Protein Nitrotyrosine Formation Research Articles

Hyperglycemia-induced diaphragm weakness is mediated by oxidative stress.

IntroductionA major consequence of ICU-acquired weakness (ICUAW) is diaphragm weakness, which prolongs the duration of mechanical ventilation. Hyperglycemia (HG) is a risk factor for ICUAW. However, the mechanisms underlying HG-induced respiratory muscle weakness are not known. Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) injure multiple tissues during HG, but only one study suggests that excessive ROS generation may be linked to HG-induced diaphragm weakness. We hypothesized that HG-induced diaphragm dysfunction is mediated by excessive superoxide generation and that administration of a specific superoxide scavenger, polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase (PEG-SOD), would ameliorate these effects.MethodsHG was induced in rats using streptozotocin (60 mg/kg intravenously) and the following groups assessed at two weeks: controls, HG, HG + PEG-SOD (2,000U/kg/d intraperitoneally for seven days), and HG + denatured (dn)PEG-SOD (2000U/kg/d intraperitoneally for seven days). PEG-SOD and dnPEG-SOD were administered on day 8, we measured diaphragm specific force generation in muscle strips, force-pCa relationships in single permeabilized fibers, contractile protein content and indices of oxidative stress.ResultsHG reduced diaphragm specific force generation, altered single fiber force-pCa relationships, depleted troponin T, and increased oxidative stress. PEG-SOD prevented HG-induced reductions in diaphragm specific force generation (for example 80 Hz force was 26.4 ± 0.9, 15.4 ± 0.9, 24.0 ± 1.5 and 14.9 ± 0.9 N/cm2 for control, HG, HG + PEG-SOD, and HG + dnPEG-SOD groups, respectively, P <0.001). PEG-SOD also restored HG-induced reductions in diaphragm single fiber force generation (for example, Fmax was 182.9 ± 1.8, 85.7 ± 2.0, 148.6 ± 2.4 and 90.9 ± 1.5 kPa in control, HG, HG + PEG-SOD, and HG + dnPEG-SOD groups, respectively, P <0.001). HG-induced troponin T depletion, protein nitrotyrosine formation, and carbonyl modifications were largely prevented by PEG-SOD.ConclusionsHG-induced reductions in diaphragm force generation occur largely at the level of the contractile proteins, are associated with depletion of troponin T and increased indices of oxidative stress, findings not previously reported. Importantly, administration of PEG-SOD largely ablated these derangements, indicating that superoxide generation plays a major role in hyperglycemia-induced diaphragm dysfunction. This new mechanistic information could explain how HG alters diaphragm function during critical illness.

REPERFUSION DOES NOT INDUCE OXIDATIVE STRESS BUT SUSTAINED ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM STRESS IN LIVERS OF RATS SUBJECTED TO TRAUMATIC-HEMORRHAGIC SHOCK

Oxidative stress is believed to accompany reperfusion and to mediate dysfunction of the liver after traumatic-hemorrhagic shock (THS). Recently, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been suggested as an additional factor. This study investigated whether reperfusion after THS leads to increased oxidative and/or ER stress in the liver. In a rat model, including laparotomy, bleeding until decompensation, followed by inadequate or adequate reperfusion phase, three time points were investigated: 40 min, 3 h, and 18 h after shock. The reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and its scavenging capacity (superoxide dismutase 2), the nitrotyrosine formation in proteins, and the lipid peroxidation together with the status of endogenous antioxidants (alpha-tocopherylquinone-alpha-tocopherol ratio) were investigated as markers for oxidative or nitrosylative stress. Mitochondrial function and cytochrome P450 isoform 1A1 activity were analyzed as representatives for hepatocyte function. Activation of the inositol-requiring enzyme 1/X-box binding protein pathway and up-regulation of the 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein were recorded as ER stress markers. Plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase and Bax/Bcl-XL messenger RNA (mRNA) ratio were used as indicators for hepatocyte damage and apoptosis induction. Oxidative or nitrosylative stress markers or representatives of hepatocyte function were unchanged during and short after reperfusion (40 min, 3 h after shock). In contrast, ER stress markers were elevated and paralleled those of hepatocyte damage. Incidence for sustained ER stress and subsequent apoptosis induction were found at 18 h after shock. Thus, THS or reperfusion induces early and persistent ER stress of the liver, independent of oxidative or nitrosylative stress. Although ER stress was not associated with depressed hepatocyte function, it may act as an early trigger of protracted cell death, thereby contributing to delayed organ failure after THS.

Atherosclerosis: A Link between Lipid Intake and Protein Tyrosine Nitration

Atherosclerosis, a disease characterized by plaque formation in the arterial wall that can lead to heart attack and stroke, is a principal cause of death in the world. Since the 1990's, protein nitrotyrosine formation has been known to occur in the atherosclerotic plaque. This potentially damaging reaction occurs as a result of tyrosine modification by reactive nitrogen species, such as nitrogen dioxide radical, which forms upon peroxynitrite decomposition or nitrite oxidation by hydrogen peroxide-activated peroxidase enzymes. The presence of protein-bound nitrotyrosine can be considered an indicator of a loss in the natural balance of oxidants and antioxidants, and as such, there is an emerging view that protein-bound nitrotyrosine may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This review brings together evidence that the accumulation of protein nitrotyrosine during atherogenesis is more widespread than initially thought (as its presence can be detected not only in the lesion but also in the blood stream and other organs) and is closely linked to lipid intake.

Metallothionein prolongs survival and antagonizes senescence‐associated cardiomyocyte diastolic dysfunction: role of oxidative stress

Senescence is accompanied by oxidative stress and cardiac dysfunction, although the link between the two remains unclear. This study examined the role of antioxidant metallothionein on cardiomyocyte function, superoxide generation, the oxidative stress biomarker aconitase activity, cytochrome c release, and expression of oxidative stress-related proteins, such as the GTPase RhoA and NADPH oxidase protein p47phox in young (5-6 mo) and aged (26-28 mo) FVB wild-type (WT) and cardiac-specific metallothionein transgenic mice. Metallothionein mice showed a longer life span (by approximately 4 mo) than FVB mice evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Compared with young cardiomyocytes, aged myocytes displayed prolonged TR(90), reduced tolerance to high stimulus frequency, and slowed intracellular Ca2+ decay, all of which were nullified by metallothionein. Aging increased superoxide generation, active RhoA abundance, cytochrome c release, and p47phox expression and suppressed aconitase activity without affecting protein nitrotyrosine formation in the hearts. These aging-induced changes in oxidative stress and related protein biomarkers were attenuated by metallothionein. Aged metallothionein mouse myocytes were more resistant to the superoxide donor pyrogallol-induced superoxide generation and apoptosis. In addition, aging-associated prolongation in TR90 was blunted by the Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632. Collectively, our data demonstrated that metallothionein may alleviate aging-induced cardiac contractile defects and oxidative stress, which may contribute to prolonged life span in metallothionein transgenic mice.

High-fat diet-induced juvenile obesity leads to cardiomyocyte dysfunction and upregulation of Foxo3a transcription factor independent of lipotoxicity and apoptosis

Obesity is associated with dyslipidemia, which leads to elevated triglyceride and ceramide levels, apoptosis and compromised cardiac function. To determine the role of high-fat diet-induced obesity on cardiomyocyte function, weanling male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets incorporating 10% of kcal or 45% of kcal from fat. Mechanical function of ventricular myocytes was evaluated including peak shortening (PS), time-to-PS (TPS), time-to-90% relengthening (TR90) and maximal velocity of shortening and relengthening (+/- dl/dt). Intracellular Ca properties were assessed using fluorescent microscopy. High-fat diet induced hyperinsulinemic insulin-resistant obesity with depressed PS, +/- dl/dt, prolonged TPS/TR90 reduced intracellular Ca release and Ca clearing rate in the absence of hypertension, diabetes, lipotoxicity and apoptosis. Myocyte responsiveness to increased stimulus frequency and extracellular Ca was compromised. SERCA2a and phospholamban levels were increased, whereas phosphorylated phospholamban and potassium channel (Kv1,2) were reduced in high-fat diet group. High-fat diet upregulated the forkhead transcription factor Foxo3a, and suppressed mitochondrial aconitase activity without affecting expression of the caloric sensitive gene silent information regulator 2 (Sir2), protein nitrotyrosine formation, lipid peroxidation and apoptosis. Levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS), inducible NOS, triglycerides and ceramide were similar between the two groups. Collectively, our data show that high-fat diet-induced obesity resulted in impaired cardiomyocyte function, upregulated Foxo3a transcription factor and mitochondrial damage without overt lipotoxicity or apoptosis.

Subtilisin QK, a Fibrinolytic Enzyme, Inhibits the Exogenous Nitrite and Hydrogen Peroxide Induced Protein Nitration, inVitro and inVivo

Subtilisin QK, which is newly identified as a fibrinolytic enzyme from Bacillus subtilis QK02, has the ability of preventing nitrotyrosine formation in bovine serum albumin induced by nitrite, hydrogen peroxide and hemoglobin in vitro verified by ELISA, Western-blot and spectrophotometer assay. Subtilisin QK also attenuates the fluorescence emission spectra of bovine serum albumin in the course of oxidation caused by nitrite, hydrogen peroxide and hemoglobin. Furthermore, subtilisin QK could suppress the transformation of oxy-hemoglobin to met-hemoglobin caused by sodium nitrite, but not the heat-treated subtilisn QK. Compared with some other fibrinolytic enzymes and inactivated subtilisin QK treated by phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride, the ability of inhibiting met-hemoglobin formation of subtilisin QK reveals that the anti-oxidative ability of subtilisin QK is not concerned with its fibrinolytic function. Additionally, nitrotyrosine formation in proteins from brain, heart, liver, kidney, and muscle of mice that is intramuscular injected the mixture of nitrite, hydrogen peroxide and hemoglobin is attenuated by subtilisin QK. Subtilisin QK can also protect Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (ECV-304) from the damage caused by nitrite and hydrogen peroxide.

Dietary iron deficiency induces ventricular dilation, mitochondrial ultrastructural aberrations and cytochrome c release: involvement of nitric oxide synthase and protein tyrosine nitration

Iron deficiency is associated with multiple health problems, including the cardiovascular system. However, the mechanism of action of iron-deficiency-induced cardiovascular damage is unclear. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of dietary iron deficiency on cardiac ultrastructure, mitochondrial cytochrome c release, NOS (nitric oxide synthase) and several stress-related protein molecules, including protein nitrotyrosine, the p47phox subunit of NADPH oxidase, caveolin-1 and RhoA. Male weanling rats were fed with either control or iron-deficient diets for 12 weeks. Cardiac ultrastructure was examined by transmission electron microscopy. Western blot analysis was used to evaluate cytochrome c, endothelial and inducible NOS, NADPH oxidase, caveolin-1 and RhoA. Protein nitrotyrosine formation was measured by ELISA. Rats fed an iron-deficient diet exhibited increased heart weight and size compared with the control group. Heart width, length and ventricular free wall thickness were similar between the two groups. However, the left ventricular dimension and chamber volume were significantly enhanced in the iron-deficient group compared with controls. Ultrastructural examination revealed mitochondrial swelling and abnormal sarcomere structure in iron-deficient ventricular tissues. Cytochrome c release was significantly enhanced in iron-deficient rats. Protein expression of eNOS (endothelial NOS) and iNOS (inducible NOS), and protein nitrotyrosine formation were significantly elevated in cardiac tissue or mitochondrial extraction from the iron-deficient group. Significantly up-regulated NADPH oxidase, caveolin-1 and RhoA expression were also detected in ventricular tissue of the iron-deficient group. Taken together, these results suggest that dietary iron deficiency may have induced cardiac hypertrophy characterized by aberrant mitochondrial and irregular sarcomere organization, which was accompanied by increased reactive nitrogen species and RhoA expression.

Long-Term Neuroprotection with 2-Iminobiotin, An Inhibitor of Neuronal and Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase, after Cerebral Hypoxia-Ischemia in Neonatal Rats

The short- and long-term neuroprotective effects of 2-iminobiotin, a selective inhibitor of neuronal and inducible nitric oxide synthase, were studied in 12-day-old rats following hypoxia-ischemia. Hypoxia-ischemia was induced by occlusion of the right carotid artery followed by 90 minutes of hypoxia (FiO2 0.08). Immediately on reoxygenation, 12 and 24 hours later the rats were treated with vehicle or 2-iminobiotin at a dose of 5.5, 10, 30, or 60 mg/kg per day. Histologic analysis of brain damage was performed at 6 weeks after hypoxia-ischemia. To assess early changes of cerebral tissue, levels of HSP70, nitrotyrosine, and cytochrome c were determined 24 hours after reoxygenation. Significant neuroprotection was obtained using a dose of 30 mg/kg per day of 2-iminobiotin. Levels of HSP70 were increased in the ipsilateral hemisphere in both groups (P<0.05), but the increase was significantly (P<0.05) less in the rats receiving the optimal dose of 2-iminobiotin (30 mg/kg per day). Hypoxia-ischemia did not lead to increased levels of nitrotyrosine, nor did 2-iminobiotin influence levels of nitrotyrosine. In contrast, hypoxia-ischemia induced an increase in cytochrome c level that was prevented by 2-iminobiotin. In conclusion, 2-iminobiotin administered after hypoxia-ischemia provides long-term neuroprotection. This neuroprotection is obtained by mechanisms other than a reduction of nitrotyrosine formation in proteins.