Integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis reveals the biomolecular mechanisms associated to the antitumoral potential of a novel silver-based core@shell nanosystem.

A combination of omics techniques (transcriptomics and metabolomics) has been used to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the antitumor action of a nanosystem based on a Ag core coated with mesoporous silica on which transferrin has been anchored as a targeting ligand against tumor cells (Ag@MSNs-Tf). Transcriptomics analysis has been carried out by gene microarrays and RT-qPCR, while high-resolution mass spectrometry has been used for metabolomics. This multi-omics strategy has enabled the discovery of the effect of this nanosystem on different key molecular pathways including the glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, the oxidative phosphorylation and the synthesis of fatty acids, among others.

Short-chain fatty acids during pregnancy in multiple sclerosis: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) can have pro- or anti-inflammatory properties, but their relationship with multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses during pregnancy remains unknown. This study aimed to explore SCFA profiles in MS patients during pregnancy and to assess their association with the appearance of relapses during pregnancy and postpartum. METHODS: We prospectively included 53 pregnant MS patients and 21 healthy control women. Patients were evaluated during pregnancy and puerperium. SCFAs were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Sixteen patients (32%) had relapses during pregnancy or puerperium, and 37 (68%) did not. All MS patients showed significant increases in acetate levels during pregnancy and the postpartum period compared to non-MS women. However, propionate and butyrate values were associated with disease activity. Their values were higher in nonrelapsing patients and remained similar to the control group in relapsing patients. The variable that best identified active patients was the propionate/acetate ratio. Ratios of <0.36 during the first trimester were associated with higher inflammatory activity (odds ratio = 165, 95% confidence interval = 10.2-239.4, p < 0.01). Most nonrelapsing patients showed values of >0.36, which were similar to those in healthy pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: Low propionate/acetate ratio values during the first trimester of gestation identified MS patients at risk of relapses during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Rhodium Nanoparticles as a Novel Photosensitizing Agent in Photodynamic Therapy against Cancer.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising alternative treatment for different types of cancer due to its high selectivity, which prevents healthy tissues from being damaged. The use of nanomaterials in PDT has several advantages over classical photosensitizing agents, due to their unique properties and their capacity for functionalization. Especially interesting is the use of metallic nanoparticles, which are capable of absorbing electromagnetic radiation and either transferring this energy to oxygen molecules for the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) or dissipating it as heat. Although previous reports have demonstrated the capacity of Rh derivatives to serve as anti-tumor drugs, to the best of our knowledge there have been no studies on the potential use of small-sized Rh nanoparticles as photosensitizers in PDT. In this study, 5 nm Rh nanoparticles have been synthesized and their potential in PDT has been evaluated. The results show that treatment with Rh nanoparticles followed by NIR irradiation induces apoptosis in cancer cells through a p53-independent mechanism.

Strategies for Membrane Protein Analysis by Mass Spectrometry.

Membrane proteins are of utmost importance in different cellular processes including: cell signaling, substrate transport, homeostasis control, immune surveillance, etc. In addition, they represent between 60% and 70% of the therapeutic targets currently used. Therefore, the identification and characterization of these proteins is crucial in many fields of research. Although proteomics has undergone an extraordinary advance in recent years thanks to the development of mass spectrometry, the methods used for the identification and quantification of soluble proteins generally fail to be used for membrane proteins, mainly due to their hydrophobic character.In this chapter, we revised the different alternatives, modifications and improvements that have been developed over the years with the aim of adapting the methods used in proteomics to the particular study of membrane proteins, thus allowing to increase the number of membrane proteins identified, as well as their coverage.

Lipid Biosynthetic Genes Affect Candida albicans Extracellular Vesicle Morphology, Cargo, and Immunostimulatory Properties.

Microbial secretion is integral for regulating cell homeostasis as well as releasing virulence factors during infection. The genes encoding phosphatidylserine synthase (CHO1) and phosphatidylserine decarboxylase (PSD1 and PSD2) are Candida albicans genes involved in phospholipid biosynthesis, and mutations in these genes affect mitochondrial function, cell wall thickness, and virulence in mice. We tested the roles of these genes in several agar-based secretion assays and observed that the cho1Δ/Δ and psd1Δ/Δ psd2Δ/Δ strains manifested less protease and phospholipase activity. Since extracellular vesicles (EVs) are surrounded by a lipid membrane, we investigated the effects of these mutations on EV structure, composition, and biological activity. The cho1Δ/Δ mutant releases EVs comparable in size to wild-type EVs, but EVs from the psd1Δ/Δ psd2Δ/Δ strain are much larger than those from the wild type, including a population of >100-nm EVs not observed in the EVs from the wild type. Proteomic analysis revealed that EVs from both mutants had a significantly different protein cargo than that of EVs from the wild type. EVs were tested for their ability to activate NF-κB in bone marrow-derived macrophage cells. While wild-type and psd1Δ/Δ psd2Δ/Δ mutant-derived EVs activated NF-κB, the cho1Δ/Δ mutant-derived EV did not. These studies indicate that the presence and absence of these C. albicans genes have qualitative and quantitative effects on EV size, composition, and immunostimulatory phenotypes that highlight a complex interplay between lipid metabolism and vesicle production.

Extracellular vesicles produced by the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis are disrupted by the lipopeptide surfactin.

Previously, extracellular vesicle production in Gram-positive bacteria was dismissed due to the absence of an outer membrane, where Gram-negative vesicles originate, and the difficulty in envisioning how such a process could occur through the cell wall. However, recent work has shown that Gram-positive bacteria produce extracellular vesicles and that the vesicles are biologically active. In this study, we show that Bacillus subtilis produces extracellular vesicles similar in size and morphology to other bacteria, characterized vesicles using a variety of techniques, provide evidence that these vesicles are actively produced by cells, show differences in vesicle production between strains, and identified a mechanism for such differences based on vesicle disruption. We found that in wild strains of B. subtilis, surfactin disrupted vesicles while in laboratory strains harbouring a mutation in the gene sfp, vesicles accumulated in the culture supernatant. Surfactin not only lysed B. subtilis vesicles, but also vesicles from Bacillus anthracis, indicating a mechanism that crossed species boundaries. To our knowledge, this is the first time a gene and a mechanism has been identified in the active disruption of extracellular vesicles and subsequent release of vesicular cargo in Gram-positive bacteria. We also identify a new mechanism of action for surfactin.

Sample preparation strategies for improving the identification of membrane proteins by mass spectrometry.

Despite enormous advances in the mass spectrometry and proteomics fields during the last two decades, the analysis of membrane proteins still remains a challenge for the proteomic community. Membrane proteins play a wide number of key roles in several cellular events, making them relevant target molecules to study in a significant variety of investigations (e.g., cellular signaling, immune surveillance, drug targets, vaccine candidates, etc.). Here, we critically review the several attempts that have been carried out on the different steps of the sample preparation procedure to improve and modify existing conventional proteomic strategies in order to make them suitable for the study of membrane proteins. We also revise novel techniques that have been designed to tackle the difficult but relevant task of identifying and characterizing membrane proteins.

Interaction of Cryptococcus neoformans extracellular vesicles with the cell wall.

Cryptococcus neoformans produces extracellular vesicles containing a variety of cargo, including virulence factors. To become extracellular, these vesicles not only must be released from the plasma membrane but also must pass through the dense matrix of the cell wall. The greatest unknown in the area of fungal vesicles is the mechanism by which these vesicles are released to the extracellular space given the presence of the fungal cell wall. Here we used electron microscopy techniques to image the interactions of vesicles with the cell wall. Our goal was to define the ultrastructural morphology of the process to gain insights into the mechanisms involved. We describe single and multiple vesicle-leaving events, which we hypothesized were due to plasma membrane and multivesicular body vesicle origins, respectively. We further utilized melanized cells to "trap" vesicles and visualize those passing through the cell wall. Vesicle size differed depending on whether vesicles left the cytoplasm in single versus multiple release events. Furthermore, we analyzed different vesicle populations for vesicle dimensions and protein composition. Proteomic analysis tripled the number of proteins known to be associated with vesicles. Despite separation of vesicles into batches differing in size, we did not identify major differences in protein composition. In summary, our results indicate that vesicles are generated by more than one mechanism, that vesicles exit the cell by traversing the cell wall, and that vesicle populations exist as a continuum with regard to size and protein composition.

Characterization of Alternaria infectoria extracellular vesicles.

Many fungi use membrane vesicles to transport complex molecules across their cell walls. Like mammalian exosomes, fungal vesicles contain lipids, proteins, and polysaccharides, many of which are associated with virulence. Here we identify and characterize extracellular vesicles (EVs) in Alternaria infectoria, a ubiquitous, environmental filamentous fungus that is also an opportunistic human pathogen. Examination of the A. infectoria EVs revealed a morphology similar to that of vesicles described in other fungal species. Of note, proteomic analysis detected a reduced number of vesicle-associated proteins. There were two prevalent categories among the 20 identified proteins, including the polysaccharide metabolism group, probably related to plant host invasion or biosynthesis/degradation of cell wall components, and the nuclear proteins, especially DNA repair enzymes. We also found enzymes related to pigment synthesis, adhesion to the host cell, and trafficking of vesicles/organelles/molecules. This is the first time EV secretions have been identified in a filamentous fungus. We believe that these vesicles might have a role in virulence.

Mechanistic insights into the antitumoral potential and in vivo antiproliferative efficacy of a silver-based core@shell nanosystem.

This study delves into the biomolecular mechanisms underlying the antitumoral efficacy of a hybrid nanosystem, comprised of a silver core@shell (Ag@MSNs) functionalized with transferrin (Tf). Employing a SILAC proteomics strategy, we identified over 150 de-regulated proteins following exposure to the nanosystem. These proteins play pivotal roles in diverse cellular processes, including mitochondrial fission, calcium homeostasis, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, oxidative stress response, migration, invasion, protein synthesis, RNA maturation, chemoresistance, and cellular proliferation. Rigorous validation of key findings substantiates that the nanosystem elicits its antitumoral effects by activating mitochondrial fission, leading to disruptions in calcium homeostasis, as corroborated by RT-qPCR and flow cytometry analyses. Additionally, induction of ER stress was validated through western blotting of ER stress markers. The cytotoxic action of the nanosystem was further affirmed through the generation of cytosolic and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). Finally, in vivo experiments using a chicken embryo model not only confirmed the antitumoral capacity of the nanosystem, but also demonstrated its efficacy in reducing cellular proliferation. These comprehensive findings endorse the potential of the designed Ag@MSNs-Tf nanosystem as a groundbreaking chemotherapeutic agent, shedding light on its multifaceted mechanisms and in vivo applicability.

Maintenance of cell wall remodeling and vesicle production are connected in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Pathogenic and nonpathogenic mycobacteria secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) under various conditions. EVs produced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( Mtb ) have raised significant interest for their potential in cell communication, nutrient acquisition, and immune evasion. However, the relevance of vesicle secretion during tuberculosis infection remains unknown due to the limited understanding of mycobacterial vesicle biogenesis. We have previously shown that a transposon mutant in the LCP-related gene virR ( virR mut ) manifested a strong attenuated phenotype during experimental macrophage and murine infections, concomitant to enhanced vesicle release. In this study, we aimed to understand the role of VirR in the vesicle production process in Mtb . We employ genetic, transcriptional, proteomics, ultrastructural and biochemical methods to investigate the underlying processes explaining the enhanced vesiculogenesis phenomenon observed in the virR mut . Our results establish that VirR is critical to sustain proper cell permeability via regulation of cell envelope remodeling possibly through the interaction with similar cell envelope proteins, which control the link between peptidoglycan and arabinogalactan. These findings advance our understanding of mycobacterial extracellular vesicle biogenesis and suggest that these set of proteins could be attractive targets for therapeutic intervention.

Dual delivery of antigens shows promise.

The simultaneous delivery of protein and lipid antigens via nanoparticles may help efforts to develop a new vaccine for tuberculosis.

Unraveling the Mechanisms of Ch-SeNP Cytotoxicity against Cancer Cells: Insights from Targeted and Untargeted Metabolomics.

Although chitosan-stabilized selenium nanoparticles (Ch-SeNPs) have emerged as a promising chemical form of selenium for anticancer purposes, gathering more profound knowledge related to molecular dysfunctions contributes significantly to the promotion of their evolution as a chemotherapeutic drug. In this sense, metabolites are the end products in the flow of gene expression and, thus, the most sensitive to changes in the physiological state of a biological system. Therefore, metabolomics provides a functional readout of the biochemical activity and cell state. In the present study, we evaluated alterations in the metabolomes of HepG2 cells after the exposure to Ch-SeNPs to elucidate the biomolecular mechanisms involved in their therapeutic effect. A targeted metabolomic approach was conducted to evaluate the levels of four of the main energy-related metabolites (adenosine triphosphate (ATP); adenosine diphosphate (ADP); nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+); and 1,4-dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)), revealing alterations as a result of exposure to Ch-SeNPs related to a shortage in the energy supply system in the cell. In addition, an untargeted metabolomic experiment was performed, which allowed for the study of alterations in the global metabolic profile as a consequence of Ch-SeNP exposure. The results indicate that the TCA cycle and glycolytic pathways were impaired, while alternative pathways such as glutaminolysis and cysteine metabolism were upregulated. Additionally, increased fructose levels suggested the induction of hypoxia-like conditions. These findings highlight the potential of Ch-SeNPs to disrupt cancer cell metabolism and provide insights into the mechanisms underlying their antitumor effects.

Super-SILAC Quantitative Proteome Profiling of Zebrafish Larvae.

The super-SILAC approach enables the quantitative proteome profiling of highly complex samples such as biological tissues or whole organisms. In this approach, a super-SILAC mix consisting of heavy isotope-labeled cells representative of the tissue or organism to be analyzed is mixed with the unlabeled samples of interest, such that the labeled proteins act as a spike-in standard, thus allowing the relative quantification of proteins between the samples of interest. In this chapter, we thoroughly describe the protocol to carry out the super-SILAC approach using a common in vivo model such as zebrafish larvae.

Isolation of Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles and Identification of Their Protein Cargo.

Bacterial membrane vesicles (BMVs) are important effectors in the pathogenesis, virulence, and biofilm formation during different bacterial infections. Because of their structure, BMVs can be applied as drug delivery systems (DDS) or in the production of immunogenic vaccines against different untreated diseases. In this sense, different antigens or immune stimulator molecules, such as proteins can be extracted for the development of such vaccines. Here, we describe a protocol adapted to be used in mycobacteria, Gram-positive, and Gram-negative bacteria for the isolation of BMVs, and further mass spectrometry-based characterization of their protein cargo.

Analysis of protein expression in developmental toxicity induced by MeHg in zebrafish.

Mercury toxicity and its implications in development are a major concern, due to the major threat to ecosystems and human health that this compound represents. Although some of the effects of methylmercury (MeHg) exposure have been extensively studied, the molecular mechanisms of interaction between this compound and developing organisms are still not completely understood. To provide further insights into these mechanisms, we carried out a quantitative proteomic study (iTRAQ) using zebrafish larvae exposed to 5 µg L(-1) and 25 µg L(-1) MeHg as a model. In this study, a multidimensional approach combining isoelectric focusing (IEF) and strong cation exchange (SCX) followed by reversed phase liquid chromatography prior to MALDI TOF/TOF analysis was employed, which resulted in a substantial increase in proteome coverage. Among the proteins identified, 71 were found de-regulated by more than 1.5-fold, and implicated in embryonic development, protein synthesis, calcium homeostasis and energy production. Furthermore, morphological and histological analysis of exposed larvae was carried out, reflecting changes such as smaller swim bladder, remaining yolk, bent body axis and accumulation of blood in the heart, among others.

Differential protein expression of hepatic cells associated with MeHg exposure: deepening into the molecular mechanisms of toxicity.

Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying MeHg toxicity and the way in which this molecule interacts with living organisms is a critical point since MeHg represents a well-known risk to ecosystems and human health. We used a quantitative proteomic approach based on stable isotopic labeling by amino acids in cell culture in combination with SDS-PAGE and nanoflow LC-ESI-LTQ for analyzing the differential protein expression of hepatic cells associated to MeHg exposure. Seventy-eight proteins were found de-regulated by more than 1.5-fold. We identified a number of proteins involved in different essential biological processes including apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular trafficking and energy production. Among these proteins, we found several molecules whose de-regulation has been already related to MeHg exposure, thus confirming the usefulness of our discovery approach, and new ones that helped to gain a deeper insight into the biomolecular mechanisms related to MeHg-induced toxicity. Overexpression of several HSPs and the proteasome 26S subunit itself showed the proteasome system as a molecular target of toxic MeHg. As for the interaction networks, the top ranked was the nucleic acid metabolism, where many of the identified de-regulated proteins are involved.

A Multi-Omics Approach to Evaluate the Toxicity Mechanisms Associated with Silver Nanoparticles Exposure.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are currently used in many different industrial, commercial and health fields, mainly due to their antibacterial properties. Due to this widespread use, humans and the environment are increasingly exposed to these types of nanoparticles, which is the reason why the evaluation of the potential toxicity associated with AgNPs is of great importance. Although some of the toxic effects induced by AgNPs have already been shown, the elucidation of more complete mechanisms is yet to be achieved. In this sense, and since the integration of metabolomics and transcriptomics approaches constitutes a very useful strategy, in the present study targeted and untargeted metabolomics and DNA microarrays assays have been combined to evaluate the molecular mechanisms involved in the toxicity induced by 10 nm AgNPs. The results have shown that AgNPs induce the synthesis of glutathione as a cellular defense mechanism to face the oxidative environment, while inducing the depletion of relevant molecules implicated in the synthesis of important antioxidants. In addition, it has been observed that AgNPs completely impair the intracellular energetic metabolism, especially affecting the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and disrupting the tricarboxylic acids cycle. It has been demonstrated that AgNPs exposure also affects the glycolysis pathway. The effect on such pathway differs depending on the step of the cycle, which a significant increase in the levels of glucose as way to counterbalance the depleted levels of ATP.

Integration of Transcriptomics and Metabolomics to Reveal the Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Rhodium Nanoparticles-Based Photodynamic Cancer Therapy.

Rhodium nanoparticles have recently been described as promising photosensitizers due to their low toxicity in the absence of near-infrared irradiation, but their high cytotoxicity when irradiated. Irradiation is usually carried out with a laser source, which allows the treatment to be localized in a specific area, thus avoiding undesirable side effects on healthy tissues. In this study, a multi-omics approach based on the combination of microarray-based transcriptomics and mass spectrometry-based untargeted and targeted metabolomics has provided a global picture of the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-tumoral effect of rhodium nanoparticle-based photodynamic therapy. The results have shown the ability of these nanoparticles to promote apoptosis by suppressing or promoting anti- and pro-apoptotic factors, respectively, and by affecting the energy machinery of tumor cells, mainly blocking the ß-oxidation, which is reflected in the accumulation of free fatty acids and in the decrease in ATP, ADP and NAD+ levels.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles containing silver as novel antimycobacterial agents against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis remains today a major public health issue with a total of 9 million new cases and 2 million deaths annually. The lack of an effective vaccine and the increasing emergence of new strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) highly resistant to antibiotics, anticipate a complicated scenario in the near future. The use of nanoparticles features as an alternative to antibiotics in tackling this problem due to their potential effectiveness in resistant bacterial strains. In this context, silver nanoparticles have demonstrated high bactericidal efficacy, although their use is limited by their relatively high toxicity, which calls for the design of nanocarriers that allow silver based nanoparticles to be safely delivered to the target cells or tissues. In this work mesoporous silica nanoparticles are used as carriers of silver based nanoparticles as antimycobacterial agent against Mtb. Two different synthetic approaches have been used to afford, on the one hand, a 2D hexagonal mesoporous silica nanosystem which contains silver bromide nanoparticles distributed all through the silica network and, on the other hand, a core@shell nanosystem with metallic silver nanoparticles as core and mesoporous silica shell in a radial mesoporous rearrangement. Both materials have demonstrated good antimycobacterial capacity in in vitro test using Mtb, being lower the minimum inhibitory concentration for the nanosystem which contains silver bromide. Therefore, the interaction of this material with the mycobacterial cell has been studied by cryo-electron microscopy, establishing a direct connection between the antimycobactericidal effect observed and the damage induced in the cell envelope.