Interaction of tea polyphenols and food constituents with model gut epithelia: the protective role of the mucus gel layer

The luminal surface of the gastrointestinal tract is covered by a mucus gel layer that acts to protect gut epithelial cells from the harsh luminal environment. This study investigated the use of two human colonic adenocarcinoma cell lines, HT29-MTX-E12 and HT29, as a model to mimic gut epithelium with and without a mucus gel layer. The effect of adding the tea polyphenols epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin (EC) to the cells with subsequent examination of cell morphology and viability was assessed. EGCG, at the concentrations tested, was very toxic to the HT29 cells, but less toxic to the HT29-MTX-E12 cells, suggesting that the mucus gel layer on the HT29-MTX-E12 cells can protect the cells against EGCG toxicity. In contrast, EC had no effect on the viability of either the HT29 or HT29-MTX-E12 cells, suggesting that proteins within the mucus gel layer on the apical surface of gut epithelial cells may bind to the galloyl ring of EGCG. The effect of adding food-related ingredients with the ability to complex with EGCG, β-casein and maltodextrin, on cell viability was also examined. The presence of β-casein was very effective in protecting the cells against the toxicity effect of EGCG, but maltodextrin, at the concentration tested, was less effective in protecting against this toxicity. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that the mucus gel layer on HT29 human colonic adenocarcinoma cells may protect these cells against EGCG toxicity. In addition, the data showing reduced toxicity of EC compared to that of EGCG suggest that the cytotoxic effects of high polyphenol levels may be associated with the ability of polyphenols to interact with cellular proteins and mucins.     

Peptides from Lactobacillus hydrolysates of bovine milk caseins inhibit prolyl-peptidases of human colon cells

Prolyl-rich peptides derived from hydrolysates of bovine caseins have been previously shown to inhibit angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity, suggesting that they may also be able to inhibit the enzymatic activities of prolyl-specific peptidases. This study shows that peptides derived from α(S1)-casein and β-casein inhibited the enzymatic activities of purified recombinant matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-2, MMP-7, and MMP-9. The inhibitory efficacy was sequence-dependent. These peptides also selectively inhibited the enzymatic activities of prolyl-amino-peptidases, prolyl-amino-dipeptidases, and prolyl-endopeptidases in extracts of HT-29 and SW480 human colon carcinoma cells, but not in intact cells. They were not cytotoxic or growth inhibitory for these cells. Thus, the prolyl-rich selected peptides were good and selective inhibitors of MMPs and post-proline-cleaving proteases, demonstrating their potential to control inadequate proteolytic activity in the human digestive tract, without inducing cytotoxic effects.     

Improvement in isolation and identification of food-derived peptides in human plasma based on precolumn derivatization of peptides with phenyl isothiocyanate

For the isolation and detection of food-derived peptides in blood, an approach based on the derivatization of peptides with phenyl isothiocyanate (PITC) was developed. This approach allows hydrophilic peptides to be resolved and specifically detected by reversed-phase (RP) HPLC. For the rapid capturing and clarification of peptides in human plasma, solid-phase extraction by using a mini spin column (5 mmx5 mm) packed with a strong cation exchanger was used. The clarified peptide fraction was further fractionated by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). The peptides in the SEC fractions were derivatized with PITC, and the derivatives were resolved by RP-HPLC by using an ammonium acetate buffer or a trifluoroacetic acid system. An automatic peptide sequencer based on Edman degradation with a modified program can directly analyze the resolved derivatives. Some synthetic peptides and food-derived peptides in human plasma were successfully isolated and identified by this approach.     

真核表达载体pIRES2-ZsGreen1-opLA的构建及其在猪成纤维细胞的表达

α-乳清蛋白(α-lactalbumin,α-LA)是哺乳动物乳汁中一种重要的蛋白质,富含机体必需氨基酸和支链氨基酸,其极佳的氨基酸比例、易吸收性以及功能特异性,使得α-LA在婴幼儿个体正常生长中具有重要的意义。本实验旨在构建人α-乳清蛋白真核表达载体pIRES2-ZsGreen1-opLA,将其转染至猪(Susscrofa)的成纤维细胞,获得稳定表达人α-LA的细胞。根据猪基因密码子偏爱性优化并合成人α-乳清蛋白基因mRNA序列opLA,并将其定向克隆入pIRES2-Zs Green1真核表达载体,双酶切及测序方法鉴定重组载体;脂质体介导的方法将载体转染入培养的猪成纤维细胞,荧光显微镜下观察转染效果,G418抗性筛选重组细胞;RT-PCR方法检测目的基因的表达。结果表明,通过酶切以及测序鉴定得到的重组载体pIRES2-Zs Green1-opLA构建成功;荧光显微镜下观察,转染了pIRES2-Zs Green1-opLA和pIRES2-Zs Green1空载体的细胞均发出绿色荧光,且荧光多集中于细胞核;筛选重组细胞的最小G418浓度为400ng/μL;RT-PCR法检测到与目的基因大小一致的片段,而未转染组和转染空载体组均未检测到。本实验成功构建真核表达载体pIRES2-ZsGreen1-opLA,并获得稳定表达目的基因的猪成纤维细胞,该细胞可作为进一步研究转基因克隆猪的供体细胞。     

凋亡相关基因PDCD5的表达与桥本甲状腺炎临床相关性的研究

本实验旨在探明程序性死亡因子5（programmed cell death 5,PDCD5）在桥本甲状腺炎（hashimoto＇s thyroiditis,HT）病程中的表达,并研究其与HT疾病发生发展之间的关系。以β-actin基因、β-actin蛋白为内参照,采用RT-PCR法和Western印迹法检测60例HT患者和40例健康对照者外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）PDCD5 mRNA和蛋白的表达水平。以外周血血清中抗甲状腺微粒体抗体（TMAb）水平45%为标准,划分为低TMAb组（TMAb≤45%）和高TMAb组（TMAb〉45%）,比较两组患者的血清TGAb值、甲状腺激素水平及PDCD5的表达水平。结果表明,与健康对照组相比较HT患者PDCD5 mRNA和PDCD5蛋白的表达阳性率和相对表达水平显著升高（p〈0.05）,在高TMAb水平组PDCD5的表达更高,较低TMAb水平组有显著性差异（p〈0.05）,TGAb水平显著高于低TMAb组（p〈0.01）,血清TT3、TT4、FT3、FT4没有统计学差异（p〉0.05）。由于PDCD5的表达量在HT患者PBMC中上调,并且随病情加重其表达量逐渐增加,初步判定在HT疾病的发生发展过程中,PDCD5具有重要意义。     

Uncommonly thorough hydrolysis of peptides during ripening of Ragusano cheese revealed by tandem mass spectrometry

Ragusano is a pasta filata cheese produced from raw milk in Sicily. The proteolysis was extensively analyzed after stretching (day 0), at 4 and 7 months of ripening through soluble nitrogen, urea-PAGE, and peptide identification by tandem mass spectrometry. After stretching, 123 peptides were identified: 72 arising from β-casein, 34 from α(s1)-casein, and 17 from α(s2)-casein. The main protein splitting corresponded to the action of plasmin, chymosin, cathepsin D, cell envelope proteinase, and peptidase activities of lactic acid bacteria. Unlike other types of cheeses, <10% residual β- and α(s)-caseins remained intact at 7 months, indicating original network organization based on large casein fragments. The number of identified soluble peptides also dramatically decreased after 4 and 7 months of ripening, to 47 and 25, respectively. Among them, bioactive peptides were found, that is, mineral carrier, antihypertensive, and immunomodulating peptides and phosphopeptides.     

Variability of hydrolysis of β-, αs1-, and αs2-caseins by 10 strains of Streptococcus thermophilus and resulting bioactive peptides

Milk proteins contain numerous potential bioactive peptides, which may be released by digestive proteases or by the proteolytic system of lactic acid bacteria during food processing. The capacity of Streptococcus thermophilus to generate peptides, especially bioactive peptides, from bovine caseins was investigated. Strains expressing various levels of the cell envelope proteinase, PrtS, were incubated with α(s1)-, α(s2)-, or β-casein. Analysis of the supernatants by LC-ESI-MS/MS showed that the β-casein was preferentially hydrolyzed, followed by α(s2)-casein and then α(s1)-casein. Numbers and types of peptides released were strain-dependent. Hydrolysis appeared to be linked with the accessibility of different casein regions by protease. Analysis of bonds hydrolyzed in the region 1-23 of α(s1)-casein suggests that PrtS is at least in part responsible for the peptide production. Finally, among the generated peptides, 13 peptides from β-casein, 5 from α(s2)-casein, and 2 from α(s1)-casein have been reported as bioactive, 15 of them being angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.     

抗菌肽模式肽PGYa的分子设计、克隆及在毕赤酵母中的分泌表达

在α-螺旋抗菌肽序列比较和两亲性分析的基础上,提取序列模板,计算机辅助（螺旋轮法）设计出新型抗菌肽模式肽PGYa(Peptide以Gly开头,以Tyr-NH2结尾),然后选用毕赤酵母偏爱密码子,设计合成了PGYa基因（rPCR法）。所合成的基因全长为94bp,并在其N端引入kex2裂解位点,以保证表达抗菌肽具有天然N端。基因克隆入pPICZα-A质粒,构建分泌型酵母表达载体pPICZα-A-PGYa。在AOX1 (醇氧化酶)启动子调控下,PGYa蛋白获得分泌表达,其表达量达到132 mg/L。初步抑菌（E.coli DH5α）活性显示：PGYa有较好的抗菌活性。     

Proteomic profiling of the coagulation of milk proteins induced by chymosin

Chymosin-induced coagulation of individual milk proteins during incubation at 30 °C was investigated using a proteomic approach. The addition of chymosin (0.006 units/mL) caused the milk proteins to coagulate after a 3 h incubation period. Approximately 88% of the milk proteins were coagulated into the milk pellet fraction, and the protein concentration of the milk supernatant fraction (MSF) decreased from 29.88 ± 0.12 to 3.74 ± 0.13 mg/mL. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that α(S)-, β- and κ-caseins in the MSF were almost depleted and that the total intensity of the protein bands corresponding to α(S)-caseins (α(S1) and α(S2)), β-casein, and κ-casein decreased from 1088.0, 901.5, and 617.0 area units to 6.9, 6.1, and 5.2 area units, respectively. Two-dimensional electrophoresis analysis indicated that α(S1)-, α(S2)-, β-, and κ-casein and a fraction of the β-lactoglobulin and serum albumin were found in the MSF following incubation with chymosin.     

MALDI-TOF MS characterization of glycation products of whey proteins in a glucose/galactose model system and lactose-free milk

The major modifications induced by thermal treatment of whey proteins α-lactalbumin (α-La) and β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg) in a model system mimicking lactose-free milk (L(-) sugar mix) were investigated by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The analysis of the intact α-La revealed species with up to 7 and 14 adducts from lactose and sugar mix, respectively, whereas for β-Lg 3 and up to 5 sugar moieties were observed in the case of lactose and sugar mix experiments, respectively. A partial enzymatic hydrolysis with endoproteinase AspN prior to mass spectrometric analysis allowed the detection of further modifications and their localization in the amino acid sequence. Using α-cyano-4-chlorocinnamic acid as MALDI matrix, it could be shown that heating α-La and β-Lg with glucose or galactose led to the modification of lysine residues that are not glycated by lactose. The higher glycation degree of whey proteins in a lactose-free milk system relative to normal milk with lactose reflects the higher reactivity of monosaccharides compared to the parent disaccharide. Finally, the analysis of the whey extract of a commercial lactose-free milk sample revealed that the two whey proteins were present as three main forms (native, single, and double hexose adducts).     

Resveratrol reduces the invasive growth and promotes the acquisition of a long-lasting differentiated phenotype in human glioblastoma cells

Malignant glioblastoma represents a challenge in the chemotherapy of brain tumors, because of its aggressive behavior characterized by chemoresistance, infiltrative diffusion, and high rate of recurrence and death. In this study, we used cultured human U87MG cells and primary human glioblastoma cultures to test the anticancer properties of resveratrol (RV), a phytoalexin abundantly present in a variety of dietary products. In U87MG cells, 100 μM RV elicited cell growth arrest by 48 h and bax-mediated cell toxicity by 96 h and greatly limited cell migration and invasion through matrigel. Both in U87MG cells and in primary glioblastoma cultures, the chronic administration of RV (100 μM for up to 96 h) decreased the expression of nestin (a brain (cancer) stem cells marker) but increased that of glial acidic fibrillary protein (a mature glial cell marker) and of βIII-tubulin (a neuronal differentiation marker). Chronic treatment with RV increased the proportion of cells positive for senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity. This is the first report showing the ability of RV to induce glial-like and neuronal-like differentiation in glioblastoma cells. The beneficial effects of chronic RV supplementation lasted up to 96 h after its withdrawal from the culture medium. The present findings support the introduction of pulsed administration of this food-derived molecule in the chemotherapy regimen of astrocytomas.     

蛋氨酸和蛋氨酸二肽对奶牛乳腺上皮细胞酪蛋白αs1基因表达的影响

采用组织块培养的方法获得奶牛乳腺上皮细胞，通过添加不同浓度的蛋氨酸以及等量的蛋氨酸和蛋氨酸二肽之间的替换，研究其对体外培养的乳腺上皮细胞酪蛋白αs1基因表达的影响。蛋氨酸添加水平为0、20、40、60、80和100 μg/ml。结果表明：添加蛋氨酸的浓度为0-60 μg/ml 时酪蛋白αs1基因表达随蛋氨酸浓度的增加而增强，当添加蛋氨酸的浓度为60-100 μg/ml时酪蛋白αs1随蛋氨酸浓度的增加而减弱，添加蛋氨酸为60 μg/ml时基因表达最强，与0 μg/ml组间差异显著（P<0.05)，其余各组间差异均不显著；用60 μg/ml 蛋氨酸二肽替代等量的蛋氨酸时，蛋氨酸二肽组乳腺上皮细胞酪蛋白αs1基因表达要极显著高于蛋氨酸组（P<0.01)，表明乳腺可以利用蛋氨酸二肽，而且其利用效率高于蛋氨酸。     

Identification of food-derived elastin peptide, prolyl-glycine (Pro-Gly), in human blood after ingestion of elastin hydrolysate

Elastin hydrolysate has apparent beneficial effects, and the food-derived peptide prolyl-glycine (Pro-Gly) is present in human blood after oral ingestion. Following ingestion of elastin hydrolysate (10 g/60 kg body weight) by healthy human volunteers, peripheral blood was used to prepare plasma samples from which peptides were extracted by solid phase extraction and fractionated by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). Peptides in the SEC fractions were derivatized with phenyl isothiocyanate (PITC) and resolved by reversed phase (RP)-HPLC. Pro-Gly was the major food-derived elastin peptide, reaching a maximum (18 μM) at 30 min after ingestion, and decreasing to approximately 20% at 4 h after ingestion. Finally, in cell culture, levels of Pro-Gly in the medium above 0.1 μg/mL significantly enhanced elastin synthesis of normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) without affecting the rate of cell proliferation.     

Cre-LoxP系统调控肠道粘蛋白2启动子活性和特异性

靶基因的高丰度组织特异性表达是基因治疗和制备转基因动物的重要条件。运用Cre-LoxP系统是提高组织特异性启动子转录活性的有效途径之一。本研究利用Cre-LoxP系统,以肠道粘蛋白2启动子调控Cre重组酶表达,转染细胞后检测荧光素酶活性。结果显示,Cre-LoxP系统能使粘蛋白2启动子介导的靶基因在肠细胞SW480中的表达量提高约6倍。细胞特异性检验后发现,Cre-LoxP系统显著弱化了肠道粘蛋白2启动子的细胞特异性。研究结果提示,运用Cre-LoxP系统尽管可以大幅提高弱启动子的活性,但对启动子的特异性要求较高。     

Effects of tea polyphenols on the invasion and matrix metalloproteinases activities of human fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells

The effects of tea polyphenols on the invasion of highly metastatic human fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells through a monolayer of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the accompanying basal membrane were investigated. Among the tea polyphenols tested, epicatechin gallate (ECg), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), and theaflavin strongly suppressed the invasion of HT1080 cells into the monolayer of HUVECs/gelatin membrane, whereas epicatechin, epigallocatechin, tea flavonols, tea flavones, and gallate derivatives had no effect. Both theaflavin-digallate and theasinensin D showed a weak invasion inhibitory effect. ECg significantly inhibited the invasion without cytotoxicity against cancer cells and HUVECs. Ester-type catechins (ECg and EGCg) and theaflavin strongly suppressed the gelatin degradation mediated by matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and MMP-9, which were secreted into the conditioned medium of HT1080 cells. In conclusion, among the tea polyphenols tested, ECg was considered to be the agent with the most potential antimetastasis activity because it inhibited invasion in the absence of cytotoxicity.     

Distribution of protein oxidation products in the proteome of thermally processed milk

During thermal milk processing, severe oxidation can occur, which alters the technological and physiological properties of the milk proteins. Due to differences in composition and physicochemical properties, it can be expected that the particular milk proteins are differently affected by oxidative damage. Therefore, the protein-specific distribution of oxidation products in the heated milk proteome was investigated. Raw and heated milk samples were separated by one-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Protein oxidation was visualized by Western blot after derivatization of protein carbonyls with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. Thus, α-lactalbumin displayed enhanced oxidation compared to β-lactoglobulin, despite its lower concentration in milk. Highly selective oxidation was detected for a previously unassigned minor milk protein. The protein was identified by its peptide mass fingerprint as a variant of α(S1)-casein (α(S1)-casein*). Similar oxidation patterns were observed in several commercial milk products.     

Cancer chemopreventive effects of lycopene: suppression of MMP-7 expression and cell invasion in human colon cancer cells

Clinical studies indicate that high blood levels of leptin or matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7; matrilysin) proteins are associated with tumor progression of human colorectal cancer (CRC). Leptin could play an important role in cell migration and invasion of cancer cells. Our previous study indicated that lycopene could inhibit the proliferation of human colon cancer cells in vitro. However, the inhibitory effects of lycopene on the progression of human colon cancer cells have not been demonstrated yet. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of lycopene on tumor progression including cell invasion and MMP-7 expression in leptin-stimulated human colon cancer cells in vitro. Our results demonstrated that lycopene significantly inhibited leptin-mediated cell invasion and MMP-7 expression in human colon cancer HT-29 cells. Lycopene could augment the expression and stability of E-cadherin proteins. Our results showed that MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways played important roles in leptin-mediated MMP-7 expression and cell invasion. Lycopene could effectively inhibit the phosphorylation of Akt, glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and ERK 1/2 proteins. The molecular mechanisms of lycopene were in part through decreases in nuclear levels of AP-1 and β-catenin proteins. These novel findings suggested that lycopene could act as a chemopreventive agent to suppress MMP-7 expression and leptin-mediated cell invasion in human colon cancer HT-29 cells.     

Oak ellagitannins suppress the phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor in human colon carcinoma cells

The ellagitannins castalagin and vescalagin, and the C-glycosides grandinin and roburin E as well as ellagic acid were found to potently inhibit the growth of human colon carcinoma cells (HT29) in vitro. In a cell-free system these compounds were identified as potent inhibitors of the protein tyrosine kinase activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with IC 50 values in the low nanomolar range. To address the question of whether the interference with the activity of the isolated EGFR also plays a role within intact cells, effects on the phosphorylation status of the EGFR, as a measure for its activity, were determined in HT29 cells. As exemplified for castalagin and grandinin, both the nonglycosylated and the glycosylated ellagitannins effectively suppressed EGFR phosphorylation, but only at concentrations > or =10 microM, thus, in a concentration range where growth inhibition was observed. These results indicate that the suppression of EGFR-mediated signaling might contribute to the growth inhibitory effects of these compounds present in oak-matured wines and spirits such as whiskey. In contrast, despite substantial growth inhibitory properties, ellagic acid did not significantly affect EGFR phosphorylation in HT29 cells up to 100 microM.