P-Selectin Deficiency in Sickle Cell Disease Mice Leads to Senescence Induced Organ Injury

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is caused by a homozygous mutation in the β-globin gene, which leads to erythrocyte sickling, vaso-occlusion, and premature hemolysis . Vaso-occlusion and hemolysis are the two predominant pathophysiologic events in SCD that contribute to chronic organ damage and acute systemic painful vaso-occlusive episode (VOE). Previous studies both in vivo and in vitro have confirmed the role of endothelial and platelet adhesion marker P-selectin in sickle cell vasoocclusive crisis. Moreover, a phase 2 study showed a significant reduction in painful vaso-occlusive episodes among SCD patients receiving the P-selectin-blocking antibody crizanlizumab . However, the long-term effect of crizanlizumab in SCD and associated organ injuries is not known. To understand the roles and regulation of P-selectin dependent vasoocclusion in SCD associated organ injuries, we have introduced the first SCD mice genetically lacking P-selectin in hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic compartments. Using this model (SS-Selp −/−) we have shown that P-selectin deficiency protects SCD mice from lung vaso-occlusion. Here we have used this model to study the liver injury in SCD. Using quantitative liver intravital imaging (qLIM) technique, we show that P-selectin deficiency protects SCD mice from liver vaso-occlusion. However, we found persistent hepatobiliary injury in SS-Selp −/− mice. Mechanistically, we show that blocking P-selectin causes significant enrichment of circulating inflammatory cells however the organ specific recruitment of inflammatory cells was drastically impaired. Remarkably, impairment of organ specific recruitment of inflammatory cells exacerbated cellular senescence and injury in sickle mouse. We found significant enrichment of senescent markers including P21, P16 and phosphor P53 using both western blot and immunohistochemistry. Colocalization analysis confirmed that hepatocytes, cholangiocytes and macrophages were susceptible to senescence. Moreover, we also found impaired iron trafficking in in SS-Selp −/− mice. Work is currently underway to understand how p-selectin loss promotes liver senescence and impaired iron trafficking in the liver. In summary, our results reveal a significant defect in iron homeostasis and exacerbated senescence in the liver of SS-Selp −/− mice suggesting that increased liver senescence might impair iron homeostasis which then contribute to hepatobiliary injury in SCD. Thus, the efficacy of P-selectin inhibition in preventing SCD warrants further studies to determine whether long term inhibition of P-selectin would lead to end stage complications. Disclosures Sundd: Bayer: Research Funding; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; CSL Behring Inc: Research Funding.

Macrophages and Iron: A Special Relationship

Macrophages perform a variety of different biological functions and are known for their essential role in the immune response. In this context, a principal function is phagocytic clearance of pathogens, apoptotic and senescent cells. However, the major targets of homeostatic phagocytosis by macrophages are old/damaged red blood cells. As such, macrophages play a crucial role in iron trafficking, as they recycle the large quantity of iron obtained by hemoglobin degradation. They also seem particularly adapted to handle and store amounts of iron that would be toxic to other cell types. Here, we examine the specific and peculiar iron metabolism of macrophages.

Impacts of Iron Metabolism Dysregulation on Alzheimer’s Disease

Background: Iron plays an important role in maintaining cell survival, with normal iron trafficking known to be regulated by the ceruloplasmin-transferrin (Cp-Tf) antioxidant system. Disruption to this system is thought to be detrimental to normal brain function. Objective: To determine whether an imbalance of iron and the proteins involved in its metabolism (ceruloplasmin and transferrin) are linked to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and to the expression of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide 1–42 (Aβ1–42), which is a major species of Aβ, and the most toxic. Methods: We evaluated the concentrations of iron, calcium, magnesium, and Aβ1–42 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with AD and cognitively normal controls. Correlations between the components of the Cp-Tf antioxidant system in plasma were studied to determine the role of peripheral blood in the onset and/or development of AD. We used commercial ELISA immunoassays to measure Aβ1–42, immunoturbidimetry to quantify ceruloplasmin and transferrin, and colorimetry to quantify iron, calcium, and magnesium. Results: We found that the AD group had lower CSF concentrations of Aβ1–42 (p < 0.001) and calcium (p < 0.001), but a higher CSF concentration of iron (p < 0.001). Significantly lower plasma concentrations of ceruloplasmin (p = 0.003), transferrin (mean, p < 0.001), and iron (p < 0.001) were observed in the AD group than in cognitively normal adults. Moreover, we found a strong interdependence between most of these components. Conclusion: Iron dyshomeostasis has a crucial role in the onset of AD and/or its development. Correcting metal misdistribution is an appealing therapeutic strategy for AD.

Subcellular dynamics studies reveal how tissue-specific distribution patterns of iron are established in developing wheat grains

Understanding iron trafficking in plants is key to enhancing the nutritional quality of crops. Due to the difficulty of imaging iron in transit, little is known about iron translocation and distribution in developing seeds. A novel approach, combining 57Fe isotope labelling and NanoSIMS, was used to visualize iron translocation dynamics at the subcellular level in wheat grain, Triticum aestivum L. We were able to track the main route of iron from maternal tissues to the embryo through different cell types. Further evidence for this route was provided by genetically diverting iron into storage vacuoles, as confirmed by histological staining and TEM-EDS. Virtually all iron was found in intracellular bodies, indicating symplastic rather than apoplastic transport. Aleurone cells contained a new type of iron body, highly enriched in 57Fe, and most likely represents iron-nicotianamine being delivered to phytate globoids. Correlation with tissue-specific gene expression provides an updated model of iron homeostasis in cereal grains with relevance for future biofortification efforts.

Cryo-EM Structure of Bacterioferritin Nanocages Provides Insight into the Bio-mineralization of Ferritins

Iron is an essential element involved in various metabolic processes. The ferritin family of proteins forms nanocage assembly and are involved in iron oxidation, storage and mineralization. Although several structures of human ferritin and bacterioferritin subunits have been resolved, there is still no complete structure that shows both the trapped Fe-biomineral cluster along with the nanocage. Furthermore, whereas the mechanism of iron trafficking has been explained using various approaches, an atomic-level description of the pathway and the biomineralization that occurs inside the cavity are lacking. Here, we report three cryo-EM structures of different states of the Streptomyces coelicolor bacterioferritin nanocage (i.e., apo, holo) at 3.4 Å to 4.6 Å resolution and the subunit crystal structure at 2.6 Å resolution. The holo forms show different stages of Fe-biomineral accumulation inside the nanocage and suggest the possibility of a different Fe biomineral accumulation process. The cryo-EM map shows connections between the Fe-biomineral cluster and residues such as Thr157 and Lys42 from the protein shell, which are involved in iron transport. Mutation and truncation of the bacterioferritin residues involved in these connections can significantly reduce iron binding as compared with wild type bacterioferritin. Moreover, S. coelicolor bacterioferritin binds to various DNA fragments, similar to Dps (DNA-binding protein from starved cells) proteins. Collectively, our results represent a prototype for the ferritin nanocage, revealing insight into its biomineralization and the potential channel for ferritin-associated iron trafficking.

The Role of GSH in Intracellular Iron Trafficking

Evidence is reviewed for the role of glutathione in providing a ligand for the cytosolic iron pool. The possibility of histidine and carnosine forming ternary complexes with iron(II)glutathione is discussed and the physiological significance of these interactions considered. The role of carnosine in muscle, brain, and kidney physiology is far from established and evidence is presented that the iron(II)-binding capability of carnosine relates to this role.