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We recently identified a pathway underlying immune activation in hypertension. Proteins oxidatively modified by reactive isoLG (isolevuglandin) accumulate in dendritic cells (DCs). PGE (Prostaglandin E2) has been implicated in the inflammation associated with hypertension. We hypothesized that PGE via its EP (E prostanoid) 3 receptor contributes to DC activation in hypertension. EP3 mice and wild-type littermates were exposed to sequential hypertensive stimuli involving an initial 2-week exposure to the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride in drinking water, followed by a 2-week washout period, and a subsequent 4% high-salt diet for 3 weeks. In wild-type mice, this protocol increased systolic pressure from 123±2 to 148±8 mm Hg (<0.05). This was associated with marked renal inflammation and a striking accumulation of isoLG adducts in splenic DCs. However, the increases in blood pressure, renal T-cell infiltration, and DC isoLG formation were completely prevented in EP3 mice. Similar protective effects were also observed in wild-type mice that received intracerebroventricular injection of a lentiviral vector encoding shRNA targeting the EP3 receptor. Further, in vitro experiments indicated that PGE also acts directly on DCs via its EP1 receptors to stimulate intracellular isoLG formation. Together, these findings provide new insight into how EP receptors in both the central nervous system and peripherally on DCs promote inflammation in salt-induced hypertension.

There is great interest in safe and effective alternative therapies that could benefit patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). L-arginine (Arg) is a semi-essential amino acid with a variety of physiological effects. In this context, our aim was to investigate the role of dietary Arg in experimental colitis. We used two models of colitis in C57BL/6 mice, the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) model of injury and repair, and infection. Animals were given diets containing (1) no Arg (Arg), 6.4 g/kg (Arg), or 24.6 g/kg Arg (Arg); or (2) the amino acids downstream of Arg: 28 g/kg L-ornithine (Orn) or 72 g/kg L-proline (Pro). Mice with DSS colitis receiving the Arg diet had increased levels of Arg, Orn, and Pro in the colon and improved body weight loss, colon length shortening, and histological injury compared to Arg and Arg diets. Histology was improved in the Arg vs. Arg group. Orn or Pro diets did not provide protection. Reduction in colitis with Arg diet also occurred in -infected mice. Diversity of the intestinal microbiota was significantly enhanced in mice on the Arg diet compared to the Arg or Arg diets, with increased abundance of Bacteroidetes and decreased Verrucomicrobia. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of Arg is protective in colitis models. This may occur by restoring overall microbial diversity and Bacteroidetes prevalence. Our data provide a rationale for Arg as an adjunctive therapy in IBD.

Histone posttranslational modifications (PTMs) regulate chromatin dynamics, DNA accessibility, and transcription to expand the genetic code. Many of these PTMs are produced through cellular metabolism to offer both feedback and feedforward regulation. Herein we describe the existence of Lys and Arg modifications on histones by a glycolytic by-product, methylglyoxal (MGO). Our data demonstrate that adduction of histones by MGO is an abundant modification, present at the same order of magnitude as Arg methylation. These modifications were detected on all four core histones at critical residues involved in both nucleosome stability and reader domain binding. In addition, MGO treatment of cells lacking the major detoxifying enzyme, glyoxalase 1, results in marked disruption of H2B acetylation and ubiquitylation without affecting H2A, H3, and H4 modifications. Using RNA sequencing, we show that MGO is capable of altering gene transcription, most notably in cells lacking GLO1. Finally, we show that the deglycase DJ-1 protects histones from adduction by MGO. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the existence of a previously undetected histone modification derived from glycolysis, which may have far-reaching implications for the control of gene expression and protein transcription linked to metabolism.
Copyright © 2018 the Author(s). Published by PNAS.

Before insulin can stimulate glucose uptake in muscle, it must be delivered to skeletal muscle (SkM) through the microvasculature. Insulin delivery is determined by SkM perfusion and the rate of movement of insulin across the capillary endothelium. The endothelium therefore plays a central role in regulating insulin access to SkM. Nitric oxide (NO) is a key regulator of endothelial function and stimulates arterial vasodilation, which increases SkM perfusion and the capillary surface area available for insulin exchange. The effects of NO on transendothelial insulin efflux (TIE), however, are unknown. We hypothesized that acute reduction of endothelial NO would reduce TIE. However, intravital imaging of TIE in mice revealed that reduction of NO by l--nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) enhanced the rate of TIE by ∼30% and increased total extravascular insulin delivery. This accelerated TIE was associated with more rapid insulin-stimulated glucose lowering. Sodium nitroprusside, an NO donor, had no effect on TIE in mice. The effects of l-NAME on TIE were not due to changes in blood pressure alone, as a direct-acting vasoconstrictor (phenylephrine) did not affect TIE. These results demonstrate that acute NO synthase inhibition increases the permeability of capillaries to insulin, leading to an increase in delivery of insulin to SkM.
© 2018 by the American Diabetes Association.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptors belong to the G-protein-coupled receptor superfamily and have important roles in food intake, anxiety and cancer biology . The NPY-Y receptor system has emerged as one of the most complex networks with three peptide ligands (NPY, peptide YY and pancreatic polypeptide) binding to four receptors in most mammals, namely the Y, Y, Y and Y receptors, with different affinity and selectivity . NPY is the most powerful stimulant of food intake and this effect is primarily mediated by the Y receptor (YR) . A number of peptides and small-molecule compounds have been characterized as YR antagonists and have shown clinical potential in the treatment of obesity , tumour and bone loss . However, their clinical usage has been hampered by low potency and selectivity, poor brain penetration ability or lack of oral bioavailability . Here we report crystal structures of the human YR bound to the two selective antagonists UR-MK299 and BMS-193885 at 2.7 and 3.0 Å resolution, respectively. The structures combined with mutagenesis studies reveal the binding modes of YR to several structurally diverse antagonists and the determinants of ligand selectivity. The YR structure and molecular docking of the endogenous agonist NPY, together with nuclear magnetic resonance, photo-crosslinking and functional studies, provide insights into the binding behaviour of the agonist and for the first time, to our knowledge, determine the interaction of its N terminus with the receptor. These insights into YR can enable structure-based drug discovery that targets NPY receptors.

Establishing a non-destructive method for spatially assessing advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) is a potentially useful step toward investigating the mechanistic role of AGEs in bone quality. To test the hypothesis that the shape of the amide I in the Raman spectroscopy (RS) analysis of bone matrix changes upon AGE accumulation, we incubated paired cadaveric cortical bone in ribose or glucose solutions and in control solutions for 4 and 16 weeks, respectively, at 37°C. Acquiring 10 spectra per bone with a 20X objective and a 830 nm laser, RS was sensitive to AGE accumulation (confirmed by biochemical measurements of pentosidine and fluorescent AGEs). Hyp/Pro ratio increased upon glycation using either 0.1 M ribose, 0.5 M ribose or 0.5 M glucose. Glycation also decreased the amide I sub-peak ratios (cm ) 1668/1638 and 1668/1610 when directly calculated using either second derivative spectrum or local maxima of difference spectrum, though the processing method (eg, averaged spectrum vs individual spectra) to minimize noise influenced detection of differences for the ribose-incubated bones. Glycation however did not affect these sub-peak ratios including the matrix maturity ratio (1668/1690) when calculated using indirect sub-band fitting. The amide I sub-peak ratios likely reflected changes in the collagen I structure.
© 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Fracture risk increases as type 2 diabetes (T2D) progresses. With the rising incidence of T2D, in particular early-onset T2D, a representative pre-clinical model is needed to study mechanisms for treating or preventing diabetic bone disease. Towards that goal, we hypothesized that fracture resistance of bone from diabetic TallyHO mice decreases as the duration of diabetes increases. Femurs and lumbar vertebrae were harvested from male, TallyHO mice and male, non-diabetic SWR/J mice at 16weeks (n≥12 per strain) and 34weeks (n≥13 per strain) of age. As is characteristic of this model of juvenile T2D, the TallyHO mice were obese and hyperglycemic at an early age (5weeks and 10weeks of age, respectively). The femur mid-shaft of TallyHO mice had higher tissue mineral density and larger cortical area, as determined by micro-computed tomography, compared to the femur mid-shaft of SWR/J mice, irrespective of age. As such, the diabetic rodent bone was structurally stronger than the non-diabetic rodent bone, but the higher peak force endured by the diaphysis during three-point (3pt) bending was not independent of the difference in body weight. Upon accounting for the structure of the femur diaphysis, the estimated toughness at 16weeks and 34weeks was lower for the diabetic mice than for non-diabetic controls, but neither toughness nor estimated material strength and resistance to crack growth (3pt bending of contralateral notched femur) decreased as the duration of hyperglycemia increased. With respect to trabecular bone, there were no differences in the compressive strength of the L6 vertebral strength between diabetic and non-diabetic mice at both ages despite a lower trabecular bone volume for the TallyHO than for the SWR/J mice at 34weeks. Amide I sub-peak ratios as determined by Raman Spectroscopy analysis of the femur diaphysis suggested a difference in collagen structure between diabetic and non-diabetic mice, although there was not a significant difference in matrix pentosidine between the groups. Overall, the fracture resistance of bone in the TallyHO model of T2D did not progressively decrease with increasing duration of hyperglycemia. However, given the variability in hyperglycemia in this model, there were correlations between blood glucose levels and certain structural properties including peak force.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

INTRODUCTION - Nocturia impacts 70% of individuals over age 70 years. Nocturnal polyuria is present in up to 88% of adults with nocturia, however, treatment options for reducing nighttime urine production have historically been limited to behavioral modification and off label use of timed diuretics and desmopressin. Noctiva (desmopressin acetate nasal spray, DANS, Serenity Pharmaceuticals, LLC) is a novel formulation of desmopressin approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of nocturia due to nocturnal polyuria in March 2017. Areas covered: Incidence and etiology of nocturia, currently available therapies (approved and off label), and pharmacokinetic, efficacy, and safety data associated with DANS. Expert commentary: DANS has been studied for the treatment of nocturia in adults over age 50 without contraindications to the use of desmopressin. 49% receiving the higher clinical dose experienced ≥50% reduction in nocturnal voids in clinical trials vs. 30% with placebo. Although nadir serum sodium <135 mmol/L was not uncommon (14%), the incidence of sodium ≤125 mmol/L was rare (1%). DANS therefore appears to benefit a significant subset of patients with nocturia while maintaining an acceptable risk profile. Given the risks of hyponatremia, education of patients and prescribers in contraindications and the importance of monitoring are paramount.

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) affect protein function, localization, and stability, yet very little is known about the ratios of these modifications. Here, we describe a novel method to quantitate and assess the relative stoichiometry of Lys and Arg modifications (QuARKMod) in complex biological settings. We demonstrate the versatility of this platform in monitoring recombinant protein modification of peptide substrates, PTMs of individual histones, and the relative abundance of these PTMs as a function of subcellular location. Lastly, we describe a product ion scanning technique that offers the potential to discover unexpected and possibly novel Lys and Arg modifications. In summary, this approach yields accurate quantitation and discovery of protein PTMs in complex biological systems without the requirement of high mass accuracy instrumentation.

The neuropeptide Y receptor (Y R) is involved in various pathophysiological processes such as epilepsy, mood disorders, angiogenesis, and tumor growth. Therefore, the Y R is an interesting target for drug development. A detailed understanding of the binding pocket could facilitate the development of highly selective antagonists to study the role of Y R in vitro and in vivo. In this study, several residues crucial to the interaction of BIIE0246 and SF-11 derivatives with Y R were investigated by signal transduction assays. Using the experimental results as constraints, the antagonists were docked into a comparative structural model of the Y R. Despite differences in size and structure, all three antagonists display a similar binding site, including a deep hydrophobic cavity formed by transmembrane helices (TM) 4, 5, and 6, as well as a hydrophobic patch at the top of TM2 and 7. Additionally, we suggest that the antagonists block Q , a position that has been shown to be crucial for binding of the amidated C terminus of NPY and thus for receptor activation.
© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.