Oxidative stress in desminopathies and myotilinopathies: a link between oxidative damage and abnormal protein aggregation

Brain Pathol. 2007 Oct;17(4):377-88. doi: 10.1111/j.1750-3639.2007.00087.x. Epub 2007 Sep 4.

Abstract

Myotilinopathies and desminopathies are subgroups of myofibrillar myopathies (MFM) caused by mutations in myotilin and desmin genes, respectively. They are characterized by the presence of protein aggregates in muscle cells. As oxidation of proteins facilitates their aggregation and makes them more resistant to proteolysis, the present study was geared to analyze oxidative stress in MFM. For this purpose, markers of glycoxidation, lipoxidation and nitration were examined with gel electrophoresis and Western blotting, single immunohistochemistry, and double- and triple-labeling immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy in muscle biopsies from patients suffering from myotilinopathy and desminopathy. Increased levels of glycation-end products (AGEs), N-carboxymethyl-lysine (CML) and N-carboxyethyl-lysine (CEL), malondialdehyde-lysine (MDAL), 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) and nitrotyrosine (N-tyr) were found in MFM. Furthermore, aberrant expression of AGE, CML, CEL, MDAL and HNE, as well as of neuronal, inducible and endothelial nitric oxide synthases (nNOS, iNOS, eNOS), and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), was found in muscle fibers containing protein aggregates in myotilinopathies and desminopathies. AGE, ubiquitin and p62 co-localized in several muscle fibers in MFM. As oxidized proteins are vulnerable to misfolding and are resistant to degradation by the UPS, the present observations support a link between oxidative stress, protein aggregation and abnormal protein deposition in MFMs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Connectin
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Desmin / genetics
  • Desmin / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Glycation End Products, Advanced / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lipid Peroxidation / physiology
  • Male
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle Proteins / genetics
  • Muscle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Muscular Diseases / genetics
  • Muscular Diseases / metabolism*
  • Muscular Diseases / physiopathology
  • Myofibrils / genetics
  • Myofibrils / metabolism*
  • Myofibrils / pathology
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / metabolism
  • Nitro Compounds / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress / genetics*
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / genetics
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Connectin
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Desmin
  • Glycation End Products, Advanced
  • MYOT protein, human
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Muscle Proteins
  • Nitro Compounds
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • superoxide dismutase 2
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex