Decreased Cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) Activity in Livers of Type 1 Diabetic Rats and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) of Type 1 Diabetic Patients

Prasenjit Manna; Neslihan Gungor; Robert McVie; Sushil K Jain

doi:10.1074/jbc.M113.524645

. 2014 Mar 7;289(17):11767–11778. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M113.524645

Decreased Cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) Activity in Livers of Type 1 Diabetic Rats and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) of Type 1 Diabetic Patients^*

Prasenjit Manna ¹, Neslihan Gungor ¹, Robert McVie ¹, Sushil K Jain ^1,¹

PMCID: PMC4002085 PMID: 24610811

Background: Mechanism of impaired H₂S signaling in diabetes is not clear.

Results: Livers from type 1 diabetic (T1D) rats and PBMC isolated from T1D patients have lower cystathionine-γ-lyase activity. High glucose and/or high ketone treatment also decreased cystathionine-γ-lyase activity in U937 monocytes and PBMC of healthy subjects.

Conclusion: Uncontrolled glycemia and ketosis down-regulate cystathionine-γ-lyase activity in T1D.

Significance: Impaired cystathionine-γ-lyase can dysregulate H₂S signaling in diabetes.

Keywords: Acetoacetate, Diabetes, Glucose, Hydrogen Sulfide, Ketone Bodies

Abstract

The liver plays a major role in the formation of H₂S, a novel signaling molecule. Diabetes is associated with lower blood levels of H₂S. This study investigated the activities of cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE, the enzyme that catalyzes H₂S formation) in livers of type 1 diabetic (T1D) animals and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from T1D patients. T1D is associated with both hyperketonemia (acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate) and hyperglycemia. This study also examined the role of hyperglycemia and hyperketonemia per se in decreased CSE activity using U937 monocytes and PBMC isolated from healthy subjects. Livers from streptozotocin-treated T1D rats demonstrated a significantly higher reactive oxygen species production, lower CSE protein expression and activity, and lower H₂S formation compared with those of controls. Studies with T1D patients showed a decrease in CSE protein expression and activity in PBMC compared with those of age-matched normal subjects. Cell culture studies demonstrated that high glucose (25 mm) and/or acetoacetate (4 mm) increased reactive oxygen species, decreased CSE mRNA expression, protein expression, and enzymatic activity, and reduced H₂S levels; however, β-hydroxybutyrate treatment had no effect. A similar effect, which was also observed in PBMC treated with high glucose alone or along with acetoacetate, was prevented by vitamin D supplementation. Studies with CSE siRNA provide evidence for a relationship between impaired CSE expression and reduced H₂S levels. This study demonstrates for the first time that both hyperglycemia and hyperketonemia mediate a reduction in CSE expression and activity, which can contribute to the impaired H₂S signaling associated with diabetes.

Introduction

The physiological importance of H₂S is gaining acceptance with respect to its beneficial effects on various aspects of cardiovascular pathophysiology (1, 2). Cell culture studies report that H₂S supplementation can decrease oxidative stress and the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, such as MCP-1 and IL-8, and activate insulin signaling pathways using monocytes (3), endothelial cells (4), and adipocytes (5). These studies suggest that H₂S potentially regulates the cellular redox balance necessary for the inhibition of oxidative stress and cytoprotection. Supplementation of animals with exogenous forms of H₂S have demonstrated very robust protection of various organs after ischemia-reperfusion injury, stroke, inflammatory disorders, and models of ischemia-induced angiogenesis (6 –9), atherosclerosis (10), retinopathy (11), hepatic injury (12), and renal dysfunction (13). The molecule is endogenously synthesized from l-cysteine via the action of mainly two enzymes, cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE)² and cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS) (6). Using chemical inhibitors, antisense approach, and specific knock-out animals, various experimental studies have demonstrated that CSE is a major participant in the maintenance of cardiovascular function (7, 14 –16), whereas CBS plays an important role in the central and peripheral nervous systems (17). Mental retardation is a frequent finding in CBS deficient patients (18). Recent studies have also revealed two other H₂S producing enzymes, 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase and cysteine aminotransferase, which produce H₂S in the brain as well as in the vascular endothelium (19, 20).

Various studies report lower blood levels of H₂S in type 1 diabetic (T1D) animals (21 –25). Results from both cell culture and animal studies suggest that lower H₂S levels may play a role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications (5, 13, 22, 26 –28). Liver is the major tissue responsible for the production of H₂S (29). Although Moore and co-workers (23) reported an increase in mRNA expression of both CSE and CBS in the liver tissue of STZ-induced T1D rats, Szabo and co-workers (22) did not find any significant changes in the protein expression of CSE or CBS in the liver tissue of STZ-diabetic rats. Diabetic patients also have lower blood levels of H₂S (21, 30). However, no study has been performed examining the CSE expression and activity at the cellular level in diabetic patients. The underlying mechanism that causes impaired H₂S homeostasis in diabetes is still not clear. This study tested the hypothesis that CSE expression is lower in the PBMC of diabetic patients and is influenced by hyperglycemia as assessed by HbA_1C values. In addition to hyperglycemia, many T1D patients and some T2D patients also encounter hyperketonemia (31 –33). This study also examined the molecular mechanism by which high glucose or different ketones may regulate H₂S formation. The results of this study from the liver tissue of T1D rats, the PBMC of T1D patients and healthy controls, and a U937 monocyte cell culture model demonstrate that both hyperglycemia and hyperketonemia can down-regulate CSE expression and its activity and reduce H₂S formation in diabetic patients.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES

Materials

Human specific anti-CSE antibody was purchased from Abcam, Inc. (Cambridge, MA). Rat specific anti-CSE antibody was purchased from Sigma. All other chemicals were purchased from Sigma unless otherwise mentioned.

Studies with Type 1 Diabetic Animals

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were purchased at 5 weeks of age (200–220 g) from Charles River (Wilmington, MA) and allowed 2 days for environmental and trainer handling acclimation. The rats were fasted overnight and then injected with STZ in citrate buffer (pH 4.5) intraperitoneally at a dose of 65 mg/kg body weight. Control rats were injected with citrate buffer alone to serve as a normal control group. The rats were tested for hyperglycemia (blood glucose >300 mg/dl) by measuring their blood glucose concentrations at 3 and 7 days after the STZ injections. The rats were maintained under standard housing conditions at 22 ± 2 °C with 12/12-h light/dark cycles and fed with a standard 8640 laboratory chow diet (Harlan, Indianapolis, IN). At the age of 14 weeks, the rats were fasted overnight and then euthanized on the next day for analysis by exposure to isoflurane (Webster Veterinary Supply Inc., Devens, MA). For the assessment of blood glucose levels, blood was obtained via tail incision and measured using an Advantage Accu-Chek glucometer (Roche Applied Science). Blood was collected via heart puncture with a 19^1/2-gauge needle into EDTA Vacutainer tubes. Plasma was isolated after centrifuging the blood in a 4 °C centrifuge at 3000 rpm for 15 min.

Liver tissues excised from the experimental rats were perfused with cold saline to remove leftover blood, immediately frozen using liquid nitrogen, then ground well into powders and stored at −70 °C until further use. The frozen tissue powders (∼150 mg) were homogenized for further studies following the method described earlier (34). All procedures used in the animal experiments in our study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution, and approval was obtained from the institutional Animal Welfare Committee.

Study Enrollment and Blood Collection from Diabetes Patients and Normal Subjects

Written informed consent was obtained from all patients and normal subjects according to the protocol approved by the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Institutional Review Board. All subjects included in this study were T1D patients (n = 17) or age-matched normal volunteers (n = 18). T1D patients and healthy controls were excluded from the study if they had any history of cardiovascular disease, sickle cell disease, smoking habits, uncontrolled hypertension, hypothyroidism, or hyperthyroidism. Subjects were also excluded if they showed signs of significant hepatic dysfunction, defined as any underlying chronic liver disease or liver function tests greater than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal value, or renal dysfunction, defined as a serum creatinine value greater than 1.5 mg/dl. Those who were taking any supplemental vitamins or any herbal products were excluded from this study. All patients and normal subjects who gave written informed consent were invited to return to have blood drawn after fasting overnight (8 h). After blood collection, serum tubes for chemistry profile, EDTA tubes for HbA_1C, and complete blood counts were promptly delivered to the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center clinical laboratories. Additional tubes of EDTA blood were brought to the research laboratory. About 2 ml of plasma were separated via centrifugation from blood samples at 3000 rpm for 15 min, transferred to cryovials, and stored at −80 °C for further analysis. The remainder of the blood in the samples was processed for the isolation of PBMC.

Isolation of PBMC from Human Blood

Human peripheral blood, collected in EDTA tubes, was diluted with an equal volume of PBS, mixed by pipetting, layered onto a cushion of Ficoll-Hypaque (1.077 g/ml), and centrifuged at room temperature for 30 min at 400 × g. The mononuclear cells were collected from the interface, washed with PBS, incubated with RBC lysis solution, and centrifuged at room temperature for 8 min at 240 × g. The cells were again resuspended in PBS for a final wash and then centrifuged. PBMC isolated from T1D patients and age-matched normal subjects were lysed in radioimmune precipitation assay buffer supplemented with protease and phosphatase inhibitors. Lysates were cleared by centrifugation, and total protein concentrations were determined using a BCA assay for immunoblotting studies. PBMC isolated from healthy normal individuals were resuspended in complete RPMI 1640 media and counted using a hemocytometer for further studies with high glucose and/or high ketone as described below.

Human Pro-monocytic Cell Line

The human U937 monocytic cell line was obtained from American Type Culture Collection (Manassas, VA). These cells were maintained at 37 °C in RPMI 1640 medium containing 7 mm glucose, 10% (v/v) heat-inactivated FBS, 100 units/ml penicillin, 100 μg/ml streptomycin, 12 mm sodium carbonate, 12 mm HEPES, and 2 mm glutamine in a humidified atmosphere containing 5% (v/v) CO₂. For treatments, cells were washed once in plain RPMI 1640 before being suspended in fresh medium (complete) containing serum and other supplements (35).

Treatment of U937 Monocytes and PBMC with High Glucose and High Ketones

Cells were treated with high glucose (HG) and ketones (acetoacetate (AA) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB)). In this study cells were treated with four different concentrations (1, 2, 4, or 8 mm) of AA or BHB. Earlier studies in the literature have reported blood levels of AA up to 5 mm and BHB up to 11 mm in diabetic patients (36, 37), so the concentrations used in these experiments can be considered physiologically relevant. For the study with high glucose, cells were exposed to a glucose concentration of 25 mm. Many previous studies have reported that glucose concentrations as high as 50 mm have been found in the blood of patients with uncontrolled diabetes (37). It is true that blood glucose levels in patients are not likely to remain as high as 25 mm for 24 h. However, tissue damage in diabetic patients occurs over many years of countless hyperglycemic episodes. Thus, the glucose concentration of 25 mm used in this cell culture study does not seem unreasonable. After treatment, cell viability was determined using the Alamar Blue reduction bioassay (Alamar Biosciences, Sacramento, CA). This method is based upon Alamar Blue dye reduction by live cells. For immunoblotting studies, cells were lysed in radioimmune precipitation assay buffer (50 mm Tris pH 8, 150 mm NaCl, 1% Nonidet P-40, 0.5% deoxycholic acid, 0.1% SDS) supplemented with protease and phosphatase inhibitors (1 mm PMSF, 5 μg/ml leupeptin, 2 μg/ml aprotinin, 1 mm EDTA, 10 mm NaF, and 1 mm Na₃VO₄). Lysates were cleared by centrifugation, and total protein concentrations were determined using a BCA assay.

Detection of Intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Levels

Intracellular ROS levels were measured using the fluorescent dye, H₂DCFDA (2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate) following the method described earlier (38). The change in intracellular ROS levels was plotted as mean fluorescence intensity (MFI). For the measurement of tissue ROS production, samples containing 25 μg of protein were diluted in PBS and then incubated with 5.0 μm H₂DCFDA in the dark for 15 min at 37 °C. Fluorescence was measured every 15 min for 1 h at excitation and emission wavelengths of 488 and 530 nm, respectively, using a multidetection microplate reader (Synergy HT, Biotek).

Signal Silencing Studies

CSE siRNA and control siRNA were purchased from Santa Cruz Biotechnology (Santa Cruz, CA). Cells were transfected with 25, 50, or 100 nm CSE siRNA using Lipofectamine^TM2000 as the transfection reagent (Invitrogen) following the method described earlier (3). After incubation the supernatants were collected for the H₂S assay, and the cell lysates were used for the immunoblotting study and the measurement of CSE activity.

Analysis of CSE mRNA Expression by Quantitative PCR

Total RNA was extracted from cells using TRIzol reagent (Invitrogen) following the manufacturer's instructions. The quality and the quantity of the extracted RNA were determined on a NanoDrop spectrophotometer (Thermo Scientific). First-strand complementary DNA (cDNA) synthesis was performed using a commercially available High Capacity RNA-To-cDNA kit (Invitrogen) in a final reaction volume of 20 μl. Quantification of mRNA was performed on a 96-well 7900HT Real Time PCR system (Applied Biosystems). PCR conditions were 2 min at 50 °C, 10 min at 95 °C, then 40 cycles of 95 °C for 15 s and 60 °C for 60 s. Taqman-FAM-labeled primer/probe for CSE (# Hs00542284_m1) was used in a final reaction volume of 20 μl. GAPDH (#Hs03929097_g1) was used as a housekeeping gene to normalize threshold cycle (CT) values. To exclude nonspecific amplification and/or the formation of primer dimers, control reactions were performed in the absence of target cDNA. All of the experiments were run in triplicate. The relative amounts of mRNAs were calculated using the relative quantification (ΔΔCT) method.

Determination of CSE Activity

Intracellular CSE activity was determined following the method described earlier (39) using an enzyme-coupled assay with lactate dehydrogenase. Using pyridoxal phosphate as a coenzyme, CSE first catalyzes the α,γ-elimination of cystathionine to give cysteine, which is then converted into pyruvate, ammonia, and H₂S by the action of the same enzyme (CSE). Exogenous addition of dehydrogenase then catalyzes the conversion of pyruvate into lactate with concomitant formation of NAD⁺ from NADH. The oxidation rate of NADH was monitored at 340 nm for 15 min at 37 °C as an index of CSE activity. After treatment, cells or liver tissues were homogenized in 50 mm potassium phosphate buffer (pH 6.9) containing 1 mm EDTA and 1:100 (v/v) protease inhibitor mixture (Calbiochem) followed by centrifugation at 15,000 × g for 30 min at 4 °C. The resulting supernatant was used for CSE activity. The reaction mixture (100 μl) contained 100 mm potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), 4.0 mm l-cystathionine, 0.125 mm pyridoxal-5′-phosphate, 0.32 mm NADH, 1.5 units lactate dehydrogenase, and a 10-μl sample. The decrease in optical density at an absorbance of 340 nm was kinetically monitored with a microplate reader (Spectramax-5; Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, CA) at 37 °C for 30 min. Blank reactions were performed in the same way except that l-cystathionine was omitted. Maximum velocities were calculated from the linear portion of the graphs, and the results were expressed as nmol·min⁻¹mg of protein⁻¹.

Measurement of H₂S Formation

In the human body, sulfur exists in different forms, ranging from a fully reduced divalent state (sulfide) to a fully oxidized hexavalent state (sulfate) (40). The amount of sulfur in a biological sample is estimated by measuring the sulfide concentration, i.e. the reduced divalent state, because it is difficult to accurately measure the concentrations of the other states. However, the reduced divalent form of sulfur is very reactive within biological matrices, resulting in sulfide equivalents being present in various volatile sulfur pools, which includes both free hydrogen sulfide and the bound acid-labile sulfides as well as a sulfane sulfur pool (41). The acid-labile sulfide consists of sulfur present in the iron-sulfur clusters contained in a variety of proteins and enzymes, including rubredoxins, ferredoxins, aconitase, and succinate dehydrogenase (41, 42). The sulfane sulfur, divalent sulfur atoms bound only to other sulfur, includes thiosulfate, persulfides, thiosulfonates, polysulfides, polythionates, and elemental sulfur (43). In this study the H₂S levels were measured in the cell culture medium and in liver tissue homogenates using the formation of Methylene Blue. This method is widely used for the measurement of H₂S levels (44 –48). The acidic conditions associated with the Methylene Blue method determine the amounts of both acid-labile sulfur species and free sulfide. Thus this method monitors not only free H₂S but also the liberation of H₂S from other forms of sulfide (acid-labile sulfides, i.e. iron-sulfur clusters containing proteins, including rubredoxins, ferredoxins, aconitase, and succinate dehydrogenase). Briefly, 100-μl samples were mixed with 400 μl of potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), and 1% (w/v) zinc acetate (250 μl). The reaction mixture was incubated at 37 °C for 2.5 h. The protein in the plasma was removed by adding 10% trichloroacetic acid (250 μl) to the reaction mixture, which was pelleted by centrifugation. The supernatant was then mixed with 100 μl of N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine sulfate (20 mm in 7.2 m HCl) and 100 μl of FeCl₃ (30 mm in 1.2 m HCl) in the test tube. The mixture was incubated at room temperature for 15 min. The absorbance of the resulting solution was measured at 670 nm in a 96-well plate with a microplate reader. The concentration of H₂S formation was calculated using a calibration curve based on that of standard NaHS (Alfa Aesar, Ward Hill, MA).

AA and BHB Determinations

Levels of AA were determined using the method of Artuch et al. (49) and those of BHB using the method of Koch and Feldbruegge (50).

Immunoblotting

CSE protein expression was investigated using immunoblotting studies with the appropriate anti-CSE antibody following the procedure described earlier (39) and developed using either ECL substrate (Millipore, MA) or Opti-4CN colorimetric substrate (Bio-Rad). The intensity of each immunoblotting band was measured using the histogram tool of Adobe Photoshop CS5.

Statistical Analysis

Data were analyzed statistically using one way analysis of variance with Sigma Stat statistical software (Jandel Scientific, San Rafael, CA). When data passed a normality test, all groups were compared using the Student-Newman-Keuls method. Values are expressed as the mean ± S.E. A difference was considered significant at the p < 0.05 level.

RESULTS

Studies with Type 1 Diabetic Animals

Fig. 1 shows the protein expression as well as the enzymatic activity of CSE, the levels of H₂S formation, and ROS production in the liver tissues of normal and T1D rats. Results demonstrate that livers from STZ-treated T1D rats have lower levels of CSE protein expression (Fig. 1A), CSE activity (Fig. 1B), reduced tissue H₂S formation (Fig. 1C), and increased ROS production (Fig. 1D) compared with those of controls. We observed that in the T1D group the concentrations of AA and BHB were around 4.5 ± 0.74 and 3.3 ± 0.74 mm, whereas the concentrations in controls were 0.31 ± 0.14 and 0.51 ± 0.19 mm on average, respectively. The blood glucose levels in T1D and controls were around 24.82 ± 1.36 and 7.94 ± 0.36 mm on average, respectively.

FIGURE 1. — Enzymatic activity and protein expression of CSE, the levels of H₂S formation, and ROS production in the liver tissue of experimental rats; control (*Cont*), 14-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats), T1D (STZ-treated 14-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats). A, CSE expression; B, CSE activity; C, tissue H₂S levels; D, ROS production. Values are expressed as the mean ± S.E. (n = 6). Blots represent data from three rats in each group.

Studies with PBMC Isolated from Type 1 Diabetic Patients and Age-matched Normal Subjects

Fasting glucose levels (173 ± 19 versus 77 ± 2.16 mg%, p < 0.001) were higher in T1D (n = 17) compared with those in healthy subjects (n = 18). There was no difference in the body weights (128 ± 12 versus 121 ± 6 lb), ages (14 ± 0.81 versus 14 ± 0.89 years), or male/female distribution (10/7 versus 12/6) between T1D and healthy subjects. Fig. 2 shows the CSE activity and protein expression as well as its relation to HbA_1C in PBMC isolated from T1D patients and age-matched normal subjects. Results demonstrate a decrease in CSE protein expression (Fig. 2A) and enzyme activity (Fig. 2B) in T1D patients compared with that seen in age-matched normal subjects. Interestingly, a significant negative correlation (r = −0.902, p = 0.001) was observed between CSE protein expression and HbA_1C levels (Fig. 3) among the T1D patients. In our earlier studies we observed that, in addition to hyperglycemia, T1D patients also have higher plasma ketone (AA and BHB) levels compared with those seen in age-matched controls (35).

FIGURE 2. — **Effect of T1D on the CSE protein expression and its activity in PBMC isolated from T1D patients and age-matched normal subjects.** A, CSE expression (controls, n = 18; T1D patients, n = 17). B, CSE activity (controls, n = 10; T1D patients, n = 10). Due to the limited sample size, n values differ between CSE expression and CSE activity studies. Values are expressed as the mean ± S.E.

FIGURE 3. — **Correlation of CSE protein expression with HbA_1C in PBMC isolated from T1D patients.** Due to the inconsistent exposure from one blot to another, we included the data from only one blot for the calculation of CSE expression and its relation to HbA_1C levels in T1D patients (n value mentioned in the figure).

Role of Hyperketonemia and Hyperglycemia in Impaired CSE Activity

Fig. 4 shows the effect of ketones (AA and BHB) and HG on CSE protein expression as well as on its enzyme activity, H₂S levels, and intracellular ROS production in human U937 monocytic cells. Cells were separately treated with different concentrations of AA (1, 2, 4, or 8 mm), BHB (1, 2, 4, or 8 mm), and HG (25 mm) for 20 h, after which CSE protein expression and its activity, H₂S levels, and production of intracellular ROS levels were measured. Results showed that treatment with AA (4 or 8 mm) and HG (25 mm) caused a significant decrease in CSE protein expression (Fig. 4A), CSE activity (Fig. 4B), and H₂S levels (Fig. 4C) and an increase in intracellular ROS production (Fig. 4D) compared with those in normal controls. However, under the same conditions treatment with BHB did not show any significant effect.

FIGURE 4. — **Effect of AA, BHB, and HG on both CSE protein expression and its activity, H₂S levels, and the intracellular ROS production in U937 monocytic cells.** A, CSE expression. B, CSE activity; C, H₂S levels; D, ROS production. Cells were treated with AA (1, 2, 4, or 8 mm) or BHB (1, 2, 4, or 8 mm) or HG (25 mm) for 20 h. Values are expressed as the mean ± S.E. (n = 3).

Fig. 5 shows the effect of AA and HG either alone or in combination on CSE protein expression and its activity, H₂S levels, and intracellular ROS production in U937 monocytes. Results suggest that both AA and HG treatment, either individually or in combination, reduced CSE protein expression (Fig. 5A), CSE activity (Fig. 5B), and H₂S levels (Fig. 5C) or increased ROS production (Fig. 5D). However, AA and HG treatment in combination caused a significant decrease in CSE protein expression compared with treatment with AA or HG alone.

FIGURE 5. — **Effect of AA and HG either alone or in combination on the protein expression and enzyme activity of CSE, H₂S levels, and the intracellular ROS production in U937 monocytic cells.** A, CSE expression. B, CSE activity. C, H₂S levels. D, ROS production. Cells were treated with AA (4 mm) or HG (25 mm) either alone or in combination for 20 h. Values are expressed as the mean ± S.E. (n = 3).

Type 1 diabetes is associated with both hyperglycemia and hyperketonemia. Fig. 6 demonstrates the effect of AA (4 mm), BHB (8 mm), and HG (25 mm) either alone or in combination on CSE mRNA expression, protein expression, and its activity in U937 monocytes. Results suggest that both AA and HG treatment either alone or in combination reduced CSE mRNA expression (Fig. 6B), protein expression (Fig. 6A), and enzyme activity (Fig. 6C). Although treatment with BHB alone caused a decrease in CSE mRNA expression (Fig. 6B) compared with that of control cells, there was no change in CSE protein expression or its activity. Treatment with AA, BHB, and HG altogether also reduced CSE mRNA expression (Fig. 6B), protein expression (Fig. 6A), and enzyme activity (Fig. 6C) compared with those seen in control or BHB-treated cells. No significant difference has been observed between the AA + HG- and AA + BHB + HG-treated groups. Using mannitol as an osmolarity control, our previous study demonstrated that any potential osmotic effect of high glucose does not mediate the observed changes (3). None of the treatments caused any change in monocytic cell viability (Fig. 6D). These results suggest that in addition to hyperglycemia, hyperketonemia also caused a reduction in CSE expression in diabetes. Physiologically, individual ketone body concentration varies in diabetic conditions. In blood, the concentration of BHB is 2–3 times higher than that of AA (33). This study did not observe any significant difference between the effect of AA on CSE mRNA expression, CSE protein expression, or CSE activity in the presence or absence of BHB.

FIGURE 6. — **Effect of AA, BHB, and HG either alone or in combination on the mRNA expression, protein expression, and enzyme activity of CSE in U937 monocytic cells.** A, CSE protein expression. B, CSE mRNA expression; C, CSE activity. D, cell viability. Cells were treated with AA (4 mm), BHB (8 mm), or HG (25 mm) either alone or in combination for 20 h. Values are expressed as the mean ± S.E. (n = 3).

Role of CSE on the H₂S Production

Fig. 7 demonstrates a link between the CSE expression or activity and H₂S levels in U937 monocytes. Cells were transfected with control siRNA or different concentrations of CSE siRNA (25, 50, or 100 nm), and CSE protein expression, CSE activity, and H₂S levels were measured in the transfected cells. Results showed that a dose-dependent decrease in CSE protein expression (Fig. 7A) and CSE activity (Fig. 7B) is also related to a dose-dependent decrease in H₂S levels (Fig. 7C). This study for the first time provides direct evidence for a relationship between impaired CSE expression and reduced H₂S levels (r = 0.981, p < 0.05).

FIGURE 7. — **Effect of CSE protein expression, CSE activity, and H₂S levels in either CSE siRNA-transfected or control siRNA-transfected U937 monocytes.** A, CSE protein expression. B, CSE activity. C, H₂S formation. Cells were transfected with either CSE siRNA (25, 50, or 100 nm) or control siRNA, a scrambled nonspecific RNA duplex with no sequence homology with any of the genes. Values are the mean ± S.E. (n = 3).

Role of Oxidative Stress in Impaired CSE Expression

Oxidative stress plays a central role in diabetic pathophysiology. Fig. 8 shows the direct effect of an exogenous reactive oxidant (H₂O₂) on cellular CSE expression (Fig. 8A), H₂S formation (Fig. 8B), and ROS production (Fig. 8C). Monocytes were treated with different concentrations of H₂O₂ (25 or 50 μm) for 3 h. It was observed that treatment with an exogenous reactive oxidant, H₂O₂, caused a decrease in CSE protein expression and H₂S formation and an increase in intracellular ROS production. None of the treatments with H₂O₂ caused any change in monocytic cell viability (Fig. 8D).

FIGURE 8. — **Effect of the exogenous oxidant H₂O₂ on the protein expression of CSE, levels of H₂S, and the intracellular ROS production in U937 monocytic cells.** A, CSE expression. B, H₂S levels. C, ROS production. D, cell viability. Cells were treated with H₂O₂ (25 or 50 μm) for 3 h. Values are expressed as the mean ± S.E. (n = 3).

Role of Hyperglycemia and Hyperketonemia on CSE Expression in Human PBMC

Fig. 9 demonstrates the effect of high glucose alone or in combination with high ketone on CSE protein expression and its activity in PBMC isolated from healthy normal individuals. Results suggest that treatment with HG alone or in combination with AA decreased CSE protein expression (Fig. 9, A and D) as well as its activity (Fig. 9, B and E) and H₂S levels (Fig. 9, C and F) in PBMC. Different treatments did not cause any change in cell viability (data not provided here). Type 1 diabetes is associated with hyperketonemia in addition to hyperglycemia. These results suggest for the first time that both hyperketonemia and hyperglycemia play a role in the impaired H₂S levels seen in diabetes and mediated via the decrease in CSE activity.

FIGURE 9. — Effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (*1,25(OH)*₂D₃) on the CSE protein expression and its activity and H₂S levels in PBMC (isolated from normal healthy volunteers) treated with AA and HG either alone or in combination. A and D, CSE expression. B and E, CSE activity. C and F, H₂S levels. Cells were treated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (25 nm, 2 h) followed by incubation with HG (25 mm) alone or in combination with AA (4 mm) for next 16 h. Values are expressed as the mean ± S.E. (n = 4).

Earlier studies suggest that higher concentrations of circulating vitamin D are associated with a decrease in cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome (51). Diabetics have lower plasma vitamin D levels (52, 53). Vitamin D supplementation decreases blood glucose levels and HbA_1C in both type 2 and type 1 diabetic patients (53, 54). Vitamin D supplementation has been found to up-regulate the H₂S tissue concentration in mouse brain, heart, and kidney tissues (55). Fig. 9 demonstrates that exogenous supplementation with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃, an active form of vitamin D, up-regulates both CSE protein expression and its activity as well as H₂S levels in PBMC treated with either HG alone or in combination with AA, suggesting a positive effect of vitamin D on H₂S homeostasis in diabetes.

DISCUSSION

H₂S is gaining acceptance as an important signaling molecule. It has been reported that diabetic patients and animals have lower blood levels of H₂S (21 –25, 30). There are conflicting reports in the literature regarding the protein expression of the H₂S producing enzyme, CSE, in high glucose-treated cell culture studies. Using murine MIN6 β-cells and isolated pancreatic islets, Kaneko et al. reported that high glucose stimulation causes an increase in CSE protein expression (56, 57). In contrast, high glucose stimulation has been reported to decrease CSE protein expression in rodent INS-1E β-cells (58). Xue et al. (59) reported that siRNA-mediated knockdown of CSE decreased the glucose uptake in 3T3L1 adipocyte and L6 myotube cells supplemented with NaHS (exogenous source of H₂S). Our previous studies have also shown that high glucose stimulation decreased the CSE protein expression in both U937 monocytes (3) and 3T3L1 adipocytes (39); in addition, siRNA-mediated CSE knockdown also decreased the glucose utilization compared with that seen in controls (3). The difference in CSE expression among different cell culture models may be due to the different responses of individual systems.

Several in vivo studies also reported different protein expression values for CSE or CBS in various tissues from STZ-treated T1D rats. Studies from Wang and co-workers (47) reported an increase in pancreatic H₂S production in STZ-diabetic rats; however, there was no significant change in CSE protein expression compared with that seen in controls. In addition, although supplementation with a pharmacological inhibitor of CSE, dl-propargylglycine, reduced pancreatic H₂S production, the effect on CSE protein expression remained unaltered compared with that seen in controls (47). Studies from Szabo and co-workers (22) also did not find any significant changes in the protein expression of CSE or CBS in the brain, heart, kidney, lung, liver, or thoracic aorta of STZ-diabetic rats. Studies with CSE knock-out mice subjected to STZ administration showed a delayed onset of diabetic status (47). Moore and co-workers (23) reported an increase in mRNA expression for both CSE and CBS in livers and CBS mRNA in pancreatic tissue in STZ-induced T1D rats. On the other hand, Yamamoto et al. (60) reported a decrease in CSE protein expression in the kidney tissue from animals in a transgenic diabetic animal model (calmodulin overexpressing) compared with those of controls. Yuan et al. (24) also observed a decrease in both CSE protein expression and CSE mRNA expression in the renal cortex of STZ-diabetic rats. The difference in CSE expression seen among different organisms may be due to the different responses of each organ.

H₂S is endogenously synthesized from l-cysteine mainly via the action of the enzymes CSE, CBS, and 3-MST (6). Several experimental studies have demonstrated that CSE is a major participant in the maintenance of cardiovascular function (7, 14 –16). Liver is the central regulator of endogenous H₂S production (29). Recent studies demonstrated that in liver the abundance of CSE is 60-fold higher than that of CBS, and their results showed that although CSE accounts for 97–99% of the hepatic H₂S output, CBS accounts for only 3% of hepatic H₂S generation capacity (61). Therefore, this study investigated the protein expression as well as the activity of CSE in the liver tissue of control and T1D rats. Our study demonstrates lower protein expression and enzyme activity of CSE along with reduced tissue H₂S formation in the livers of STZ-treated TID rats compared with those of control rats. In this study we used a small portion of the whole liver tissue, similar to what was done in earlier studies in the literature (22, 23). It has been reported that ∼70–80% of hepatic cells are parenchymal hepatocytes, whereas the others are non-parenchymal cells (62). Kupffer cells represent ∼35% of the non-parenchymal cells in liver, and although they are distributed throughout the entire liver, there are differences in the population density (63). There is no study in the literature investigating the role played by isolated hepatocytes or Kupffer cells in the impaired H₂S homeostasis observed in T1D. Kupffer cells are involved in the metabolism of various compounds, immunological responses, and inflammatory reactions (64). Kupffer cells constitute 80–90% of the tissue macrophages present in the body, which suggests a central role for the liver in the regulation of systemic as well as regional defense action (63). Kupffer cells appear to be derived from the circulating monocytes (63). T1D is an inflammatory autoimmune disease. No previous study has been done in human beings to investigate CSE protein expression and its activity in T1D. Thus our next aim was to investigate the status of the CSE protein expression and its activity in the PBMC isolated from normal and T1D patients. PBMC consist of a large population of blood immune cells, ∼30% of which is monocytic cells (65, 66). Both CSE protein expression and activity were significantly lower in PBMC isolated from T1D patients compared with those of age-matched normal subjects. Interestingly, a significant negative correlation was seen between the CSE protein expression and HbA_1C levels (r = −0.814, p = 0.001) among the T1D patient population. These results suggest that a significant decrease in CSE protein expression is associated with the glycemia observed in T1D.

Type 1 diabetes is associated with both hyperglycemia and hyperketonemia. To dissect the molecular mechanism underlying the effect of hyperglycemia and hyperketonemia on the impaired H₂S homeostasis in T1D we used a U937 monocytic cell culture model. There are three main ketone bodies produced when glucose is not readily available: AA and BHB, which are the most abundant, and acetone, which is the least abundant (33). In severe cases, levels of circulating ketone bodies can reach up to 25 mm compared with normal levels of less than 0.5 mm (33, 67). It is known that diabetic subjects with frequent episodes of hyperketonemia experience an increased incidence of vascular disease, morbidity, and mortality (37, 68 –70). Several earlier lines of investigation have indicated a role for impaired H₂S homeostasis in the development of cardiovascular pathophysiology (1, 2). Using a human U937 monocytic cell culture model and PBMC isolated from healthy individuals, this study demonstrates the effect of hyperketonemia and hyperglycemia on cellular CSE activity, H₂S formation, and production of intracellular reactive intermediates. It is well established that oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of both type 1 and type 2 diabetic episodes (71). Results demonstrate that both HG and AA exposure caused a significant decrease in CSE mRNA expression, CSE protein expression, CSE enzymatic activity, and H₂S formation and an increase in intracellular ROS production. Treatment with BHB alone caused a decrease in CSE mRNA expression, but there was no change in CSE protein expression or its activity. Treatment with AA, BHB, and HG in combination also caused a decrease in CSE mRNA expression, CSE protein expression, and CSE activity compared with those seen in control or BHB-treated cells. Signal silencing studies demonstrate that depletion of CSE by RNA interference caused a decrease in CSE protein expression, CSE activity, and H₂S levels; a significant relationship (r = 0.981, p < 0.05) has also been observed between reduced CSE protein expression and lowered H₂S formation. Interestingly, treatment with an exogenous reactive oxygen substrate, H₂O₂, also caused a significant decrease in CSE protein expression and an increase in ROS production. Earlier studies in our laboratory demonstrated that the ketone body AA, but not BHB, can generate superoxide radicals (72 –75). Many other investigators have also shown that AA, but not BHB, increases fatty acid peroxidation (76), down-regulates the insulin receptor phosphorylation (77), and activates ERK1/2 and MAPK signaling mediated by oxidative stress (78). This study suggests that increased ROS formation may mediate the effect of AA on impaired CSE activity and H₂S levels in contrast to that of BHB. In further studies with PBMC isolated from healthy individuals, we also observed a significant decrease in CSE protein expression and its activity as well as lower H₂S levels in HG or HG + AA-treated PBMC. Results from these in vitro studies reveal that both hyperketonemia and hyperglycemia can contribute to the decrease in CSE activity mediated by oxidative stress.

Diabetes is associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease (79). Recent studies report a role for elevated homocysteine levels in the development of cardiovascular diseases in diabetic patients (80). Diabetic patients with a higher incidence of renal dysfunction exhibit elevated plasma homocysteine levels (81, 82). On the other hand, type 1 diabetic patients with normal renal function exhibit lower homocysteine levels (83). These studies suggest that homocysteine levels in diabetic patients appear to depend on the presence or absence of renal dysfunction. In further studies with STZ-treated T1D rats, Jacobs et al. (84) suggested that the hepatic trans-sulfuration pathway plays a major role in the regulation of plasma homocysteine levels. Elevated homocysteine levels can impair H₂S homeostasis via inhibition of the activities of the H₂S-producing enzymes (85, 86). In our study the effects of hyperglycemia and hyperketonemia on the reduced activities of CSE may be mediated through the increase in homocysteine kinetics.

Several experimental approaches that either increase endogenous levels of H₂S or add exogenous H₂S have demonstrated its beneficial effects on various aspects of diabetic complications (5, 13, 22, 26 –28). Diabetics have lower plasma vitamin D levels (53, 87), and supplementation with exogenous vitamin D has been found to be beneficial in regulating body glucose homeostasis (54). Vitamin D supplementation has been found to up-regulate the tissue concentration of H₂S (55). This study provided evidence that vitamin D supplementation up-regulates both CSE protein expression as well as its activity in either HG- or HG + AA-treated PBMC isolated from healthy individuals, which may up-regulate the tissue concentration of H₂S as reported previously in studies of vitamin D-supplemented mice (55).

Using the liver tissue from STZ-treated T1D rats, PBMC isolated from T1D patients as well as age-matched controls, and a U937 monocytic cell culture model, this study demonstrates that both hyperglycemia and hyperketonemia cause a decrease in both CSE protein expression and CSE activity, which can lead to impaired H₂S homeostasis in T1D mediated by increased ROS formation. Cell culture studies show that supplementation with vitamin D, a ROS scavenger (52, 88), causes an increase in CSE protein expression as well as its activity and H₂S levels in HG or HG + AA-treated PBMC isolated from healthy individuals. Whether up-regulation of CSE exerts a beneficial effect on biomarkers of vascular inflammation needs to be investigated in diabetic patients.

Acknowledgment

We thank Georgia Morgan for excellent editing of this manuscript.

This work was supported, in whole or in part, by a National Institutes of Health grant (NIDDK) and Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health Grant RO1 DK072433. This work was also supported by the Malcolm Feist Endowed Chair in Diabetes and by a fellowship from the Malcolm Feist Cardiovascular Research Endowment, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport.

The abbreviations used are:

CSE: cystathionine-γ-lyase
CBS: cystathionine-β-synthase
T1D: type 1 diabetic
ROS: reactive oxygen species
HG: high glucose
AA: acetoacetate
BHB: β-hydroxybutyrate
H₂DCFDA: 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate
MFI: mean fluorescence intensity
PBMC: peripheral blood mononuclear cells
STZ: streptozotocin.

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PERMALINK

Decreased Cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) Activity in Livers of Type 1 Diabetic Rats and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) of Type 1 Diabetic Patients*

Prasenjit Manna

Neslihan Gungor

Robert McVie

Sushil K Jain

Abstract

Introduction

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES

Materials

Studies with Type 1 Diabetic Animals

Study Enrollment and Blood Collection from Diabetes Patients and Normal Subjects

Isolation of PBMC from Human Blood

Human Pro-monocytic Cell Line

Treatment of U937 Monocytes and PBMC with High Glucose and High Ketones

Detection of Intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Levels

Signal Silencing Studies

Analysis of CSE mRNA Expression by Quantitative PCR

Determination of CSE Activity

Measurement of H2S Formation

AA and BHB Determinations

Immunoblotting

Statistical Analysis

RESULTS

Studies with Type 1 Diabetic Animals

FIGURE 1.

Studies with PBMC Isolated from Type 1 Diabetic Patients and Age-matched Normal Subjects

FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 3.

Role of Hyperketonemia and Hyperglycemia in Impaired CSE Activity

FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 6.

Role of CSE on the H2S Production

FIGURE 7.

Role of Oxidative Stress in Impaired CSE Expression

FIGURE 8.

Role of Hyperglycemia and Hyperketonemia on CSE Expression in Human PBMC

FIGURE 9.

DISCUSSION

Acknowledgment

REFERENCES

ACTIONS

PERMALINK

RESOURCES

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Decreased Cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) Activity in Livers of Type 1 Diabetic Rats and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) of Type 1 Diabetic Patients^*

Measurement of H₂S Formation

Role of CSE on the H₂S Production