Use of alpha-N-benzoyl-L-arginine-p-nitroanilide as trypsin substrate in estimation of alpha 1-antitrypsin.
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An antiserum produced against human alpha1-antitrypsin gave 2 precipitin lines by immunodiffusion when tested against sera displaying MZ or MS phenotypes. Only one line (major antigen) was seen with sera displaying M phenotype, but a second line (minor antigen) became evident when the serum was concentrated 5-fold. The minor antigen appeared to be a denatured form of alpha1-antitrypsin, because the major antigen was converted to the minor one when purified alpha1-antitrypsin was incubated between pH 2.95 and 4.0. Such incubation inactivated the protein irreversibly. The purified protein was also inactivated completely within 1 hour at pH 4.95, but the activity was recovered completely by incubation for 2 to 4 hours at pH 8.0. The immunologic properties of the reactivated a1-antitrypsin were the same as those of the original untreated protein.
TOPIC IMPORTANCE: Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is a genetic disorder most commonly due to a single G to A point mutation (E342K), leading to debilitating lung and/or liver disorders and is associated with increased mortality. The E342K point mutation causes a conformational change of the AAT protein resulting in its retention in liver hepatocytes. This reduces AAT secretion into the serum resulting in higher protease activities due to the lack of inhibition from AAT, causing damage to healthy lung tissue. The current standard of care for lung manifestations involves weekly IV augmentation therapy and is considered suboptimal for these patients. Furthermore, there is currently no approved treatment for liver manifestations. The unmet medical need for patients with AAT deficiency remains high, and new treatment options are needed to treat the underlying disease etiology. REVIEW FINDINGS: Advances in genomic medicines may enable treatment by editing the DNA or RNA sequence to produce wild-type AAT instead of the mutated AAT caused by the E342K mutation. One approach can be achieved by directing endogenous adenosine deaminases that act on RNA to the E342K RNA site, where they catalyze adenosine to inosine conversion through a process known as RNA editing. The A-I RNA change will be read as a G during protein translation, resulting in an altered amino acid and restoration of wild-type AAT secretion and function. SUMMARY: In this review, we will discuss the pathophysiology of AAT deficiency and emerging treatment options with particular focus on RNA editing as a disease-modifying treatment for both liver and lung disease.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: SERPINA1 mutations cause retention of the otherwise secreted alpha-1 antitrypsin and lead to the proteotoxic alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency-related liver disease. As mechanistic target of rapamycin is a key coordinator of proteostasis, we studied its role in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency-related liver disease. METHODS: PiZ mice overexpressing the characteristic SERPINA1 mutation were mated with rodents harboring a hepatocyte specific-ablation of the interaction partners regulatory-associated protein of mechanistic target of rapamycin or rapamycin-insensitive companion of mammalian target of rapamycin, corresponding to mechanistic target of rapamycin complexes 1 or 2, or with mice lacking mechanistic target of rapamycin. Serum proteomics, liver bulk proteomics, spatial proteomics, and metabolomics were applied to characterize molecular and metabolic alterations. RESULTS: At 2 months of age, PiZ-mTORΔhep and PiZ-RaptorΔhep but not PiZ-RictorΔhep mice showed signs of increased liver injury and mortality despite diminished hepatic alpha-1 antitrypsin accumulation. PiZ-RaptorΔhep animals displayed increased levels of the proapoptotic protein C/EBP homologous protein, but C/EBP homologous protein ablation did not rescue the phenotype. Serum proteomics revealed no signs of advanced synthetic liver failure but immature hepatocellular products. Liver bulk proteomics and small metabolite measurement demonstrated a metabolic reprogramming of PiZ-RaptorΔhep mice. Spatial proteomics revealed alterations in liver zonation with increased ammonia levels as the likely cause of death in PiZ-RaptorΔhep animals. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency-related proteotoxic liver injury, regulatory-associated protein of mechanistic target of rapamycin preserves a liver zonation, thereby protecting from lethal metabolic dysregulation.
BACKGROUND: α1-Antitrypsin deficiency is caused by rare pathogenic variants in SERPINA1, the strongest genetic risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Few studies have evaluated the effects of SERPINA1 variation on asthma severity accounting for critical gene-by-environment interactions with smoking. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the influence of SERPINA1 variation on asthma severity. METHODS: DNA samples from 847 non-Hispanic White and 446 African American participants from the Severe Asthma Research Program underwent SERPINA1 resequencing to identify rare variants. An independent population of 1955 individuals with asthma and α1-antitrypsin concentrations from a Cleveland Clinic Health System (CCHS) database were evaluated for severity measures. RESULTS: In White participants, a history of minimum smoking significantly interacted with SERPINA1 low-to-rare frequency variation to determine risk for asthma-related health care utilization. This was attributed to protease inhibitor type Z heterozygotes (MZ, N = 11), who had a higher frequency of emergency department (ED) visits (6 [54.5%] MZ heterozygotes, odds ratio [OR] = 7.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.71-39.7, P = .010), hospitalization (5 [45.5%], OR = 16.1, 95% CI = 2.64-150.4, P = .0050) in the past year, and lifetime intensive care unit (ICU) admissions (6 [54.5%], OR = 12.5, 95% CI = 2.44-75.6, P = .0032) compared with 146 individuals without SERPINA1 variants (30 [20.5%] reporting ED visits, 17 [11.6%] hospitalization, and 15 [10.3%] ICU admission). SERPINA1 variant-by-ever smoking interactions in African American participants for ED visits (P = .069) were related to 4 of 6 compound heterozygotes reporting an ED visit. In CCHS, α1-antitrypsin concentrations were inversely associated with moderate-to-severe asthma risk (OR = 0.97 per 10 mg/dL increase in α1-antitrypsin, 95% CI = 0.94-0.99, P = .010) and exacerbations (OR = 0.84 per 10 mg/dL, 95% CI = 0.76-0.94, P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: SERPINA1 variation and α1-antitrypsin concentrations impact asthma severity through gene-environment interactions with minimum smoking.
Genome and RNA editing modalities have revolutionized precision gene therapy, offering a safer alternative to traditional gene replacement approaches. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a compelling model for precision medicine because the disease mechanism is well defined-mutations in a single gene are responsible for both liver and lung pathology. In this review, we summarize the current preclinical and clinical efforts for AATD, with an emphasis on genome and RNA editing strategies.
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is associated with lung and liver disease, but its role in lung carcinogenesis remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the clinical, functional, and molecular characteristics of lung cancer according to alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) genotype and, additionally, to explore differences by sex and the possible influence of environmental exposures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, single-centre study including 407 patients with incident lung cancer diagnosed between 2020 and 2023. Clinical, functional, radiological, molecular, and environmental variables were collected. Comparisons were performed between carriers and non-carriers of altered AAT alleles and between women and men. RESULTS: Of the 394 patients with available genotyping, 24.4% carried at least one altered allele. No significant differences were observed by genotype in smoking status, radon exposure, comorbidities, lung function, or histological subtype. Carriers showed significantly lower serum AAT levels and a higher frequency of values < 116 mg/dL (p < 0.001). PD-L1 expression ≥ 50% was more common in carriers (28.1% vs. 19.4%; p = 0.036). In the multivariable analysis, the altered AAT genotype remained independently associated with a higher probability of PD-L1 expression ≥ 50% (aOR = 2.04; 95% CI: 1.09-3.80; p = 0.026). Women had lower cumulative tobacco exposure, lower prevalence of emphysema and COPD, greater biomass exposure, higher frequency of adenocarcinoma, and more EGFR mutations (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients carrying altered AAT alleles did not exhibit a distinctly different clinical profile, although they showed higher PD-L1 expression (≥50%). Furthermore, significant differences were observed between women and men in terms of exposure, histology and molecular alterations.
Up until now it has been assumed that the protease-binding property of alpha1-protease inhibitor (alpha1PI) was destroyed by acid starch gel electrophoresis (pH 4.9). Analyses on acid starch gel blocks for pH and conductivity changes during and following a typical electrophoretic run showed that it was unlikely that the separating alpha1PI would be exposed to pH values lower than 6.2, and that the allele products, following the passage of the buffer front, were in an environment of constant pH(6.3), extremely low conductivity and high field strength. These results strongly suggested the likelihood that alpha1-PI would be chemically and physically unchanged as a result of exposure to acid starch gel electrophoresis. In order to test this likelihood, human serum was electrophoretically separated in acid starch gel and following electrophoresis, was immersed in 0.1 M diethylbarbiturate buffer, pH 8.6, containing 20 mug/ml of pancreatic elastase. The pH-adjusted (8.15) and elastase-impregnated starch gel layer was superimposed on hemoglobin-agar for 2.5 h at 37 degrees C followed by immersion of the hemoglobin-agar layer in 1% NaCl overnight, distilled water for 2 h, drying under filter paper and staining. The results showed zones of undigested hemoglobin indicating, unequivocally, that the separated alpha1PI allele products are capable of forming complexes with proteases and that alpha1PI is not inactivated following exposure to acid starch gel electrophoresis. Densitometric analysis of the transparent stained zones on a clear agar gel background offers an alternative to analysis of the acid starch gel-separated zones by antigen-antibody crossed electrophoresis and as such is suitable for identification of alpha1-protease inhibitor phenotypes. Further, the method is specific for alpha1PI and a densitometric scan provides direct information relative to the protease-binding capacity of the sample as well as the contribution of each alpha1PI allele product to that capacity.
According to the previous findings of others, the trypsin inhibitory capacity of alpha-1-antitrypsin is irreversibly lost in acidic solutions below pH 5.0. In contrast, experiments reported herein show that considerable inhibitory activity can be regenerated as a time-dependent phenomena following titration to basic media. The rate of recovery of activity is accompanied by a decreasing amplitude in the fluorescent emission spectrum at 335 nm of acidified alpha-1-antitrypsin solutions following adjustment to pH 8.0. Acidic media also results in the slow, progressive formation of protein aggregates as measured using Sephadex gel filtration. This latter process is more prominent at pH 4.0, near the isoelectric point of alpha-1-antitrypsin than at pH 3 or 2. Both monomer and polymeric forms of alpha-1-antititrypsin were isolated before or after adjustment to basic media. Isolated monomeric material shows a high recovery of biological and immunological activity; aggregate forms, however, are immunologically cross-reactive but show little enzyme inhibitory activity.
An improved method is described for direct localization of human serum proteins in polyacrylamide gel with simultaneous determination of their isoelectric points (pI). The technique employs isoelectric focusing in thin-layer polyacrylamide gels to separate the serum proteins and the pH gradient is read at 4 degrees C with a dual-membrane surface microelectrode. Subsequently, the desired proteins are localized by immunofixation in the gel or by immunofixation-printing onto cellulose acetate strips soaked in specific antiserum. No sectioning of the electrofocused gel is necessary, and the entire technique can be completed in less than 14 h. When this method is applied to the detection of the genetic variants of alpha-1-antitrypsin (alpha-1-protease inhibitor) (A1Pi system), the results indicate that it can be used to specifically localize serum proteins whose pI's differ by as little as 0.01 pH units. The resolution afforded is especially evident in the analysis of A1Pi M variants.
A method of isolation of alpha-1-antitrypsin (alpha-1-AT) in good yield from normal human plasma is described. A key step was affinity chromatography employing an antiserum which had been depleted of alpha-1-AT antibodies. The final preparations were homogeneous by immunological and physicochemical criteria. The specific activity of the purified alpha-1-AT was 0.363 mg of active bovine trypsin inhibited per 1.0 mg of inhibitor. Polyacrylamide gel patterns at both alkaline and acid pH of highly pure preparations frequently, but not invariably, showed multiple hands. Molecular weight studies by sedimentation equilibrium ultracentrifugation in aqueous buffer and in 6 M guanidine as well as sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis suggest that alpha-1-AT is a single polypeptide chain having a molecular weight of 49,500. Other physical and chemical properties of the inhibitor are described. A limited N-terminal sequence (Glu-Asp-Pro-Gln-Gly-Asx-Ala-Ala) was obtained. It was found that alpha-1-AT easily forms polymers and higher aggregates when exposed to denaturing agents such as 8 M urea and 6 M guanidine. The results suggest that aggregation is determined by both covalent and noncovalent forces.
The profiles of 4 acute-phase reactant proteins (APRPs) (haptoglobin (HPT), alpha1 antitrypsin (AAT), alpha1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) and prealbumin (PALB)) have been studied during the evolution of bowel cancer. Serial measurements of these APRPs can add to the information obtained from measurements of the level of CEA and hepatic enzymes during the monitoring of postoperative patients. There is considerable stability in the profile in a given individual in health, Rises of AAT and AGP are associated with metastases. High levels of HPT may suggest involvement of the bowel wall by recurrent cancer. PALB levels tend to reflect the nutritional status. A discriminant function based on the log CEA, AAT and AGP preoperative blood levels can considerably improve on the predictive value attained using CEA levels alone.
1. alpha 1-Proteinase inhibitor was isolated from human plasma by a five-step procedure. Isoelectric focusing showed that six components focused between pH4.85 and 4.95. 2. The mol.wt. of the inhibitor was 52000 by sedimentation equilibrium and sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The amino acid and carbohydrate compositions of the inhibitor were also determined. 3. The far-u.v.c.d. (circular-dichroism) spectrum indicated that the inhibitor had about 36% alpha-helical content. 4. The loss of proteinase-inhibitory activity when the inhibitor was exposed to pH values less than 5.0 or greater than 10.5 was accompanied by small changes in the far-u.v.c.d. spectrum and large changes in the near-u.v.c.d. spectrum. The change at alkaline pH was associated with ionization of tyrosine residues. 5. Interaction of inhibitor with chymotrypsin caused perturbation of the c.d. spectrum and this was used to follow the interaction and show a 1:1 stoicheiometry. 6. C.d., electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing showed that the inhibitor-enzyme complex is degraded by free enzyme. 7. Parallel studies with trypsin indicated that it too forms a 1:1 complex with inhibitor and is degraded by excess of enzyme.
BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has been closely associated with coagulation abnormalities. However, existing biomarkers, including D-dimer and fibrin degradation products (FDP), exhibit limited accuracy in stratifying disease severity and predicting long-term clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to use proteomic analysis to identify plasma biomarkers associated with COVID-19 severity and prognosis, and validate their predictive utility for mortality and thromboembolic complications. METHODS: Plasma proteomic profiles were analyzed across three COVID-19 severity classes. Differential expression analysis and functional analysis were performed. Clustering analysis was used to identify proteins correlated with disease severity. Candidate biomarkers were validated in an independent cohort. Predictive performance of the biomarkers for mortality, sepsis and venous thromboembolism was evaluated using bootstrap-corrected ROC analyses and multivariable regression analyses. RESULTS: Proteomic analysis revealed progressive involvement of the coagulation and complement pathway with increasing disease severity. SERPINA1 and CD59 were identified as candidate biomarkers and exhibited significantly higher plasma levels in severe cases. Bootstrap-corrected ROC analyses demonstrated strong predictive performance: SERPINA1 achieved AUCs of 0.775 and 0.924 for 30-day and 12-month mortality, and CD59 achieved AUCs of 0.720 for sepsis; the combined model further improved prediction of 12-month mortality (AUC 0.946) and sepsis (AUC 0.904), outperforming D-dimer and FDP. Multivariable regression confirmed their independent prognostic value. CONCLUSION: This exploratory study identifies SERPINA1 and CD59 as candidate prognostic biomarkers in COVID-19, highlighting the role of coagulation and complement-related pathways in disease severity and warranting further prospective validation.
The alkaline phosphatase reaction is normally absent in human bile canaliculi, but was found in 79 patients. In search for a common causal factor, these patients were further examined. Thirty-seven were autopsied. The conditions most ocmmonly associated with the phenomenon were malignant tumours with or without involvement of the liver, collagen diseases, long-standing partial obstruction of the common bile duct, and genetic variants of alpha-1-antitrypsin. No clinical or laboratory facts were common to all the patients.
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Considerable amounts of C1 inactivator and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor pecipitate during euglobulin fractionation of human plasma. The amount precipitated depends on the ionic strength and the pH during the fractionation procedure. In contrast, alpha1-anti-trypsin, alpha2-macroglobulinand antithrombin II are present in euglobulin fractions in trace amounts only. The fibrinolytic activity of the euglobulin fractions is inhibited by the endogenous C1 inactivator, particularly as shown by comparison of normal and hereditary angioneurotic edema (HANE) plasma.
A small amount of antitryptic activity is detectable in the supernatant of deproteinized human serum. Preincubation of serum with trypsin causes an increase in acid-stable antitryptic activity. This rise in activity depends on the inter alpha-trypsin inhibitor concentration. The native inhibitor present in normal sera, and in higher concentrations in sera of patients with nephropathies, and the trypsin-liberated inhibitor show immunological cross reaction with antibodies to the serum inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor. The two inhibitors differ in molecular weight and electrophoretic mobility. The physiological inhibitor (I-34), with a molecular weight of 34 000 and a high carbohydrate content, can be transformed by trypsin into an inhibitor (I-17) with a molecular weight of 17 000. This inhibitor is identical with the inhibitors liberated by trypsin from serum or from purified inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor. The acid-stable inhibitor from urine is identical with the physiological serum inhibitor. Analogously, this inhibitor is transformed by trypsin into the inhibitor with a molecular weight of 17 000. We conclude that the inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor is the precursor of both the physiological and the trypsin-liberated inhibitor. By a mechanism as yet unknown, but most likely a limited proteolysis, the secreted inhibitor is liberated from the high molecular weight precursor. In contrast to the monospecific trypsin-inhibiting precursor, the physiological and artificially liberated inhibitors are trypsin/chymotrypsin/plasmin inhibitors.