Showing papers on "Protoporphyrin IX published in 2014"
TL;DR: Identification and characterization of the mechanisms via which FTH provides metabolic adaptation to tissue Fe overload should provide valuable information to the current understanding of the pathogenesis of systemic infections as well as other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.
Abstract: Significance: Inflammation and immunity can be associated with varying degrees of heme release from hemoproteins, eventually leading to cellular and tissue iron (Fe) overload, oxidative stress, and tissue damage. Presumably, these deleterious effects contribute to the pathogenesis of systemic infections. Recent Advances: Heme release from hemoglobin sensitizes parenchyma cells to undergo programmed cell death in response to proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor. This cytotoxic effect is driven by a mechanism involving intracellular accumulation of free radicals, which sustain the activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling transduction pathway. While heme catabolism by heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) prevents programmed cell death, this cytoprotective effect requires the co-expression of ferritin H (heart/heavy) chain (FTH), which controls the pro-oxidant effect of labile Fe released from the protoporphyrin IX ring of heme. This antioxidant effect of FTH restrains JNK act...
113 citations
TL;DR: AlA-induced PpIX fluorescence guidance is a potential and promising adjunct in accurately detecting neoplastic tissue during meningioma resective surgery, and results suggest a broader reach for Ppix as a biomarker forMeningiomas than was previously noted in the literature.
Abstract: BACKGROUND
The use of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-induced protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) fluorescence has shown promise as a surgical adjunct for maximizing the extent of surgical resection in gliomas. To date, the clinical utility of 5-ALA in meningiomas is not fully understood, with most descriptive studies using qualitative approaches to 5-ALA-PpIX.
86 citations
Harvard University1, University of Utah2, Cornell University3, University of Texas at San Antonio4, Georgia Institute of Technology5, University of Georgia6, University of Rochester7, Columbia University8, Massachusetts Institute of Technology9, Yale University10, Texas A&M University11, University of California, Los Angeles12
TL;DR: It is determined that TMEM14C, an inner mitochondrial membrane protein that is enriched in vertebrate hematopoietic tissues, is essential for erythropoiesis and heme synthesis in vivo and in cultured erythroid cells, and that it facilitates the import of protoporphyrinogen IX into the mitochondrial matrix for he me synthesis and subsequent hemoglobin production.
Abstract: The transport and intracellular trafficking of heme biosynthesis intermediates are crucial for hemoglobin production, which is a critical process in developing red cells. Here, we profiled gene expression in terminally differentiating murine fetal liver-derived erythroid cells to identify regulators of heme metabolism. We determined that TMEM14C, an inner mitochondrial membrane protein that is enriched in vertebrate hematopoietic tissues, is essential for erythropoiesis and heme synthesis in vivo and in cultured erythroid cells. In mice, TMEM14C deficiency resulted in porphyrin accumulation in the fetal liver, erythroid maturation arrest, and embryonic lethality due to profound anemia. Protoporphyrin IX synthesis in TMEM14C-deficient erythroid cells was blocked, leading to an accumulation of porphyrin precursors. The heme synthesis defect in TMEM14C-deficient cells was ameliorated with a protoporphyrin IX analog, indicating that TMEM14C primarily functions in the terminal steps of the heme synthesis pathway. Together, our data demonstrate that TMEM14C facilitates the import of protoporphyrinogen IX into the mitochondrial matrix for heme synthesis and subsequent hemoglobin production. Furthermore, the identification of TMEM14C as a protoporphyrinogen IX importer provides a genetic tool for further exploring erythropoiesis and congenital anemias.
65 citations
01 Dec 2014
TL;DR: It is shown here that heme homeostasis can be disrupted by overproduction of YfeX, a cytoplasmic protein that captures iron from heme that is named deferrochelatase, and that it is disrupted by iron chelation, which reduces the intracellular iron concentration necessary for loading iron into protoporphyrin IX (PPIX, the immediate heme precursor).
Abstract: In most organisms, heme biosynthesis is strictly controlled so as to avoid heme and heme precursor accumulation, which is toxic. Escherichia coli regulates heme biosynthesis by a feedback loop involving heme-induced proteolytic cleavage of HemA, glutamyl-tRNA reductase, which is the first enzyme in the heme biosynthetic pathway. We show here that heme homeostasis can be disrupted by overproduction of YfeX, a cytoplasmic protein that captures iron from heme that we named deferrochelatase. We also show that it is disrupted by iron chelation, which reduces the intracellular iron concentration necessary for loading iron into protoporphyrin IX (PPIX, the immediate heme precursor). In both cases, we established that there is an increased PPIX concentration and we demonstrate that this compound is expelled by the MacAB-TolC pump, an efflux pump involved in E. coli and Salmonella for macrolide efflux. The E. coli macAB and tolC mutants accumulate PPIX and are sensitive to photo-inactivation. The MacAB-TolC pump is required for Salmonella typhimurium survival in macrophages. We propose that PPIX is an endogenous substrate of the MacAB-TolC pump in E. coli and S. typhimurium and that this compound is produced inside bacteria when natural heme homeostasis is disrupted by iron shortage, as happens when bacteria invade the mammalian host.
57 citations
TL;DR: 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy with the light-emitting diode had an in-vitro bactericidal effect on MRSA, and may be a new treatment option for MRSA-infected wounds.
Abstract: Bacterial resistance to antibiotics has become a worldwide problem. One potential alternative for bacterial control is photodynamic therapy. 5-aminolevulinic acid is a natural precursor of the photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX. Relatively little is known about the antibacterial efficacy of photodynamic therapy using the systemic administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid; a few reports have shown that 5-aminolevulinic acid exerts photodynamic effects on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in vitro. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy using 5-aminolevulinic acid and a 410-nm wavelength light-emitting diode in vitro and in vivo for the treatment of MRSA. We found that 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy with the light-emitting diode had an in-vitro bactericidal effect on MRSA. In vivo, protoporphyrin IX successfully accumulated in MRSA on ulcer surfaces after intraperitoneal administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid to mice. Furthermore, 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy accelerated wound healing and decreased bacterial counts on ulcer surfaces; in contrast, vancomycin treatment did not accelerate wound healing. Our findings indicate that 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy may be a new treatment option for MRSA-infected wounds.
56 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that Abcb10−/− mice lack heme biosynthesis and erythropoiesis abilities and die in midgestation and new insights are provided into the pathogenesis of ERYthropoietic protoporphyria and sideroblastic anemia.
Abstract: Abcb10, member 10 of the ABC transporter family, is reportedly a part of a complex in the mitochondrial inner membrane with mitoferrin-1 (Slc25a37) and ferrochelatase (Fech) and is responsible for heme biosynthesis in utero. However, it is unclear whether loss of Abcb10 causes pathological changes in adult mice. Here, we show that Abcb10(-/-) mice lack heme biosynthesis and erythropoiesis abilities and die in midgestation. Moreover, we generated Abcb10(F/-); Mx1-Cre mice, with Abcb10 in hematopoietic cells deleted, which showed accumulation of protoporphyrin IX and maturation arrest in reticulocytes. Electron microscopy images of Abcb10(-/-) hematopoietic cells showed a marked increase of iron deposits at the mitochondria. These results suggest a critical role for Abcb10 in heme biosynthesis and provide new insights into the pathogenesis of erythropoietic protoporphyria and sideroblastic anemia.
52 citations
TL;DR: PpIX fluorescence was significantly higher in patients reporting higher pain levels on a visual analog scale and pilot data suggest that patient-specific PpIX quantitation may predict outcome response.
Abstract: Dosimetry for aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-induced protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) photodynamic therapy of actinic keratosis was examined with an optimized fluorescence dosimeter to measure PpIX during treatment. While insufficient PpIX generation may be an indicator of incomplete response, there exists no standardized method to quantitate PpIX production at depths in the skin during clinical treatments. In this study, a spectrometer-based point probe dosimeter system was used to sample PpIX fluorescence from superficial (blue wavelength excitation) and deeper (red wavelength excitation) tissue layers. Broadband white light spectroscopy (WLS) was used to monitor aspects of vascular physiology and inform a correction of fluorescence for the background optical properties. Measurements in tissue phantoms showed accurate recovery of blood volume fraction and reduced scattering coefficient from WLS, and a linear response of PpIX fluorescence versus concentration down to 1.95 and 250 nM for blue and red excitations, respectively. A pilot clinical study of 19 patients receiving 1-h ALA incubation before treatment showed high intrinsic variance in PpIX fluorescence with a standard deviation/mean ratio of >0.9. PpIX fluorescence was significantly higher in patients reporting higher pain levels on a visual analog scale. These pilot data suggest that patient-specific PpIX quantitation may predict outcome response.
46 citations
TL;DR: This work functionalized the protoporphyrin IX with lipophilic oleylamine arms and encapsulated it into 1,2 dioleyl-sn-glycero-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC) liposomes and found that both liposomal porphyrins and oleyslamine conjugated porphyrs are much more effective than PpIX.
42 citations
TL;DR: The present results facilitate studies of ROS-mediated signalling in imaging-based single cell experiments by inferring that singlet oxygen, O2(a(1)Δg), is one ROS produced upon irradiation of PpIX under these conditions, and it is possible that the superoxide ion may also play a role in this system.
Abstract: Two-photon excitation of a sensitizer with a focused laser beam was used to create a spatially-localized subcellular population of reactive oxygen species, ROS, in single HeLa cells. The sensitizer used was protoporphyrin IX, PpIX, endogenously derived from 5-aminolevulinic acid delivered to the cells. Although we infer that singlet oxygen, O2(a1Δg), is one ROS produced upon irradiation of PpIX under these conditions, it is possible that the superoxide ion, O2−˙, may also play a role in this system. With a “high” dose of PpIX-sensitized ROS, the expected death of the cell was observed. However, under “low dose” conditions, clear signs of cell proliferation were observed. The present results facilitate studies of ROS-mediated signalling in imaging-based single cell experiments.
39 citations
TL;DR: Interestingly, the transgenic rice plants showed resistance to oxidative stress caused by the peroxidizing herbicide acifluorfen as indicated by a reduced formation of leaf necrosis, a lower conductivity, lower malondialdehyde and H2O2 contents as well as sustained Fv/Fm compared to WT plants, but also by norflurazon, paraquat, salt, and polyethylene glycol.
Abstract: Fe-chelatase (FeCh, EC 4.99.1.1) inserts Fe2+ into protoporphyrin IX (Proto IX) to form heme, which influences the flux through the tetrapyrrole biosynthetic pathway as well as fundamental cellular processes. In transgenic rice (Oryza sativa), the ectopic expression of Bradyrhizobium japonicum FeCh protein in cytosol results in a substantial increase of FeCh activity compared to wild-type (WT) rice and an increasing level of heme. Interestingly, the transgenic rice plants showed resistance to oxidative stress caused not only by the peroxidizing herbicide acifluorfen (AF) as indicated by a reduced formation of leaf necrosis, a lower conductivity, lower malondialdehyde and H2O2 contents as well as sustained Fv/Fm compared to WT plants, but also by norflurazon, paraquat, salt, and polyethylene glycol. Moreover, the transgenic plants responded to AF treatment with markedly increasing FeCh activity. The accompanying increases in heme content and heme oxygenase activity demonstrate that increased heme metabolism attenuates effects of oxidative stress caused by accumulating porphyrins. These findings suggest that increases in heme levels and porphyrin scavenging capacity support a detoxification mechanism serving against porphyrin-induced oxidative stress. This study also implicates heme as possibly being a positive signal in plant stress responses.
37 citations
TL;DR: The results suggest that the combination of silybin and ALA-PDT would increase PDT outcome, leading to additive or synergistic effects and possibly impairing the occurrence of metastases.
Abstract: Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is an anticancer treatment based on photosensitisation of malignant cells. The precursor of the photosensitiser Protoporphyrin IX, 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), has been used for PDT of bladder cancer. Silybin is a flavonoid extracted from Silybum marianum, and it has been reported to increase the efficacy of several anticancer treatments. In the present work, we evaluated the cytotoxicity of the combination of ALA-PDT and silybin in the T24 and MB49 bladder cancer cell lines. MB49 cells were more sensitive to PDT damage, which was correlated with a higher Protoporphyrin IX production from ALA. Employing lethal light doses 50% (LD50) and 75% (LD75) and additional silybin treatment, there was a further increase of toxicity driven by PDT in both cell lines. Using the Chou-Talalay model for drug combination derived from the mass-action law principle, it was possible to identify the effect of the combination as synergic when using LD75, whilst the use of LD50 led to an additive effect on MB49 cells. On the other hand, the drug combination turned out to be nearly additive on T24 cells. Apoptotic cell death is involved both in silybin and PDT cytotoxicity in the MB49 line but there is no apparent correlation with the additive or synergic effect observed on cell viability. On the other hand, we found an enhancement of the PDT-driven impairment of cell migration on both cell lines as a consequence of silybin treatment. Overall, our results suggest that the combination of silybin and ALA-PDT would increase PDT outcome, leading to additive or synergistic effects and possibly impairing the occurrence of metastases.
TL;DR: Results indicated that neurotransmitter transporters including SLC 6A6 and SLC6A13 mediate the uptake of ALA and can play roles in the enhancement ofALA‐induced accumulation of protoporphyrin in cancerous cells.
Abstract: δ-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-induced protoporphyrin accumulation is widely used in the treatment of cancer, as photodynamic therapy (PDT). To clarify the mechanisms of ALA uptake by tumor cells, we have examined the ALA-induced accumulation of protoporphyrin by the treatment of colon cancer DLD-1 and epithelial cancer HeLa cells with γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-related compounds. When the cells were treated with GABA, taurine and β-alanine, the level of protoporphyrin was decreased, suggesting that plasma membrane transporters involved in the transport of neurotransmitters contribute to the uptake of ALA. By transfection with neurotransmitter transporters SLC6A6, SLC6A8 and SLC6A13 cDNA, the ALA- and ALA methylester-dependent accumulation of protoporphyrin markedly increased in HEK293T cells, dependent on an increase in the uptake of ALA. When ALA-treated cells were exposed to white light, the extent of photodamage increased in SLC6A6- and SLC6A13-expressing cells. Conversely, knockdown of SLC6A6 or SLC6A13 with siRNAs in DLD-1 and HeLa cells decreased the ALA-induced accumulation. The expression of SLC6A6 and SLC6A13 was found in some cancer cell lines. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that the presence of these transporters was elevated in colon cancerous cells. These results indicated that neurotransmitter transporters including SLC6A6 and SLC6A13 mediate the uptake of ALA and can play roles in the enhancement of ALA-induced accumulation of protoporphyrin in cancerous cells.
TL;DR: Thiosemicarbazones (TSC) are designed and prepared with the highest dark cellular cytotoxicity among TSCs ever reported and it is demonstrated that compound 2 exerts powerful PDT enhancement when used in combination with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a precursor of PpIX.
Abstract: In photodynamic therapy (PDT), a noninvasive anticancer treatment, visible light, is used as a magic bullet selectively destroying cancer cells by a photosensitizer that is nontoxic in the dark. Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) is a natural photosensitizer synthesized in the cell, which is also a chelating agent that if bonded to Fe2+ forms heme, a central component of hemoglobin. Therefore, xenobiotic iron chelators can disturb iron homeostasis, increasing the accumulation of PpIX, obstructing the last step of heme biosynthesis, and enhancing PDT efficiency. However, the attempts to use this promising idea have not proved to be hugely successful. Herein, we revisited this issue by analyzing the application of iron chelators highly toxic in the dark, which should have higher Fe2+ affinity than the nontoxic chelators used so far. We have designed and prepared thiosemicarbazones (TSC) with the highest dark cellular cytotoxicity among TSCs ever reported. We demonstrate that compound 2 exerts powerful PDT enhancement...
TL;DR: This study reports the synthesis, characterization and in vitro application of a stimuli-responsive silica nanoparticle platform chemically functionalized with protoporphyrin IX (RR–PpIX–SiNPs), and envision that further modification of this platform can render colloidal stability and target-specific properties by grafting polymeric chains and small molecules or biomolecules.
Abstract: Nanoparticle-based delivery systems have been explored recently as efficient vehicles to transport photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT). In this study; we report the synthesis, characterization and in vitro application of a stimuli-responsive silica nanoparticle platform chemically functionalized with protoporphyrin IX (RR–PpIX–SiNPs). PpIX photosensitizers have been attached to the surface of SiNPs through a redox-responsive linker. PpIX molecules can be selectively released from the RR–PpIX–SiNP platform in their monomeric form in the presence of the highly reducing environment found in cancer cells. The structural, photophysical and photochemical properties of RR–PpIX–SiNPs were characterized and compared with a control sample (PpIX–SiNPs), which does not contained a redox-responsive linker. Cell viability measurements demonstrated that RR–PpIX–SiNPs were more phototoxic than PpIX–SiNPs. Confocal microscopy shows that RR–PpIX–SiNPs are mainly localized in lysosomes. Finally, the redox-responsive release of PpIX molecules was demonstrated in solution and in vitro using UV-vis spectrometry and confocal microscopy, respectively. We envision that further modification of this platform can render colloidal stability and target-specific properties by grafting polymeric chains and small molecules or biomolecules.
TL;DR: The PPIX lipids exhibited a water-soluble property by forming their micelles in water and the PPIX-lipid micells showed relatively low cytotoxicity toward HeLa cells (IC50=151.7-379.9μM) without light irradiation.
TL;DR: This technique provided a marked fluorescence that allowed significant discrimination of normal and tumor, and provided a better delineation of the lesion margins, which is very important for an effective treatment of malignant, potentially malignant and benign skin lesions.
TL;DR: PpIX induces a necrotic cell death in THP-1 macrophages through ROS production, JNK activation, and mPTP opening and was directly regulated by ROS/JNK pathway.
Abstract: Background: Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) and its derivatives are widely used in photodynamic therapy (PDT) to kill cancer cells. Studies showed that the application o
TL;DR: Results indicated that Ppix-mediated sonodynamic action could induce apoptosis on K562 cells, and the intracellular ROS was involved in the PpIX-SDT induced apoptosis.
TL;DR: Reduction of oxygen concentration from atmospheric to a more physiological level can influence the malignant behavior and survival of GBM cell lines after in vitro PDT, and precise oxygen concentration control should be considered when designing and performing experiments with GBM cells.
Abstract: Objectives: The partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) in brain tumors ranges from 5 to 15%. Nevertheless, the majority of in vitro experiments with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cell lines are carried out under an atmospheric pO2 of 19 to 21%. Recently, 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), a precursor of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), has been introduced to neurosurgery to allow for photodynamic diagnosis and photodynamic therapy (PDT) in high-grade gliomas. Here, we investigate whether low pO2 affects GBM cell physiology, PpIX accumulation, or PDT efficacy. Methods: GBM cell lines (U-87 MG and U-251 MG) were cultured under atmospheric (pO2 = 19%) and physiological (pO2 = 9%) oxygen concentrations. PpIX accumulation and localization were investigated, and cell survival and cell death were observed following in vitro PDT. Results: A physiological pO2 of 9% stimulated GBM cell migration, increased hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 alpha levels, and elevated resistance to camptothecin in U-87 MG cells compared to cultiva...
TL;DR: HS-derived fibroblasts efficiently accumulate PpIX after ALA treatment and can be eliminated via apoptosis by controlled laser irradiation, according to a dose-dependent manner with energy density.
Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) on dermal fibroblasts from hypertrophic scars (HSs). Methods: HS samples were obtained from five patients who underwent surgery, and normal skin from healthy donors was used as a control. Dermal fibroblasts were isolated and cultured with various concentrations of ALA for 6 h. Intracellular protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) was measured by confocal microscopy. After 5 h of ALA treatment, cells were irradiated by a red laser (635 nm wavelength) at a power density of 10 mW/cm2 with an energy density from 0.5 to 4 J/cm2. Cell survival was measured by a CCK-8 Kit after 24 h. Cell death was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling and flow cytometric analysis of annexin V. Results: Intracellular PpIX accumulation was observed in fibroblasts from HS patients and healthy donors after ALA treatment. After laser irradiation, viable cells were decreased among both cell types in a ...
TL;DR: The synthesis of a haemoglobin wrapped covalently by recombinant human serum albumin mutants containing Mn(III) protoporphyrin IX (MnPP)3 cluster is described, highlighting the formation of its O2-complex stable even in H2O2 solution.
TL;DR: The combined therapy using 50% of IC50 of ALA/PDT and Doxil possessed a synergistic apoptotic effect on MCF-7 cells compared to 100% ofIC50 of each therapy through enhancing both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways, thus may minimize side effects of DoxIL(®) and ALA.
TL;DR: The combined treatment of glioma cells with calcitriol plus ALA may provide an effective and selective therapeutic modality to enhance ALA-induced PpIX fluorescent quality for improving discrimination of tumor tissue and PDT efficacy.
Abstract: Background. Glioma recurrence frequently occurs close to the marginal area of the surgical cavity as a result of residual infiltrating glioma cells. Fluorescence-guided surgery with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) for resection of gliomas has been used as an effective therapeutic approach to discriminate malignant tissue from brain tissue and to facilitate patient prognosis. ALA-based photodynamic therapy is an effective adjuvant treatment modality for gliomas. However, insufficient protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) accumulation may limit the applicability of fluorescence-guided resection and photodynamic therapy in the marginal areas of gliomas. Methods. To be able to understand how to overcome these issues, human glioma cells and normal astrocytes were used as the model system. Glioma cells and astrocytes were preconditioned with calcitriol for 48 hours and then incubated with ALA. Changes in ALA-induced PpIX fluorescence and cell survival after light exposure were assessed. Furthermore, expression of porphy...
TL;DR: The research indicates that the PpIX/YFP ratio assay may be a promising model for in vitro 5-ALA testing and its interactions with other compounds during FGR surgery.
Abstract: Introduction. 5-Aminolevulinic Acid (5-ALA) is a precursor of heme synthesis. A metabolite, protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), selectively accumulates in neoplastic tissue including glioblastoma. Presurgical administration of 5-ALA forms the basis of fluorescence-guided resection (FGR) of glioblastoma (GBM) tumors. However, not all gliomas accumulate sufficient quantities of PpIX to fluoresce, thus limiting the utility of FGR. We therefore developed an assay to determine cellular and pharmacological factors that impact PpIX fluorescence in GBM. This assay takes advantage of a GBM cell line engineered to express yellow fluorescent protein. Methods. The human GBM cell line U87MG was transfected with a YFP expression vector. After treatment with a series of 5-ALA doses, both PpIX and YFP fluorescence were measured. The ratio of PpIX to YFP fluorescence was calculated. Results. YFP fluorescence permitted the quantification of cell numbers and did not interfere with 5-ALA metabolism. The PpIX/YFP fluorescence ratio provided accurate relative PpIX levels, allowing for the assessment of PpIX accumulation in tissue. Conclusion. Constitutive YFP expression strongly correlates with cell number and permits PpIX quantification. Absolute PpIX fluorescence alone does not provide information regarding PpIX accumulation within the cells. Our research indicates that our PpIX/YFP ratio assay may be a promising model for in vitro 5-ALA testing and its interactions with other compounds during FGR surgery.
TL;DR: The results have shown that the PPIX fluorescence increased as the atheromatous plaques grew, and this method can aid in the early diagnosis of atherosclerosis with high sensitivity.
Abstract: Protoporphyrin IX (PPIX), a derivative of hematoporphyrin, can accumulate in rapidly growing tissues, including tumors and atherosclerotic plaques. The objective of this study is to employ PPIX fluorescence to detect the changes in blood caused by the formation of atheromatous plaques in arteries; this measurement can function as a liquid biopsy. For this purpose twenty four rabbits were randomly divided into groups: control group (CG) – fed with a normal diet, and an experimental group (EG) – fed with a hypercholesterolemic diet (1% cholesterol). Blood samples were collected before (0 time) and after 22, 43, 64 days to measure biochemical factors. The aortas were removed after 22, 43 and 64 days to assess the atherosclerotic plaques. PPIX was extracted from the blood and fluorescence was measured in the 550–750 nm range from samples that were excited at 405 nm. Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) was administered intravenously to increase the PPIX fluorescence intensity in the arteries and consequently in the liquid biopsy of the atherosclerotic plaques. The results have shown that the PPIX fluorescence increased as the atheromatous plaques grew. The aorta fluorescence and the PPIX fluorescence increased in the animals in the experimental group that received ALA. PPIX that accumulates in atheromatous plaques transfers to the blood and can be analyzed by extracting porphyrin from total blood. Therefore, this method can aid in the early diagnosis of atherosclerosis with high sensitivity.
TL;DR: The crystal structures of ChlM from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp.
TL;DR: Light treatments revealed that ALAS2 expression results in an increase in cell death in comparison to aminolevulinic acid (ALA) treatment producing a similar amount of PPIX, suggesting the delivery of stable and highly active ALAS1 variants has the potential to expand and improve upon current PDT regimes.
Abstract: 5-Aminolevulinate synthase (ALAS; EC 2.3.1.37) catalyzes the first committed step of heme biosynthesis in animals. The erythroid-specific ALAS isozyme (ALAS2) is negatively regulated by heme at the level of mitochondrial import and, in its mature form, certain mutations of the murine ALAS2 active site loop result in increased production of protoporphyrin IX (PPIX), the precursor for heme. Importantly, generation of PPIX is a crucial component in the widely used photodynamic therapies (PDT) of cancer and other dysplasias. ALAS2 variants that cause high levels of PPIX accumulation provide a new means of targeted, and potentially enhanced, photosensitization. In order to assess the prospective utility of ALAS2 variants in PPIX production for PDT, K562 human erythroleukemia cells and HeLa human cervical carcinoma cells were transfected with expression plasmids for ALAS2 variants with greater enzymatic activity than the wild-type enzyme. The levels of accumulated PPIX in ALAS2-expressing cells were analyzed using flow cytometry with fluorescence detection. Further, cells expressing ALAS2 variants were subjected to white light treatments (21–22 kLux) for 10 minutes after which cell viability was determined. Transfection of HeLa cells with expression plasmids for murine ALAS2 variants, specifically for those with mutated mitochondrial presequences and a mutation in the active site loop, caused significant cellular accumulation of PPIX, particularly in the membrane. Light treatments revealed that ALAS2 expression results in an increase in cell death in comparison to aminolevulinic acid (ALA) treatment producing a similar amount of PPIX. The delivery of stable and highly active ALAS2 variants has the potential to expand and improve upon current PDT regimes.
TL;DR: It is hypothesize that dual‐wavelength excitation fluorimetry will provide a new approach to the suppression of background fluorescence in blood and tissue measurements of ZnPP and PPIX.
Abstract: Quantification of erythrocyte zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP) and protoporphyrin IX (PPIX), individually or jointly, is useful for the diagnostic evaluation of iron deficiency, iron-restricted erythropoiesis, lead exposure, and porphyrias. A method for simultaneous quantification of ZnPP and PPIX in unwashed blood samples is described, using dual-wavelength excitation to effectively eliminate background fluorescence from other blood constituents. In blood samples from 35 subjects, the results of the dual-wavelength excitation method and a reference high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay were closely correlated both for ZnPP (rs = 0.943, p < 0.0001; range 37-689 μmol ZnPP/mol heme, 84-1238 nmol/L) and for PPIX (rs = 0.959, p < 0.0001; range 42-4212 μmol PPIX/mol heme, 93-5394 nmol/L). In addition, for ZnPP, the proposed method is compared with conventional single-wavelength excitation and with commercial front-face fluorimetry of washed erythrocytes and whole blood. We hypothesize that dual-wavelength excitation fluorimetry will provide a new approach to the suppression of background fluorescence in blood and tissue measurements of ZnPP and PPIX.
TL;DR: Administration of 5-ALA increased the intracellular iron concentration of glioblastomas by promoting the synthesis of heme, which is the metabolite of 5.ALA, which may aid in the identification of high-grade foci in gliomas.
Abstract: Purpose: To evaluate the use of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) for the noninvasive detection of malignant gliomas by using in vivo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in a mouse brain tumor model. Materials and Methods: The experiments were animal care committee approved. U-87 glioblastoma cells were exposed to 5-ALA (500 µmol/L) for 6 hours, cells were harvested, and intracellular concentrations of iron, heme, protoporphyrin IX, and ferrochelatase were measured (six in each group). BALB/c nude mice (n = 10) were inoculated with U-87 glioma cells to produce orthotopic brain tumors. T2-weighted imaging was performed 3 weeks after inoculation, and T2* maps were created with a 7-T MR imager before and 24 hours after oral administration of 5-ALA (0.1 mg/g of body weight; n = 6) or normal saline (n = 4). Intratumoral iron concentrations were measured with laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. For in vitro experiments, differences in the measured data were assessed by using the Mann-Whitney U test with Bonferroni correction. For the in vivo studies, differences in T2* values and iron concentrations of the tumors in the 5-ALA and control groups were assessed by using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The intracellular concentration of heme and iron was increased at both 24 and 48 hours after 5-ALA exposure (P = .004). 5-ALA promoted expression of ferrochelatase in glioblastoma cells at both 24 and 48 hours after 5-ALA exposure compared with that at 1 hour (P = .004). In vivo MR imaging revealed a lower median T2* value in glioblastomas treated with 5-ALA compared with those in control mice (14.0 msec [interquartile range, 13.0–14.5 msec] vs 21.9 msec [interquartile range, 19.6–23.2 msec]; P = .011), and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry revealed that iron concentrations were increased in glioblastomas from the 5-ALA group. Conclusion: Administration of 5-ALA increased the intracellular iron concentration of glioblastomas by promoting the synthesis of heme, which is the metabolite of 5-ALA. Because intracellular iron can be detected at MR imaging, 5-ALA may aid in the identification of high-grade foci in gliomas. q RSNA, 2014
TL;DR: Cell culture studies showed triggered release of 5-ALA from stealth liposomes followed by uptake into neighboring mammalian cells and intracellular biosynthesis to form fluorescent PpIX.
Abstract: 5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), a prodrug of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), is used for photodynamic therapy of several medical conditions, and as an adjunct for fluorescence guided surgery. The clinical problem of patient photosensitivity after systemic administration could likely be ameliorated if the 5-ALA was delivered more selectivity to the treatment site. Liposomal formulations are inherently attractive as targeted delivery vehicles but it is hard to regulate the spatiotemporal release of aqueous contents from a liposome. Here, we demonstrate chemically triggered leakage of 5-ALA from stealth liposomes in the presence of cell culture. The chemical trigger is a zinc(II)-dipicolylamine (ZnBDPA) coordination complex that selectively targets liposome membranes containing a small amount of anionic phosphatidylserine. Systematic screening of several ZnBDPA complexes uncovered a compound with excellent performance in biological media. Cell culture studies showed triggered release of 5-ALA from stealth liposomes followed by uptake into neighboring mammalian cells and intracellular biosynthesis to form fluorescent PpIX.