Oral angiotensin-(1–7) peptide modulates intestinal microbiota improving metabolic profile in obese mice

Background: Obesity is a serious health problem which dysregulate Renin-Angiotensin System and intestinal microbiota. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the Angiotensin-(1–7) [ANG-(1–7)] oral formulation effects on obese mice intestinal microbiota. Methods: Mice were divided into four groups: obese and non-obese treated with ANG-(1–7) and obese and non-obese without ANG-(1–7) during four weeks. Results: We observed a significant decrease in the fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and Low-density lipoprotein levels and increased High-density lipoprotein in animals treated with ANG-(1–7). The histological analysis showed intestinal villi height reduction in mice treated with ANG-(1–7). Additionally, increased Bacteroidetes and decreased Firmicutes (increased Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio) and Enterobacter cloacae populations were observed in the High-Fat Diet + ANG-(1–7) group. Receptor toll-like 4 (TLR4) intestinal mRNA expression was reduced in the HFD+ ANG-(1–7) group. Finally, the intestinal expression of the neutral amino acid transporter (B0AT1) was increased in animals treated with ANG-(1–7), indicating a possible mechanism associated with tryptophan uptake. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest for the first time an interaction between oral ANG-(1–7) and intestinal microbiota modulation.

Pretreatment Effect of Inflammatory Stimuli and Characteristics of Tryptophan Transport on Brain Capillary Endothelial (TR-BBB) and Motor Neuron Like (NSC-34) Cell Lines

Tryptophan plays a key role in several neurological and psychiatric disorders. In this study, we investigated the transport mechanisms of tryptophan in brain capillary endothelial (TR-BBB) cell lines and motor neuron-like (NSC-34) cell lines. The uptake of [3H]l-tryptophan was stereospecific, and concentration- and sodium-dependent in TR-BBB cell lines. Transporter inhibitors and several neuroprotective drugs inhibited [3H]l-tryptophan uptake by TR-BBB cell lines. Gabapentin and baclofen exerted a competitive inhibitory effect on [3H]l-tryptophan uptake. Additionally, l-tryptophan uptake was time- and concentration-dependent in both NSC-34 wild type (WT) and mutant type (MT) cell lines, with a lower transporter affinity and higher capacity in MT than in WT cell lines. Gene knockdown of LAT1 (l-type amino acid transporter 1) and CAT1 (cationic amino acid transporter 1) demonstrated that LAT1 is primarily involved in the transport of [3H]l-tryptophan in both TR-BBB and NSC-34 cell lines. In addition, tryptophan uptake was increased by TR-BBB cell lines but decreased by NSC-34 cell lines after pro-inflammatory cytokine pre-treatment. However, treatment with neuroprotective drugs ameliorated tryptophan uptake by NSC-34 cell lines after inflammatory cytokines pretreatment. The tryptophan transport system may provide a therapeutic target for treating or preventing neurodegenerative diseases.

l -Tryptophan–Induced Vasodilation Is Enhanced in Preeclampsia

l -tryptophan induces IDO (indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase) 1–dependent vasodilation. IDO1 is expressed in placental endothelial cells and downregulated in preeclampsia. Hypothesizing that this may contribute to diminished placental perfusion, we studied l -tryptophan–induced vasodilation in healthy and early-onset preeclampsia placental arteries, focusing on placental kynurenine pathway alterations. Despite IDO1 downregulation, kynurenine pathway metabolite concentrations (measured with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) were unaltered in preeclamptic versus healthy placentas. Most likely, this is due to enhanced l -tryptophan uptake, evidenced by increased l -tryptophan levels in preeclamptic placentas. Ex vivo perfused cotyledons from healthy and preeclamptic placentas released similar amounts of l -tryptophan and kynurenine pathway metabolites into the circulations. This release was not altered by adding l -tryptophan in the maternal circulation, suggesting that l -tryptophan metabolites act intracellularly. Maternally applied l -tryptophan did appear in the fetal circulation, confirming placental passage of this essential amino acid. After in vitro incubation of placental arteries with IDO1-upregulating cytokines interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α, l -tryptophan induced vasodilation. This vasodilation was attenuated by both IDO1 and nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitors. Despite IDO1 downregulation, l -tryptophan–induced relaxation was enhanced in preeclamptic versus healthy placental arteries. However, cytokine stimulation additionally upregulated the LAT ( l -type amino acid transporter) 1 in preeclamptic placental arteries only. Vasodilation to the lipophilic, transporter independent ethyl ester of l -tryptophan was reduced in preeclamptic versus healthy placental arteries, in agreement with reduced IDO1 expression. In conclusion, l -tryptophan induces IDO1- and NO-dependent relaxation in placental arteries, which is determined by l -tryptophan uptake rather than IDO1 expression. Increased l -tryptophan uptake might compensate for reduced IDO1 expression in preeclamptic placentas.

P11.35 Fluorine-18-labeled PET radiotracers for imaging tryptophan uptake and metabolism in brain tumors

BACKGROUND Abnormal metabolism of tryptophan via the serotonin and kynurenine pathways plays a key role in multiple disease processes including cancer. Upregulation of key enzymes of the kynurenine pathway (such as indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase [IDO] and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase [TDO]) plays an important role in immune resistance in human brain tumors. IDO inhibitors have recently entered in human clinical trials, and their use can benefit from molecular imaging evaluating IDO activity. Imaging tryptophan uptake and metabolism in vivo can be achieved with tryptophan derivative PET radiotracers. Human studies with such tracers showed promise but have been confined to carbon-11-labeled compounds (such as alpha-[11C]methyl-L-tryptophan). Preclinical development of fluorine-18-labeled tryptophan-based radiotracers has surged only in recent years. We performed a systematic review of studies reporting on such tracers and summarized their biological characteristics and their potential for imaging key enzymes of the kynurenine pathway. MATERIAL AND METHODS A PubMed search using the key words “tryptophan” and “PET”/”positron emission tomography” was performed. English language original articles including data on the preparation and/or radiochemical or biological characteristics of fluorine-18-labeled tryptophan derivative radiotracers have been reviewed. RESULTS Nineteen original papers identified by the search included data on 15 unique fluorine-18-labeled tryptophan-derived radiotracers. Automated synthesis was reported for 1-(2-[18F]fluoroethyl)-L-tryptophan, the most extensively evaluated tracer among the 15. Biodistribution studies showed high uptake in the pancreas, and the L-type amino acid transporter was the dominant transport mechanism for most of the reported radiotracers. Multiple tracers showed accumulation in various tumor cell lines, including glioma cell lines, in vitro and in xenografts in vivo, with favorable tumor-to-background uptake ratios in comparison to clinically used fluorine-18-labeled radiotracers (such as glucose and non-tryptophan amino acid analogs). Five of the 15 tracers showed promise for imaging IDO activity, including a fluorine-18-labeled analog of alpha-[11C]methyl-L-tryptophan. Two of the 15 radiotracers were metabolized by TDO but showed rapid defluorination in vivo. CONCLUSION Most fluorine-18-labeled tryptophan derivative PET tracers share common transport mechanisms and biodistribution characteristics. Several of these radiotracers show promise for imaging IDO activity in vivo, and, therefore, could be leading candidates for testing and validation toward human tumor PET imaging applications.