scholarly journals A Role for Metalloendopeptidases in the Breakdown of the Gut Hormone, PYY3–36

Endocrinology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 152 (12) ◽  
pp. 4630-4640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melisande L. Addison ◽  
James S. Minnion ◽  
Joy C. Shillito ◽  
Keisuke Suzuki ◽  
Tricia M. Tan ◽  
...  

Peptide YY3–36 (PYY3–36) is a gut hormone that acts on Y2 receptors to reduce appetite. Obese humans are sensitive to the anorectic effects of PYY3–36 and display a blunted postprandial rise in PYY3–36. Bariatric surgery results in increased circulating PYY-immunoreactivity, which appears to play a role in postoperative weight loss. The utility of PYY3–36 as an antiobesity treatment is limited by its short circulating half-life. Insight into the mechanisms by which PYY3–36 is degraded may aid design of long-acting PYY3–36 analogues or enzyme inhibitor therapies. We aimed to investigate the role of metalloendopeptidases in PYY3–36 degradation and determine whether modulation of these enzymes enhanced PYY3–36 plasma levels and bioactivity in vivo. Degradation and resultant cleavage products of PYY3–36 were characterized after incubation with neprilysin and meprin β and with a kidney brush border preparation in vitro. Specific metalloendopeptidase inhibitors were coadministered with PYY3–36 to mice and subsequent PYY3–36 plasma levels and bioactivity determined. Meprin β cleaves PYY3–36 at multiple conserved acidic sites. Blocking the actions of meprin β prevents the degradative effect of kidney brush borders on PYY3–36. In mice, pretreatment with actinonin significantly prolonged the anorectic effect of PYY3–36 and maintained higher PYY3–36 plasma levels than treatment with PYY3–36 alone. These studies suggest that inhibiting the degradation of PYY3–36 using specific inhibitor therapies and/or the design of analogues resistant to cleavage by meprins may be useful to antiobesity therapeutics.

1971 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 558-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald Burke

ABSTRACT A long-acting thyroid stimulator (LATS), distinct from pituitary thyrotrophin (TSH), is found in the serum of some patients with Graves' disease. Despite the marked physico-chemical and immunologic differences between the two stimulators, both in vivo and in vitro studies indicate that LATS and TSH act on the same thyroidal site(s) and that such stimulation does not require penetration of the thyroid cell. Although resorption of colloid and secretion of thyroid hormone are early responses to both TSH and LATS, available evidence reveals no basic metabolic pathway which must be activated by these hormones in order for iodination reactions to occur. Cyclic 3′, 5′-AMP appears to mediate TSH and LATS effects on iodination reactions but the role of this compound in activating thyroidal intermediary metabolism is less clear. Based on the evidence reviewed herein, it is suggested that the primary site of action of thyroid stimulators is at the cell membrane and that beyond the(se) primary control site(s), there exists a multifaceted regulatory system for thyroid hormonogenesis and cell growth.


2005 ◽  
Vol 386 (7) ◽  
pp. 699-704 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciano Puzer ◽  
Juliana Vercesi ◽  
Marcio F.M. Alves ◽  
Nilana M.T. Barros ◽  
Mariana S. Araujo ◽  
...  

Abstract We investigated the ability of cathepsin L to induce a hypotensive effect after intravenous injection in rats and correlated this decrease in blood pressure with kinin generation. Simultaneously with blood pressure decrease, we detected plasma kininogen depletion in the treated rats. The effect observed in vivo was abolished by pre-incubation of cathepsin L with the cysteine peptidase-specific inhibitor E-64 (1 μM) or by previous administration of the bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist JE049 (4 mg/kg). A potentiation of the hypotensive effect caused by cathepsin L was observed by previous administration of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril (5 mg/kg). In vitro studies indicated that cathepsin L excised bradykinin from the synthetic fluorogenic peptide Abz-MTSVIRRPPGFSPFRAPRV-NH2, based on the Met375–Val393 sequence of rat kininogen (Abz=o-aminobenzoic acid). In conclusion, our data indicate that in vivo cathepsin L releases a kinin-related peptide, and in vitro experiments suggest that the kinin generated is bradykinin. Although it is well known that cysteine proteases are strongly inhibited by kininogen, cathepsin L could represent an alternative pathway for kinin production in pathological processes.


Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3530
Author(s):  
Jessica Gambardella ◽  
Antonella Fiordelisi ◽  
Gaetano Santulli ◽  
Michele Ciccarelli ◽  
Federica Andrea Cerasuolo ◽  
...  

The involvement of GRK2 in cancer cell proliferation and its counter-regulation of p53 have been suggested in breast cancer even if the underlying mechanism has not yet been elucidated. Furthermore, the possibility to pharmacologically inhibit GRK2 to delay cancer cell proliferation has never been explored. We investigated this possibility by setting up a study that combined in vitro and in vivo models to underpin the crosstalk between GRK2 and p53. To reach this aim, we took advantage of the different expression of p53 in cell lines of thyroid cancer (BHT 101 expressing p53 and FRO cells, which are p53-null) in which we overexpressed or silenced GRK2. The pharmacological inhibition of GRK2 was achieved using the specific inhibitor KRX-C7. The in vivo study was performed in Balb/c nude mice, where we treated BHT-101 or FRO-derived tumors with KRX-C7. In our in vitro model, FRO cells were unaffected by GRK2 expression levels, whereas BHT-101 cells were sensitive, thus suggesting a role for p53. The regulation of p53 by GRK2 is due to phosphorylative events in Thr-55, which induce the degradation of p53. In BHT-101 cells, the pharmacologic inhibition of GRK2 by KRX-C7 increased p53 levels and activated apoptosis through the mitochondrial release of cytochrome c. These KRX-C7-mediated events were also confirmed in cancer allograft models in nude mice. In conclusion, our data showed that GRK2 counter-regulates p53 expression in cancer cells through a kinase-dependent activity. Our results further corroborate the anti-proliferative role of GRK2 inhibitors in p53-sensitive tumors and propose GRK2 as a therapeutic target in selected cancers.


Blood ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 468-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
YT Wachtfogel ◽  
PC Harpel ◽  
LH Jr Edmunds ◽  
RW Colman

Stimulation of platelets and neutrophils occurs during clinical cardiopulmonary bypass. We investigated whether the classical complement, contact, or fibrinolytic pathways are activated as potential sources of neutrophil agonists. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent “sandwich” assays specific for C1s-C1-and kallikrein-C1- inhibitor complexes respectively, we found that there was a modest increase in plasma levels of each complex after clinical cardiopulmonary bypass was completed. The increased concentration of enzyme-inhibitor complexes reverted to baseline within 24 hours. Since these complexes are cleared in vivo, we measured their formation by assaying their plasma levels during in vitro simulated extracorporeal circulation. Over a period of two hours, C1s-C1-inhibitor complexes rose from a baseline of 2 +/- 1 nmol/L to 21 +/- 2 nmol/L, and kallikrein-C1-inhibitor complexes rose from 2 +/- 1 nmol/L to 25 +/- 5 nmol/L. However, there was no evidence of either in vivo or in vitro plasmin-alpha 2-plasmin-inhibitor complex formation. These results indicate that the pathways of classical complement and contact activation, but probably not fibrinolysis, may be associated with neutrophil activation seen during clinical cardiopulmonary bypass.


Blood ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 468-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
YT Wachtfogel ◽  
PC Harpel ◽  
LH Jr Edmunds ◽  
RW Colman

Abstract Stimulation of platelets and neutrophils occurs during clinical cardiopulmonary bypass. We investigated whether the classical complement, contact, or fibrinolytic pathways are activated as potential sources of neutrophil agonists. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent “sandwich” assays specific for C1s-C1-and kallikrein-C1- inhibitor complexes respectively, we found that there was a modest increase in plasma levels of each complex after clinical cardiopulmonary bypass was completed. The increased concentration of enzyme-inhibitor complexes reverted to baseline within 24 hours. Since these complexes are cleared in vivo, we measured their formation by assaying their plasma levels during in vitro simulated extracorporeal circulation. Over a period of two hours, C1s-C1-inhibitor complexes rose from a baseline of 2 +/- 1 nmol/L to 21 +/- 2 nmol/L, and kallikrein-C1-inhibitor complexes rose from 2 +/- 1 nmol/L to 25 +/- 5 nmol/L. However, there was no evidence of either in vivo or in vitro plasmin-alpha 2-plasmin-inhibitor complex formation. These results indicate that the pathways of classical complement and contact activation, but probably not fibrinolysis, may be associated with neutrophil activation seen during clinical cardiopulmonary bypass.


2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 1622-1632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan-Dong Wang ◽  
Fan Yang ◽  
Wei-Dong Chen ◽  
Xiongfei Huang ◽  
Lily Lai ◽  
...  

Abstract The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a key metabolic regulator in the liver by maintaining the homeostasis of liver metabolites. Recent findings suggest that FXR may have a much broader function in liver physiology and pathology. In the present work, we identify a novel role of FXR in protecting liver cell from apoptosis induced by nutritional withdrawal including serum deprivation in vitro or starvation in vivo. Two FXR ligands, chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and GW4064, rescued HepG2 cells from serum deprivation-induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. This effect of FXR on apoptotic suppression was compromised when FXR was knocked down by short interfering RNA. Similarly, the effects of both CDCA and GW4064 were abolished after inhibition of the MAPK pathway by a specific inhibitor of MAPK kinase 1/2. Immunoblotting results indicated that FXR activation by CDCA and GW4064 induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation, which was attenuated by serum deprivation. In vivo, FXR−/− mice exhibited an exacerbated liver apoptosis and lower levels of phosphorylated-ERK1/2 compared to wild-type mice after starvation. In conclusion, our results suggest a novel role of FXR in modulating liver cell apoptosis.


Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 2388-2388
Author(s):  
Sebastian Jonas Saur ◽  
Melanie Märklin ◽  
Manuela Ganser ◽  
Kyle Hoehn ◽  
James E David ◽  
...  

Abstract Megakaryopoiesis is controlled by a variety of hematopoietic growth factors and cytokines in order to maintain physiological levels of circulating platelets. Thrombopoietin (TPO) signalling via its receptor c-Mpl is a key regulator of megakaryopoiesis driving megakaryocyte differentiation, promoting endomitosis and proplatelet formation. Therefore TPO/c-Mpl signalling needs to be tightly regulated to maintain physiological megakaryopoiesis. One of the most effective mechanisms to permanently disable activated signalling proteins is by targeted degradation via lysosomes or proteasomes. Previous studies have identified c-Cbl as an E3 ligase responsible for the ubiquitination of c-Mpl in cell lines. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of TPO-mediated c-Mpl degradation in primary mouse cells. In order to determine the potential role of c-Cbl in murine megakaryopoiesis we used a conditional PF4-Cre c-Cbl knockout (ko) mouse model to specifically delete c-Cbl in the megakaryocytic lineage. Megakaryocytes were generated in vitro by culturing bone marrow from WT and PF4-Cre/c-Cbl-floxed (c-Cbl ko) lines for 72 hrs in the presence of rmTPO. C-Cbl ko mice showed significant bone marrow megakaryocyte hyperplasia, however megakaryocyte numbers in the spleen remained unchanged. Platelets counts were significantly elevated as compared to control mice (1.2 x106 vs. 1.7x106 p=0.0001) and in addition, the platelets from the c-Cbl ko mouse strain were of significantly smaller size (43 vs. 38 fL, p=0.0022). Using a method of in vivo double labelling of platelets, we were able to simultaneously follow the survival of both the entire population of platelets and new platelets which were generated during the last 24 hours. There were more new platelets produced within a 24 h period in the c-Cbl ko mice although the half-life of platelets was similar in the both cohorts. Although c-Cbl ko mice exhibited thrombocytosis, they showed a severe defect in thrombus formation using an in vivo thrombus formation model with Fe3Cl. TPO plasma levels, known to be inversely regulated by circulating platelet numbers, were surprisingly increased (250 vs. 420 pg/ml, p=0.005) in the c-Cbl ko mice. There was no difference in liver mRNA levels in the two cohorts. We therefore looked at c-Mpl protein and mRNA expression in megakaryocytes and found c-Cbl ko mice to express more c-Mpl compared with wild type controls. Surprisingly, we found c-Mpl surface expression to be reduced and internalization of the receptor significantly impaired following TPO stimulation in c-Cbl ko mice. Incubating platelets in vitro with TPO for 2 hours to evaluate the TPO uptake capacity of platelets, we found c-Cbl ko platelets to show a severe uptake defect compared with wild type control platelets. Taken together, we have successfully ablated c-Cbl specifically from the megakaryocyte lineage and demonstrated that this has profound effects on platelet counts and size. In addition, we showed that c-Cbl ablation leads to reduced c-Mpl surface expression and impaired internalization, which culminates in increased TPO plasma levels causing increased megakaryopoiesis in the c-Cbl ko mice. In summary, our data enhance our understanding of the regulation of TPO signalling and the physiological role of c-Cbl in the megakaryocytic lineage. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (6) ◽  
pp. H1942-H1948 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ursula Norman ◽  
Rebecca A. Lew ◽  
A. Ian Smith ◽  
Michael J. Hickey

Bradykinin is a vasoactive peptide that has been shown to increase the permeability of the cerebral microvasculature to blood-borne macromolecules. The two zinc metalloendopeptidases EC 3.4.24.15 (EP 24.15) and EC 3.4.24.16 (EP 24.16) degrade bradykinin in vitro and are highly expressed in the brain. However, the role that these enzymes play in bradykinin metabolism in vivo remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the role of EP 24.15 and EP 24.16 in the regulation of bradykinin-induced alterations in microvascular permeability. Permeability of the cerebral microvasculature was assessed in anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats by measuring the clearance of 70-kDa FITC dextran from the brain. Inhibition of EP 24.15 and EP 24.16 by the specific inhibitor N-[1-( R, S)-carboxy-3-phenylpropyl]-Ala-Aib-Tyr- p-aminobenzoate (JA-2) resulted in the potentiation of bradykinin-induced increases in cerebral microvessel permeability. The level of potentiation was comparable to that achieved by the inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme. These findings provide the first evidence of an in vivo role for EP 24.15/EP 24.16 in brain function, specifically in regulating alterations in microvessel permeability induced by exogenous bradykinin.


2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta De Tullio ◽  
Alice Franchi ◽  
Antonino Martines ◽  
Monica Averna ◽  
Marco Pedrazzi ◽  
...  

Autoproteolysis of human erythrocyte calpain-1 proceeds in vitro at high [Ca2+], through the conversion of the 80-kDa catalytic subunit into a 75-kDa activated enzyme that requires lower [Ca2+] for catalysis. Importantly, here we detect a similar 75 kDa calpain-1 form also in vivo, in human meningiomas. Although calpastatin is so far considered the specific inhibitor of calpains, we have previously identified in rat brain a calpastatin transcript truncated at the end of the L-domain (cast110, L-DOM), coding for a protein lacking the inhibitory units. Aim of the present study was to characterize the possible biochemical role of the L-DOM during calpain-1 autoproteolysis in vitro, at high (100 µM) and low (5 µM) [Ca2+]. Here we demonstrate that the L-DOM binds the 80 kDa proenzyme in the absence of Ca2+. Consequently, we have explored the ability of the 75 kDa activated protease to catalyze at 5 µM Ca2+ the intermolecular activation of native calpain-1 associated with the L-DOM. Notably, this [Ca2+] is too low to promote the autoproteolytic activation of calpain-1 but enough to support the catalysis of the 75 kDa calpain. We show for the first time that the L-DOM preserves native calpain-1 from the degradation mediated by the 75 kDa form. Taken together, our data suggest that the free L-domain of calpastatin is a novel member of the calpain/calpastatin system endowed with a function alternative to calpain inhibition. For this reason, it will be crucial to define the intracellular relevance of the L-domain in controlling calpain activation/activity in physiopathological conditions having altered Ca2+ homeostasis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Yi Zhang ◽  
Qing Li ◽  
Song Wei ◽  
Jing Sun ◽  
Xuan Zhang ◽  
...  

Aim. This study was aimed at identifying the role of zinc finger protein 143 (ZNF143) in gastric cancer (GC) progression. Methods. The impact of ZNF143 on the proliferation ability and apoptosis of GC cells was detected. The expression of ZNF143 and related targeted genes was determined using Western blot analysis. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) level of GC cells was examined using the ROS generation assay. The role of ZNF143 in the proliferation of GC cells in vivo was examined using tumor xenograft assay. Results. The ectopic overexpression of ZNF143 promoted the proliferation of GC cells, while its knockdown reduced the effect in vitro. The downregulation of ZNF143 facilitated cell apoptosis. ZNF143 decreased the ROS level in GC cells, resulting in the reduction of cell apoptosis. Transfection with p53 reversed the antiapoptotic effect of ZNF143, while pifithrin-α, a specific inhibitor of p53, reduced the apoptosis in ZNF143-knockdown GC cells. However, p53 had no influence on the ROS level in GC cells. p53 played a key role in inhibiting ROS generation in GC cells, thereby inhibiting apoptosis. The transplanted tumor weight and volume were higher in the ZNF143-overexpressed group than in the ZNF143-knockdown group in vivo. The expression of ZNF143 in the transplanted tumor correlated positively with the proliferation index of Ki67 and negatively with the expression of p53 and cell apoptosis. Conclusion. ZNF143, as a tumor oncogene, promoted the proliferation of GC cells both in vitro and in vivo, indicating that ZNF143 might function as a novel target for GC therapy.


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