Glutathione Derivatives Research Articles

Glutathione increase by the n-butanoyl glutathione derivative (GSH-C4) inhibits viral replication and induces a predominant Th1 immune profile in old mice infected with influenza virus.

During aging, glutathione (GSH) content declines and the immune system undergoes a deficiency in the induction of Th1 response. Reduced secretion of Th1 cytokines, which is associated with GSH depletion, could weaken the host defenses against viral infections. We first evaluated the concentration of GSH and cysteine in organs of old mice; then, the effect of the administration of the N‐butanoyl GSH derivative (GSH‐C4) on the response of aged mice infected with influenza A PR8/H1N1 virus was studied through the determination of GSH concentration in organs, lung viral titer, IgA and IgG1/IgG2a production, and Th1/Th2 cytokine profile. Old mice had lower GSH than young mice in organs. Also the gene expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers involved in GSH metabolism and folding of proteins, that is, Nrf2 and PDI, was reduced. Following infection, GSH content remained low and neither infection nor GSH‐C4 treatment affected Nrf2 expression. In contrast, PDI expression was upregulated during infection and appeared counterbalanced by GSH‐C4. Moreover, the treatment with GSH‐C4 increased GSH content in organs, reduced viral replication and induced a predominant Th1 response. In conclusion, GSH‐C4 treatment could be used in the elderly to contrast influenza virus infection by inducing immune response, in particular the Th1 profile.

DEVELOPMENT OF METHODS FOR DETERMINATION OF SPECIFIC IMPURITIES IN THE GLUTATIONION RESTORED SUBSTANCE

Glutathione (γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteinylglycine) is the most important low molecular weight intracellular thiol tripeptide consisting of three amino acids – glycine, cysteine and glutamic acid. In Russian pharmacopoeia there is no regulatory documentation for glutathione, therefore, the development of a pharmacopoeial item for the specified substance is a relevant problem.The aim of the article is the development of methods for determining foreign specific impurities in glutathione.Materials and methods. The substance of glutathione reduced (CAS 70-18-8, EC 2007254, Applichem, Germany) containing impurities, and a standard sample of reduced glutathione (Sigma Aldrich, Japan) were used as the objects of the study. The analysis was carried out by using a high-performance liquid chromatography method in the reverse phase version and a thin layer chromatography method. The chromatography using RP HPLC was performed after preliminary derivatization of glutathione and its specific impurities with dancil chloride. Specific impurities in glutathione are dipeptides and amino acids. Therefore, they, like glutathione, can react with dancil chloride. Dancil derivatives are formed, and they can be determined by chromatographic separation.Results. As a result of chromatography by the method of RP HPLC of derivatized dancil chloride glutathione it has been established that this reaction makes it possible to detect impurities in it. Glutathione derivatives are well separated by chromatography by implementing the method of RP HPLC and have different absorption maxima. The glutathione derivative had an absorption maximum at λmax=284 nm. The derivatives belonging to specific glutathione impurities absorb at λmax=288 nm and λmax=296 nm. The data obtained using RP HPLC were confirmed by TLC in the isopropanol-water (2:1) system. Three components were found out, one of which corresponds to glutathione, while two others are impurities.Conclusion. Methods for determining impurities in the glutathione substance using RP HPLC methods with preliminary derivatization with dancil chloride and TLC with ninhydrin detection have been worked out. A comparative analysis of the data obtained makes it possible to state that the OF-HPLC method with pre-column derivatization is more reliable, since it is more sensitive to impurities, and also makes it possible to study the UV profiles of impurity components better than the TLC method. Therefore, for the detection of impurities in the substance of glutathione, it is more preferable to use RP-HPLC with pre-column derivatization. The results of this study can be recommended for inclusion in the regulatory documentation on the substance of glutathione in the section “Impurities”.

Glutathione Derivatives as Potential Drugs for Colorectal Cancer Resulted by APC Mutations

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly occurring cancer in men and the second most commonly occurring cancer in women.The aim of the present study was to identify the anticolorectal cancer potential of a series of novel glutathione analogues. Glutathione, a tripeptide, was identified as the template molecule for the study. A series of the template analogues were then designed using various computational tools and targeted against colorectal carcinoma resulted from APC mutations. The rational design of the new molecules involved minute structural modifications in the amino acid chains that constituted the glutathione moiety. All the designed molecules were computationally analysed for their effective drug responses.The newly designed molecules showed good docking scores and interaction capacities on the targeted protein. The effective drug responses were also found to be higher.All the proposed analogues were found to be agreeable anticolorectal cancer alternatives with improved efficacy and safety. Probably in future, these compounds might serve as lead molecules in the development of novel cytotoxic agents.

Estudio in Silico de la reactividad y propiedades fisicoquímicas de aductos de Epóxido de Eugenol y 2-Metoxi-4-alilideno-2,5-ciclohexadieno-1-ona con glutation en Candida albicans

El eugenol es un alilbenceno con actividad antifúngica, diversos estudios han demostrado su capacidad de inhibir el crecimiento de Candida albicans. Se ha propuesto la formación de aductos entre un derivado del eugenol (2-metoxi-4-alilideno-2,5-hexadieno-1-ona) y glutatión como un mecanismo de estrés oxidativo. Asimismo, otro derivado del eugenol, epóxido de eugenol, tiene teóricamente la capacidad para formar aductos. Por lo tanto, este estudio determinó in silicolas propiedades fisicoquímicas de estos aductos y su reactividad en microorganismos aeróbicos. Se encontró que estos aductos tienen baja hidrofobicidad, por lo que, tendrían baja capacidad para atravesar membranas biológicas y por tanto una distribución intracelular. Asimismo, las reacciones químicas que originan estos aductos son termodinámicamente favorables. Por último, estos aductos son susceptibles a modificaciones químicas en microorganismos aeróbicos; estas reacciones podrían ser catalizadas por enzimas como el citocromo P450.

Production of β-glucan, glutathione, and glutathione derivatives by probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolated from cucumber jangajji

Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains (KU200278 and KU200281) were isolated from cucumber jangajji and their probiotic properties and production of β-glucan, glutathione, and glutathione derivatives were investigated as compared with that of the commercial strain. S. cerevisiae strains were highly resistant to artificial gastric and bile juice and S. cerevisiae KU200281 showed higher adhesion ability. The assay of enzymatic activities revealed that all strains tested did not produce carcinogenic enzyme, β-glucuronidase. The antibiotic tolerance of the yeast strains was assessed against eight antibiotics (ampicillin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, gentamycin, kanamycin, streptomycin, and tetracycline), and all strains were resistant according to the CLSI performance standards. All strains showed DNA protection capacity against reactive oxygen species. β-Glucan, glutathione, and l-ornithine contents of S. cerevisiae KU200281 was higher in tested S. cerevisiae. In summary, our results reveled that S. cerevisiae KU200281 demonstrated probiotic potential and could be used as a probiotic substance for the production of functional products.

Recovery from hypoxia-induced internalization of cardiac Na+ /H + exchanger 1 requires an adequate intracellular store of antioxidants.

The heart is highly active metabolically but relatively underperfused and, therefore, vulnerable to ischemia. In addition to acidosis, a key component of ischemia is hypoxia that can modulate gene expression and protein function as part of an adaptive or even maladaptive response. Here, using cardiac-derived HL-1 cells, we investigate the effect of various hypoxic stimuli on the expression and activity of Na+ /H + exchanger 1 (NHE1), a principal regulator of intracellular pH. Acute (10 min) anoxia produced a reversible decrease in the sarcolemmal NHE1 activity attributable to NHE1 internalization. Treatment with either 1% O 2 or dimethyloxaloylglycine (DMOG; 1 mM) for 48-hr stabilized hypoxia-inducible factor 1 and reduced the sarcolemmal NHE1 activity by internalization, but without a change in total NHE1 immunoreactivity or message levels of the coding gene ( SLC9A1) determined in whole-cell lysates. Unlike the effect of DMOG, which was rapidly reversed on washout, reoxygenation after a prolonged period of hypoxia did not reverse the effects on NHE1, unless media were also supplemented with a membrane-permeant derivative of glutathione (GSH). Without a prior hypoxic episode, GSH supplementation had no effect on the NHE1 activity. Thus, posthypoxic NHE1 reinsertion can only take place if cells have a sufficient reservoir of a reducing agent. We propose that oxidative stress under prolonged hypoxia depletes intracellular GSH to an extent that curtails NHE1 reinsertion once the hypoxic stimulus is withdrawn. This effect may be cardioprotective, as rapid postischaemic restoration of the NHE1 activity is known to trigger reperfusion injury by producing an intracellular Na + -overload, which is proarrhythmogenic.

High resolution mass approach to characterize refrigerated black truffles stored under different storage atmospheres

Freshly harvested Tuber melanosporum samples were packed and stored at 4°C under reduced atmospheric pressure or modified atmosphere for four weeks. Multivariate analysis was employed to correlate the antioxidant power of the ethanolic extracts of the samples with the chemical composition determined by high resolution mass spectrometry. High performance liquid chromatography coupled with a coularray detector was applied to select the chemical species associated with the antioxidant power. Four classes of chemical compounds were investigated in more detail by a targeted approach: derivatives of glutathione, adenine (such as S-adenosyl-homocysteine), oxidized linoleic acid and ergosterol. Adducts containing glutathione and adenine with oxidized linoleic acid were observed in TM for the first time and can be considered markers of freshness of the product. S-adenosyl-homocysteine, the acetyl-carnitine adduct with cysteinyl-glycine and several oxidized linoleic acid derivatives were among the markers of degradation.

Levodopa, placebo and rotigotine change biomarker levels for oxidative stress

Introduction: Homocysteine increase and glutathione derivative cysteinyl-glycine fall are indirect biomarkers for oxidative stress, for instance due to dopamine D1 receptor stimulation.Objectives: To investigate the influence of the D1 receptor agonists levodopa and rotigotine compared with placebo on homocysteine and cysteinyl-glycine in plasma of patients with Parkinson’s disease.Methods: Patients received 100 mg levodopa, 4 mg rotigotine or placebo. Cysteinyl-glycine and homocysteine were measured every 30 min over three hours.Results: Homocysteine rose during levodopa- and placebo administration. Rotigotine had no effect. Cysteine-glycine only increased after placebo- but not after levodopa- or rotigotine.Discussion: Homocysteine elevation results from hepatic and gastrointestinal methylation processes. Transdermal rotigotine circumvents these methylation locations. Turnover of segregated alkyl residuals from rotigotine serves as methyl group donors, which counteract homocysteine increment. The placebo-related cysteinyl-glycine increase results from reduced free radical exposure. Low levodopa dosing and antioxidants in the rotigotine patch matrix prevented cysteinyl-glycine fall.

Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Potent Human Glyoxalase I Inhibitors.

Several glutathione derivatives bearing the S-(N-aryl-N-hydroxycarbamoyl) or S-(C-aryl-N-hydroxycarbamoyl) moieties (10, 10', 13-15) were synthesized, characterized, and their human glyoxalase I (hGLO1) inhibitory activity was evaluated. Compound 10 was proved to be the effective hGLO1 inhibitor with a Ki value of 1.0 nM and the inhibition effect of compound 10 on hGLO1 was nearly ten-fold higher than that of the strongest inhibitor 2 (Ki=10.0 nM) which has been reported in the field of glutathione-type hGLO1 inhibitors. Its diethyl ester prodrug 10' was able to penetrate cell membrane and had good inhibitory effect on the growth of NCI-H522 cell xenograft tumor model.

Antiprotozoal glutathione derivatives with flagellar membrane binding activity against T. brucei rhodesiense

A new series of N-substituted S-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)glutathione dibutyl diesters were synthesized to improve in vitro anti-protozoal activity against the pathogenic parasites Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania donovani. The results obtained indicate that N-substituents enhance the inhibitory properties of glutathione diesters whilst showing reduced toxicity against KB cells as in the cases of compounds 5, 9, 10, 16, 18 and 19. We suggest that the interaction of N-substituted S-(2,4-dinitrophenyl) glutathione dibutyl diesters with T. b. brucei occurs mainly by weak hydrophobic interactions such as London and van der Waals forces. A QSAR study indicated that the inhibitory activity of the peptide is associated negatively with the average number of C atoms, NC and positively to SZX, the ZX shadow a geometric descriptor related to molecular size and orientation of the compound. HPLC-UV studies in conjunction with optical microscopy indicate that the observed selectivity of inhibition of these compounds against bloodstream form T. b. brucei parasites in comparison to L. donovani under the same conditions is due to intracellular uptake via endocytosis in the flagellar pocket.

Metabolic Profiling Reveals Effects of Age, Sexual Development and Neutering in Plasma of Young Male Cats.

Neutering is a significant risk factor for obesity in cats. The mechanisms that promote neuter-associated weight gain are not well understood but following neutering, acute changes in energy expenditure and energy consumption have been observed. Metabolic profiling (GC-MS and UHPLC-MS-MS) was used in a longitudinal study to identify changes associated with age, sexual development and neutering in male cats fed a nutritionally-complete dry diet to maintain an ideal body condition score. At eight time points, between 19 and 52 weeks of age, fasted blood samples were taken from kittens neutered at either 19 weeks of age (Early Neuter (EN), n = 8) or at 31 weeks of age (Conventional Neuter (CN), n = 7). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to compare plasma metabolites (n = 370) from EN and CN cats. Age was the primary driver of variance in the plasma metabolome, including a developmental change independent of neuter group between 19 and 21 weeks in lysolipids and fatty acid amides. Changes associated with sexual development and its subsequent loss were also observed, with differences at some time points observed between EN and CN cats for 45 metabolites (FDR p<0.05). Pathway Enrichment Analysis also identified significant effects in 20 pathways, dominated by amino acid, sterol and fatty acid metabolism. Most changes were interpretable within the context of male sexual development, and changed following neutering in the CN group. Felinine metabolism in CN cats was the most significantly altered pathway, increasing during sexual development and decreasing acutely following neutering. Felinine is a testosterone-regulated, felid-specific glutathione derivative secreted in urine. Alterations in tryptophan, histidine and tocopherol metabolism observed in peripubertal cats may be to support physiological functions of glutathione following diversion of S-amino acids for urinary felinine secretion.

Glutathione and glutathione derivatives in immunotherapy.

Reduced glutathione (GSH) is the most prevalent non-protein thiol in animal cells. Its de novo and salvage synthesis serves to maintain a reduced cellular environment, which is important for several cellular functions. Altered intracellular GSH levels are observed in a wide range of pathologies, including several viral infections, as well as in aging, all of which are also characterized by an unbalanced Th1/Th2 immune response. A central role in influencing the immune response has been ascribed to GSH. Specifically, GSH depletion in antigen-presenting cells (APCs) correlates with altered antigen processing and reduced secretion of Th1 cytokines. Conversely, an increase in intracellular GSH content stimulates IL-12 and/or IL-27, which in turn induces differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells to Th1 cells. In addition, GSH has been shown to inhibit the replication/survival of several pathogens, i.e. viruses and bacteria. Hence, molecules able to increase GSH levels have been proposed as new tools to more effectively hinder different pathogens by acting as both immunomodulators and antimicrobials. Herein, the new role of GSH and its derivatives as immunotherapeutics will be discussed.

Practical modification of peptides using ligand-free copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition

A convenient method for the post-modification of any peptide bearing a disulfide bond via rapid ligand-free copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) was developed. N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) esters and maleimides bearing an aryl acetylene residue to allow installation of a terminal alkyne moiety into peptides were efficiently synthesized. The ligation of glutathione (GSH) using the maleimides and disulfide-linked dimer of GSH (GSSG) using the NHS esters proceeded smoothly to afford the corresponding terminal alkyne-labeled glutathione derivatives, respectively. The terminal alkyne-labeled GSH and GSSG efficiently coupled with 4-fluorobenzylazide to provide the corresponding glutathione analogues in quantitative yield. In any case, side reactions including cleavage of disulfide bonds were not observed. The application of somatostatin, disulfide-linked cyclic tetradecapeptide, to this method was achieved.

The Glutathione Derivative, GSH Monoethyl Ester, May Effectively Whiten Skin but GSH Does Not.

Glutathione in its reduced form (GSH) is an antioxidant and also is involved in pheomelanin formation. Thus, it has been long believed that GSH has a skin whitening effect. However, its actual or direct effect is unproven. We evaluated the anti-melanogenic effects of GSH and its derivatives in vitro. We examined change of melanogenesis and its related proteins by GSH itself and its derivatives, including GSH monoethyl ester (GSH-MEE), GSH diethyl ester (GSH-DEE) and GSH monoisopropyl ester (GSH-MIPE) in Melan-A cells, Mel-Ab cells, and B16F10 cells. GSH and GSH-MEE did not display cytotoxic activity, but GSH-MIPE and GSH-DEE did. Intriguingly, GSH itself had no inhibitory effect on melanin production or intracellular tyrosinase activity. Rather, it was GSH-MEE and GSH-MIPE that profoundly reduced the amount of melanin and intracellular tyrosinase activity. Thus, GSH-MEE was selected as a suitable candidate skin-whitening agent and it did not alter melanogenesis-associated proteins such as microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1, and TRP-2, but it did increase the amount of suggested pheomelanin and suggested pheomelanin/eumelanin ratio. GSH-MEE was effective for anti-melanogenesis, whereas GSH itself was not. GSH-MEE could be developed as a safe and efficient agent for the treatment of hyperpigmentation skin disorders.

Different Polar Metabolites and Protein Profiles between High- and Low-Quality Japanese Ginjo Sake.

Japanese ginjo sake is a premium refined sake characterized by a pleasant fruity apple-like flavor and a sophisticated taste. Because of technical difficulties inherent in brewing ginjo sake, off-flavors sometimes occur. However, the metabolites responsible for off-flavors as well as those present or absent in higher quality ginjo sake remain uncertain. Here, the relationship between 202 polar chemical compounds in sake identified using capillary electrophoresis coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry and its organoleptic properties, such as quality and off-flavor, was examined. First, we found that some off-flavored sakes contained higher total amounts of metabolites than other sake samples. The results also identified that levels of 2-oxoglutaric acid and fumaric acid, metabolites in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, were highly but oppositely correlated with ginjo sake quality. Similarly, pyridoxine and pyridoxamine, co-enzymes for amino transferase, were also highly but oppositely correlated with ginjo sake quality. Additionally, pyruvic acid levels were associated with good quality as well. Compounds involved in the methionine salvage cycle, oxidative glutathione derivatives, and amino acid catabolites were correlated with low quality. Among off-flavors, an inharmonious bitter taste appeared attributable to polyamines. Furthermore, protein analysis displayed that a diversity of protein components and yeast protein (triosephosphate isomerase, TPI) leakage was linked to the overall metabolite intensity in ginjo sake. This research provides insight into the relationship between sake components and organoleptic properties.

Zwitterionic glutathione monoethyl ester as a new capping ligand for ultrasmall gold nanoparticles

Ultrasmall gold nanoparticles coated with a zwitterionic derivative of glutathione are shown to be stable against aggregation and nonspecific binding from serum proteins.

Nanostructured surfaces by supramolecular self-assembly of linear oligosilsesquioxanes with biocompatible side groups.

Linear oligomeric silsesquioxanes with polar side moieties (e.g., carboxylic groups and derivatives of N-acetylcysteine, cysteine hydrochloride or glutathione) can form specific, self-assembled nanostructures when deposited on mica by dip coating. The mechanism of adsorption is based on molecule-to-substrate interactions between carboxylic groups and mica. Intermolecular cross-linking by hydrogen bonds was also observed due to the donor–acceptor character of the functional groups. The texture of supramolecular nanostructures formed by the studied materials on mica was analysed with atomic force microscopy and their specific surface energy was estimated by contact angle measurements. Significant differences in the surface roughness, thickness and the arrangement of macromolecules were noted depending on the kind of functional groups on the side chains. Specific changes in the morphology of the surface layer were observed when mica was primed with a monolayer of small organic compounds (e.g., N-acetylcysteine, citric acid, thioglycolic or acid). The adsorption of both silsesquioxane oligomers and organic primers was confirmed with attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy. The observed physiochemical and textural variations in the adsorbed materials correlate with the differences in the chemical structure of the applied oligomers and primers.

Studies into the phenolic patterns of different tissues of pineapple (Ananas comosus [L.] Merr.) infructescence by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS (n) and GC-MS analysis.

In a comprehensive study, more than 60 phenolic compounds were detected in methanolic extracts from different tissues of pineapple infructescence by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection and electrospray ionisation multiple-stage mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS (n) ) as well as by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The analytical workflow combining both methods revealed numerous compounds assigned for the first time as pineapple constituents by their mass fragmentations. Pineapple crown tissue was characterised by depsides of p-coumaric and ferulic acid. In contrast, major phenolic compounds in pineapple pulp extracts were assigned to diverse S-p-coumaryl, S-coniferyl and S-sinapyl derivatives of glutathione, N-L-γ-glutamyl-L-cysteine and L-cysteine, which were also identified in the peel. The latter was additionally characterised by elevated concentrations of p-coumaric, ferulic and caffeic acid depsides and glycerides, respectively. Two peel-specific cyanidin hexosides were found. Elevated concentrations of isomeric N,N'-diferuloylspermidines may be a useful tool for the detection of fraudulent peel usage for pineapple juice production. Mass fragmentation pathways of characteristic pineapple constituents are proposed, and their putative biological functions are discussed.

4-Hydroxybenzyl-substituted glutathione derivatives from Gastrodia elata

Seven new 4-hydroxybenzyl-substituted glutathione derivatives (2–8), together with a known analogue (1), were isolated from the aqueous extract of Gastrodia elata Blume rhizomes. Their structures were determined by using spectroscopic and chemical methods. The absolute configurations of 1–8 were assigned by using Marfey's method, combined with comparing the NMR and CD spectroscopic data of sulfoxide moieties in 3–6 with those of S-(4-hydroxybenzyl)cysteine sulfoxide stereoisomers (9–12) synthesized as authentic samples. The configurations of 9–12 were confirmed by electronic CD calculations based on the quantum-mechanical time-dependent density functional theory. Furthermore, the structures of 1, 3, 5, 7, and 8 were verified by synthesis. Compound 3 was active against serum deprivation-induced PC12 cell damage and synthetic 9–14 exhibited activity against Fe2+-cysteine induced rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation.

Use of functional polymorphisms to elucidate the peptide binding site of the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) complexes (APP5P.101)

Abstract The major histocompatibility (MHC) class I antigen presentation pathway plays an important role in alerting the immune system to virally infected and transformed cells. TAP translocates peptides from the cytosol to the endoplasmic reticulum lumen for peptide loading onto MHC class I molecules. The peptide specificity of TAP has been correlated with the antigenic peptide repertoire of MHC class I molecules in several species, but the precise location of the peptide binding site of TAP is unknown. Polymorphisms in rat and chicken TAPs influence peptide transport selectivity. Combining homology modeling of TAP with experimental measurements of peptide binding selectivity, we demonstrate several residues of rat TAP that are critical for the recognition of basic or hydrophobic residues at the peptide C-terminus, as well as of side chains near the peptide N-terminal and central regions. Based on these interaction sites of peptides with rat TAP, we propose models for rat, chicken and human TAPs in complex with selected peptides. The bound peptides adopt bent conformations and occupy a site near the cytosolic membrane surface, which is similar to that for glutathione derivatives in the NaAtm1 transporter, highlighting conserved elements of bacterial detoxification and eukaryotic immunity-related proteins. These experimentally verified models will facilitate the development of improved epitope discovery tools for assessments of CD8+ T cell prevalence and function in diseases.