Amyloid-beta neuroprotection mediated by a targeted antioxidant.

Amyloid-beta (Aß)-induced neurotoxicity is a major contributor to the pathologies associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), an early response induced by the peptide and oligomeric derivatives of Aß, plays a significant role in effecting cellular pathogenesis. Here we employ particularly toxic forms of Aß with cultured primary cortical/hippocampal neurons to elicit ROS and drive cellular dysfunction. To prevent and even reverse such effects, we utilized a cell-penetrating, peroxisome-targeted, protein biologic--called CAT-SKL. We show the recombinant enzyme enters neurons, reverses Aß-induced oxidative stress, and increases cell viability. Dramatic restorative effects on damaged neuronal processes were also observed. In addition, we used DNA microarrays to determine Aß's effects on gene expression in neurons, as well as the ability of CAT-SKL to modify such Aß-induced expression profiles. Our results suggest that CAT-SKL, a targeted antioxidant, may represent a new therapeutic approach for treatment of disorders, like Alzheimer's disease, that are driven through oxidative stress. Preclinical testing is ongoing.

A targeted enzyme approach to sensitization of tyrosine kinase inhibitor-resistant breast cancer cells.

Gefitinib is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) of potential use in patients with breast cancer. Unfortunately, in clinical studies, gefitinib is often ineffective indicating that resistance to EGFR inhibitors may be a common occurrence in cancer of the breast. EGFR has been shown to be overexpressed in breast cancer, and in particular remains hyperphosphorylated in cell lines such as MDA-MB-468 that are resistant to EGFR inhibitors. Here, we investigate the cause of this sustained phosphorylation and the molecular basis for the ineffectiveness of gefitinib. We show that reactive oxygen species (ROS), known to damage cellular macromolecules and to modulate signaling cascades in a variety of human diseases including cancers, appear to play a critical role in mediating EGFR TKI-resistance. Furthermore, elimination of these ROS through use of a cell-penetrating catalase derivative sensitizes the cells to gefitinib. These results suggest a new approach for the treatment of TKI-resistant breast cancer patients specifically, the targeting of ROS and attendant downstream oxidative stress and their effects on signaling cascades.

Peroxisomes, oxidative stress, and inflammation.

Peroxisomes are intracellular organelles mediating a wide variety of biosynthetic and biodegradative reactions. Included among these are the metabolism of hydrogen peroxide and other reactive species, molecules whose levels help define the oxidative state of cells. Loss of oxidative equilibrium in cells of tissues and organs potentiates inflammatory responses which can ultimately trigger human disease. The goal of this article is to review evidence for connections between peroxisome function, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the context of human health and degenerative disease. Dysregulated points in this nexus are identified and potential remedial approaches are presented.

Progeric effects of catalase inactivation in human cells.

Peroxisomes generate hydrogen peroxide, a reactive oxygen species, as part of their normal metabolism. A number of pathological situations exist in which the organelle's capacity to degrade the potentially toxic oxidant is compromised. It is the peroxidase, catalase, which largely determines the functional antioxidant capacity of the organelle, and it is this enzyme that is affected in aging, in certain diseases, and in response to exposure to specific chemical agents. To more tightly control the enzymatic activity of peroxisomal catalase and carefully document the effects of its impaired action on human cells, we employed the inhibitor 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole. We show that by chronically reducing catalase activity to approximately 38% of normal, cells respond in a dramatic manner, displaying a cascade of accelerated aging reactions. Hydrogen peroxide and related reactive oxygen species are produced, protein and DNA are oxidatively damaged, import into peroxisomes and organelle biogenesis is corrupted, and matrix metalloproteinases are hyper-secreted from cells. In addition, mitochondria are functionally impaired, losing their ability to maintain a membrane potential and synthesize reactive oxygen species themselves. These latter results suggest an important redox-regulated connection between the two organelle systems, a topic of considerable interest for future study.

Reactive oxygen species in tumor necrosis factor-alpha-activated primary human keratinocytes: implications for psoriasis and inflammatory skin disease.

The multifunctional cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is known to play an important role in inflammatory and immunological responses in human skin. Although it has been documented that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in TNF-alpha-induced signaling pathways associated with certain inflammatory diseases, their role in TNF-alpha signaling cascades has not been examined in primary human keratinocytes used as a model of inflammatory skin disease and psoriasis. Employing a series of in vitro and in cellulo approaches, we have demonstrated that in primary human keratinocytes (i) TNF-alpha rapidly induces ROS generation, IkappaB degradation, NF-kappaB p65 nuclear translocation, and ultimately production of inflammatory cytokines; (ii) TNF-alpha-induced cytokine production is mediated both by the mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway via NF-kappaB activation and by ROS; (iii) TNF-alpha-dependent NF-kappaB activation (that is, IkappaB degradation and NF-kappaB p65 nuclear translocation) is not mediated by ROS; and (iv) a cell-penetrating derivative of the antioxidant enzyme, catalase, as well as taurine and N-acetyl-cysteine attenuate the TNF-alpha-induced production of cytokines. These latter results suggest that catalase and perhaps other antioxidants should be considered as part of a more specific and effective therapy for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases, including psoriasis.

Restoration of peroxisomal catalase import in a model of human cellular aging.

Peroxisomes play an important role in human cellular metabolism by housing enzymes involved in a number of essential biochemical pathways. Many of these enzymes are oxidases that transfer hydrogen atoms to molecular oxygen forming hydrogen peroxide. The organelle also contains catalase, which readily decomposes the hydrogen peroxide, a potentially damaging oxidant. Previous work has demonstrated that aging compromises peroxisomal protein import with catalase being particularly affected. The resultant imbalance in the relative ratio of oxidases to catalase was seen as a potential contributor to cellular oxidative stress and aging. Here we report that altering the peroxisomal targeting signal of catalase to the more effective serine-lysine-leucine (SKL) sequence results in a catalase molecule that more strongly interacts with its receptor and is more efficiently imported in both in vitro and in vivo assays. Furthermore, catalase-SKL monomers expressed in cells interact with endogenous catalase subunits resulting in altered trafficking of the latter molecules. A dramatic reduction in cellular hydrogen peroxide levels accompanies this increased peroxisomal import of catalase. Finally, we show that catalase-SKL stably expressed in cells by retroviral-mediated transduction repolarizes mitochondria and reduces the number of senescent cells in a population. These results demonstrate the utility of a catalase-SKL therapy for the restoration of a normal oxidative state in aging cells.

Hypocatalasemic fibroblasts accumulate hydrogen peroxide and display age-associated pathologies.

Human epidemiological studies point to an association of hypocatalasemia and an increased risk of age-related disease. Unfortunately, the cellular and molecular manifestations of hypocatalasemia are only poorly understood. In this analysis, we have extensively characterized hypocatalasemic human fibroblasts and report that they amass hydrogen peroxide and are oxidatively damaged. Protein and DNA alike are affected, as are functioning and biogenesis of peroxisomes - the subcellular organelles which normally house catalase. Despite these pathologies and their relative inability to grow, the cells do not appear to be intrinsically senescent. With the goal of restoring oxidative balance and perhaps reversing some of the accumulated damage to critical cellular components, we transduced hypocatalasemic fibroblasts with a form of catalase specifically designed to efficiently traffic to peroxisomes. We show the strategy is extremely effective, with dramatic reductions seen in cellular hydrogen peroxide levels. Future longitudinal studies aimed at examining the effects of a more continuous and long-term protein therapy may now commence.

Peroxisome senescence in human fibroblasts.

The molecular mechanisms of peroxisome biogenesis have begun to emerge; in contrast, relatively little is known about how the organelle functions as cells age. In this report, we characterize age-related changes in peroxisomes of human cells. We show that aging compromises peroxisomal targeting signal 1 (PTS1) protein import, affecting in particular the critical antioxidant enzyme catalase. The number and appearance of peroxisomes are altered in these cells, and the organelles accumulate the PTS1-import receptor, Pex5p, on their membranes. Concomitantly, cells produce increasing amounts of the toxic metabolite hydrogen peroxide, and we present evidence that this increased load of reactive oxygen species may further reduce peroxisomal protein import and exacerbate the effects of aging.