The protective effect of a novel sunscreen against blue light.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Premature skin ageing, and skin hyperpigmentation are influenced by exogenous factors, such as ultraviolet radiation and blue light. In this study, we assess the protective effect of a sunscreen (TDF® Blu Voile Sunscreen) in protecting the skin against the harmful effects of blue light irradiation in vivo and through the in situ quantitative and qualitative evaluation of protein carbonylation in human skin explants. METHODOLOGY: The protective effect of the test product against blue light was first evaluated ex vivo on human skin explants. The treated and non-treated explants were exposed to 14 J/cm2 of blue light 460 nm following which the protein carbonylation was evaluated by in situ epifluorescence imaging and separation by high-resolution gel electrophoresis. To determine whether the test product could also protect against the immediate and persistent pigmenting effect of blue light, two randomized in vivo studies were conducted, which included respectively 17 subjects with a skin phototype of IV and V (Fitzpatrick classification) and 22 subjects with a skin phototype of IV, V, and VI (Fitzpatrick classification). The duration of the study for each subject was 2 days (D1 and D2) for immediate observations and 5 days (D1-D5) for persistent observations. Specific zones on the subjects' back were either left non-treated or treated with the test product and were then exposed to a unique dose of blue light 415 nm. The onset of pigmentation between the treated and exposed zones was then assessed relative to the non-exposed treated zone through colorimetric measurements of the Individual Typology Angle (ITAo ). RESULTS: Human skin explants treated with test product showed significantly lower levels of accumulated carbonylated proteins, with a protection of 82%, following exposure to blue light 460 nm. Findings of the in vivo studies also indicated that the test product presented significantly better protective efficacy against immediate and persistent pigmentation induced by blue light 415 nm. CONCLUSION: Hence, it can be concluded that the test product can protect against the oxidative stress as well as the immediate and persistent pigmentation induced by blue light.

CONTEXTE ET OBJECTIF: Le vieillissement prématuré de la peau et l'hyperpigmentation cutanée sont influencés par des facteurs exogènes, tels que les rayons ultraviolets et la lumière bleue. Dans cette étude, nous évaluons l'effet protecteur d'un écran solaire (TDF® Blu Voile Sunscreen) en matière de protection de la peau contre les effets nocifs de l'irradiation à la lumière bleue in vivo et par l'évaluation quantitative et qualitative in situ de la carbonylation des protéines dans des explants cutanés humains. MÉTHODOLOGIE: L'effet protecteur du produit testé contre la lumière bleue a d'abord été évalué ex vivo sur des explants cutanés humains. Les explants traités et non traités ont été exposés à 14 J/cm2 de lumière bleue à 460 nm, après quoi la carbonylation des protéines a été évaluée par imagerie par épifluorescence in situ et séparation par électrophorèse sur gel à haute résolution. Afin de déterminer si le produit testé pouvait également protéger contre la pigmentation immédiate et persistante dues à lumière bleue, deux études in vivo randomisées incluant respectivement 17 sujets ayant un phototype cutané IV et V (classification de Fitzpatrick) et 22 sujets ayant un phototype cutané IV, V et VI (classification de Fitzpatrick) ont été menées. La durée de l'étude pour chaque sujet était de 2 jours (J1 et J2) pour les observations immédiates et de 5 jours (J1 à J5) pour les observations persistantes. Des zones spécifiques du dos des sujets ont été laissées non traitées ou bien traitées avec le produit testé, et ont ensuite été exposées à une dose unique de lumière bleue à 415 nm. L'apparition de la pigmentation entre les zones traitées et exposées a ensuite été évaluée par rapport à la zone traitée non exposée par des mesures colorimétriques de l'angle typologique individuel (Individual Typology Angle, ITAo). RÉSULTATS: Les explants cutanés humains traités avec le produit testé ont montré des taux significativement plus faibles de protéines carbonylées accumulées, avec une protection de 82 %, après une exposition à la lumière bleue à 460 nm. Les résultats des études in vivo ont également indiqué que le produit testé présentait une efficacité protectrice significativement meilleure contre la pigmentation immédiate et persistante induite par la lumière bleue à 415 nm. CONCLUSION: Par conséquent, on peut conclure que le produit testé peut protéger contre le stress oxydatif ainsi que contre la pigmentation immédiate et persistante induite par la lumière bleue.

Oxidative damage prevention in human skin and sensory neurons by a salicylic acid derivative.

BACKGROUND: Increased protein carbonylation is a hallmark of oxidative stress, protein homeostasis dysregulation and aging in the nervous system and skin. Sensory neurons interact with skin cells and are involved in skin homeostasis. We have previously reported that the 5-octanoyl salicylic acid (C8-SA), a salicylic acid derivative, increased C. elegans lifespan and delayed the accumulation of carbonylated proteins, through the stimulation of autophagy. OBJECTIVES: In this study we aimed to investigate if C8-SA protects human sensory neurons and human skin from extrinsic oxidative stressors as an approach to delay skin aging. METHODS: In vitro reconstituted human epidermis innervated with hiPSc-derived human sensory neurons, as well as ex vivo human organotypic full skin models were used. The fully differentiated sensory neurons were pretreated with C8-SA before oxidative stress induction. Skin explants were maintained in culture and treated topically with C8-SA before the application of urban pollutants. Carbonylated proteins were detected using amino-oxy functionalized fluorophores and quantified. Chaperone mediated autophagy was monitored with LAMP2A immunofluorescence. Inflammation, ROS detoxification and autophagy were assessed by RT-PCR. RESULTS: C8-SA prevented the accumulation of carbonylated proteins, both in human sensory neurons and skin explants. C8-SA stimulated chaperone-mediated autophagy and modulated NRF2 antioxidant response genes, as well as catalase enzymatic activity. CONCLUSIONS: C8-SA acts at two levels to protect skin against oxidative stress: 1) it prevents protein oxidation by stimulating endogenous antioxidant defense and 2) it increases the clearance of oxidized proteins by stimulating chaperone-mediated autophagy. These results suggest that C8-SA maintains skin health in urban polluted environments.

Proteome Oxidative Modifications and Impairment of Specific Metabolic Pathways During Cellular Senescence and Aging.

Accumulation of oxidatively modified proteins is a hallmark of organismal aging in vivo and of cellular replicative senescence in vitro. Failure of protein maintenance is a major contributor to the age-associated accumulation of damaged proteins that is believed to participate to the age-related decline in cellular function. In this context, quantitative proteomics approaches, including 2-D gel electrophoresis (2-DE)-based methods, represent powerful tools for monitoring the extent of protein oxidative modifications at the proteome level and for identifying the targeted proteins, also referred as to the "oxi-proteome." Previous studies have identified proteins targeted by oxidative modifications during replicative senescence of human WI-38 fibroblasts and myoblasts and have been shown to represent a restricted set within the total cellular proteome that fall in key functional categories, such as energy metabolism, protein quality control, and cellular morphology. To provide mechanistic support into the role of oxidized proteins in the development of the senescent phenotype, untargeted metabolomic profiling is also performed for young and senescent myoblasts and fibroblasts. Metabolomic profiling is indicative of energy metabolism impairment in both senescent myoblasts and fibroblasts, suggesting a link between oxidative protein modifications and the altered cellular metabolism associated with the senescent phenotype of human myoblasts and fibroblasts.

Lipin1 deficiency causes sarcoplasmic reticulum stress and chaperone-responsive myopathy.

As a consequence of impaired glucose or fatty acid metabolism, bioenergetic stress in skeletal muscles may trigger myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. Genetic mutations causing loss of function of the LPIN1 gene frequently lead to severe rhabdomyolysis bouts in children, though the metabolic alterations and possible therapeutic interventions remain elusive. Here, we show that lipin1 deficiency in mouse skeletal muscles is sufficient to trigger myopathy. Strikingly, muscle fibers display strong accumulation of both neutral and phospholipids. The metabolic lipid imbalance can be traced to an altered fatty acid synthesis and fatty acid oxidation, accompanied by a defect in acyl chain elongation and desaturation. As an underlying cause, we reveal a severe sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) stress, leading to the activation of the lipogenic SREBP1c/SREBP2 factors, the accumulation of the Fgf21 cytokine, and alterations of SR-mitochondria morphology. Importantly, pharmacological treatments with the chaperone TUDCA and the fatty acid oxidation activator bezafibrate improve muscle histology and strength of lipin1 mutants. Our data reveal that SR stress and alterations in SR-mitochondria contacts are contributing factors and potential intervention targets of the myopathy associated with lipin1 deficiency.

Proteome oxidative carbonylation during oxidative stress-induced premature senescence of WI-38 human fibroblasts.

Accumulation of oxidatively damaged proteins is a hallmark of cellular and organismal ageing, and is also a phenotypic feature shared by both replicative senescence and stress-induced premature senescence of human fibroblasts. Moreover, proteins that are building up as oxidized (i.e. the "Oxi-proteome") during ageing and age-related diseases represent a restricted set of cellular proteins, indicating that certain proteins are more prone to oxidative carbonylation and subsequent intracellular accumulation. The occurrence of specific carbonylated proteins upon oxidative stress induced premature senescence of WI-38 human fibroblasts and their follow-up identification have been addressed in this study. Indeed, it was expected that the identification of these proteins would give insights into the mechanisms by which oxidatively damaged proteins could affect cellular function. Among these proteins, some are belonging to the cytoskeleton while others are mainly involved in protein quality control and/or biosynthesis as well as in redox and energy metabolism, the impairment of which has been previously associated with cellular ageing. Interestingly, the majority of these carbonylated proteins were found to belong to functional interaction networks pointing to signalling pathways that have been implicated in the oxidative stress response and subsequent premature senescence.

Impaired energy metabolism of senescent muscle satellite cells is associated with oxidative modifications of glycolytic enzymes.

Accumulation of oxidized proteins is a hallmark of cellular and organismal aging. Adult muscle stem cell (or satellite cell) replication and differentiation is compromised with age contributing to sarcopenia. However, the molecular events related to satellite cell dysfunction during aging are not completely understood. In the present study we have addressed the potential impact of oxidatively modified proteins on the altered metabolism of senescent human satellite cells. By using a modified proteomics analysis we have found that proteins involved in protein quality control and glycolytic enzymes are the main targets of oxidation (carbonylation) and modification with advanced glycation/lipid peroxidation end products during the replicative senescence of satellite cells. Inactivation of the proteasome appeared to be a likely contributor to the accumulation of such damaged proteins. Metabolic and functional analyses revealed an impaired glucose metabolism in senescent cells. A metabolic shift leading to increased mobilization of non-carbohydrate substrates such as branched chain amino acids or long chain fatty acids was observed. Increased levels of acyl-carnitines indicated an increased turnover of storage and membrane lipids for energy production. Taken together, these results support a link between oxidative protein modifications and the altered cellular metabolism associated with the senescent phenotype of human myoblasts.

Oxidative proteome alterations during skeletal muscle ageing.

Sarcopenia corresponds to the degenerative loss of skeletal muscle mass, quality, and strength associated with ageing and leads to a progressive impairment of mobility and quality of life. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in this process are not completely understood. A hallmark of cellular and tissular ageing is the accumulation of oxidatively modified (carbonylated) proteins, leading to a decreased quality of the cellular proteome that could directly impact on normal cellular functions. Although increased oxidative stress has been reported during skeletal muscle ageing, the oxidized protein targets, also referred as to the 'oxi-proteome' or 'carbonylome', have not been characterized yet. To better understand the mechanisms by which these damaged proteins build up and potentially affect muscle function, proteins targeted by these modifications have been identified in human rectus abdominis muscle obtained from young and old healthy donors using a bi-dimensional gel electrophoresis-based proteomic approach coupled with immunodetection of carbonylated proteins. Among evidenced protein spots, 17 were found as increased carbonylated in biopsies from old donors comparing to young counterparts. These proteins are involved in key cellular functions such as cellular morphology and transport, muscle contraction and energy metabolism. Importantly, impairment of these pathways has been described in skeletal muscle during ageing. Functional decline of these proteins due to irreversible oxidation may therefore impact directly on the above-mentioned pathways, hence contributing to the generation of the sarcopenic phenotype.

The transcription factor E4F1 coordinates CHK1-dependent checkpoint and mitochondrial functions.

Recent data support the notion that a group of key transcriptional regulators involved in tumorigenesis, including MYC, p53, E2F1, and BMI1, share an intriguing capacity to simultaneously regulate metabolism and cell cycle. Here, we show that another factor, the multifunctional protein E4F1, directly controls genes involved in mitochondria functions and cell-cycle checkpoints, including Chek1, a major component of the DNA damage response. Coordination of these cellular functions by E4F1 appears essential for the survival of p53-deficient transformed cells. Acute inactivation of E4F1 in these cells results in CHK1-dependent checkpoint deficiency and multiple mitochondrial dysfunctions that lead to increased ROS production, energy stress, and inhibition of de novo pyrimidine synthesis. This deadly cocktail leads to the accumulation of uncompensated oxidative damage to proteins and extensive DNA damage, ending in cell death. This supports the rationale of therapeutic strategies simultaneously targeting mitochondria and CHK1 for selective killing of p53-deficient cancer cells.

Autophagy impairment in muscle induces neuromuscular junction degeneration and precocious aging.

The cellular basis of age-related tissue deterioration remains largely obscure. The ability to activate compensatory mechanisms in response to environmental stress is an important factor for survival and maintenance of cellular functions. Autophagy is activated both under short and prolonged stress and is required to clear the cell of dysfunctional organelles and altered proteins. We report that specific autophagy inhibition in muscle has a major impact on neuromuscular synaptic function and, consequently, on muscle strength, ultimately affecting the lifespan of animals. Inhibition of autophagy also exacerbates aging phenotypes in muscle, such as mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and profound weakness. Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress directly affect acto-myosin interaction and force generation but show a limited effect on stability of neuromuscular synapses. These results demonstrate that age-related deterioration of synaptic structure and function is exacerbated by defective autophagy.

In subfertile couple, abdominal fat loss in men is associated with improvement of sperm quality and pregnancy: a case-series.

BACKGROUND: The impact of overweight among men of reproductive-age may affect fertility. Abdominal fat, more than body mass index, is an indicator of higher metabolic risk, which seems to be involved in decreasing sperm quality. This study aims to assess the relationship between abdominal fat and sperm DNA fragmentation and the effect of abdominal fat loss, among 6 men in subfertile couples. METHODS: Sperm DNA fragmentation, abdominal fat and metabolic and hormonal profiles were measured in the 6 men before and after dietary advices. Seminal oxidative stress and antioxidant markers were determined. RESULTS: After several months of a lifestyle program, all 6 men lost abdominal fat (patient 1: loss of 3 points of abdominal fat, patient 2: loss of 3 points, patient 3: loss of 2 points, patient 4: loss of 1 point, patient 5: loss of 4 points and patient 6: loss of 13 points). At the same time, their rate of sperm DNA fragmentation decreased: 9.5% vs 31%, 24% vs 43%, 18% vs 47%, 26.3% vs 66%, 25.4% vs 35% and 1.7% vs 25%. Also, an improvement in both metabolic (significant decrease in triglycerides and total cholesterol; p = 0.0139) and hormonal (significant increase in testosterone/oestradiol ratio; p = 0.0139) blood profiles was observed after following the lifestyle program. In seminal plasma, the amount of SOD2 has significantly increased (p = 0.0139) while in parallel carbonylated proteins have decreased. Furthermore, all spouses got pregnant. All pregnancies were brought to term. CONCLUSION: This study shows specifically that sperm DNA fragmentation among men in subfertile couples could be affected by abdominal fat, but improvement of lifestyle factor may correct this alteration. The effect of specific abdominal fat loss on sperm quality needs further investigation. The reduction of oxidative stress may be a contributing factor.

Impaired metabolism of senescent muscle satellite cells is associated with oxidative modifications of glycolytic enzymes.

Accumulation of damaged macromolecules, including irreversibly oxidized proteins, is a hallmark of cellular and organismal ageing. Failure of protein homesotasis is a major contributor to the age-related accumulation of damaged proteins. In skeletal muscle, tissue maintenance and regeneration is assured by resident adult stem cells known as satellite cells. During senescence their replication and differentiation is compromised contributing to sarcopenia. In this study we have addressed the impact of oxidatively modified proteins in the impaired metabolism of senescent human satellite cells. By using a targeted proteomics analysis we have found that proteins involved in protein quality control and glycolytic enzymes are the main targets of oxidation (carbonylation) and modification with advanced glycation/lipid peroxidation end products during replicative senescence of satellite cells. Inactivation of the proteasome in aged cells appeared as a key contributor to the accumulation of such damaged proteins. Untargeted metabolomic profiling and functional analyses indicated glucose metabolism impairment in senescent cells, although mitochondrial respiration remained unaffected. A metabolic shift leading to increased mobilization of non-carbohydrate substrates as branched chain amino acids or long chain fatty acids was observed in senescent cells. In addition, phospho-and glycerolipids metabolism was altered. Increased levels of acyl-carnitines indicated augmented turnover of storage and membrane lipids for energy production. Such changes reflect alterations in membrane composition and dysregulation of sphingolipids signaling during senescence. This study establishes a new concept connecting oxidative protein modifications with the altered cellular metabolism associated with the senescent phenotype. In addition, these findings highlight the molecular mechanisms implicated in satellite cells dysfunction during ageing, paving the road for future therapeutic interventions aimed at preventing oxidative modifications of proteins and/or stimulating their elimination.

Oxi-DIGE: A novel proteomic approach for detecting and quantifying carbonylated proteins.

Proteins are involved in key cellular functions and our health and wellness depends on their quality. Accumulation of oxidatively damaged proteins is a hallmark of deleterious processes such increased oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, ageing and age-related diseases. Thus, quantifying and identifying oxidized proteins is a biomarker of choice for monitoring biological ageing and/or the efficiency of anti-oxidant, ant-inflammatory and anti-ageing therapies. However, the absence of reliable tools for analyses has inhibited its establishment as the gold standard for measuring the efficacy of anti-ageing and age related diseases interventions. Herein, we present a novel proteomics technology, named Oxi-DIGE?, which provides a significant improvement in terms of specificity, reproducibility and statistical support for proteomic analysis of carbonylated proteins. In Oxi-DIGE, protein carbonyls are labelled with fluorescent hydrazide probes that bind specifically to carbonyl groups in proteins. Experimental groups (e.g. control and experimental samples) are labelled with different flurophore-binded hydrazides that fluoresce light at different wavelengths, producing different colour fluorescence. Thus samples from different experimental groups are co-resolved on a single 2D gel. Increased accuracy is provided due to: (i) reduced false positives by using an exogenous synthetic fluorescent tag; (ii) multiplexing, that is the possibility to run multiple samples on the same gel, (iii) the use of an internal standard on each gel which eliminates inter-gel variations and provides an increased statistical confidence. In addition, the resolution of the carbonyl groups is improved, forming distinct spots that can be identified by mass spectrometry. ?Patent Application (M. Baraibar, R. Ladouce., B. Friguet, A method for detecting and/or quantifying carbonylated proteins (WO/2012/175519) filed by UPMC and referring to the technology described in this abstract.

Differential expression and glycative damage affect specific mitochondrial proteins with aging in rat liver.

Aging is accompanied by the gradual deterioration of cell functions. Particularly, mitochondrial dysfunction, associated with an accumulation of damaged proteins, is of key importance due to the central role of these organelles in cellular metabolism. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms involved in such impairment have not been completely elucidated. In the present study, proteomic analyses looking at both changes at the expression level as well as to glycative modifications of the mitochondrial proteome were performed. Two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis analysis revealed 16 differentially expressed proteins with aging. Thirteen exhibited a decreased expression and are crucial enzymes related to OXPHOS chain complex I/V components, TCA cycle or fatty acid ß-oxidation reaction. On the other hand, 2 enzymes involved in fatty acid ß-oxidation cycle were increased in aged mitochondria. Immunodetection and further identification of glycated proteins disclosed a set of advanced glycation end product-modified proteins, including 6 enzymes involved in the fatty acid ß-oxidation process, and 2 enzymes of the TCA/urea cycles. A crucial antioxidant enzyme, catalase, was among the most strongly glycated proteins. In addition, several AGE-damaged enzymes (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2, medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase and 3-ketoacyl-CoA dehydrogenase) exhibited a decreased activity with age. Taken together, these data suggest that liver mitochondria in old rats suffer from a decline in their capacity for energy production, due to (i) decreased expression of OXPHOS complex I/V components and (ii) glycative damage to key fatty acid ß-oxidation and TCA/urea cycle enzymes.

Proteomic quantification and identification of carbonylated proteins upon oxidative stress and during cellular aging.

Increased protein carbonyl content is a hallmark of cellular and organismal aging. Protein damage leading to the formation of carbonyl groups derives from direct oxidation of several amino acid side chains but can also derive through protein adducts formation with lipid peroxidation products and dicarbonyl glycating compounds. All these modifications have been implicated during oxidative stress, aging and age-related diseases. However, in most cases, the proteins targeted by these deleterious modifications as well as their consequences have not yet been clearly identified. Indeed, this is essential to determine whether and how these modified proteins are impacting on cellular function, on the development of the senescent phenotype and the pathogenesis of age-related diseases. In this context, protein modifications occurring during aging and upon oxidative stress as well as main proteomic methods for detecting, quantifying and identifying oxidized proteins are described. Relevant proteomics studies aimed at monitoring the extent of protein carbonylation and identifying the targeted proteins in the context of aging and oxidative stress are also presented. Proteomics approaches, i.e. fluorescent based 2D-gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry methods, represent powerful tools for monitoring at the proteome level the extent of protein oxidative and related modifications and for identifying the targeted proteins. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Accumulation of damaged macromolecules, including oxidatively damaged (carbonylated) proteins, is a hallmark of cellular and organismal aging. Since protein carbonyls are the most commonly used markers of protein oxidation, different methods have been developed for the detection and quantification of carbonylated proteins. The identification of these protein targets is of valuable interest in order to understand the mechanisms by which damaged proteins accumulate and potentially affect cellular functions during oxidative stress, cellular senescence and/or aging in vivo. The specificity of hydrazide derivatives to carbonyl groups and the presence of a wide range of functional groups coupled to the hydrazide, allowed the design of novel strategies for the detection and quantification of carbonylated proteins. Of note is the importance of fluorescent probes for monitoring carbonylated proteins. Proteomics approaches, i.e. fluorescent based 2D-gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry methods, represent powerful tools for monitoring at the proteome level the extent of protein oxidative and related modifications and for identifying the targeted proteins. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Posttranslational Protein modifications in biology and Medicine.

Expression and modification proteomics during skeletal muscle ageing.

Skeletal muscle ageing is characterized by a progressive and dramatic loss of muscle mass and strength leading to decreased muscular function resulting in muscle weakness which is often referred to as sarcopenia. Following the standardisation of "omics" approaches to study the genome (genomics) and the transcriptome (transcriptomics), the study of the proteins encoded by the genome, referred to as proteomics, is a tremendous challenge. Unlike the genome, the proteome varies in response to many physiological or pathological factors. In addition, the proteome is orders of magnitude more complex than the transcriptome due to post-translational modifications, protein oxidation and limited protein degradation. Proteomic studies, including the analysis of protein abundance as well as post-translational modified proteins have been shown to provide valuable information to unravel the key molecular pathways implicated in complex biological processes, such as tissue and organ ageing. In this article, we will describe proteomic approaches for the analysis of protein abundance as well as the specific protein targets for oxidative damage upon oxidative stress and/or during skeletal muscle ageing.

Oxidative proteome modifications target specific cellular pathways during oxidative stress, cellular senescence and aging.

Oxidatively modified proteins build-up with age results, at least in part, from the increase of reactive oxygen species and other toxic compounds originating from both cellular metabolism and external factors. Experimental evidence has also indicated that failure of protein maintenance is a major contributor to the age-associated accumulation of damaged proteins. We have previously shown that oxidized proteins as well as proteins modified by lipid peroxidation and glycoxidation adducts are accumulating in senescent human WI-38 fibroblasts and reported that proteins targeted by these modifications are mainly involved in protein maintenance, energy metabolism and cytoskeleton. Alterations in the proteome of human muscle adult stem cells upon oxidative stress have also been recently analyzed. The carbonylated proteins identified were also found to be involved in key cellular functions, such as carbohydrate metabolism, protein maintenance, cellular motility and protein homeostasis. More recently, we have built a database of proteins modified by carbonylation, glycation and lipid peroxidation products during aging and age-related diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases. Common pathways evidenced by enzymes involved in intermediate metabolism were found targeted by these modifications, although different tissues have been examined. These results underscore the implication of potential deleterious effects of protein irreversible oxidative modifications in key cellular pathways during aging and in the pathogenesis of age-related diseases.

Molecular, physiological, and motor performance defects in DMSXL mice carrying >1,000 CTG repeats from the human DM1 locus.

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is caused by an unstable CTG repeat expansion in the 3'UTR of the DM protein kinase (DMPK) gene. DMPK transcripts carrying CUG expansions form nuclear foci and affect splicing regulation of various RNA transcripts. Furthermore, bidirectional transcription over the DMPK gene and non-conventional RNA translation of repeated transcripts have been described in DM1. It is clear now that this disease may involve multiple pathogenic pathways including changes in gene expression, RNA stability and splicing regulation, protein translation, and micro-RNA metabolism. We previously generated transgenic mice with 45-kb of the DM1 locus and >300 CTG repeats (DM300 mice). After successive breeding and a high level of CTG repeat instability, we obtained transgenic mice carrying >1,000 CTG (DMSXL mice). Here we described for the first time the expression pattern of the DMPK sense transcripts in DMSXL and human tissues. Interestingly, we also demonstrate that DMPK antisense transcripts are expressed in various DMSXL and human tissues, and that both sense and antisense transcripts accumulate in independent nuclear foci that do not co-localize together. Molecular features of DM1-associated RNA toxicity in DMSXL mice (such as foci accumulation and mild missplicing), were associated with high mortality, growth retardation, and muscle defects (abnormal histopathology, reduced muscle strength, and lower motor performances). We have found that lower levels of IGFBP-3 may contribute to DMSXL growth retardation, while increased proteasome activity may affect muscle function. These data demonstrate that the human DM1 locus carrying very large expansions induced a variety of molecular and physiological defects in transgenic mice, reflecting DM1 to a certain extent. As a result, DMSXL mice provide an animal tool to decipher various aspects of the disease mechanisms. In addition, these mice can be used to test the preclinical impact of systemic therapeutic strategies on molecular and physiological phenotypes.

Protein oxidative damage at the crossroads of cellular senescence, aging, and age-related diseases.

Protein damage mediated by oxidation, protein adducts formation with advanced glycated end products and with products of lipid peroxidation, has been implicated during aging and age-related diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases. Increased protein modification has also been described upon replicative senescence of human fibroblasts, a valid model for studying aging in vitro. However, the mechanisms by which these modified proteins could impact on the development of the senescent phenotype and the pathogenesis of age-related diseases remain elusive. In this study, we performed in silico approaches to evidence molecular actors and cellular pathways affected by these damaged proteins. A database of proteins modified by carbonylation, glycation, and lipid peroxidation products during aging and age-related diseases was built and compared to those proteins identified during cellular replicative senescence in vitro. Common cellular pathways evidenced by enzymes involved in intermediate metabolism were found to be targeted by these modifications, although different tissues have been examined. These results underscore the potential effect of protein modification in the impairment of cellular metabolism during aging and age-related diseases.

Changes of the proteasomal system during the aging process.

Accumulation of oxidized and damaged proteins is a hallmark of the aging process in different organs and tissues. Intracellular protein degradation is normally the most efficient mechanism to prevent toxicity associated with the accumulation of altered proteins without affecting the cellular reserves of amino acids. Protein degradation by the proteasomal system is a key process for the maintenance of cellular protein homeostasis and has come into the focus of aging research during the last decade. During the last few years, several lines of evidence have indicated that proteasome function is impaired during aging, suggesting that this decreased activity might be causally related to the aging process and the occurrence of age-associated diseases. This chapter reviews the proteasome status in organs, tissues, cells, and model organisms during aging as well as the molecular mechanisms involved in the age-related decline of proteasome function. Finally, interventions aimed at rejuvenating proteasome function as a potential antiaging strategy are discussed.

A mutant light-chain ferritin that causes neurodegeneration has enhanced propensity toward oxidative damage.

Intracellular inclusion bodies (IBs) containing ferritin and iron are hallmarks of hereditary ferritinopathy (HF). This neurodegenerative disease is caused by mutations in the coding sequence of the ferritin light chain (FTL) gene that generate FTL polypeptides with a C-terminus that is altered in amino acid sequence and length. Previous studies of ferritin formed with p.Phe167SerfsX26 mutant FTL (Mt-FTL) subunits found disordered 4-fold pores, iron mishandling, and proaggregative behavior, as well as a general increase in cellular oxidative stress when expressed in vivo. Herein, we demonstrate that Mt-FTL is also a target of iron-catalyzed oxidative damage in vitro and in vivo. Incubation of recombinant Mt-FTL ferritin with physiological concentrations of iron and ascorbate resulted in shell structural disruption and polypeptide cleavage not seen with the wild type, as well as a 2.5-fold increase in carbonyl group formation. However, Mt-FTL shell disruption and polypeptide cleavage were completely inhibited by the addition of the radical trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide. These results indicate an enhanced propensity of Mt-FTL toward free radical-induced oxidative damage in vitro. We also found evidence of extensive carbonylation in IBs from a patient with HF together with isolation of a C-terminal Mt-FTL fragment, which are both indicative of oxidative ferritin damage in vivo. Our data demonstrate an enhanced propensity of mutant ferritin to undergo iron-catalyzed oxidative damage and support this as a mechanism causing disruption of ferritin structure and iron mishandling that contribute to the pathology of HF.