Biochemical studies on the toxicity of 1, 1'-dimethyl-4, 4'-bipyridylium dichloride in the rat

The effect of intraperitoneal administration of lethal dose (50 mg/kg) of paraquat on the microsomal cysteine levels in the plasma, liver and lung of adult male Wistar rats has been investigated using Rank Chromaspek amino acid analyzer. The microsomal alanine levels were also determined to help in assessing the extent of paraquat interference with cellular protein. DL-Buthionine-[S,R]-Sulfoximine (BSO) and Diethyl maleate (DEM) were used to potentiate the toxic effect of the bipyridyl. The microsomal cysteine levels were significantly (P < or = 0.05) depressed in the plasma, liver and lung of the paraquat-treated rats compared with the saline-injected group but the alanine levels were not similarly affected. Probably, paraquat poisoning interferes specifically with the cellular cysteine content in the rat. These findings could provide a valuable information on the biochemical mechanism of paraquat intoxication.

Redox state changes in density-dependent regulation of proliferation

The ability of certain transcription factors to bind to DNA has been demonstrated to be influenced by the redox environment. Therefore, fluctuations in the redox state of the cell may regulate the transcription of genes which control proliferation. To assess whether changes in the redox state may be related to proliferation, levels of oxidized (GSSG) and reduced (GSH) glutathione, the primary modulators of the redox state, were measured in cultures of varying densities of normal human fibroblasts which exhibit contact inhibition of proliferation, as well as fibrosarcoma cells, which lack this mechanism of growth control. Redox potentials calculated from normal, proliferating fibroblasts were found to be -34 mV more reducing than confluent, contact-inhibited cells. However, fibrosarcoma cells did not demonstrate this modulation in redox state. Further, to delineate whether these redox changes were the consequence or the cause of contact inhibition, cultures of subconfluent proliferating fibroblasts were treated with modulators of glutathione synthesis. Buthionine sulfoximine, an inhibitor of GSH synthesis, induced a less reducing redox state and decreased proliferation. In contrast, GSH synthesis precursors caused a more reduced redox state and increased proliferation. Collectively, these results suggest an interrelationship between redox state and growth control.

Modulation of glutathione level during butyrate-induced differentiation in human colon derived HT-29 cells

Glutathione plays an important role in various cellular functions including cell growth and differentiation. In the present study, cell differentiation was induced by butyrate in human colon cell line HT-29 and cellular thiol status was assessed. It was observed that butyrate-induced differentiation was associated with decrease in cellular GSH level and this was prominent at early stages of differentiation. Buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), a specific cellular GSH depleting agent, did not induce differentiation in cells but potentiated the differentiation induced by butyrate. Both BSO and butyrate individually and together inhibited cell growth. These studies suggest that cellular GSH level is modulated in butyrate-induced differentiation and decrease of GSH at the initial stage might facilitate cellular differentiation.

Photoprotective effect of esterified glutathione against ultraviolet B-induced sunburn cell formation in the hairless mice

Previously we showed a protective role of endogenous glutathione (GSH) in ultraviolet B (UVB) injury. Moderate UVB exposure to hairless mice receiving oral treatment with buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), an inhibitor of GSH synthesis, resulted in a greater number of SBCs in the epidermis. The evidence led to the hypothesis that increasing the level of endogenous GSH in the skin may reduce the skin damage caused by a high dose of UVB irradiation. Since systemic administration of a reduced form of GSH (reduced GSH) is understood to have poor permeability into the cells, in the current study we investigated transportability of esterified GSH and photoprotective effect of reduced GSH and the esterified derivative against UVB injury in vivo. Oral administration of esterified GSH revealed increased cutaneous GSH level more effectively than did reduced GSH. The number of sunburn cells (SBC) formed was significantly depressed in the skin exposed to UVB in mice treated with esterified GSH as compared with non-GSH- or reduced GSH-treated mice. The suppressive effect of esterified GSH was prominent in BSO-treated animals.

Effect of thiol status on nitric oxide metabolism in the circulation

To elucidate the dynamics of nitric oxide (NO) metabolism in the circulation and its relationship with glutathione metabolism, formation of nitrosylhemoglobin (NO-Hb), S-nitrosothiols (RSNO), and nitrite+nitrate (NOx) was determined in blood samples from normal rats and animals that were treated with a loading dose of GSH or L-buthionine-[S,R]-sulfoximine (BSO), a specific inhibitor of GSH synthesis. When incubated in vitro with 0.2 mM NOC7, an NO donor, NO-Hb levels increased rapidly, peaked at 10 min, and decreased thereafter with a half-life of 35 min in blood samples from control, BSO-treated, or GSH-loaded animals. Levels of low-molecular-weight RSNO in plasma samples from the three animal groups also increased transiently, peaked at 10 min, and decreased thereafter. However, the amount of RSNO formed in GSH-loaded rat plasma was significantly greater than in control and BSO-treated animals. Plasma levels of NOx rapidly and similarly increased in all animal groups. Intravenously injected NOC7 also generated NO-Hb in circulating erythrocytes. In control animals, blood levels of NO-Hb increased maximally at 30 min and decreased thereafter with a half-life of 100 min. NO-Hb formed in the GSH-loaded group was significantly lower than in the control group. In contrast, the rate of NO-Hb formation was significantly higher with the BSO-treated group than with the control group. Although NOC7 did not affect the plasma levels of low-molecular-weight RSNO in plasma of both control and BSO-treated groups, it significantly increased RSNO in the GSH-loaded group. Thirty minutes after administration of NOC7, about 20% of the dose was recovered as plasma NOx in all animal groups. These results suggested that GSH status in animals might affect the metabolism of NO.

Mutagenicity of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) when activated by hamster pancreatic duct epithelial cells: a chemopreventive role for glutathione

We have shown a role for glutathione (GSH) in the detoxification of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) using mutagenicity in V79 cells as the end-point. Immortalized hamster pancreas duct epithelial cells (CK cells) were used to metabolize PhIP in this assay. Intracellular GSH concentrations were lowered by treatment with buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) and were raised by treatment with sodium sulfite. BSO treatment (10 mM, 4 h) reduced the GSH concentration in V79 cells from 18 +/- 1 to 6 +/- 1 nmol/mg protein, 4 h after treatment. The mutation frequency of PhIP in these V79 cells rose from 15 +/- 2 to 34 +/- 4 mutants/10(6) survivors in BSO-treated V79 cells. In a related experiment both CK and V79 cells were treated with sulfite. Sulfite treatment (2 mM, 4 h) produced a greater reduction in PhIP mutagenicity when the V79 cells were treated with sulfite (from 15 +/- 2 to 3 +/- 1 mutants/10(6) survivors) than when the CK cells were treated (from 15 +/- 2 to 7 +/- 2 mutants/10(6) survivors). These data show a relationship between intracellular GSH concentration and the mutagenicity of PhIP.

Efficient transport and accumulation of vitamin C in HL-60 cells depleted of glutathione

Human myeloid leukemia cells (HL-60) transport only the oxidized form of vitamin C (dehydroascorbic acid) and accumulate the vitamin in the reduced form, ascorbic acid. We performed a detailed study of the role of glutathione in the intracellular trapping/accumulation of ascorbic acid in HL-60 cells. Uptake studies using HL-60 cells depleted of glutathione by treatment with L-buthionine-(S,R) sulfoximine and diethyl maleate, revealed no changes in the cells' ability to transport dehydroascorbic acid and accumulate ascorbic acid. Similar transport and accumulation rates were obtained using HL-60 cells containing intracellular glutathione concentrations from 6 mM to 1 microM. HL-60 cells, containing as little as 5 microM glutathione, were able to accumulate up to 150 mM ascorbic acid intracellularly when incubated with dehydroascorbic acid. Glutathione was capable of reducing dehydroascorbic acid by a direct chemical reaction, but only when present in a greater than 10-fold stoichiometric excess over dehydroascorbic acid. The accumulation of ascorbic acid by HL-60 cells was strongly temperature-dependent and was very inefficient at 16 degrees C. On the other hand, the direct chemical reduction of dehydroascorbic acid by excess glutathione proceeded efficiently at temperatures of 16 degrees C. Our data indicate that glutathione-dependent reductases in HL-60 cells are not responsible for the ability of these cells to accumulate millimolar concentrations of ascorbic acid. These findings indicate that alternative enzymatic mechanisms are involved in the cellular reduction of dehydroascorbic acid.

Pharmacologic modulation of reduced glutathione circadian rhythms with buthionine sulfoximine: relationship with cisplatin toxicity in mice

The relationship between the rhythm in reduced glutathione (GSH) and that in cisplatin (CDDP) toxicity was investigated in a total of 560 male B6D2F1 mice, using buthionine sulfoximine (BSO). GSH was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in four tissues, at each of six sampling times, 4 hr apart. A significant 24-hr rhythm was statistically validated in liver, jejunum, and colon, but not in bone marrow. Relative to liver, glutathione content was 56% in colon, 38% in bone marrow, 25% in jejunum, and negligible in kidney, where cysteine, a final product of GSH catabolism, displayed a 12-hr rhythmic variation. This rhythm may reflect that in the activity of GSH-degrading enzymes. BSO (450 mg/kg ip, 4 hr before sampling) reduced liver GSH threefold and kidney cysteine content was halved, but this pretreatment had no significant effect upon GSH content in the other organs. Furthermore, the period of the physiologic liver GSH rhythm changed from 24 hr to a composite (24 + 12 hr) period. This change in the period may result from an unmasking of the 12-hr rhythm in GSH-degrading enzyme activity by GSH synthesis blockade. Maximal values occurred in the mid-rest span and in the mid-active span after BSO administration. In the other tissues, the 24-hr period remained unchanged. BSO injection largely enhanced CDDP toxicity (as assessed by survival, leukopenia, and histologic lesions in kidney and bone marrow) and kidney mean platinum concentration. Furthermore, BSO pretreatment modified the period of CDDP toxicity rhythm: survival followed a significant 12-hr-rhythm, instead of a 24-hr rhythm. The cycling of GSH concentration results from a balance between synthesis and catabolism and likely constitutes one of the main components of the circadian rhythm in CDDP toxicity in mice.

Neuroprotection against oxidative stress by estrogens: structure-activity relationship

Oxidative stress-induced neuronal cell death has been implicated in different neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases; one such ailment is Alzheimer's disease. Using the Alzheimer's disease-associated amyloid beta protein, glutamate, hydrogen peroxide, and buthionine sulfoximine, we investigated the neuroprotective potential of estrogen against oxidative stress-induced cell death. We show that 17-beta-estradiol, its nonestrogenic stereoisomer, 17-alpha-estradiol, and some estradiol derivatives can prevent intracellular peroxide accumulation and, ultimately, the degeneration of primary neurons, clonal hippocampal cells, and cells in organotypic hippocampal slices. The neuroprotective antioxidant activity of estrogens is dependent on the presence of the hydroxyl group in the C3 position on the A ring of the steroid molecule but is independent of an activation of estrogen receptors.

Effect of glutathione deficiency on the adipocyte Mg(2+)-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase

Previous studies from this laboratory [Jamdar S. C. and Cao W. F. (1994) Biochem. J. 301, 793-799] show that the adipocyte Mg(2+)-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (MGPPH), a major regulatory enzyme in adipose triacylglycerol metabolism, requires an active thiol group for its activity and perturbation of this group results in the loss of enzyme activity. Since glutathione (GSH) is important in maintaining the intracellular thiol state, we have used GSH-deficient animals and adipocytes to test the possibility that intracellular GSH concentration is critical in controlling the MGPPH activity. The MGPPH was measured in the presence of aqueous dispersed phosphatidate, and the release of P1 was taken as a measure of enzyme activity. The GSH deficiency in animals and isolated adipocytes was produced in the presence of diethylmaleate (DEM) or buthionine sulfoximine (BSO). Intraperitoneal administration of BSO into animals (3 mmoles/kg) showed 10-25% reduction in the blood and adipose GSH and 25% decline in the adipose MGPPH activity. However, DEM (0.3 ml/kg) was more effective and caused over 70% reduction of the blood and adipose tissue GSH content and 75% decline in the adipose MGPPH activity within 4 hr of drug administration. After 24 hr, these values returned to normal. Adipocytes incubated with 2.5 mM DEM for 60 min at 37 degrees C also showed a significant reduction in the GSH content and the MGPPH activity present in the cytosol and membrane fractions. The loss of membrane MGPPH was associated with decreased rates of triacylglycerol formation from [14C]palmitate. Pre-incubation of adipocyte homogenates with 1 mM DEM also resulted in > 90% decline in the MGPPH activity, which was preventable in the presence of GSH and dithiothreitol. Therefore, these studies suggest that the sulfhydryl environment offered by glutathione is critical for the maintenance of adipocyte MGPPH activity.

Induction of proinflammatory cytokines in human epidermoid carcinoma cells by in vitro ultraviolet A1 irradiation

Ultraviolet radiation-induced expression of cytokines by keratinocytes is important for the pathogenesis of polymorphous light eruption (PLE). Because UVA1 radiation rather than UVB radiation might be a more important trigger for PLE, cells from the human epidermoid carcinoma cell line KB were exposed in vitro to UVA1 radiation (30 J/cm2) and subsequently analyzed for cytokine expression. Ultraviolet A1 irradiation induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-8 expression in KB cells at the mRNA and protein level. Upregulation of cytokine mRNA levels followed a biphasic pattern. This effect was specific for TNF alpha and IL-8 because UVA1 radiation did not induce expression of IL-1 alpha or IL-6 in these cells. Ultraviolet A1 radiation-induced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in KB cells previously was found to depend on the thiol status of these cells. Therefore, KB cells were treated with DL-buthionine-[S,R]-sulfoximine (BSO), a specific inhibitor of de novo glutathione synthesis. Exposure of BSO-pretreated KB cells to UVA1 radiation significantly induced IL-1 alpha and IL-6 mRNA and protein expression. These studies demonstrate the capacity of UVA1 radiation to induce cytokine expression in human epidermoid carcinoma cells. This immunomodulatory effect may be mediated by thiol-status-dependent and -independent mechanisms.

Carbamoylation of glutathione reductase by N,N-bis(2-chloroethyl)-N- nitrosourea associated with inhibition of multidrug resistance protein (MRP) function

Intracellular glutathione (GSH) concentrations have been implicated recently as a regulatory determinant of multidrug resistance protein (MRP)-mediated drug efflux. Inhibition of glutathione reductase (GR) activity of N,N-bis(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea (BCNU) has been employed extensively to investigate the role of GSH redox cycle in cellular function. The present study examined the effect of BCNU on the MRP-mediated efflux of doxorubicin in the multidrug-resistant human fibrosarcoma cell line HT1080/DR4 overexpressing MRP. No significant difference in GR activity between HT1080 (parental) and multidrug-resistant HT1080/DR4 cells was detected (38.6 +/- 2.2 and 37.8 +/- 5.28 nmol/min/10(6) cells, respectively). Exposure of HT1080 and HT1080/DR4 cells to 100-500 microM BCNU decreased GR activity concentration dependently with subsequent reduction in cellular GSH pools in both cell lines. Inhibition of GSH biosynthesis by D,L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (D,L-BSO), a specific inhibitor of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, significantly reduced MRP-mediated drug efflux and potentiated the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin in MRP-expressing HT1080/DR4 cells (dose modifying factor 20.8). While equally effective inhibition of GR activity by BCNU was observed in parental and resistant cells, a significant increase in intracellular retention of doxorubicin was only achieved in MRP-expressing HT1080/DR4 cells. Furthermore, inhibition of MRP function following treatment with BCNU or D,L-BSO was directly related to the degree of GSH depletion in MRP-expressing tumor cells [r = 0.94 (P < 0.001) and 0.99 (P < 0.001), respectively]. Based on northern blot analysis of MRP mRNA levels, exposure of HT1080/DR4 cells to BCNU did not produce down-regulation of MRP gene expression. The results reported herein indicate that derivatives of nitrosourea with carbamoylating properties are potent inhibitors of MRP function. Depletion of intracellular GSH pools by inhibition of the GSH redox cycle or GSH de novo biosynthesis significantly inhibited MRP-mediated doxorubicin transport and restored intracellular drug concentrations in vitro.

Redox regulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced interleukin-8 (IL-8) gene expression mediated by NF kappa B and AP-1 in human astrocytoma U373 cells

LPS-induced expression of the IL-8 gene was markedly enhanced by H2O2 or by deprivation of the cellular antioxidant glutathione by L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO) in human astrocytoma U373 cells. In contrast, it was markedly suppressed by the reductant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and other antioxidants. Transient expression analysis using the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assay revealed that activation of the IL-8 promoter by LPS was stimulated by BSO and was suppressed by NAC; likewise LPS-induced activation of both NF kappa B and AP-1 was enhanced by BSO and inhibited by NAC. These results suggest that LPS-induced IL-8 gene expression is regulated by cellular redox via modulation of these transcription factors.

Decreased sensitivity to adriamycin in cadmium-resistant human lung carcinoma A549 cells

Cross-resistance presents an obstacle in cancer chemotherapy. Cadmium is a potential carcinogen whose exposure has been shown in epidemiological and laboratory experiments to cause lung cancer. Cadmium also induces various forms of resistance in human lung carcinoma cells. This resistance may be shared by antineoplastic agents, which should be a concern for chemotherapy of cadmium-induced lung cancer. In the present study, two subpopulations of human lung carcinoma A549 cells with a different magnitude of resistance to cadmium toxicity were shown to have a parallel resistance to the cytotoxic action of Adriamycin (ADR), an important anticancer drug. Several factors were examined to investigate the mechanism(s) for the cross-resistance, including cellular metallothionein and glutathione (GSH) concentrations, glutathione S-transferase activity, mdr1 expression, and antioxidant enzyme activities including superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase. Only cellular GSH content was elevated consistently in the cadmium/ADR-resistant cells relative to the cadmium/ADR-sensitive cells. Treatment with buthionine sulfoximine, a specific inhibitor of GSH synthesis sensitized both cell lines to ADR only when the cellular GSH levels were depleted to about 5% of control. This BSO treatment, however, did not affect cell viability. Further study revealed that the cadmium/ADR-resistant cells have a greater capacity in recovery of cellular GSH content following BSO treatment. The results demonstrate that cross-resistance to ADR exists in cadmium-resistant human lung carcinoma A549 cells, and enhanced GSH synthesis capacity, rather than elevated levels of cellular GSH, may be related to this resistance.

Hypoxia/reoxygenation stimulates Jun kinase activity through redox signaling in cardiac myocytes

Hypoxia and reoxygenation are principal components of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion and have distinctive effects on the tissue. Both conditions have been associated with inflammation, necrosis, apoptosis, and myocardial infarction. Using a cell culture model of ischemia and reperfusion in which cardiac myocytes were exposed to cycles of hypoxia and reoxygenation, we report here that reoxygenation, but not hypoxia alone, caused sustained approximately 10-fold increases in phosphorylation of the amino-terminal domain of the c-jun transcription factor. The activation was similar to treatments with anisomycin or okadaic acid and correlated with the hypoxia-mediated depression of intracellular glutathione. Reoxygenation-induced c-Jun kinase activity was reduced by preincubating myocytes during the hypoxia phase with the spin-trap agent alpha-phenyl N-tert-butylnitrone or with N-acetylcysteine. The kinase activation was also inhibited by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein but not by other protein kinase inhibitors. These results implicate unquenched reactive oxygen intermediates as the stimulus that initiates a kinase pathway involving the stress-activated protein kinases (JNKs/SAPKs) in reoxygenated cardiac myocytes.

Potentiation of aflatoxin B1-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in the rat by pretreatment with buthionine sulfoximine

A single i.p. dose of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) (1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg body wt)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis with phenobarbital as a promoter has been examined in young male Fischer rats. Immunohistochemical method has been employed to detect AFB1-induced glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive hepatic foci observed from 3 week and 10 week to 40-48 week periods. With 2.0 mg AFB1 dosing, the number, area and volume occupied by GST-P-positive hepatic foci increased significantly and progressively from 3 week, 10 week and 48 week periods. In long term studies (40-48 weeks), 1.0 mg and 2.0 mg AFB1 dose levels yielded linear response in area and volume occupied by AFB1-induced hepatic foci. Pretreatment of rats with L-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), a GSH depleter, at a dose of 4 mmol/kg body wt 4 and 2 h before 1.0 or 2.0 mg AFB1 treatment enhanced the number, area and volume of GST-P-positive hepatic foci, increases being the largest at shorter time periods (3 and 10 weeks) compared to longer time periods (40 and 48 weeks). This report appears to be the first example of an enhanced chemical induced hepatocarcinogenesis in a long term study in any experimental animals species by a GSH depleting agent.

The protective role of thiols against nitric oxide-mediated cytotoxicity in murine macrophage J774 cells

Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the cytotoxic activity of macrophages towards tumour cells and microbial pathogens. We investigated whether alteration of intracellular thiol levels modulates the cytotoxic effects of different NO donors and lipopolysaccharide-induced NO in the murine macrophage cell lin J774A.1. The NO-releasing compound S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine caused a significant concentration-dependent loss of viability of the macrophages only under glucose-limiting conditions. The cytotoxic effect of S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine was prevented by the NO scavenger 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (carboxy-PTIO). Depletion of total glutathione before exposure to S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine further decrease cell viability while pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine was protective. Comparing equimolar concentrations of various NO donors including S-nitrosoglutathione, S-nitrosocysteine and 3-morpholino-sydnonimine hydrochloride, cytotoxicity appeared to be related to the relative stability of the test compound. Both the order of stability and the order of potency for cell killing was S-nitrosoglutathione > S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine > S-nitrosocysteine = 3-morpholino-sydnonimine hydrochloride. Stimulation of the macrophages with lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma resulted in dose-dependent cell injury and NO production. Glutathione depletion prior to stimulation considerably decreased macrophage viability as well as the NO production. In contrast to the protective effect on S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine-mediated injury, pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine did not influence the lipopolysaccharide-mediated cytotoxicity. These results demonstrate that (a) reduction in the availability of glucose and intracellular glutathione renders the cells more vulnerable to the cytotoxic effects of NO donors, (b) in this model of cytotoxicity, long-lived NO donors were more cytotoxic than short-lived NO donors, (c) the differential effects of N-acetylcysteine on S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine-induced and bacterial lipopolysaccharide-mediated cytotoxicity support the existence of other toxic species different from NO or NO-related compounds with a potent cytotoxic activity in immunostimulated macrophages, and (d) other non-protein thiols like N-acetylcysteine may substitute for glutathione as a major component of the cellular antioxidant defense system.

Microfluorometry using fluorescein diacetate reflects the integrity of the plasma membrane in UVA-irradiated cultured skin fibroblasts

The damaging effect of long-wave ultraviolet radiation (UVA) on the plasma membranes of cultured human skin fibroblasts was evaluated by cytofluorometry performed after vital staining with fluorescein diacetate. The damage was associated with lipid peroxidation, as shown by accumulation of malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxyalkenals; such accumulation was induced by a UVA dose of only 8 J/cm2. Pretreatment with the effective membrane peroxidation inhibitor alpha-tocopherol (added in the form of alpha-tocopherol succinate) or the singlet oxygen quencher beta-carotene protected the cells from membrane damage. Further, depletion of intracellular glutathione by exposure of the cells to buthionine sulfoximine, an inhibitor of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase aggravated the membrane-damaging effects. The results confirm the photodynamic effects of UVA, which presupposes the excitation of endogenous photosensitizer(s) and the production of reactive oxygen species. The present results indicate that this method of detection of alterations in plasma membrane stability may be highly suitable for studying various photobiological phenomena and for use as a model for testing substances that could protect skin from UVA damage. The trypan blue exclusion test proved to be too insensitive to detect these changes.

Effect of glutathione depletion on cisplatin resistance in cancer cells transfected with the gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase gene

Overexpression of the human gamma-glutamylcysteine (gamma-GCS) gene resulted in cisplatin resistance with an increased glutathione (GSH) content, increased ATP-dependent glutathione S-conjugate export pump (GS-X pump) activity and decreased platinum accumulation in human lung cancer cells transfected with a gamma-GCS cDNA expression vector, as we previously reported. In this study, we examined the effects of buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), a specific inhibitor of gamma-GCS, to determine whether GSH depletion alters cisplatin resistance in a gamma-GCS-transfected cell line, SBC-3/GCS. In the presence of 10 microM BSO for 4 days, SBC-3/GCS still showed resistance to cisplatin, although it was partially reversed. Under these conditions, GS-X pump activity remained up-regulated in spite of low GSH content, and the platinum content was decreased. These data suggest that the GS-X pump itself influences cisplatin resistance, as well as cellular GSH content.

Enhancement of etoposide (VP-16) cytotoxicity by enzymatic and photodynamically induced oxidative stress

The effects of glutathione (GSH) depletion by buthionine sulfoximane (BSO) or by photosensitization-induced oxidative stress using metallo-phthalocyanines (MePcS4) on etoposide (VP-16) cytotoxicity against K562 human leukemic cells were investigated. Both treatments enhanced VP-16 toxicity in a markedly synergistic way, as revealed by combination index analysis procedure. Synergistic drug interactions were accompanied by a supra-additive induction of DNA strand breaks. The proposed role of intracellular GSH in preventing metabolic transformations of VP-16 and thus decreasing its toxicity was confirmed by electron spin resonance (ESR) monitoring of the accumulation of the VP-16 phenoxyl radical in cell cytoplasm subjected to GSH depletion. Taken together the results emphasize the beneficial effect of GSH-related oxidative stress in enhancement of etoposide toxicity and possibly in its anticancer applications.

Loss of GSH, oxidative stress, and decrease of intracellular pH as sequential steps in viral infection

Madin-Darby canine kidney cells infected with Sendai virus rapidly lose GSH without increase in the oxidized products. The reduced tripeptide was quantitatively recovered in the culture medium of the cells. Since the GSH loss in infected cells was not blocked by methionine, a known inhibitor of hepatocyte GSH transport, a nonspecific leakage through the plasma membrane is proposed. UV-irradiated Sendai virus gave the same results, confirming that the major loss of GSH was due to membrane perturbation upon virus fusion. Consequent to the loss of the tripeptide, an intracellular pH decrease occurred, which was due to a reversible impairment of the Na+/H+ antiporter, the main system responsible for maintaining unaltered pHi in those cells. At the end of the infection period, a rise in both pHi value and GSH content was observed, with a complete recovery in the activity of the antiporter. However, a secondary set up of oxidative stress was observed after 24 h from infection, which is the time necessary for virus budding from cells. In this case, the GSH decrease was partly due to preferential incorporation of the cysteine residue in the viral proteins and partly engaged in mixed disulfides with intracellular proteins. In conclusion, under our conditions of viral infection, oxidative stress is imposed by GSH depletion, occurring in two steps and following direct virus challenge of the cell membrane without the intervention of reactive oxygen species. These results provide a rationale for the reported, and often contradictory, mutual effects of GSH and viral infection.

Active efflux of the free acid form of the fluorescent dye 2',7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein in multidrug-resistance-protein-overexpressing murine and human leukemia cells

Murine and human cell lines overexpressing the multidrug-resistance protein (MRP) showed a marked decreased accumulation of the fluorescent dye 2',7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). In contrast, less altered accumulation was seen in the P-glycoprotein(P-gp)-overexpressing cell lines. The decreased drug accumulation was reversed by the energy inhibitors sodium azide/2-deoxyglucose and by the vinca alkaloid, vincristine, but not by the chemotherapeutic agents, etoposide and adriamycin. Decreased accumulation was linked to active efflux of the hydrophilic free acid form of BCECF from the MRP-overexpressing cell lines, indicating that dye extrusion occurs after the dye ester has been converted to the free acid form in the cytoplasm. The finding suggests that MRP mediates removal of substrates from a cytoplasmic location. Buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), an inhibitor of glutathione synthesis, decreased the vincristine and etoposide resistance displayed by the MRP-expressing murine cell lines, but did not affect the accumulation of BCECF. Thus, while glutathione may be involved in MRP-mediated resistance to some chemotherapeutic agents, it is not necessary for effiux of substrates such as BCECF.

Production of unscheduled DNA synthesis in rodent hepatocytes in vitro, but not in vivo, by 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2[5H]-furanone (MX)

Incubation of both rat and mouse hepatocytes with 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2[5H]-furanone (MX) in vitro resulted in a dose-dependent increase in unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) at sub-cytotoxic concentrations (1-10 microM MX; 20 h incubation). Depletion of glutathione stores by pre-treatment of rat hepatocytes with buthionine sulfoximine did not result in a significant increase in UDS produced by MX. In contrast, MX did not induce UDS in mouse hepatocytes ex vivo either 3 or 16 h following administration of a single oral dose of 100 mg/kg MX. Despite the ability of MX to produce repairable DNA damage, restricted access of MX to the liver may prevent a measurable UDS response in vivo.

Glutathione redox cycle regulates nitric oxide-mediated glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase inhibition

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) has been identified as a potential target for nitric oxide (NO)-mediated cellular toxicity. We have previously shown that NO inhibits GAPDH by S-nitrosylation of the active site cysteine residue, which is reversed by low-molecular-weight thiols. Because endothelial cells contain high concentrations of low-molecular-weight thiols, principally glutathione, we investigated the effect of NO on GAPDH activity in intact endothelial cells and the influence that cellular glutathione has on GAPDH inhibition. Our results show that incubation of cells with an exogenous NO-generating system resulted in inhibition of GAPDH activity. The mechanism for inhibition appears to involve reversible modification of GAPDH because addition of thiols to cell extracts restored activity. Furthermore, cells were able to completely recover GAPDH activity after removal of the NO-generating system. Recovery did not require de novo protein synthesis. Depletion of cellular glutathione levels by treatment of cells with buthionine sulfoximine resulted in greater NO-mediated GAPDH inhibition as well as a lesser ability to recover activity. Finally, disruption of the glutathione redox cycle with the glutathione reductase inhibitor, 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea, increased the extent of NO-mediated GAPDH inhibition and decreased both the rate and degree of recovery of GAPDH-activity. These results suggest that the glutathione redox cycle plays an important role not only in regulating the extent of NO-mediated GAPDH inhibition but also in the ability of endothelial cells to recover from NO-mediated GAPDH inhibition.

Cytotoxic effects of repin, a principal sesquiterpene lactone of Russian knapweed

Repin is the principal sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Russian knapweed (Centaurea repens), a perennial weed found in many parts of the United States. Ingestion of Centaurea repens by horses has been reported to cause a movement disorder simulating Parkinson's disease (PD) and nigrostriatal degeneration, called equine nigrostriatal encephalomalacia (ENE). To understand the mechanisms whereby ingestion of Centaurea repens induces ENE and a PD-like disorder, repin cytotoxicity was examined to explore its pathogenetic relationship to ENE and to PD. Repin was highly cytotoxic to both PC12 cells and mouse astrocytes in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The cytotoxic effects were accompanied by depletion of glutathione (GSH), a rise in the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and damage to cellular membranes. Although repin is a highly reactive electrophile that can readily conjugate GSH, GSH depletion may not be the sole mechanism underlying repin cytotoxicity as shown by our study using buthionine sulfoximine, in which severe GSH depletion did not result in a parallel increase in cell death. However, pre-treatment with GSH-glycoside or with lipoic acid provided significant protection from repin-induced cell death. These data suggest that oxidative stress plays a major role in repin cytotoxicity. Since oxidative stress is considered to play a major role in neuronal degeneration accompanied by depletion of mitochondrial GSH and an increase in lipid peroxides in the substantia nigra of PD, further elucidation of mechanisms of repin neurotoxicity may generate clues regarding not only the mechanisms of neuronal degeneration but also the possible role of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of PD.

Thiol-mediated inhibition of FAS and CD2 apoptotic signaling in activated human peripheral T cells

Fas and CD2 receptors can transduce apoptotic signals through two independent biochemical pathways. In this study, we first evaluated the role of intracellular GSH in these signaling pathways by inducing variations in the GSH pool of activated peripheral T lymphocytes. Increasing the concentration of intracellular GSH by means of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and GSH ethyl ester (OEt) resulted in total protection against cell death, while inhibiting GSH synthesis with buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) greatly enhanced cell sensitivity to Fas and CD2 apoptotic signaling. The protection exerted by NAC and GSH OEt was essentially based on their capacity to establish an intracellular reducing environment as it still occurred in BSO-treated cells. Thiol-containing compounds (cysteine, captopril, D-penicillamine and 2-mercaptoethanol) inhibited apoptosis while a series of non-thiol antioxidants (including catalase and vitamin E) failed to do so, suggesting that protection was secondary to thiols/disulfides exchange reactions at the level of cysteine residues in proteins and not to detoxification of reactive oxygen intermediates. This conclusion was further supported by the finding that no enhanced generation of O.-2 and H2O2 could be detected in cells experiencing early stages of apoptosis such as a decreased concentration of intracellular GSH and cell shrinkage. Also, protection occurred in the presence of protein synthesis inhibitors, indicating that it was due to post-translational sulfhydryl redox regulation of critical molecules involved in the apoptotic cascade. These data suggest that GSH, the most abundant intracellular thiol antioxidant, may be important in counteracting Fas- and CD2-mediated apoptosis of T lymphocytes.

Changes in serum levels of creatol and methylguanidine in renal injury induced by lipid peroxide produced by vitamin E deficiency and GSH depletion in rats

A novel creatinine metabolite, creatol (5-hydroxycreatinine), is a key precursor in the synthesis of the uremic toxin methylguanidine (MG). Creatinine is converted to creatol within the mammalian body and this conversion is mediated specifically by hydroxyl radicals. We investigated the production of creatol and MG from creatinine in rats with renal failure induced by the lipid peroxide produced as a consequence of vitamin E deficiency and depletion of the reduced form of glutathione (GSH). In addition, we examined serum levels of other guanidino compounds, namely guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) and guanidinosuccinic acid (GSA). The injury to kidneys induced by the depletion of GSH in combination with vitamin E deficiency caused markedly elevated serum levels of creatol, MG and GSA and decreased serum GAA. The molar ratio of creatol to creatinine in the serum, which should be an index of the oxygen stress mediated by hydroxyl radicals, increased with time. Therefore, the enhanced production of creatol in vitamin-E-deficient rats that have been depleted of GSH might be due to the enhanced production of oxygen radicals in this system.

Glutathione depletion in rat brain does not cause nigrostriatal pathway degeneration

Nigral cell death in Parkinson's disease (PD) may involve oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction initiated by a decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in substantia nigra. L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulphoximine (BSO; 4.8 and 9.6 mg/kg/day), an irreversible inhibitor of gamma-glutamyl cysteine synthetase, was chronically infused into the left lateral ventricle of rats over a period of 28 days and markedly reduced GSH concentrations in substantia nigra (approx. 59% and 65% in 4.8 and 9.6 mg/kg/d BSO respectively) and the striatum (approx. 63% and 80% in 4.8 and 9.6 mg/kg/d BSO respectively). However, the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cells in substantia nigra was not altered by BSO-treatment compared to control animals. Similarly, there was no difference in specific [3H]-mazindol binding in the striatum and nucleus accumbens of BSO-treated rats compared to control rats. In conclusion, depletion of GSH following chronic administration of BSO in the rat brain does not cause damage to the nigrostriatal pathway and suggests that loss of GSH alone is not responsible for nigrostriatal damage in PD. Rather, GSH depletion may enhance the susceptibility of substantia nigra to destruction by endogenous or exogenous toxins.

Psychomotor effects of dopamine infusion under decreased glutathione conditions

Administration of buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) selectively inhibits glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis, thereby inducing a GSH deficiency. Because GSH plays a critical role in intracellular antioxidant defense, decreased GSH levels in the brain may result in less oxidative stress (OS) protection. Thus, the pro-oxidant effects of dopamine (DA), which rapidly oxidizes to form reactive oxygen species, may increase. In this study, the behavioral consequences of reduced OS protection were examined by administering BSO (3.2 mg in 30 microl Ringer's solution, intracerebroventricularly) every other day for 12 d to male Fischer 344 rats. In addition, DA (15 microl of 500 microM) was administered every day; when given on the same day as BSO, it was either 1 h after BSO (BSO + DA group) or 1 h before BSO (DA + BSO group). Tests of psychomotor behavior--rod walking, wire suspension, and plank walking--were performed five times during the experiment. BSO + DA administration, but not DA + BSO, impaired performance by decreasing latency to fall in the rod and plank walk tests compared to a vehicle only (Ringer's) group. Therefore, depletion of GSH with BSO, followed by DA treatment, produced deficits in psychomotor behavior. These deficits are similar to those seen in aged rats, suggesting that the oxidation of DA coupled with a reduced capacity to respond to OS may be responsible for the induction of age-related motor behavioral deficits.

Transforming growth factor B1 decreases uptake of glutathione precursor amino acids in bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells

We have previously observed that transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) produces a pro-oxidant effect and decreases cellular glutathione (GSH) levels of cultured bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (BPAEC) (White A. C., S. K. Das, and B. L. Fanburg. Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 6:364-368, 1992). In the present studies we demonstrate that 2 ng/ml TGF beta 1 reduces the uptake of two GSH precursor amino acids (cystine and glutamate) by 50% (cystine; control 359.35 +/- 100, TGF beta 1 187.7 +/- 26 pmol/10 min/10(6) cells, p < 0.05; glutamate; control 215.15 +/- 18, TGF beta 1 110.2 +/- 16 pmol/10 min/10(6) cells, p < 0.001). The inhibitory effect of TGF beta 1 on the uptake of GSH precursor amino acids persisted in the presence of buthionine sulfoximine (inhibits gamma-glutamyl cysteine synthetase, the rate limiting step in GSH synthesis) or acivicin (inhibits gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase). The uptake of leucine, an amino acid that does not serve as a precursor for GSH, was unaffected by TGF beta 1. In additional experiments TGF beta 1 decreased the levels of cellular and medium GSH-indicating that TGF beta 1 did not increase efflux of GSH from BPAEC. We propose from these observations that TGF beta 1 decreases cellular glutathione, at least in part, through down regulation of precursor amino acid transport and, thereby, its rate of synthesis.

Ebselen, a novel anti-oxidant compound, protects the rat liver from ischemia-reperfusion injury

The present study was designed to examine the in vivo effect of ebselen on reperfusion injury to the liver. Lipid peroxidation and glutathione (GSH) levels of the reperfused liver tissue, as well as hepatocellular damage (serum GOT, GPT, LDH, and histology) were examined. The production of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance did not increase in the 60-min-reperfused liver tissue in the ebselen group. Ebselen completely suppressed the increase in lipid hydroperoxide production in the reperfused liver tissue. After the tissue GSH level was reduced by buthionine sulphoximine, ebselen failed to suppress the lipid peroxidation of the reperfused liver tissue. Serum levels of GOT, GPT, and LDH, histological analysis, and the tissue level of GSH clearly showed that ebselen protects the reperfused liver tissue, both structurally and functionally. We conclude that ebselen's primary effect on ischemia-reperfusion injury may be due to a GSH-peroxidase-like effect and/or the inhibitory effect of leukocyte infiltration.

Increase in gamma-glutamyltransferase by glutathione depletion in rat type II pneumocytes

The purpose of our study was to investigate the effect of oxidative stress or intracellular glutathione (GSH) depletion on gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT) activity in cultured type II pneumocytes. Twenty-four hours after isolation, primary cultures of rat type II pneumocytes were preincubated with one of four compounds: 15, 30, 60, 125, 250 microM L-buthionine-[SR]-sulfoximine (BSO) for 3 h; 100, 200, 400, 800 microM tertiary-butylhydroperoxide (t-BOOH) for 45 min; 10, 25, 50, 100 microM menadione for 15 min; 100, 1000 microM paraquat for 1 h. GSH levels, H2O2 and O2.- generation were measured immediately after the incubation, gamma-GT activity and GSH levels also up to 24 h or 48 h later. Exposure to BSO led to a persistent GSH depletion without increase in H2O2 or O2.- production, together with a dose and time-dependent increase (doubling) of gamma-GT activity with a nonsignificant increase in gamma-GT mRNA expression 24 h after exposure to BSO. Exposure to 100 microM menadione, which increased H2O2 production, decreased gamma-GT activity. t-BOOH or paraquat did not give rise to a measurable increase in H2O2 or O2.-. Paraquat did not affect initial GSH levels, but increased GSH and decreased gamma-GT activity 24 h later. t-BOOH (400 and 800 microM) initially decreased GSH, and tended to increase GSH 24 h later, 100 and 200 microM increased gamma-GT activity 24 h later, but 800 microM decreased it. Restoration of intracellular GSH levels by addition of GSH to the culture medium completely prevented the increase in gamma-GT activity by BSO, while the addition of catalase or DMTU had no effect. We conclude that at least two effects are operating upon gamma-GT activity: GSH depletion seems to increase gamma-GT activity, while exposure to compounds generating oxidative stress correlates with a decrease in gamma-GT activity.

Neutrophil antioxidant capacity during the respiratory burst: loss of glutathione induced by chloramines

Low-molecular weight antioxidants in rat peritoneal neutrophils undergo rapid redox recycling, so measurements were made of their initial content and subsequent changes during the respiratory burst, when superoxide formation is maximized. Endogenous vitamin E, ascorbate and total glutathione (reduced + oxidized) were not significantly changed during 30 min of respiratory burst, which was stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). When de novo synthesis of glutathione was inhibited by buthionine-[S,R] sulfoximine (BSO), the glutathione content rapidly decreased in activated neutrophils but not in resting cells. The lost total glutathione was recovered neither from the incubation medium nor as a protein-bound form, which suggests that irreversible oxidation of glutathione occurs. Furthermore, the glutathione loss continues even 30 min after PMA stimulation, when the respiratory burst has almost ceased. The decrease of glutathione was prevented by added catalase, or by addition of NaN3 or KCN which inhibits myeloperoxidase (MPO). Superoxide dismutase had no protective effects. These findings suggest the involvement of an MPO-H2O2-halide system in the accelerated consumption of glutathione during the respiratory burst. Additional studies showed that neutrophil-derived chloramines found in the extracellular medium could lead to intracellular glutathione loss. Incubation of resting cells with chemically produced membrane permeable monochloramine in the presence of BSO resulted in a decrease of glutathione, whereas membrane-impermeable taurine-chloramine was less effective. We conclude that chloramines are responsible for accelerated glutathione turnover in neutrophils during the respiratory burst. Permeable extracellular chloramines derived from the respiratory burst activity, such as monochloramine, can reenter cells and react with thiols.

Glutathione-doxorubicin conjugate expresses potent cytotoxicity by suppression of glutathione S-transferase activity: comparison between doxorubicin-sensitive and -resistant rat hepatoma cells

The cytotoxic mechanism of a conjugate of doxorubicin (DXR) and glutathione (GSH) via glutaraldehyde (GSH-DXR) was investigated using DXR-sensitive (AH66P) and -resistant (AH66DR) rat hepatoma cells. GSH-DXR accumulated in AH66DR cells as well as in AH66P cells without efflux by P-gp and exhibited the potent cytocidal activity against both cells compared with DXR. To examine whether thiol from GSH-DXR affected the expression of cytotoxicity, two conjugates of DXR, with modified peptides containing alanine or serine substituted for cysteine in GSH were prepared and their cytotoxicities determined. Substitution of these amino acids for cysteine resulted in an approximately two- to fourfold reduction in cytotoxic activity against both cell lines compared with the effect of GSH-DXR. Depletion of intracellular GSH by treatment of both cells with buthionine sulphoximine did not change the cytotoxic activity of DXR, BSA-DXR or GSH-DXR. By co-treating the cells with tributyltin acetate, an inhibitor of glutathione S-transferase (GST), and either DXR, BSA-DXR or GSH-DXR, the cytotoxicity was markedly increased. Interestingly, GSH-DXR showed non-competitive inhibition of GST activity and its IC50 value was 1.3 microM. These results suggested that the inhibition of GST activity by GSH-DXR must be an important contribution to the expression of potent cytotoxicity of the drug.

Effect of glutathione depletion on the cytotoxicity of cisplatin and iproplatin in a human melanoma cell line

Previous studies from our laboratory have indicated that glutathione (GSH) may affect the cytotoxicity of iproplatin to a greater extent than four other platinum agents tested including cisplatin. Therefore we studied the effect of GSH depletion by buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) on the cytotoxicity of iproplatin and cisplatin in a human melanoma cell line SK-MEL-2. Depletion of GSH was dependent on the concentration and time of incubation with BSO. BSO (100 microM) depleted GSH by 85% at 24 h and by 91% at 48 h. BSO (10 to 100 microM) by itself was not cytotoxic to SK-MEL-2 cells. At 85% depletion of GSH, cytotoxicity of iproplatin was increased by a factor of > 7 and that of cisplatin by < 2. These results confirm the previous finding that GSH interferes with the cytotoxicity of iproplatin to a significantly greater extent than that of cisplatin. Equitoxic IC65 and IC90 values of cisplatin (2 microM and 5 microM) or iproplatin (25 microM and 50 microM) had no effect on the intracellular GSH levels in SK-MEL-2 cells. Also, depletion of GSH by BSO had no effect on the accumulation of platinum from either cisplatin or iproplatin in this cell line. Our results suggest that the effect of GSH on the cytotoxicity of cisplatin and iproplatin in this cell line was not a consequence either of differences in GSH-Pt conjugate formation, or of differences in platinum accumulation induced by GSH depletion. GSH may have modulated the cytotoxicity of these platinum complexes by other means such as effects on DNA repair, apoptosis, free radical scavenging or through other yet unidentified mechanisms.

Glutathione regulates nitric oxide synthase in cultured hepatocytes

OBJECTIVE

The authors determine the relationship between glutathione and nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in cultured hepatocytes.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

Glutathione is a cofactor for a number of enzymes, and its presence is essential for maximal enzyme activity by the inducible macrophage nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which produces the reactive nitric oxide radical. Hepatocytes contain substantial quantities of glutathione, and this important tripeptide is decreased in hepatocytes stressed by ischemia/reperfusion or endotoxemia. Endotoxemia also induces the synthesis of inflammatory cytokines that result in the production of nitric oxide from hepatocytes by iNOS, suggesting that hepatocytes may be attempting to synthesize nitric oxide at times when intracellular glutathione is reduced.

METHODS

Hepatocytes were cultured with buthionine sulfoximine and 1,3-bis(chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) to inhibit glutathione. After exposure to cytokines, NO synthesis was assessed by supernatant nitrite levels, cytosolic iNOS enzyme activity, and iNOS mRNA levels.

RESULTS

Inhibition of glutathione synthesis with buthionine sulfoximine or inhibition of glutathione reductase activity with BCNU inhibited nitrite synthesis. Both buthionine sulfoximine and BCNU inhibited the induction of iNOS mRNA, as detected by Northern blot analysis. Exogenous glutathione increased cytokine-stimulated iNOS induction, overcame the inhibitory effects of BCNU, and increased nitrite production by intact hepatocytes, induced hepatocyte cytosol, and partially purified hepatocyte iNOS.

CONCLUSIONS

In cultured hepatocytes, adequate glutathione levels are required for optimal nitric oxide synthesis. This finding is predominantly due to an effect on iNOS mRNA levels, although glutathione also participates in the regulation of iNOS enzyme activity.

Energy stress-induced dopamine loss in glutathione peroxidase-overexpressing transgenic mice and in glutathione-depleted mesencephalic cultures

The role of the glutathione system in protecting dopamine neurons from a mild impairment of energy metabolism imposed by the competitive succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor, malonate, was investigated in vitro and in vivo. Treatment of mesencephalic cultures with 10 microM buthionine sulfoxamine for 24 h reduced total glutathione levels in the cultures by 68%. Reduction of cellular glutathione per se was not toxic to the dopamine population, but potentiated toxicity when the cultures were exposed to malonate. In contrast, transgenic mice overexpressing glutathione peroxidase (hGPE) that received an intrastriatal infusion of malonate (3 mumol) into the left side had significantly less loss of striatal dopamine than their hGPE-negative littermates when assayed 1 week following infusion. These studies demonstrate that manipulation of the glutathione system influences susceptibility of dopamine neurons to damage due to energy impairment. The findings may provide insight into the loss of dopamine neurons in Parkinson's disease in which defects in both energy metabolism and the glutathione system have been identified.

Nitric oxide enhancement of melphalan-induced cytotoxicity

The effects of the diatomic radical, nitric oxide (NO), on melphalan-induced cytotoxicity in Chinese hamster V79 and human MCF-7 breast cancer cells were studied using clonogenic assays. NO delivered by the NO-releasing agent (C2H5)2N[N(O)NO]- Na+ (DEA/NO; 1 mM) resulted in enhancement of melphalan-mediated toxicity in Chinese hamster V79 lung fibroblasts and human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells by 3.6- and 4.3-fold, respectively, at the IC50 level. Nitrite/nitrate and diethylamine, the ultimate end products of DEA/NO decomposition, had little effect on melphalan cytotoxicity, which suggests that NO was responsible for the sensitization. Whereas maximal sensitization of melphalan cytotoxicity by DEA/NO was observed for simultaneous exposure of DEA/NO and melphalan, cells pretreated with DEA/NO were sensitized to melphalan for several hours after NO exposure. Reversing the order of treatment also resulted in a time-dependent enhancement in melphalan cytotoxicity. To explore possible mechanisms of NO enhancement of melphalan cytotoxicity, the effects of DEA/NO on three factors that might influence melphalan toxicity were examined, namely NO-mediated cell cycle perturbations, intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels and melphalan uptake. NO pretreatment resulted in a delayed entry into S phase and a G2/M block for both V79 and MCF-7 cells; however, cell cycle redistribution for V79 cells occurred after the cells returned to a level of cell survival, consistent with treatment with melphalan alone. After 15 min exposure of V79 cells to DEA/NO (1 mM), GSH levels were reduced to 40% of control values; however, GSH levels recovered fully after 1 h and were elevated 2 h after DEA/NO incubation. In contrast, DEA/NO (1 mM) incubation did not reduce GSH levels significantly in MCF-7 cells (approximately 10%). Melphalan uptake was increased by 33% after DEA/NO exposure in V79 cells. From these results enhancement of melphalan cytotoxicity mediated by NO appears to be complex and may involve several pathways, including possibly alteration of the repair of melphalan-induced lesions. Our observations may give insights for improving tumour kill with melphalan using either exogenous or possibly endogenous sources of NO.

Glutathione content but not gamma glutamyl cysteine synthetase mRNA expression predicts cisplatin resistance in head and neck cancer cell lines

PURPOSE

To correlate cellular glutathione content and gamma-glutamyl cysteine synthetase (gamma GCS) mRNA expression with cisplatin sensitivity in a panel of seven head and neck squamous cancer cell lines.

METHODS

Cisplatin IC50 was determined for each cell line using a sodium tetreazolium (XTT) assay. Cellular glutathione content was measured by using a previously reported enzymic method. gamma GCS mRNA expression was measured using an RNase protection assay.

RESULTS

Total cellular glutathione was an excellent predictor of cisplatin sensitivity in this series of cell lines. The IC50 for cisplatin in the cell line with the highest glutathione concentration was approximately 90 times higher than in the cell line with the lowest glutathione concentration. Regression analysis showed a highly statistically significant positive correlation between cisplatin IC50 and cellular glutathione (coefficient of determination R2 = 0.81, P = 0.0012). Some-what surprisingly, in contrast to previous studies in ovarian cancer, gamma GCS mRNA expression in these cell lines was not significantly predictive of either total cellular glutathione or cisplatin sensitivity (R2 = 0.005, P = 0.84). As expected, treatment of resistant cell lines with buthionine sulfoximine resulted in decreased cellular glutathione and enhanced cisplatin sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that glutathione may be an important determinant of cisplatin sensitivity in clinical head and neck cancer. Since cisplatin is the most active chemotherapy drug for the treatment of this disease, this correlation may have important clinical relevance. The lack of correlation between glutathione level and gamma GCS expression suggests that salvage or alternate synthetic pathways may be critical in these cells.

Role of reactive oxygen species in cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum-induced cytotoxicity on bladder cancer cells

This study was undertaken to investigate the intracellular induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum (CDDP) and the augmentation of their cytotoxicity in bladder cancer cells (KU7) by enhancement of ROS generation by the glutathione (GSH) depletors buthionine sulphoximine (BSO) and diethylmaleate (DEM). CDDP-induced cytotoxicity in KU7 cells and its modulation by GSH depletors were determined using spectrophotometric measurement with crystal violet staining. The effects of GSH depletors on intracellular GSH levels were confirmed using the GSH reductase-DTNB recycling method. Intracellular ROS generation induced by CDDP with or without GSH depletors was estimated from the amount of intracellular dichlorofluorescein (DCF), an oxidized product of dichlorofluorescein (DCFH), which was measured with an anchored cell analysis and sorting system. The cytotoxic effects of CDDP (IC50 15.0 +/- 2.5 microM) were significantly enhanced by BSO (IC50 9.3 +/- 2.6 microM, P < 0.01) and DEM (IC50 10.3 +/- 0.3 microM, P <0.01). BSO and DEM produced a significant depletion in intracellular GSH levels (9.6 +/- 0.4 nmol 10(-6) cells, 17.9 +/- 1.0 nmol 10(-6) cells) compared with the controls (30.5 +/- 0.6 nmol 10(-6) cells). Intracellular DCF production in KU7 cells treated with CDDP (1.35 +/- 0.33 microM) was significantly enhanced by the addition of BSO (4.43 +/- 0.33 microM) or DEM (3.12 +/- 0.22 microM) at 150 min. These results suggest that ROS may play a substantial role in CDDP-induced cytotoxicity and that GSH depletors augment its cytotoxicity through an enhancement of ROS generation in bladder cancer cells.

The potential of N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]acridine-4-carboxamide to circumvent three multidrug-resistance phenotypes in vitro

The effectiveness of N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]acridine-4-carboxamide (DACA) relative to that of amsacrine, idarubicin, daunorubicin and paclitaxel against three different forms of multidrug resistance (MDR) was determined using two sublines of the CCRF-CEM human leukaemia cell line, the P-glyco-protein-expressing CEM/VLB100 subline and the MRP-expressing CEM/E1000 subline, and two extended-MDR sublines of the HL60 human leukaemia cell line, HL60/E8 and HL60/V8. DACA was effective against P-glycoprotein-mediated MDR and MRP-mediated MDR, whereas the extended-MDR phenotype showed only low levels of resistance (< 2-fold) to DACA. In comparison, idarubicin was ineffective against the MRP and extended-MDR phenotypes. Repeated exposure of the K562 human leukaemia cell line to DACA (55, 546 or 1092 nM for 3 days over 10 weeks) did not result in the development of any significant drug resistance. We conclude that DACA has the potential to treat refractory leukaemia.

Quercetin protects cutaneous tissue-associated cell types including sensory neurons from oxidative stress induced by glutathione depletion: cooperative effects of ascorbic acid

Oxidation reactions are essential biological reactions necessary for the formation of high-energy compounds used to fuel metabolic processes, but can be injurious to cells when produced in excess. Cutaneous tissue is especially susceptible to damage mediated by reactive oxygen species and low-density lipoprotein oxidation, triggered by dysmetabolic diseases, inflammation, environmental factors, or aging. Here we have examined the ability of the flavonoid quercetin to protect cutaneous tissue-associated cell types from injury induced by oxidative stress, and possible cooperative effects of ascorbic acid. Human skin fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and endothelial cells were cultured in the presence of buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), an irreversible inhibitor of glutathione (GSH) synthesis. Depletion of intracellular levels of GSH leads to an accumulation of cellular peroxides and eventual cell death. Quercetin concentration-dependently (EC50: 30-40 microM) reduced oxidative injury of BSO to all cell types, and was also effective when first added after BSO washout. BSO caused marked decreases in the intracellular level of GSH, which remained depressed in quercetin-protected cells. Ascorbic acid, while by itself not cytoprotective synergized with quercetin, lowered the quercetin EC50 and prolonged the window for cytoprotection. The related flavonoids rutin and dihydroquercetin also decreased BSO-induced injury to dermal fibroblasts, albeit less efficaciously so than quercetin. The cytoprotective effect of rutin, but not that of dihydroquercetin, was enhanced in the presence of ascorbic acid. Further, quercetin rescued sensory ganglion neurons from death provoked by GSH depletion. Direct oxidative injury to this last cell type has not been previously demonstrated. The results show that flavonoids are broadly protective for cutaneous tissue-type cell populations subjected to a chronic intracellular form of oxidative stress. Quercetin in particular, paired with ascorbic acid, may be of therapeutic benefit in protecting neurovasculature structures in skin from oxidative damage.

Thiol regulation of endotoxin-induced release of tumour necrosis factor alpha from isolated rat Kupffer cells

Proinflammatory cytokines released by hepatic macrophages (Kupffer cells) have a central role in the pathogenesis of liver injury and the cardiovascular abnormalities of sepsis. Because cytokine release is controlled primarily at the level of gene expression, intracellular signalling mechanisms that control the transcription of cytokine genes are critical links to organ injury. Oxidant stress up-regulates and antioxidants down-regulate the pleiotropic transcription factor NF-kappa B, a DNA-binding protein that induces the expression of cytokines and vascular adhesion molecules. Thiol-bearing molecules are also important inhibitors of NF-kappa B activation, but whether this inhibition represents an antioxidant effect is unknown. This study was undertaken to determine whether important endogenous and pharmacological thiols modulate the activation of NF-kappa B and the release of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) from Kupffer cells and to ascertain whether these effects are mediated through glutathione. Exposure of rat Kupffer cells to a physiologically relevant concentration of lipopolysaccharide (10 ng/ml) activated NF-kappa B within 1 h and induced the release of TNF-alpha over 5 h. Cellular glutathione content remained unchanged after lipopolysaccharide exposure, but both glutathione monoethyl ester and N-acetyl-L-cysteine increased cellular glutathione levels, blocked NF-kappa B activation and inhibited the release of TNF-alpha. Inhibition of glutathione synthesis prevented the NAC-induced increase in Kupffer cell glutathione, yet it did not prevent the inhibition of TNF-alpha release by NAC. Thus the inhibition of NF-kappa B activation by pharmacological thiols such as NAC might reflect a more general role of the intracellular thiol redox status in NF-kappa B regulation rather than the antioxidant properties of these agents.

Mitochondrial respiratory enzyme function and superoxide dismutase activity following brain glutathione depletion in the rat

In substantia nigra from patients with Parkinson's disease, there are decreased levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and diminished activities of mitochondrial complex I and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (alpha-KGDH), along with increased activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). However, the interrelationship among these events is uncertain. We now report the effect of decreased brain GSH levels on SOD and mitochondrial respiratory enzyme activity in rat brain. In addition, we have investigated the ability of thioctic acid, an endogenous antioxidant, to alter these parameters. Unilateral or bilateral intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of buthionine sulphoximine (BSO; 1 x 3.2 mg or 2 x 1.6 mg) over a 48-hr period reduced cortical GSH by 55-70%. There was no change in the activity of complex I, II/III, or IV or of citrate synthase in cortex. Similarly, there was no alteration of mitochondrial or cytosolic SOD activity. Thioctic acid (50 or 100 mg/kg IP) alone had no effect on cortical GSH levels in control animals and did not reverse the decrease in GSH levels produced by unilateral or bilateral ICV BSO administration. Thioctic acid (50 or 100 mg/kg IP) had no overall effect on complex I, II/III, or IV or on citrate synthase activity in control animals. Thioctic acid also did not alter cortical mitochondrial respiratory enzyme activity in BSO-treated rats. At the lower dose, thioctic acid tended to increase mitochondrial and cytosolic SOD activity in control animals and in BSO-treated rats. However, at the higher dose, thioctic acid tended to decrease mitochondrial SOD activity. Overall, there was no consistent effect of thioctic acid (50 or 100 mg/kg IP) on SOD activity in control or BSO-treated animals. This study shows that BSO-induced glutathione deficiency does not lead to alterations in mitochondrial respiratory enzyme activity or to changes in SOD activity. GSH depletion in Parkinson's disease therefore may not account for the alterations occurring in complex I and mitochondrial SOD in substantia nigra. Thioctic acid did not alter brain GSH levels or mitochondrial function. Interestingly, however, it did produce some alterations in SOD activity, which may reflect either its antioxidant activity or its ability to act as a thiol-disulphide redox couple.

Comparison of lens biochemistry and structure between BSO-treated and glucocorticoid-treated developing chick embryos

In this paper various changes in glutathione level, which were influenced by balance of its synthesis, degradation, transport and utilization, were analysed in chick embryos administered with glucocorticoid (GC) or buthionine sulfoximine (BSO; an inhibitor of glutathione synthesis). When BSO (30 mumol egg-1) was administered twice to chick embryos on day 14 and 15, the GSH in both the lens and the liver decreased to 15-20% and 30-40% of the age-matched control level, respectively, between 24 and 48 hr after the second treatment, then began to recover. Although this decline in the GSH level in these tissues was greater and more prolonged in embryos treated with BSO than with GC, the former embryos maintained lens transparency even up to 144 hr by a visual examination. However, histological changes in the lens occurred after 96 hr and more significantly 144 hr after second administration of BSO. The changes mainly consisted of pale epithelial cells on the anterior peripheral surface of the lens, irregular height of the epithelial cells at the equator, clefts between the epithelium and the cortex and swelling of almost all the cortical fibers. These observations may suggest that BSO treatment could produce the beginning of a cataract. Embryos with GC-cataract revealed the following changes at 48 hr: loss of transparency, elevation of LPO (TBA-reacting substance) in the lens, the blood and the liver. These were not observed in BSO-treated embryos during the experimental period. The GC-cataract may well depend on the generation of LPO. BSO cataract, having a distinct mechanism compared to that caused by GC, develops more slowly in GSH-depleted lenses. The BSO-treated chick embryos will be a useful model to screen the risk factors which accelerate cataract formation.

Stimulation of glutathione synthesis of in vitro matured bovine oocytes and its effect on embryo development and freezability

Glutathione (GSH) has been shown to play an important role in embryo development. In a previous study, we demonstrated that cysteamine supplementation of in vitro maturation (IVM) medium increased the intracellular GSH content in bovine oocytes and improved subsequent embryo development to the blastocyst stage. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of inhibition by buthionine sulfoximide (BSO) of GSH synthesis during IVM in the presence of cysteamine, on subsequent embryo development, and the effect of cysteamine during IVM on the survival of blastocysts following freezing. The effect of beta-mercaptoethanol and cysteine added to the maturation medium on GSH levels in bovine oocytes, as well as the effect of these compounds on de novo GSH synthesis by oocytes during in vitro maturation, was also studied. The inhibitory effect of BSO during in vitro maturation on GSH synthesis was also evaluated. Evidence was found confirming that GSH synthesis occurs intracellularly during IVM of oocytes and is stimulated by cysteamine, beta-mercaptoethanol and cysteine. Moreover, the present results suggest that the increase in the rate of embryo development exerted by cysteamine, when present during IVM, was due to its stimulatory effect on GSH synthesis. This increase in GSH levels during IVM improves embryo development and quality, producing more embryos reaching the blastocyst stage on day 6, those most suitable for freezing.

Cytotoxic components of bardanae fructus (goboshi)

Bardanae Furctus (Goboshi) extract showed potent in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo antitumor activity against human hepatoma HepG2 cells and mouse sarcoma 180 cells, respectively. In this study, the cytotoxicities of four fractions and three major components (arctiin, arctigenin, and chlorogenic acid) isolated from Goboshi extract were examined. Arctiin and arctigenin, which were contained in the ethylacetate fraction and n-butanol fraction, respectively, showed strong cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells, but little toxicity against Chang liver cells. Chlorogenic acid isolated from the water fraction did not affect the viability of these cells. The cytotoxicity of arctigenin against Chang liver cells was markedly potentiated by treatment with glutathione (GSH) synthesis inhibitor, L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO). On the other hand, in HepG2 cells, the cytotoxicity of arctigenin was hardly changed by BSO. The cytotoxicity of arctigenin against HepG2 cells increased in an exposure-time dependent manner. These characteristics of arctigenin were similar to those of Goboshi extract, as previously observed. We therefore conclude that the principal cytotoxic components of Goboshi extract are arctiin and its aglycone arctigenin.

Reduction of intracellular glutathione levels produces sustained arterial narrowing

OBJECTIVE

Although lipid peroxidation and alterations in endogenous antioxidants have been hypothesized to contribute to cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage, there has been no direct evidence demonstrating the relationship between oxidative stress and delayed arterial narrowing. To elaborate the role of the endogenous intracellular antioxidant and electron exchanger glutathione (GSH) in cerebral vasospasm, rat femoral arteries were treated with perivascular application of I-buthionine-(SR)-sulfoximine (BSO), which inhibits the synthesis of GSH.

METHODS

To determine the dose-response relationship, BSO at doses of 10 to 100 mg/ml, in platelet-rich plasma, was applied for 7 days to rat femoral arteries in vivo. Vessels were then perfusion-fixed for morphometric analysis of luminal cross-sectional area. To determine the time course of arterial narrowing, BSO (75 mg/ml) was applied to femoral arteries for 1, 3, 7, or 21 days before histological analysis, as described above. With rats treated with 50 to 100 mg/ml BSO, exogenous GSH (100 mg/kg) was administered, by intraperitoneal injection, daily for 7 days. To demonstrate the mechanism of BSO effects in smooth muscle cells (SMCs), cultured rat aortic SMCs were treated with 1 mmol/l BSO for 24 hours and assayed for intracellular levels of GSH and two products of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxyalkenal.

RESULTS

Compared with control arteries treated with platelet-rich plasma alone, perivascularly administered BSO applied for periods of 1 to 21 days produced sustained and reversible narrowing of rat femoral arteries with a time course, severity, and histological appearance analogous to those observed after perivascular application of whole blood. BSO-induced arterial narrowing was dose-dependent, with 60% reductions in the luminal cross-sectional area being noted at 75 and 100 mg/ml (P < 0.005). Systemic administration of exogenous GSH slightly inhibited the effect of BSO on arterial narrowing, although the inhibition was not statistically significant. Cultured rat aortic SMCs exposed to BSO for 24 hours showed a 70% decrease in intracellular GSH levels (P = 0.03); levels of two products of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxyalkenal, were increased by 25% (P = 0.24) and 38% (P = 0.09), respectively.

CONCLUSION

These data support the hypothesis that diminished intracellular levels of GSH may produce delayed chronic arterial narrowing after subarachnoid hemorrhage. The specific mechanism by which GSH levels modulate vasoconstriction remains uncertain but may involve endogenous antioxidant capacity in SMCs.

Effect of buthionine sulfoximine, a synthesis inhibitor of the antioxidant glutathione, on the murine nigrostriatal neurons

This study analyzed the effects of acute systemic treatment with buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), a synthesis inhibitor of the antioxidant reduced glutathione (GSH), on dopaminergic neurons of the murine nigrostriatal pathway. Part 1 of the study established a dose-response curve and the temporal pattern of GSH loss and recovery in the substantia nigra and striatum following acute BSO treatment. Part 2 of the study determined the effect of acute BSO treatment on the morphology and biochemistry of nigrostriatal neurons. We found that decreases in GSH levels had profound morphological effects, including decreased catecholamine fluorescence per cell, increased levels of lipid peroxidation and lipofuscin accumulation, and increased numbers of dystrophic axons in dopaminergic neurons of the nigrostriatal pathway. However, no measurable effects were observed in biochemical levels of either dopamine or its metabolites. These changes mimic those that have been reported to occur in the nigrostriatal system of rodents with advancing age. Our data suggest that reduction of GSH via BSO treatment results in the same types of nigrostriatal degenerative effects that occur during the aging process and consequently is a good model system for examining the role of GSH in protecting this area of the brain against the harmful effects of age-related oxidative stress.

Induction of chromosomal aberrations in cultured human fibroblasts by inorganic and organic arsenic compounds and the different roles of glutathione in such induction

Clastogenic effects of a variety of arsenic compounds were examined on cultured human fibroblasts. The following compounds were tested: inorganic arsenicals (arsenite and arsenate), the major metabolites of inorganic arsenicals in human and experimental animals [methylarsonic acid (MAA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA) and trimethylarsine oxide (TMAO)], and water-soluble organoarsenic derivatives [2', 3'-dihydroxypropyl-5-deoxy-5-dimethylarsinoyl-beta-D-riboside (arsenosugar), arsenocholine, arsenobetaine and tetramethylarsonium iodide] found in marine organisms. Arsenic compounds induced mainly chromatid gaps and chromatid breaks. The rank order of compounds in terms of clastogenic potency was arsenite > arsenate > DMAA > MAA > TMAO. DMAA was very potent and caused chromosome pulverizations in most metaphases when present at doses higher than 7 x 10(-3) M. Arsenosugar, arsenocholine, arsenobetaine and tetramethylarsonium iodide were less effective. Depletion of cellular glutathione (GSH) with L-buthionine-SR-sulfoximine (BSO), increased the incidence of chromosomal aberrations induced by arsenite, arsenate and MAA, and markedly suppressed the clastogenic effects of DMAA. DMAA was highly clastogenic even in GSH-depleted cells when the cells were incubated with DMAA in the presence of GSH (5 and 10 mM). These results suggest that GSH might play a role in protecting cells against the clastogenic effects of arsenite, arsenate and MAA. GSH might be involved in the expression of clastogenic actions of DMAA.