Accumulation of damaged biomolecules in body tissues is the primary cause of aging and age-related chronic diseases. Since this damage often occurs spontaneously, it has traditionally been regarded as untreatable, with typical therapeutic strategies targeting genes or enzymes being ineffective in this domain. In this report, we demonstrate that an antibody targeting the isoDGR damage motif in lung tissue can guide immune clearance of harmful damaged proteins in vivo, effectively reducing age-linked lung inflammation. We observed age-dependent accumulation of the isoDGR motif in human lung tissues, as well as an 8-fold increase in isoDGR-damaged proteins in lung fibrotic tissues compared with healthy tissue. This increase was accompanied by marked infiltration of CD68+/CD11b + macrophages, consistent with a role for isoDGR in promoting chronic inflammation. We therefore assessed isoDGR function in mice that were either naturally aged or lacked the isoDGR repair enzyme. IsoDGR-protein accumulation in mouse lung tissue was strongly correlated with chronic inflammation, pulmonary edema, and hypoxemia. This accumulation also induced mitochondrial and ribosomal dysfunction, in addition to features of cellular senescence, thereby contributing to progressive lung damage over time. Importantly, treatment with anti-isoDGR antibody was able to reduce these molecular features of disease and significantly reduced lung pathology in vivo.
Advancing age is the primary risk factor for pulmonary diseases. Our investigation revealed an 8-fold increase in aging induced isoDGR-damaged proteins in lung tissue from human pulmonary fibrosis patients compared to healthy tissues, accompanied by elevated frequencies of CD68+/CD11b+ macrophages, indicating lung tissue is susceptible to time-dependent accumulation of isoDGR-proteins. To elucidate the mechanisms through which isoDGR-proteins may exacerbate aging lung disorders for potential therapeutic targeting, we assessed the functional role of this isoDGR-motif in naturally-aged mice and mice lacking the corresponding isoDGR repair enzyme (Pcmt1-/-). IsoDGR-protein accumulation in mouse lung tissue and blood vessels correlated with chronic low-grade inflammation, pulmonary edema, and hypoxemia. IsoDGR accretion induced mitochondrial and ribosomal dysfunctions, cellular senescence, and apoptosis, contributing to progressive lung damage over time. Treatment with anti-isoDGR antibodies suppressed TLR pathway activity, mitigated cytokine-driven inflammation, restored mtDNA expression, and significantly reduced lung pathology in-vivo. Similarly, exposure of lung endothelial cells to isoDGR-modified fibronectin impaired oxygen consumption, increased reactive oxygen species levels, and disrupted acidification, but these effects were efficiently reversed by target-specific antibody therapy. Collectively, our findings underscore the significant contribution of isoDGR-damaged proteins to age-linked lung pathology. IsoDGR-specific therapy emerges as a promising treatment approach for pulmonary disorders in older patients.### Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.
The ribosome is one of the richest targets for antibiotics. Unfortunately, antibiotic resistance is an urgent issue in clinical practice. Several ATP-binding cassette family proteins confer resistance to ribosome-targeting antibiotics through a yet unknown mechanism. Among them, MsrE has been implicated in macrolide resistance. Here, we report the cryo-EM structure of ATP form MsrE bound to the ribosome. Unlike previously characterized ribosomal protection proteins, MsrE is shown to bind to ribosomal exit site. Our structure reveals that the domain linker forms a unique needle-like arrangement with two crossed helices connected by an extended loop projecting into the peptidyl-transferase center and the nascent peptide exit tunnel, where numerous antibiotics bind. In combination with biochemical assays, our structure provides insight into how MsrE binding leads to conformational changes, which results in the release of the drug. This mechanism appears to be universal for the ABC-F type ribosome protection proteins.
Background Brain degenerative protein modifications (DPMs) are associated with the apparition and progression of dementia, and at the same time, Alzheimer’s disease with cerebrovascular disease (AD + CVD) is the most prevalent form of dementia in the elder population. Thus, understanding the role(s) of brain DPMs in this dementia subtype may provide novel insight on the disease pathogenesis and may aid on the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Two essential DPMs known to promote inflammation in several human diseases are the ureido DPMs (uDPMs) arginine citrullination and lysine carbamylation, although they have distinct enzymatic and non-enzymatic origins, respectively. Nevertheless, the implication of uDPMs in the neuropathology of dementia remains poorly understood. Methods In this study, we use the state-of-the-art, ultracentrifugation-electrostatic repulsion hydrophilic interaction chromatography (UC-ERLIC)-coupled mass spectrometry technology to undertake a comparative characterization of uDPMs in the soluble and particulate postmortem brain fractions of subjects diagnosed with AD + CVD and age-matched controls. Results An increase in the formation of uDPMs was observed in all the profiled AD + CVD brains. Citrulline-containing proteins were found more abundant in the soluble fraction of AD + CVD whereas homocitrulline-containing proteins were preferentially abundant in the particulate fraction of AD + CVD brains. Several dementia-specific citrulline residues were also identified in soluble proteins previously categorized as pro-immunogenic, which include the receptor P2X7, alpha-internexin, GFAP, CNP, MBP, and histones. Similarly, diverse dementia-specific homocitrulline residues were also observed in the particulate fractions of AD + CVD in proteins that have been vastly implicated in neuropathology. Intriguingly, we also found that the amino acids immediately flanking arginine residues may specifically influence the increase in protein citrullination. Conclusions Taken together, these results indicate that uDPMs widely contribute to the pathophysiology of AD + CVD by promoting neuroinflammation and proteinopathy. Furthermore, the obtained results could help to identify disease-associated proteins that can act as potential targets for therapeutic intervention or as novel biomarkers of specific neuropathology.