Probes for MPO

α-Synuclein (αSyn) is central to the neuropathology of Parkinson's disease (PD) due to its propensity for misfolding and aggregation into neurotoxic oligomers. Nitration/oxidation of αSyn leads to dityrosine crosslinking and aggregation. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is an oxidant-generating enzyme implicated in neurodegenerative diseases. In the present work we have examined the impact of MPO in PD through analysis of postmortem PD brain and in a novel animal model in which we crossed a transgenic mouse expressing the human MPO (hMPO) gene to a mouse expressing human αSyn-A53T mutant (A53T) (hMPO-A53T). Surprisingly, our results show that in PD substantia nigra, the hMPO gene is expressed in neurons containing aggregates of nitrated αSyn as well as MPO-generated HOCl-modified epitopes. In our hMPO-A53T mouse model, we also saw hMPO expression in neurons but not mouse MPO. In the mouse model, hMPO was expressed in neurons colocalizing with nitrated αSyn, carbamylated lysine, nitrotyrosine, as well as HOCl-modified epitopes/proteins. RNAscope in situ hybridization confirmed hMPO mRNA expression in neurons. Interestingly, the hMPO protein expressed in hMPO-A53T brain is primarily the precursor proMPO, which enters the secretory pathway potentially resulting in interneuronal transmission of MPO and oxidative species. Importantly, the hMPO-A53T mouse model, when compared to the A53T model, exhibited significant exacerbation of motor impairment on rotating rods, balance beams, and wire hang tests. Further, hMPO expression in the A53T model resulted in earlier onset of end stage paralysis. Interestingly, there was a high concentration of αSyn aggregates in the stratum lacunosum moleculare of hippocampal CA2 region, which has been associated in humans with accumulation of αSyn pathology and neural atrophy in dementia with Lewy bodies. This accumulation of αSyn aggregates in CA2 was associated with markers of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the unfolded protein response with expression of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), MPO, and cleaved caspase-3. Together these findings suggest that MPO plays an important role in nitrative and oxidative damage that contributes to αSyn pathology in synucleinopathies

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:

During active inflammation tissue intraluminal intestinal pH is decreased in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Acidic pH may play a role in IBD pathophysiology. Recently, proton sensing G-protein coupled receptors were identified, including GPR4, OGR1 (GPR68), and TDAG8 (GPR65). We investigated whether GPR4 is involved in intestinal inflammation.

METHODS:

The role of GPR4 was assessed in murine colitis models: chronic dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) administration and by crossbreeding into an IL-10 deficient background for development of spontaneous colitis. Colitis severity was assessed by body weight, colonoscopy, colon length, histological score, cytokine mRNA expression, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. In the spontaneous Il-10-/- colitis model, the incidence of rectal prolapse and characteristics of lamina propria leukocytes (LPLs) were analyzed.

RESULTS:

Gpr4-/- mice showed reduced body weight loss and histology score after induction of chronic DSS colitis. In Gpr4-/- /Il-10-/- double knock-outs the onset and progression of rectal prolapse were significantly delayed and mitigated compared to Gpr4+/+ /Il-10-/- mice. Double knock-out mice showed lower histology scores, MPO activity, CD4 + T-helper cell infiltration, IFN-γ, iNOS, MCP-1 (CCL2), CXCL1 and CXCL2 expression compared to controls. In colon, GPR4 mRNA was detected in endothelial cells, some smooth muscle cells, and some macrophages.

CONCLUSION:

Absence of GPR4 ameliorates colitis in IBD animal models indicating an important regulatory rolein mucosal inflammation, thus providing a new link between tissue pH and the immune system. Therapeutic inhibition of GPR4 may be beneficial for the treatment of IBD.