Arginine Metabolism in Bacterial Pathogenesis and Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Antibacterial resistance to infectious diseases is a significant global concern for health care organizations; along with aging populations and increasing cancer rates, it represents a great burden for government healthcare systems. Therefore, the development of therapies against bacterial infection and cancer is an important strategy for healthcare research. Pathogenic bacteria and cancer have developed a broad range of sophisticated strategies to survive or propagate inside a host and cause infection or spread disease. Bacteria can employ their own metabolism pathways to obtain nutrients from the host cells in order to survive. Similarly, cancer cells can dysregulate normal human cell metabolic pathways so that they can grow and spread. One common feature of the adaption and disruption of metabolic pathways observed in bacterial and cancer cell growth is amino acid pathways; these have recently been targeted as a novel approach to manage bacterial infections and cancer therapy. In particular, arginine metabolism has been illustrated to be important not only for bacterial pathogenesis but also for cancer therapy. Therefore, greater insights into arginine metabolism of pathogenic bacteria and cancer cells would provide possible targets for controlling of bacterial infection and cancer treatment. This review will summarize the recent progress on the relationship of arginine metabolism with bacterial pathogenesis and cancer therapy, with a particular focus on arginase and arginine deiminase pathways of arginine catabolism.

A novel bacterial l‐arginine sensor controlling c‐di‐GMP levels in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

“…l ‐arginine metabolism is emerging as a crucial factor in complex processes involving metabolic‐reprogramming, such as those related to biofilm formation, immune response and cancer . l ‐arginine is at the crossroads of complex metabolic networks that enable P. aeruginosa to utilize this amino acid as a source of carbon, energy, and nitrogen.…”

“…Noteworthy, in P. aeruginosa l ‐Arginine is at the crossroads of multiple anabolic and catabolic/energy pathways, particularly under anaerobic conditions, thus widening the metabolic versatility of this bacterium. l ‐arginine metabolism is emerging as a crucial factor in complex biological processes involving metabolic‐reprogramming, such as those related to bacterial biofilm formation and virulence, immune response and cancer . Interestingly, recent data suggest that l ‐arginine is perceived and catabolized by bacteria during infection to escape the host defense strategies by (i) changing the pH (due to the ammonium production) and (ii) contrasting the iNOS‐mediated nitric oxide production, (by depleting the host of the iNOS substrate, ie, l ‐Arginine) …”

Spermine and Spermidine Alter Gene Expression and Antigenic Profile of Borrelia burgdorferi

“…Lyme spirochetes lack the full spectrum of homologs of four different pathways that have been characterized in other bacterial systems for catabolism of the polyamine precursor Arg, i.e., the (i) arginase, (ii) arginine deiminase (ADI), (iii) arginine succinyltransferase (AST), and (iv) arginine transaminase pathways; however, some members of the ADI pathway are present, such as ArcA (BB0841; arginine deiminase), ArgF (BB0842; ornithine carbamoyltransferase), and ArcD (BB0843; arginine/ornithine antiporter) (40). ArcA is the first enzyme that converts arginine to citrulline with the release of the NH 3 molecule.…”

Potential benefits of arginine formulation in oral health care products

“…In addition, it has been reported to reduce the pathogenicity of herpes simplex and influenza viruses, probably due to compromised function of proteins in the envelope . The functions of Arg has revealed that it is in involved in the regulation of immune cells in cancer, inflammation, infections, etc …”

“…In particular, Arg metabolism has been illustrated to be important not only for bacterial pathogenesis but also for cancer therapy. Therefore, greater understanding of Arg metabolism in pathogenic bacteria and cancer cells would provide possible targets for controlling bacterial infections and possible cancer treatment . Therefore, the effect of Arg in treating many developmental and health problems offers great promise for improved health of living beings …”