Proteomics-based identification of biomarkers reflecting endogenous and exogenous exposure to the advanced glycation end product precursor methylglyoxal in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells

Methylglyoxal (MGO), a highly reactive precursor of advanced glycation end products, is endogenously produced and prevalent in various food products. This study aimed to characterize protein modifications in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells induced by MGO and identify potential biomarkers for its exposure and toxicity. A shot-gun proteomic analysis was applied to characterize protein modifications in cells treated with and without exogenous MGO. Seventy-seven proteins were identified as highly susceptible to MGO modification, among which eight, including vimentin and histone H2B type 2-F, showing concentration-dependent modifications by externally added MGO, were defined as biomarkers for exogenous MGO exposure. Remarkably, up to 10 modification sites were identified on vimentin. Myosin light polypeptide 6 emerged as a biomarker for MGO toxicity, with modifications exclusively observed under cytotoxic MGO levels. Additionally, proteins like serine/threonine-protein kinase SIK2 and calcyphosin, exhibiting comparable or even higher modification levels in control compared to exogenous MGO-treated cells, were defined as biomarkers for endogenous exposure. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that motor proteins, cytoskeleton components, and glycolysis proteins were overrepresented among those highly susceptible to MGO modification. These results identify biomarkers for both endogenous and exogenous MGO exposure and provide insights into the cellular effects of endogenously formed versus externally added MGO.