Diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease: Potential role of molecular biometrics

Accurate diagnosis of predominantly colonic inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) is not possible in 30% of patients. For decades, scientists have worked to find a solution to improve diagnostic accuracy for IBD, encompassing Crohn’s colitis and ulcerative colitis. Evaluating protein patterns in surgical pathology colectomy specimens of colonic mucosal and submucosal compartments, individually, has potential for diagnostic medicine by identifying integrally independent, phenotype-specific cellular and molecular characteristics. Mass spectrometry(MS) and imaging(I) MS are analytical technologies that directly measure molecular species in clinical specimens, contributing to the in-depth understanding of biological molecules. The biometric-system complexity and functional diversity is well suited to proteomic and diagnostic studies. The direct analysis of cells and tissues by Matrix-Assisted-Laser Desorption/Ionization (MALDI) MS/IMS has relevant medical diagnostic potential. MALDI-MS/IMS detection generates molecular signatures obtained from specific cell types within tissue sections. Herein discussed is a perspective on the use of MALDI-MS/IMS and bioinformatics technologies for detection of molecular-biometric patterns and identification of differentiating proteins. I also discuss a perspective on the global challenge of transferring technologies to clinical laboratories dealing with IBD issues. The significance of serologic-immunometric advances is also discussed.     

Proteolysis of Human Calcitonin in Excised Bovine Nasal Mucosa: Elucidation of the Metabolic Pathway by Liquid Secondary lonization Mass Spectrometry (LSIMS) and Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption lonization Mass Spectrometry (MALDI)

Purpose. Two calcitonins, i.e. human calcitonin (hCT) and, for comparison, salmon calcitonin (sCT), were chosen as peptide models to investigate nasal mucosal metabolism. Methods. The susceptibility of hCT and sCT to nasal mucosal enzymes was assessed by in-and-out reflection kinetics experiments in an in vitro model based on the use of freshly excised bovine nasal mucosa, with the mucosal surface of the mucosa facing the peptide solution. The kinetics of CT degradation in the bulk solution was monitored by HPLC. Peptide sequences of the main nasal metabolites of hCT were analyzed by using both liquid secondary ionization mass spectrometry (LSIMS), following HPLC fractionation of the metabolites, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass (MALDI) spectrometry. For sCT, the molecular weights of two major metabolites were determined by LC-MS with electrospray ionization. Results. Both CTs were readily metabolized by nasal mucosal enzymes. In the concentration range studied metabolic rates were higher with hCT than with sCT. Presence of endopeptidase activities in the nasal mucosa was crucial, cleaving both calcitonins in the central domain of the molecules. Conclusions. Typically, initial metabolic cleavage of hCT in nasal mucosa is due to both chymotryptic- and tryptic-like endopeptidases. The subsequent metabolic break-down follows the sequential pattern of aminopeptidase activity. Tryptic endopeptidase activity is characteristic of nasal sCT cleavage.     

Mineralization of 3D Osteogenic Model Based on Gelatin-Dextran Hybrid Hydrogel Scaffold Bioengineered with Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: A Multiparametric Evaluation

Gelatin–dextran hydrogel scaffolds (G-PEG-Dx) were evaluated for their ability to activate the bone marrow human mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-hMSCs) towards mineralization. G-PEG-Dx1 and G-PEG-Dx2, with identical composition but different architecture, were seeded with BM-hMSCs in presence of fetal bovine serum or human platelet lysate (hPL) with or without osteogenic medium. G-PEG-Dx1, characterized by a lower degree of crosslinking and larger pores, was able to induce a better cell colonization than G-PEG-Dx2. At day 28, G-PEG-Dx2, with hPL and osteogenic factors, was more efficient than G-PEG-Dx1 in inducing mineralization. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy showed that extracellular matrix produced by BM-hMSCs and calcium-positive mineralization were present along the backbone of the G-PEG-Dx2, even though it was colonized to a lesser degree by hMSCs than G-PEG-Dx1. These findings were confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI), detecting distinct lipidomic signatures that were associated with the different degree of scaffold mineralization. Our data show that the architecture and morphology of G-PEG-Dx2 is determinant and better than that of G-PEG-Dx1 in promoting a faster mineralization, suggesting a more favorable and active role for improving bone repair.     

结核分枝杆菌广泛耐药株与耐多药株菌体蛋白质组学比较研究

目的比较和分析结核分枝杆菌广泛耐药（XDR）与耐多药（MDR）菌株在菌体蛋白质表达水平上的差异,并寻找与XDR相关的蛋白质点。方法利用双向凝胶电泳分离XDR、MDR菌株以及H37Rv标准菌株菌体蛋白质,通过计算机图像分析软件分析各菌株之间在菌体蛋白质表达水平上的差异性,并进行质谱分析。结果 XDR与MDR以及H37Rv菌株之间在菌体蛋白质表达水平上存在明显差异;与XDR相关的28个差异（新增、缺失、上调、下调）表达的蛋白质点中,质谱分析鉴定出5个相关的蛋白质点。结论结核分枝杆菌XDR与MDR菌株在菌体蛋白质表达水平上存在明显差异,为进一步研究XDR菌株耐药机理奠定了基础。     

A new method to increase selectivity of transglutaminase mediated PEGylation of salmon calcitonin and human growth hormone

Modification of therapeutic proteins and peptides by polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugation is a well-known approach to improve the pharmacological properties of drugs. Several chemical procedures of PEG coupling are already in use but an alternative method based on microbial transglutaminase (mTGase) was recently devised. The enzyme catalyzes the link of mPEG-NH₂ to glutamines (Gln) of a substrate protein. In this case the advantage resides in the fact that usually only few Gln(s) in a protein are substrate of mTGase. In order to further restrict the selectivity of the enzyme, we investigated a new approach leading to the formation of a single conjugate isomer as well as for those proteins containing two or more Gln(s) as mTGase substrates. It was found that the addition of co-solvents in the reaction mixture influenced both the secondary structure of the targeted protein and the mTGase activity. The enzymatic PEGylation under these conditions yielded only mono- and selectively modified conjugates. The method was investigated with salmon calcitonin (sCT) and human growth hormone (hGH). In the case of sCT we also demonstrated the importance of site-selective conjugation for the preservation of in vivo activity.     

Protection against filarial infection by 45–49 kDa molecules of Brugia malayi via IFN-γ-mediated iNOS induction

Nitric oxide (NO) mediated mechanisms have been implicated in killing of some life-stages of Brugia malayi/Wuchereria bancrofti and protect the host through type 1 responses and IFN-γ stimulated toxic mediators’ release. However, the identity of NO stimulating molecules of the parasites is not known. Three predominantly NO-stimulating SDS-PAGE resolved fractions F8 (45.24–48.64 kDa), F11 (33.44–38.44 kDa) and F12 (28.44–33.44 kDa) from B. malayi were identified and their proteins were analyzed by 2-DE and MALDI-TOF/TOF. Tropomyosin, calponin and de novo peptides were identified by 2-DE and MALDI-TOF/TOF in F8 and immunization with F8 conferred most significant protection against L₃-initiated infection in Mastomys coucha. Immunized animals showed upregulated F8-induced NO, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10, TGF-β release, cellular proliferative responses and specific IgG and IgG1. Anti-IFN-γ, anti-TNF-α, and anti-IL-1β significantly reduced F8-mediated NO generation and iNOS induction at protein levels. Anti-IFN-γ treated cells showed maximum reduction (>74%) in NO generation suggesting a predominant role of IFN-γ in iNOS induction. In conclusion, the findings suggest that F8 which contains tropomyosin, calponin and de novo peptides protects the host via IFN-γ mediated iNOS induction and may hold promise as vaccine candidate(s). This is also the first report of identification of tropomyosin and calponin in B. malayi.     

The glycosylated androgenic hormone of the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber (Crustacea)

It appears from grafting experiments that the androgenic hormone (AH) of terrestrial isopods has a narrow species-specificity [J. Crust. Biol. 19 (1999) 684], even if AH of different species shared common epitopes [Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 125 (2002) 218]. To date only the glycosylated AH of the woodlouse Armadillidium vulgare has been deciphered by us [Ann. New York Acad. Sci. 839 (1998) 111; Eur. J. Biochem. 262 (1999) 727] and [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 264 (1999) 419] have confirmed the primary structure of this protein. We reported in the present paper the characterization of the AH in another species Porcellio scaber by a combination of microsequencing, mass spectrometry, and molecular cloning. We found only one glycoform which consisted of two peptide chains, A and B, of 31 and 44 amino acids, respectively, with A chain carrying on Asn18 a N-glycosylated moiety, size of which has been determined by MALDI-MS measurements. The expected structure of the glycosylation was proposed. The deduced amino acid sequence of the AH precursor was mainly identical to the one obtained independently by another group [Zool. Sci. 20 (2003) 75]. We also showed that AH gene is exclusively expressed in androgenic glands. Sequence comparison with A. vulgare and P. scaber (population of Japan) AH was discussed.     

Plasma proteomic analysis of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Objective

To compare plasma protein expression between patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix and normal controls.

Methods

Plasma samples from patients with benign gynecological disease (normal cervix, n=6) and cervical cancer (SCC, n=6) were subjected to plasma proteomic analysis using two dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectroscopy (MALDI-MS). Western blotting and immunoturbidimetric assay were performed to validate the results of 2-DE.

Results

Eight proteins showed differential expression between controls and SCC patients; six (ceruloplasmin, complement C3, afamin precursor, alpha-1-B-glycoprotein, transferrin, alpha-fibrinogen precursor) were up-regulated, while two (chain A, crystal structure of antithrombin and apolipoprotein A-IV precursor) were down-regulated in the plasma of SCC patients. Western blotting analysis revealed significant elevation of ceruloplasmin, complement C3, afamin, and alpha-1-B-glycoprotein in the plasma of SCC patients in comparison to controls. Immunoturbidimetric assay of a larger group confirmed the results of 2-DE and Western blotting, and showed that ceruloplasmin and complement C3 were significantly elevated in the plasma of SCC patients in comparison with controls and patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the uterine cervix.

Conclusion

Plasma protein expression determined using 2-DE and MALDI-MS will give a chance to identify tumor-specific biomarkers for SCC of the cervix.     

Fast saccharide mapping method for quality consistency evaluation of commercial xylooligosaccharides collected in China

Due to the extensive use of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) as functional food ingredients, many inferior goods and even adulterants are generally found in the market, which may pose a health hazard to certain populations. Chromatography method such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) is traditionally applied for the quality analysis of XOS. However, it is time consuming due to the prolonged separation and pre- or post- derivatization procedure. In this study, a fast saccharide mapping method based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) was developed for the quality consistency analysis of 22 batches of XOS collected from different manufacturers in China. The time needed for saccharides analysis using MALDI-MS was less than 30 min for one plate, at least 6 times faster than that by the traditional HPTLC chromatography method. In addition, MALDI-MS possessed higher resolution for XOS with DP4-DP7 based on the difference of m/z, which is hardly separated using HPTLC. The results showed that XOS were present only in samples XY01-XY11, samples XY12-XY14 only consisted of hex oligosaccharides, and samples XY15-XY22 were free of oligosaccharides. These indicate that the quality consistency of XOS products in the China market was poor, which should be carefully investigated.     

基于MALDI-MS技术的新基质大黄酸在代谢组学研究中的应用

基质辅助激光解析电离质谱(MALDI-MS)是一项快速、高通量检测未知物质的新兴技术。然而,该技术对代谢物的检测分析往往被复杂的基质峰所干扰,限制了其在代谢组学领域的应用。研究发现,大黄酸能作为一种MALDI新基质用于阳离子模式下代谢物的检测。首先运用大黄酸分析了生理学浓度下多种强、弱碱性代谢物的标准品,结果表明与传统基质比较,大黄酸能获得基本无基质峰干扰的质谱图。进一步将大黄酸运用于生物样本的分析,选取小鼠内容物作为模型样本,显示该基质可用于复杂生物样本的代谢组分析。最后考察大黄酸的MALDI质谱成像能力,表明该基质可成功运用于小鼠肠段切片的代谢组原位成像。研究表明,大黄酸作为一种新型MALDI基质,能可靠、高效地完成基于MALDI-MS的代谢物检测及原位成像分析,对MALDI-MS技术广泛运用于代谢组学研究具有推动作用。