Cysteine as a Multifaceted Player in Kidney, the <i>Cysteine-Related Thiolome</i> and Its Implications for Precision Medicine
Maria João Correia,
António B. Pimpão,
Dalila G. F. Fernandes,
Judit Morello,
Catarina O. Sequeira,
Joaquim Calado,
Alexandra M. M. Antunes,
Manuel S. Almeida,
Patrícia Branco,
Emília C. Monteiro,
João B. Vicente,
Jacinta Serpa,
Sofia A. Pereira
Affiliations
Maria João Correia
CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
António B. Pimpão
CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
Dalila G. F. Fernandes
Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB NOVA), 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
Judit Morello
CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
Catarina O. Sequeira
CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
Joaquim Calado
Centre for Toxicogenomics and Human Health (ToxOmics), Genetics, Oncology and Human Toxicology, Nova Medical School/Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
Alexandra M. M. Antunes
Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Manuel S. Almeida
CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
Patrícia Branco
CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
Emília C. Monteiro
CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
João B. Vicente
Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB NOVA), 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
Jacinta Serpa
CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
Sofia A. Pereira
CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
In this review encouraged by original data, we first provided in vivo evidence that the kidney, comparative to the liver or brain, is an organ particularly rich in cysteine. In the kidney, the total availability of cysteine was higher in cortex tissue than in the medulla and distributed in free reduced, free oxidized and protein-bound fractions (in descending order). Next, we provided a comprehensive integrated review on the evidence that supports the reliance on cysteine of the kidney beyond cysteine antioxidant properties, highlighting the relevance of cysteine and its renal metabolism in the control of cysteine excess in the body as a pivotal source of metabolites to kidney biomass and bioenergetics and a promoter of adaptive responses to stressors. This view might translate into novel perspectives on the mechanisms of kidney function and blood pressure regulation and on clinical implications of the cysteine-related thiolome as a tool in precision medicine.