Hemin and iron increase synthesis and trigger export of xanthine oxidoreductase from hepatocytes to the circulation.

We recently reported a previously unknown salutary role for xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) in intravascular heme overload whereby hepatocellular export of XOR to the circulation was identified as a seminal step in affording protection. However, the cellular signaling and export mechanisms underpinning this process were not identified. Here, we present novel data showing hepatocytes upregulate XOR expression/protein abundance and actively release it to the extracellular compartment following exposure to hemopexin-bound hemin, hemin or free iron.

Release of hepatic xanthine oxidase (XO) to the circulation is protective in intravascular hemolytic crisis.

Xanthine oxidase (XO) catalyzes the catabolism of hypoxanthine to xanthine and xanthine to uric acid, generating oxidants as a byproduct. Importantly, XO activity is elevated in numerous hemolytic conditions including sickle cell disease (SCD); however, the role of XO in this context has not been elucidated. Whereas long-standing dogma suggests elevated levels of XO in the vascular compartment contribute to vascular pathology via increased oxidant production, herein, we demonstrate, for the first time, that XO has an unexpected protective role during hemolysis.

Endogenous generation of nitro-fatty acid hybrids having dual nitrate ester (RONO) and nitroalkene (RNO) substituents.

Organic nitrate esters, long-recognized therapies for cardiovascular disorders, have not been detected biologically. We characterize in rat stomach unsaturated fatty acid nitration reactions that proceed by generation of nitro-nitrate intermediates (NO-ONO-FA) via oxygen and nitrite dependent reactions. NO-ONO-lipids represent ∼70% of all nitrated lipids in the stomach and they decay in vitro at neutral or basic pH by the loss of the nitrate ester group (-ONO) from the carbon backbone upon deprotonation of the α-carbon (pKa ∼7), yielding nitrate, nitrite, nitrosative species, and an electrophilic fatty acid nitroalkene product (NO-FA).

Xanthine Oxidase Drives Hemolysis and Vascular Malfunction in Sickle Cell Disease.

Objective: Chronic hemolysis is a hallmark of sickle cell disease (SCD) and a driver of vasculopathy; however, the mechanisms contributing to hemolysis remain incompletely understood. Although XO (xanthine oxidase) activity has been shown to be elevated in SCD, its role remains unknown. XO binds endothelium and generates oxidants as a byproduct of hypoxanthine and xanthine catabolism.

Nitro-fatty acids as activators of hSIRT6 deacetylase activity.

Sirtuin 6, SIRT6, is critical for both glucose and lipid homeostasis and is involved in maintaining genomic stability under conditions of oxidative DNA damage such as those observed in age-related diseases. There is an intense search for modulators of SIRT6 activity, however, not many specific activators have been reported. Long acyl-chain fatty acids have been shown to increase the weak deacetylase activity of SIRT6 but this effect is modest at best.

Nitrite elicits divergent NO-dependent signaling that associates with outcome in out of hospital cardiac arrest.

Brain and heart injury cause most out-of-hospital cardiac arrest deaths but limited pharmacotherapy exists to protect these tissues. Nitrite is a nitric oxide precursor that is protective in pre-clinical models of ischemic injury and safe in Phase I testing. Protection may occur by cGMP generation via the sGC pathway or through S-nitrosothiol and nitrated conjugated linoleic acid (NO-CLA) formation.

Hemopexin deficiency promotes acute kidney injury in sickle cell disease.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major clinical concern in sickle cell disease (SCD). Clinical evidence suggests that red cell alarmins may cause AKI in SCD, however, the sterile inflammatory process involved has hitherto not been defined. We discovered that hemopexin deficiency in SCD is associated with a compensatory increase in α-1-microglobulin (A1M), resulting in an up to 10-fold higher A1M-to-hemopexin ratio in SCD compared with healthy controls.

Nrf2 activation protects against lithium-induced nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.

Lithium (Li) is the mainstay pharmacotherapeutic mood stabilizer in bipolar disorder. Its efficacious use is complicated by acute and chronic renal side effects, including nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) and progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD). The nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway senses and coordinates cellular responses to oxidative and electrophilic stress.

Smooth muscle cytochrome b5 reductase 3 deficiency accelerates pulmonary hypertension development in sickle cell mice.

Pulmonary and systemic vasculopathies are significant risk factors for early morbidity and death in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). An underlying mechanism of SCD vasculopathy is vascular smooth muscle (VSM) nitric oxide (NO) resistance, which is mediated by NO scavenging reactions with plasma hemoglobin (Hb) and reactive oxygen species that can oxidize soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), the NO receptor. Prior studies show that cytochrome b5 reductase 3 (CYB5R3), known as methemoglobin reductase in erythrocytes, functions in VSM as an sGC heme iron reductase critical for reducing and sensitizing sGC to NO and generating cyclic guanosine monophosphate for vasodilation.

Hemoglobin alters vitamin carrier uptake and vitamin D metabolism in proximal tubule cells: implications for sickle cell disease.

Kidney disease, including proximal tubule (PT) dysfunction, and vitamin D deficiency are among the most prevalent complications in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients. Although these two comorbidities have never been linked in SCD, the PT is the primary site for activation of vitamin D. Precursor 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] bound to vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) is taken up by PT cells via megalin/cubilin receptors, hydroxylated to the active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)D] form, and released into the bloodstream.

Electrophiles modulate glutathione reductase activity via alkylation and upregulation of glutathione biosynthesis.

Cells evolved robust homeostatic mechanisms to protect against oxidation or alkylation by electrophilic species. Glutathione (GSH) is the most abundant intracellular thiol, protects cellular components from oxidation and is maintained in a reduced state by glutathione reductase (GR). Nitro oleic acid (NO-OA) is an electrophilic fatty acid formed under digestive and inflammatory conditions that both reacts with GSH and induces its synthesis upon activation of Nrf2 signaling.

Electrophilic fatty acid nitroalkenes are systemically transported and distributed upon esterification to complex lipids.

Electrophilic nitro-fatty acids [NO-FAs (fatty acid nitroalkenes)] showed beneficial signaling actions in preclinical studies and safety in phase 1 clinical trials. A detailed description of the pharmacokinetics (PK) of NO-FAs is complicated by the capability of electrophilic fatty acids to alkylate thiols reversibly and become esterified in various complex lipids, and the instability of the nitroalkene moiety during enzymatic and base hydrolysis. Herein, we report the mechanism and kinetics of absorption, metabolism, and distribution of the endogenously detectable and prototypical NO-FA, 10-nitro-oleic acid (10-NO-OA), in dogs after oral administration.

Nitro-fatty acids: New drug candidates for chronic inflammatory and fibrotic diseases.

Nitrated oleic acid (NO-OA) was first identified in 2003, and after the characterization of its formation and thiol reactivity, it was used as a prototypical molecule to investigate the physiological actions of endogenous nitrated fatty acids (NO-FA). Based on in vitro observations showing significant activation of cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory signaling responses by NO-FA, experiments were designed to determine their pharmacological potential. Supported by strong intellectual protection and favorable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data, 10-NO-OA (CXA-10) underwent pharmaceutical development as a drug to treat fibrotic and inflammatory diseases.

In situ generation, metabolism and immunomodulatory signaling actions of nitro-conjugated linoleic acid in a murine model of inflammation.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a prime substrate for intra-gastric nitration giving rise to the formation of nitro-conjugated linoleic acid (NO-CLA). Herein, NO-CLA generation is demonstrated within the context of acute inflammatory responses both in vitro and in vivo. Macrophage activation resulted in dose- and time-dependent CLA nitration and also in the production of secondary electrophilic and non-electrophilic derivatives.

Evaluation of 10-Nitro Oleic Acid Bio-Elimination in Rats and Humans.

Nitrated fatty acids are endogenously present in human and animal tissues, as well as in plant-derived oils. In particular, 10-nitro oleic acid (10-NO-OA) potently induces Nrf2-dependent antioxidant gene expression and inhibits TLR4/NF-κB signaling, thus promoting an overall cyto-protective and anti-inflammatory response. 10-NO-OA has been extensively tested in animal models and is currently undergoing clinical evaluation in humans.

The Chemical Basis of Thiol Addition to Nitro-conjugated Linoleic Acid, a Protective Cell-signaling Lipid.

Nitroalkene fatty acids are formed in vivo and exert protective and anti-inflammatory effects via reversible Michael addition to thiol-containing proteins in key signaling pathways. Nitro-conjugated linoleic acid (NO-CLA) is preferentially formed, constitutes the most abundant nitrated fatty acid in humans, and contains two carbons that could potentially react with thiols, modulating signaling actions and levels. In this work, we examined the reactions of NO-CLA with low molecular weight thiols (glutathione, cysteine, homocysteine, cysteinylglycine, and β-mercaptoethanol) and human serum albumin.

Novel Roles for Peroxynitrite in Angiotensin II and CaMKII Signaling.

Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) oxidation controls excitability and viability. While hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) affects Ca(2+)-activated CaMKII in vitro, Angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced CaMKIIδ signaling in cardiomyocytes is Ca(2+) independent and requires NADPH oxidase-derived superoxide, but not its dismutation product H2O2. To better define the biological regulation of CaMKII activation and signaling by Ang II, we evaluated the potential for peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) to mediate CaMKII activation and downstream Kv4.

Nitrite and nitrate-dependent generation of anti-inflammatory fatty acid nitroalkenes.

A gap in our understanding of the beneficial systemic responses to dietary constituents nitrate (NO3(-)), nitrite (NO2(-)) and conjugated linoleic acid (cLA) is the identification of the downstream metabolites that mediate their actions. To examine these reactions in a clinical context, investigational drug preparations of (15)N-labeled NO3(-) and NO2(-) were orally administered to healthy humans with and without cLA. Mass spectrometry analysis of plasma and urine indicated that the nitrating species nitrogen dioxide was formed and reacted with the olefinic carbons of unsaturated fatty acids to yield the electrophilic fatty acid, nitro-cLA (NO2-cLA).

Convergence of biological nitration and nitrosation via symmetrical nitrous anhydride.

The current perspective holds that the generation of secondary signaling mediators from nitrite (NO2(-)) requires acidification to nitrous acid (HNO2) or metal catalysis. Herein, the use of stable isotope-labeled NO2(-) and LC-MS/MS analysis of products reveals that NO2(-) also participates in fatty acid nitration and thiol S-nitrosation at neutral pH. These reactions occur in the absence of metal centers and are stimulated by autoxidation of nitric oxide ((•)NO) via the formation of symmetrical dinitrogen trioxide (nitrous anhydride, symN2O3).

Modulation of nitro-fatty acid signaling: prostaglandin reductase-1 is a nitroalkene reductase.

Inflammation, characterized by the activation of both resident and infiltrated immune cells, is accompanied by increased production of oxidizing and nitrating species. Nitrogen dioxide, the proximal nitrating species formed under these conditions, reacts with unsaturated fatty acids to yield nitroalkene derivatives. These electrophilic products modulate protein function via post-translational modification of susceptible nucleophilic amino acids.

Characterization and quantification of endogenous fatty acid nitroalkene metabolites in human urine.

The oxidation and nitration of unsaturated fatty acids transforms cell membrane and lipoprotein constituents into mediators that regulate signal transduction. The formation of 9-NO2-octadeca-9,11-dienoic acid and 12-NO2-octadeca-9,11-dienoic acid stems from peroxynitrite- and myeloperoxidase-derived nitrogen dioxide reactions as well as secondary to nitrite disproportionation under the acidic conditions of digestion. Broad anti-inflammatory and tissue-protective responses are mediated by nitro-fatty acids.

Antioxidant functions for the hemoglobin β93 cysteine residue in erythrocytes and in the vascular compartment in vivo.

The β93 cysteine (β93Cys) residue of hemoglobin is conserved in vertebrates but its function in the red blood cell (RBC) remains unclear. Because this residue is present at concentrations more than 2 orders of magnitude higher than enzymatic components of the RBC antioxidant network, a role in the scavenging of reactive species was hypothesized. Initial studies utilizing mice that express human hemoglobin with either Cys (B93C) or Ala (B93A) at the β93 position demonstrated that loss of the β93Cys did not affect activities nor expression of established components of the RBC antioxidant network (catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxiredoxin-2, glutathione peroxidase, GSH:GSSG ratios).