glycation products.

Taurine counteracts oxidative stress and nerve growth factor deficit in early experimental diabetic neuropathy

Oxidative stress has a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. We have previously reported that taurine (T), which is known to counteract oxidative stress in tissues (lens, kidney, retina) of diabetic rats, attenuates nerve blood flow and conduction deficits in early experimental diabetic neuropathy (EDN). The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether dietary T supplementation counteracts oxidative stress and the nerve growth factor (NGF) deficit in the diabetic peripheral nerve. The experiments were performed in control rats and streptozotocin-diabetic rats fed standard or 1% T-supplemented diets for 6 weeks. All measurements were performed in the sciatic nerve. Malondialdehyde (MDA) plus 4-hydroxyalkenals (4-HA) were quantified with N-methyl-2-phenylindole. GSH, GSSG, dehydroascorbate (DHAA), and ascorbate (AA) were assayed spectrofluorometrically, T by reverse-phase HPLC, and NGF by ELISA. MDA plus 4-HA concentration (mean +/- SEM) was increased in diabetic rats (0.127 +/- 0.006 vs 0.053 +/- 0.003 micromol/g in controls, P < 0.01), and this increase was partially prevented by T (0.096 +/- 0.004, P < 0.01 vs untreated diabetic group). GSH levels were similarly decreased in diabetic rats treated with or without taurine vs controls. GSSG levels were similar in control and diabetic rats but were lower in diabetic rats treated with T (P < 0.05 vs controls). AA levels were decreased in diabetic rats (0.133 +/- 0.015 vs 0.219 +/- 0.023 micromol/g in controls, P < 0.05), and this deficit was prevented by T. DHAA/AA ratio was increased in diabetic rats vs controls (P < 0.05), and this increase was prevented by T. T levels were decreased in diabetic rats (2.7 +/- 0.16 vs 3.8 +/- 0.1 micromol/g in controls, P < 0.05) and were repleted by T supplementation (4.2 +/- 0.3). NGF levels were decreased in diabetic rats (2.35 +/- 0.20 vs 3.57 +/- 0.20 ng/g in controls, P < 0.01), and this decrease was attenuated by T treatment (3.16 +/- 0.28, P < 0.05 vs diabetic group). In conclusion, T counteracts oxidative stress and the NGF deficit in early EDN. Antioxidant effects of T in peripheral nerve are, at least in part, mediated through the ascorbate system of antioxidative defense. The findings are consistent with the important role for oxidative stress in impaired neurotrophic support in EDN.

Causal relationship between conformational change and inhibition of domain functions of glycoxidative fibronectin

Glycoxidative modification of various body proteins, including fibronectin (FN), has been shown to change their structural and functional properties, and be implicated in pathogenesis of diabetic complications. Little is known about the role of secondary structure of glycoxidative FN (gFN) in its domain functions. gFN was prepared by incubation with 25 and 200 mM glucose in 0.2 M sodium phosphate buffer at 37 degrees C on a shaking plate under aerobic and sterile conditions for various time intervals up to 49 days, being defined as gFN25 and gFN200, respectively. Unmodified FN (uFN) was prepared by incubation in 0.2 M sodium phosphate buffer without any glucose at 4 degrees C for 49 days. The extent of glycoxidative modification was examined using a noncompetitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with an antibody against N(epsilon) -(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), one of the major glycoxidation products. The binding activities of uFN and gFN to collagen, gelatin and heparin were determined by a solid phase enzyme immunoassay or heparin-affinity HPLC. Cell attachment was estimated by the extent of adhesion of FITC-labeled smooth muscle cells to uFN or gFN. Conformational change in gFN was detected by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and spectroscopy (circular dichroism). CML was detected in gFN25 and gFN200 after 49 and 21 days of incubation, respectively. Levels of CML were about six-fold higher in gFN200 than in gFN25 after 49 days. Both gFN25 and gFN200 showed a significant decrease in the ability of binding to collagen and gelatin after 7 days of incubation. The binding activity for heparin was significantly decreased in both gFN25 and gFN200 after one day. Cell attachment activity was reduced to 89% and 76% of the unmodified form in both gFN25 and gFN200 after 49 days, respectively. High molecular weight materials were found in gFN25 and gFN200 after 21 and 7 days, respectively. CD spectrum showed that gFN25 had lost its native conformation after 3 days of incubation, depending upon the concentration and incubation interval of the applied glucose. These in vitro results suggest that the loss of native conformation may reduce the domain functions of gFN, including binding activity to macromolecular ligands and cell attachment, and may play a major role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications.

Alteration of antioxidants during the progression of heart disease in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Involvement of oxidative stress is implicated in the progression of complication of diabetes mellitus. With respect to heart diseases, we have studied role of oxidative stress/antioxidants using rats treated with streptozotocin to induce diabetes (DM). Hemodynamic and echocardiographic measurements showed thickening of the wall and an increase in the internal dimension of the left ventricle (LV) in DM rats at 8th week. Decrease in diastolic posterior wall velocity and rate of LV pressure change, and increase in LV end diastolic pressures also proved cardiac dysfunction. These changes were further developed in DM rats after 12 weeks. Utilizing rat hearts at 8th and 12th weeks, the following estimations were performed. There was a decrease in the activity of Mn-superoxide dismutase (SOD), suggesting abnormal mitochondrial metabolism of reactive oxygen species. The level of glutathione (GSH) decreased concomitant with a decrease in the expression of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS). The expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), known as a growth factor and a suppressor of GSH synthesis, elevated in DM rat hearts. Immunohistochemical estimation showed an increase in type IV collagen in DM hearts. Collectively, it was suggested a linkage between mitochondrial damage to generate reactive oxygen species and inactivation of Mn-SOD and elevation of the expression of TGF-beta1 to lead suppression of GSH synthesis and induction of fibrous change for the consequent cardiac dysfunction in DM.

Enhanced oxidative damage by the familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-associated Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase mutants

Some cases of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS), a degenerative disorder of motor neurons, is associated with mutation in the Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) gene SOD1. The purified FALS mutant and wild-type Cu,Zn-SODs expressed in Escherichia coli cells have identical dismutation activity whereas the hydroxyl radical formation of FALS mutants was enhanced relative to that of the wild-type enzyme. These higher free radical-generating activities of mutants facilitated the release of copper ions from their own molecules. The reaction of the mutants with hydrogen peroxide enhanced DNA strand breaks and lipid peroxidation. The results suggested that the enhanced oxidative damage of macromolecules is mediated in the Cu,Zn-SOD mutants and hydrogen peroxide system via the generation of hydroxyl radicals by a combination of the higher free radical-generating activities of mutants and a Fenton-like reaction of copper ions released from oxidatively damaged Cu,Zn-SODs. Carnosine has been proposed to act as antioxidant in vivo. We investigated whether carnosine could protect the oxidative damage induced by FALS mutants. Carnosine effectively inhibited the DNA cleavage and lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that the higher free radical-generating function of FALS mutants can lead to increased oxidative damage of macromolecules which further implicates free radical-mediated motor neuronal injury in the pathogenesis of FALS and carnosine may be explored as potential therapeutic agents for FALS patients.

Zeta-crystallin catalyzes the reductive activation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene to generate reactive oxygen species: a proposed mechanism for the induction of cataracts

Exposure to 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) has been shown to cause induction of cataract in which oxidative stress plays a critical role. From bovine lens we purified to homogeneity and identified an enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of TNT, resulting in the production of reactive oxygen species. The final preparation of TNT reductase showed a single band with a subunit molecular weight of 38 kDa on SDS-PAGE. Sequence data from peptides obtained by digestion with lysylendopeptidase Achromobacter protease I (API) revealed that TNT reductase is identical to zeta-crystallin. Superoxide anions were formed during reduction of TNT by zeta-crystallin, though negligible enzyme activity or protein content for superoxide dismutase, a superoxide scavenging enzyme, was found in the lens. Thus, the present results suggest that the induction of cataracts by TNT may be associated with increased oxidative stress, as a result of reductive activation of TNT generating superoxide anions, there being minimal antioxidant enzyme activity for defense against reactive oxygen species exogenously produced in the lens.

Early changes in lipid peroxidation and antioxidative defense in diabetic rat retina: effect of DL-alpha-lipoic acid

This study was designed to (1) evaluate retinal lipid peroxidation in early diabetes by the method specific for free malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxyalkenals, (2) identify impaired antioxidative defense mechanisms and (3) assess if enhanced retinal oxidative stress in diabetes is prevented by the potent antioxidant, DL-alpha-lipoic acid. The groups included control and streptozotocin-diabetic rats treated with or without DL-alpha-lipoic acid (100 mg kg(-1) day(-1), i.p., for 6 weeks). All parameters were measured in individual retinae. 4-Hydroxyalkenal concentration was increased in diabetic rats (2.63+/-0.60 vs. 1.44+/-0.30 nmol/mg soluble protein in controls, P<0.01), and this increase was prevented by DL-alpha-lipoic acid (1.20+/-0.88, P<0.01 vs. untreated diabetic group). Malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) concentrations were similar among the groups. Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), glutathione reductase (GSSGRed) and glutathione transferase (GSHTrans) activities were decreased in diabetic rats vs. controls. Quinone reductase was upregulated in diabetic rats, whereas catalase and cytoplasmic NADH oxidase activities were unchanged. DL-alpha-Lipoic acid prevented changes in superoxide dismutase and quinone reductase activities induced by diabetes without affecting the enzymes of glutathione metabolism. In conclusion, accumulation of 4-hydroxyalkenals is an early marker of oxidative stress in the diabetic retina. Increased lipid peroxidation occurs in the absence of GSH depletion, and is prevented by DL-alpha-lipoic acid.