Leukotriene-A 4-Hydrolase and Basic Aminopeptidase Activities Are Related with Collagen-Induced Arthritis in a Compartment-Dependent Manner

Objective: Previous study demonstrated the involvement of basic aminopeptidase (APB) activity in the development of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Two zinc dependent metalloenzymes (EC 3.4.11.6 and EC 3.3.2.6) are known to exhibit concomitantly APB and leukotriene-A4-hydrolase (LT-A4-H) activities. Influence of the interrelationship between both activities on arthritic processes, however, is presently uncertain. This study aimed to compare these activities in CIA. Methods: CIA was induced in rats and arthritis was assessed macroscopically. Ultracentrifugation was used to separate soluble (S) and solubilized membrane-bound (M) fractions from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and synovial tissue (ST). Enzyme immunoassay was used to measure LT-A4-H activity, and Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction was used for evaluating EC 3.4.11.6 and EC 3.3.2.6 gene expressions. Results: The existence of genes for EC 3.3.2.6 and EC 3.4.11.6 was demonstrated in the ST. Compared with control, LT-A4-H activity increased in synovial fluid (SF) and in S-PBMCs of CIA-arthritic and CIA-resistant and in M-ST of CIA-resistant, while it decreased in M-PBMCs of CIA-arthritic and CIA-resistant. In all these locations APB activity remained unchanged or inversely correlated with LT-A4-H activity. Conclusions: LT-A4-H and APB activities in joint-related samples are associated, for the first time, with EC 3.3.2.6 and EC 3.4.11.6 genes, exhibiting a compartment-dependent differential modulation of their specificity, efficiency and/or affinity or an inverse concurrent pattern. Changes in LT-A4-H activity have implications for development or resistance to arthritis in CIA model with a potential to be a diagnostic tool.


Introduction
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by peripheral polyarthritis with cartilage and bone erosions, resulting in deformity and joint destruction [1].This process is associated with inflammatory hyperplasia of the synovial membrane, also known as pannus [2].What happens is the neovascularization, which occurs after the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the synovial membrane [3] and the immune response against cartilage components, among them the type II collagen (CII) has been most commonly associated with this response [1].The arthritis induced by CII (CIA) [4][5][6][7][8][9] generates an erosive polyarthritis [5, 8,10] that has been intensively studied due to its similarities with the RA [4,6,[9][10][11], mainly regarding the development of synovitis, progressive pannus formation, marginal erosion of bone and cartilage destruction [4,6,8].In CIA model the symptoms in rats and mice begin about 21 days after the CII injection at currently used dose [9].
The role of enzymes in the etiology of inflammatory diseases, such as RA and osteoarthritis, has been the focus of many investigations [12][13][14].Two zinc dependent metalloenzymes [15][16][17][18], leukotriene (LT)-A4 hydrolase (LT-A4-H) (EC 3.3.2.6) and basic aminopeptidase (APB) (EC 3.4.11.6), seem to exhibit concomitant hydrolytic activities on L-arginyl-β-naphthylamide (ArgNA) and on LT-A4 [18][19][20][21][22][23].EC 3.4.11.6 preferentially hydrolyzes basic residues (Arg and Lys) of peptides [17,18,24,25], being ArgNA its preferential synthetic substrate [26].This enzyme is structurally similar to EC 3.3.2.6 (33% identity and 48% similarity) and it has also been reported to exhibit LT-A4-H activity [16,17,27].Whether there is a reciprocal interference of peptide and eicosanoid substrates in each one of these possible catalytic activities of EC 3.4.11.6 is not known.Mantle et al. [22] suggest that changes in LTs generate changes in the APB activity.Although the EC 3.4.11.6 gene expression has not yet been evaluated in joint-related samples, the APB activity [28] and other aminopeptidase activities, such as neutral and dipeptidyl peptidase IV [29], have already been implicated in the etiology and development of arthritis in CIA model.The potential importance of APB activity in RA could be related to their participation in the peptides processing [30].One hypothesis is its association with the post-translational maturation in the trans-Golgi network, and with the regulatory processes in the plasma membrane, which includes extracellular hydrolysis of several peptide substrates.Moreover, APB can participate in the final stages of processing of hormones precursors [15].The significance and even the existence of the two catalytic functions of EC 3.4.11.6 remain unknown [15,17,25], but its hydrolytic ability in a wide pH range is suggestive of its adaptability to various cellular sub-compartments, which has been reinforced by some reports about its involvement in a broad spectrum of pathophysiological processes [15,17], including the RA [28].EC 3.3.2.6 from human and rodent is a soluble and monomeric enzyme [18,31], with at least one report also showing a membrane-bound LT-A4-H activity in hepatocytes [32].In addition to the epoxide hydrolase activity upon LT-A4, the EC 3.3.2.6 also seems to exhibit activity upon ArgNA [19].Both catalytic activities of EC 3.3.2.6 were reported to be inhibited by divalent cations, while only aminopeptidase activity was stimulated by monovalent anions such as chloride [18,21].Although the involvement of EC 3.3.2.6 in RA by means of the LT-B4 (acid 5[S], 12[R]-dihydroxy-6,14-cis-8,10-transeicosatetraenoic) formation is an attractive and predictable hypothesis, studies in this direction are rare [33].In addition, EC 3.3.2.6 gene expression has also not yet been evaluated in joint-related samples.The LT-B4 is a potent pro-inflammatory mediator synthesized by immune cells, such as eosinophils, neutrophils and macrophages, which stimulates the production of several cytokines [16] and it has been recognized as a potent chemotactic factor during early inflammation [34,35].Moreover, it promotes degranulation, increased release of lysosomal enzymes and superoxide production by neutrophils [36,37].
To know the possible changes in LT-A4-H activity in CIA model, as well as to infer its involvement in the pa-thophysiology and its potential to be a RA biomarker are important tasks.In addition, the knowledge of the gene expression of EC 3.3.2.6 and EC 3.4.11.6 and the comparative analysis of the catalytic activities upon LT-A4 and ArgNA in CIA model may contribute to the identification of interrelation pattern of these catalytic functions in both proteins.For this purposes this study evaluates the gene expression of EC 3.3.2.6 and EC 3.4.11.6, as well as the levels of LT-A4-H activity (LT-A4 hydrolysis) in comparison with APB activity levels (ArgNA hydrolysis) reported by Mendes et al. [28].

Animals and Treatments
Adult male Wistar rats, weighing 160 -180 g and maintained in polyethylene cages with food and tap water ad libitum in a container with controlled temperature of 25˚C, relative humidity of 65.3% ± 0.9% and 12 h:12 h photoperiod light:dark (lights on at 6:00 am), were sub jected to the following procedures approved by the Ethics Committee on Animal Use of Butantan Institute (682/09).Based on Cremer method (1998), modified by Mendes et al. [28], the animals were injected with CII from chicken (Sigma, USA) dissolved in 0.01M acetic acid and emulsified in equal volume of Freund's incomplete adjuvant (Sigma) (prepared at 4˚C just before use), via single intradermal dose of 0.4 mg/0.2 mL/animal, into the proximal one-third of the tail (induced animals), or with 0.9% saline at the same scheme of administration (sham induction).All animals that received the emulsion or saline were previously anesthetized with a solution of ketamine (3.75%) (Fort Dodge, USA) and xylazine (0.5%) (Vetbrands, Brasil) at a dose of 0.2 mL/100 g body weight, via intraperitoneal (ip).All these procedures mentioned above, as well as the evaluation of edema, erythema and cyanosis, and the collection of samples were carried out in the morning.

Macroscopic Assessment of Arthritis
Erythema and cyanosis were observed, and dorsal-plantar thickness of the hind paws in the region of the metatarsus was quantified with paquimeter (Mitutoyo, USA).Both paws were measured and mean thickness for each animal was calculated.This measurement was performed immediately before the euthanasia and sample collection.

Sample Collection
On 41 st day after treatments, the animals were anesthetized using the same scheme specified above and thus the following experimental groups were formed: Control (all animals submitted to sham induction); Arthritic (induced animals with hind paw thickness > 5.7 mm that also present erythema and cyanosis); Resistant (induced animals without erythema and cyanosis and with hind paw thickness similar to control).Thus, blood was withdrawal from the left ventricle with heparinized syringes and used to obtain peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) or centrifuged (at 200 × g for 10 min at at 4˚C) to obtain plasma.The SF and ST were subsequently removed from both knees of each animal as follows: 200 μL of 0.9% NaCl was injected intraarticularly into each knee with an ultrafine needle (0.45 × 13 mm) and aspirated with a syringe and, after such washing, the ST was excised together with the connective tissue of the joint capsule.and homogenized by a vortex mixer for 15 sec and transferred to a Filter Cartridge-Collection Tube.Subsequently, this apparatus was centrifuged at 12,000 × g for 30 sec at 25˚C and the liquid drained into the collector tube was discarded, while the filter containing the RNA was placed in the same collector tube and washed with 500 μL of wash solution.This washing was repeated twice more.Subsequently, the filter was centrifuged at 12,000 × g for 30 sec at 25˚C to remove residual wash solution and then the filter was transferred to a new collector tube where 100 μL of elution buffer were added.After incubation for 2 min at 25˚C, this Filter Cartridge coupled with this new Collection Tube were centrifuged at 12,000 × g for 30 sec at 25˚C and the final eluate containing the RNA was obtained and stored at −20˚C until used.

Quantitative Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR)
The total RNA isolated was quantified and its purity was evaluated by Synergy™ H1 using the software Gen5™.The adequate quality of total RNA was checked by the existence of bands corresponding to 25S and 18S ribosomal RNA, obtained in 1% agarose (Amersham Bioscience, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil) gel electrophoresis (wt/v), prepared in Tris/sodium acetate/EDTA 1x buffer, pH 8.0, under constant voltage (80 V), and stained with ethidium bromide solution (0.5 μg/mL) under ultraviolet light.As recommended by manufacturer, until 2 μg of total RNA in a maximum volume of 9 μL were used for reverse transcription procedure using the High Capacity RNA-to-cDNA kit (Applied Biosystems).Briefly, 10 μL of reaction buffer, 1 μL of enzyme mix and the sample at final volume of 20 μL in 0.01% diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC) (Sigma) in sterile deionized water were placed in the thermal cycler for 60 min at 37˚C and for 5 min at 95˚C.Them, the samples were stored at −80˚C.The expression of APB and LT-A4-H mRNAs was measured with Taqman system ® .In addition to the primers, a probe that selectively hybridizes with cDNA was used.The thermal cycler conditions for the PCR reaction were: 1 cycle of 2 min at 50˚C, 1 cycle of 10 min at 95˚C, followed by 40 cycles: 15 sec at 95˚C and 1 min at 60˚C.APB (Rn 00579477_m1, GenBank: NM_020216) and LT-A4-H (Rn01503878_m1, acess number to GenBank: NM_001030031) primers and probes and GAPDH (GenBank: NM_017008) (positive control) used were purchased from Life Technologies (Brazil).Relative gene expression was determined using the ∆∆C T method (∆C T(sample) -∆C T(reference) , threshold cycle).The comparative C T method is a mathematical model that consists of normalizing the number of target gene copies to an endogenous reference gene (GAPDH) and compare it to control sample (that with highest cycle threshold and, consequently, lowest gene expression) designed as the calibrator.

Obtaining PBMCs
According to the method of Grage-Griebenow et al. [38], heparinized blood was carefully layered on Percoll (density = 1.077 g/mL) (GE-Healthcare, USA) in PBS (56%) at a proportion of 5:3 (v/v) and subsequently centrifuged (1000 × g for 40 min at 25˚C).The layer containing the PBMCs was then removed from the tube and transferred to microtubes to be immediately used.

20-μL aliquots of PBMCs suspension were diluted with
Turk's fluid (1:20, v/v).The cell viability was assessed using 40 μL aliquots of this suspension diluted in equal volume of Trypan.Cell counting was performed in a Neubauer chamber under optical microscopy.

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Leukotriene-A4-Hydrolase and Basic Aminopeptidase Activities Are Related with Collagen-Induced Arthritis in a Compartment-Dependent Manner 258

Fractionation of ST and PBMCs
As previously described by Mendes et al. [28], the ST from both knees of each animal was homogenized in 10 mM Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.4 (0.1 g tissue/3.0mL) for 3 min at 15,000 rpm (homogenizer Polytron-Aggregate, Kinematica, Switzerland).PBMCs homogenates were sonicated in 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4 (3.0×10 6 cells/mL), for 10 sec at amplitude level of 40 μm at a constant frequency of 20 kHz.These samples were then ultracentrifuged at 100,000 × g for 35 min (ultracentrifuge Hitachi CP60E).The resulting supernatants correspond to soluble (S) fraction.The resulting pellets were washed twice with the same buffer and ultracentrifuged at 100,000 × g for 35 min, to assure the complet removal of S. The pellet was homogenized for 3 min at 800 rpm (homogenizer Tecnal TE 099) with the same volume of the same buffer plus Triton X-100 (Sigma) (0.1%) and ultracentrifuged again (100,000 × g for 35 min).The resulting supernatants correspond to solubilized membrane-bound (M) fraction.All procedures were carried out at 4˚C.The efficiency of this fractionation in both materials was previously demonstrated using lactate dehydrogenase activity as a marker [28,29].

Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA)
The absorbance at λ = 412 nm of each samples obtained as described above was read against two HEPES buffer solutions, with or without LT-A4, both considered the "blank" of each kind of incubation, and also against the "blank" supplied with the kit.

Catalytic Activity
The values of the blanks were subtracted and the relative absorbance was converted to pg of LT-B4 formed in 1 min of incubation per 1 mL of sample by an interpolation in a correspondent standard curve.The values of LT-B4 formed in each samples incubated without LT-A4 (endogenous LT-B4) were subtracted from the values of LT-B4 in the same samples incubated with LT-A4 thus representing the value of LT-B4 formed in vitro.The LT-A4-H activity was expressed as pg of LT-B4 formed in vitro/min/mL sample.

Data Analysis
Data are shown as mean ± standard error of the mean (S.E.M) and were analyzed statistically using the Graph-Pad Instat™ software package.Regression analysis was performed to obtain standard curve of LT-B4.To compare values among the control, arthritic and resistant groups one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed, followed by Student-Newman-Keuls multiple comparisons test when differences were detected.In all the calculations a minimum critical level of P < 0.05 was set.

Classification of Experimental Animals Based on the Formation of Edema, Erythema and Cyanosis
The swelling (in mm; n = number of animals, two-tailed unpaired Student's t-test p < 0.0017), erythema and cyanosis were the main macroscopic characteristics of the hind paws of arthritic animals.Severe swelling (5.899 ± 0.037, n = 10) was found in 60% of animals treated with CII.Compared to controls (4.745 ± 0.052, n = 10), 30% of the animals treated with CII showed no erythema, cyanosis or edema (4.762 ± 0.309, n = 10).These data agree with the differential detection of serum TNF-α levels and histopathological alterations of the tibio-tarsal joint in the CII treated animals that develop severe edema (CIA-arthritic), which can be thus confidentially distinguished from CIA-resistant (without edema) [28,29].Based on the macroscopic classification of edema formation, preconized by Erlandsson Harris et al. [39], all arthritic animals selected here had the maximum score in hind paws.10% of CII treated animals were discarded because they did not reach this level of arthritis.

LT-A4-H Activity
Table 1 shows LT-A4-H activity in plasma, SF, and S Open Access OJRA Leukotriene-A4-Hydrolase and Basic Aminopeptidase Activities Are Related with Collagen-Induced Arthritis in a Compartment-Dependent Manner 259 and M from ST and PBMCs.Compared to controls, this activity is higher in SF and in S from PBMCs and lower in M from PBMCs in CIA-arthritic and CIA-resistant, and higher in M from ST in CIA-resistant.
Table 2 illustrates altered LT-A4-H (present study) and APB [28] activities in CIA-arthritic and CIA-resistant compared to healthy control rats.

Discussion
The existence of the genes for EC 3.3.2.6 and EC 3.4.11.6 was confirmed in the synovial tissue of healthy controls rats.The synovial tissue and synovial fluid collected from animals under study contain infiltrating leukocytes.Therefore, the total content of both activities in plasma, synovial fluid and synovial tissue should be at least partially derived from these cells, particularly in arthritic animals.
activity in arthritic and resistant rats in relation to controls, although quantitative levels of these changes are distinct in some materials.Thus, regarding the LT-A4-H activity both, arthritic and resistant, are distinguishable from the controls, on the other hand they are distinct from each other only quantitatively.These features can be useful in further studies exploring the LT-A4-H activity as a diagnostic tool and the role of quantitative differences of this activity in the development and resistance to arthritis.The structural analysis of EC 3.3.2.6 and EC 3.4.11.6 showed that the differences in their distributions of electrostatic potential may reflect different interactions between protein-protein and/or the protein and the environment in which it is inserted, with EC 3.3.2.6 having less hydrophobic parts than EC 3.4.11.6 [15].Different negative electrostatic potential in the catalytic site could explain the different specificities for their respective substrates [15], implying on the possibility that different catalytic activities do not interfere with each other.Another report shows that EC 3.4.11.6 from rat and human has no epoxy-hydrolase activity, suggesting that despite the great structural similarity between EC 3.3.2.6 and EC 3.4.11.6, the last one has another function [40].The present study shows that changes in LT-A4-H and APB activities do not coincide in the plasma and membrane-bound fraction from the synovial tissue of resistant animals, as well as in soluble and membranebound fractions from synovial tissue, membrane-bound fraction from PBMCs and synovial fluid of arthritic animals.These results suggest the existence of differential modulation of catalytic specificity, efficiency and/or affinity of EC 3.3.2.6 and EC 3.4.11.6 enzymes on peptide and epoxy substrates, or that they act independently with a single catalytic action in these locations.However, in those situations where APB and LT-A4-H activities change concomitantly, such changes are inversely correlated, cor-  Taken together, the results of the present study subsidize the scheme proposed in Figure 2, illustrating a hypothetical mechanism of interrelation between LT-A4-H and APB activities in CIA-arthritic and CIA-resistant in comparison with healthy control rats.

Figure 2 .
Figure 2. Schematic depicting the changes in LT-A4-H and APB activities in CIA-arthritic and CIA-resistant rats.Arrows ↑ and ↓ indicate, respectively, increased or decreased values relatively to healthy control rats.Locations where activity levels of APB are markers of arthritis or resistance [28] are respectively written in pink and green.The changes in the way and levels of LT-A4-H activity in any of examined locations underlined in yellow, except in plasma and S-ST of arthritic and resistant and in M-ST of arthritic, distinguish arthritic and/or resistant from controls and thus they have potential diagnostic use.The changes in the way of LT-A4-H activity in any of the examined locations, except in M-ST, do not distinguish between arthritic and resistant (see Table2), but the changes in the levels of LT-A4-H activity in locations marked with blue asterisk (SF, M-ST and S-PBMCs) (see Table1) may have implications for the resistance or development of arthritis in CIA model.The red solid lines indicate all the situations and locations where occur concomitant changes in activity levels of LT-A4-H and APB, showing that they are always inversely correlated.

Expressions of EC 3.4.11.6 and EC 3
.3.2.62.4.1.RNA ExtractionThe RNA of ST suspension for each control healthy animal was extracted using the sound RiboPure™ Kit (Applied Biosystems, USA) as recommended by the manufacturer.Briefly, the ST samples were homogenized on ice with TriReagent ® (Applied Biosystems) (1 mL TriReagent ® for each 0.05 to 0.1 mg of original tissue) on Polytron ® 11,000 rpm and sequentially incubated for 5 min at 25˚C and centrifuged at 12,000 × g for 10 min at 4˚C.Afterward, 200 μL chloroform were added to each 1 mL of sample and mixed by a vortex at a maximum speed for 15 sec and then incubated for 5 min at 25˚C and centrifuged at 12,000 × g for 10 min at 4˚C.Three layers were formed after this centrifugation: a top, or aqueous phase, composed of RNA; an intermediate phase, composed of DNA; and a lower, or phenol phase, composed of protein.400 μL of aqueous phase were transferred to a new tube, and thus mixed with 200 μL ethanol (99.5%)

Table 2 ), but the changes in the levels of LT-A4-H activity in locations marked with blue asterisk (SF, M-ST and S-PBMCs) (see Table 1) may have implications for the resistance or development of arthritis in CIA model. The red solid lines indicate all the situations and locations where occur concomitant changes in activity levels of LT-A4-H and APB, showing that they are always inversely correlated. roborating
[17,35,41]nce of a bifunctional pattern currently described for EC3.4.11.6 [15,25,27]and EC 3.3.2.6[17,35,41].cnologico, Brazil).M.T.M. was recipient of a CAPES (Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior, Brasil) fellowship.The authors thank all the staff at the Unit of Translational Endocrine Pharmacology and Physiology at Laboratory of Pharmacology for technical support.