Broccoli and watercress suppress matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity and invasiveness of human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells

A high dietary intake of cruciferous vegetables has been associated with a reduction in numerous human pathologies particularly cancer. In the current study, we examined the inhibitory effects of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) and watercress (Rorripa nasturtium aquaticum) extracts on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced cancer cell invasion and matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity using human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Aberrant overexpression of matrix metalloproteinases, including metalloproteinase-9, is associated with increased invasive potential in cancer cell lines. Our results demonstrate that extracts of broccoli and Rorripa suppressed TPA-induced MMP-9 activity and invasiveness in a concentration dependent manner as determined by zymographic analysis. Furthermore, fractionation of individual extracts followed by liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy analysis (LC-MS) revealed that the inhibitory effects of each vegetable were associated with the presence of 4-methysulfinylbutyl (sulforaphane) and 7-methylsulphinylheptyl isothiocyanates. Taken together, our data indicate that isothiocyanates derived form broccoli and Rorripa inhibit metalloproteinase 9 activities and also suppress the invasive potential of human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells in vitro. The inhibitory effects observed in the current study may contribute to the suppression of carcinogenesis by diets high in cruciferous vegetables.

Synthesis, physicochemical and in vitro pharmacological investigation of new platinum (II) complexes with some cycloalkanespiro-5′-hydantoins

Platinum (II) complexes with cyclobutanespiro-5'-hydantoin and cycloheptanespiro-5'-hydantoin were synthesized and evaluated by means of general physicochemical methods. The data from the elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectra suggested the formation of cis-[Pt(C6H8N2O2)2(NH3)2](NO3)2 x 4H2O (PtCBH), when cyclobutanespiro-5'-hydantoin was used as a ligand and cis-[Pt(C9H14N2O2)(NH3)2](NO3)2 x 4H2O (PtCHTH), when cycloheptanespiro-5'-hydantoin was used, respectively. The novel complexes exerted cytotoxic effects at micromolar concentrations against a panel of human tumor cell lines. They were found to trigger apoptosis in HL-60 and BV-173 cells as evidenced by DNA-laddering detection. The evaluation of the effects of PtCBH, PtCHTH and the antineoplastic drugs cisplatin and oxaliplatin against cultured murine kidney epithelial cells revealed that the hydantoin complexes were far less nephrotoxic in vitro.

Cytotoxic activity of new lanthanum (III) complexes of bis-coumarins

Complexes of lanthanum (III) with bis-coumarins: bis(4-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)-piridin-2-yl-methane; bis(4-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)-piridin-3-yl-methane and bis(4-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)-piridin-4-yl-methane were synthesized by reaction of lanthanum (III) salt and the ligands, in amounts equal to metal/ligand molar ratio of 1:2. The complexes were prepared by adding an aqueous solution of lanthanum (III) salt to an aqueous solution of the ligand subsequently raising the pH of the mixture gradually to ca. 5.0 by adding dilute solution of sodium hydroxide. The lanthanum (III) complexes with bis-coumarins were characterized by different physicochemical methods-elemental analysis, IR-, (1)H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopies and mass-spectral data. The spectral data of lanthanum (III) complexes were interpreted on the basis of comparison with the spectra of the free ligands. This analysis showed that in the La (III) complexes the ligands coordinated to the metal ion through both deprotonated hydroxyl groups. On the basis of the nu(C=O) red shift observed, participation of the carbonyl groups in the coordination to the metal ion was also suggested. Cytotoxic screening by MTT assay was carried out. In the present study, we performed comparative evaluation of the cytotoxic effects of the three newly synthesized lanthanum complexes against the acute myeloid leukemia derived HL-60 and the chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)-derived BV-173. In addition the cytotoxic effects of La (III) complex with bis(4-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)-piridin-2-yl-methane were evaluated on the SKW-3 cells. In order to elucidate some of the mechanistic aspects of the observed cytotoxic effects we evaluated the ability of this complex to trigger programmed cell death (apoptosis by means of agarose gel electrophoretic analysis of DNA), isolated from the cytosolic fraction of treated SKW-3 cells. In addition, microscopic morphological evaluation of the treated cells was carried out in order to establish morphological features indicative for programmed cell death.

Synthesis and evaluation of double bond substituted combretastatins

A series of combretastatins substituted with epoxides, amides and small alkyl groups has been synthesised and evaluated for cytotoxicity and their ability to inhibit the assembly of tubulin. The methyl and ethyl substituted phenols 36, 44 have shown potent antimitotic effects whilst exhibiting reduced cytotoxicity.

Application of light-absorption ratio variation approach as an optimum spectrophotometry to determination of Mn(II) in ng ml(-1) level using a competitive replacement complexation

The light-absorption ratio variation approach (LARVA) which produces an outstandingly increasing of analytical sensitivity was applied to the quantitative detection of ultramicro amounts of Mn(II) by light-absorption spectrometry using the competitive replacement complexation among 1,5-di(2-hydroxy-5-sulfophenyl)-3-cyanoformazan (DSPCF), Zn(II) and Mn(II) in the presence of o-phenanthroline (OPTL). Not only masks OPTL foreign metal ions but also seriously sensitize the competitive complexation. All the binary and ternary complexes were characterized by the break point approach. Results have shown that the limit of detection (3delta) of Mn(II) is only 0.7 ng ml(-1). This method has been applied to analysis of water quality with satisfactory results.

Lysostaphin as a potential therapeutic agent for staphylococcal biofilm eradication

The aim was to study the activity of lysostaphin in monotherapy or in combination with oxacillin, towards biofilms built by clinical and reference S. aureus and S. epidermidis strains in the wells of microplate, in the chambers of a LabTekII chamber slide or on the polyethylene catheter. MICs of oxacillin and lysostaphin for planktonic bacteria were determined according to the standards of NCCLS. BIC (Biofilm Inhibitory Concentration) was estimated by the MTT assay. The integrity of biofilm treated with antimicrobials was also examined: by staining with FITC and laser scanning fluorescence confocal microscopy and visually by TTC reduction assay. Despite the fact that susceptibility of planktonic cultures of 25 staphylococcal strains to lysostaphin action was various, we have demonstrated the effectiveness of lysostaphin in the treatment of biofilm, built not only on the flat surface of the microplates but also on catheter's surface. The synergistic effect of subBIC lysostaphin+oxacillin was observed for MSSA and MRSA biofilms but not for 1474/01 hVISA strain. Also BICOXA for S. epidermidis RP12 and A4c strains, but not for 6756/99 MRSE biofilms was reduced when lysostaphin was simultaneously used.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce chemical and structural changes on human insulin in vitro, including alterations in its immunoreactivity

Oxidative stress occurs when the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) exceeds the endogenous antioxidant defense. Peroxidations induced by ROS are the key of chemical and structural modifications of biomolecules including circulating proteins. To elucidate the effect of ROS on circulating proteins and considering the presence of oxidative stress in Diabetes Mellitus, the effects of ROS, in vitro, on human insulin were studied. We utilized the Fenton reaction for free hydroxyl radical (HO*) generation in presence of human recombinant insulin measuring chemical changes on its molecular structure. The induced changes in insulin were: a) significant increase on absorbance (280 nm) due to phenylalanine hydroxylation (0.023 +/- 0.007 to 0.13 +/- 0.07). b) Peroxidation products formed on amino acids side branches (peroxyl and alcohoxyl group); measured as increased capacity of reduce nitroblue of tetrazolium (NBT) to formazan (0.007 +/- 0.007 to 0.06 +/- 0.02). c) Increased concentration of free carbonyl groups (8.8 +/- 8.7 to 45.6 +/- 20.2 pmoles dinitrophenylhidrazones/nmol insulin) with lost of secondary structure, and d) Modification of epithopes decreasing the insulin antigen-antibody reactivity measured as a decrease in insulin concentration by RIA. In conclusion, the radical hydroxyl in vitro is able to induce molecular modifications on insulin.

Electrochemical Investigation of 1,3,5-Triphenylformazan and Its Nitro Derivatives in Dimethyl Sulfoxide

Cyclic voltammetric (CV) and chronoamperometric (CA) behaviors of 1,3,5-triphenylformazan (TPF), 3-(p-nitrophenyl)-1,5-diphenylformazan (PNF) and 3-(m-nitrophenyl)-1,5-diphenylformazan (MNF) were studied in dimethyl sulfoxide medium. TPF was found to give a single sharp cathodic CV peak corresponding to a gain of one-electron per molecule. The diffusion coefficient and the number of electrons transferred were calculated using the Baranski equation with the CV-data obtained by an ultramicroelectrode. Standard rate constants for the reduction were calculated by the Klingler-Kochi technique. The electrochemical data obtained support the mechanism proposed by Umemoto.

Imaging Reactive Oxygen Species in Arthritis

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been shown to play a role in the pathogenesis of arthritides. Luminol was used as the primary reporter of ROS and photons resulting from the chemiluminescence reaction were detected using a super-cooled CCD photon counting system. Luminol was injected intravenously into groups of animals with different models of arthritis. Imaging signal correlated well with the severity of arthritis in focal and pan-arthritis as determined by histological measurement of ROS by formazan. Measurements were highly reproducible, sensitive, and repeatable. In vivo chemiluminescence imaging is expected to become a useful modality to elucidate the role of ROS in the pathogenesis of arthritides and in determining therapeutic efficacy of protective therapies.

Involvement of secreted Aspergillus fumigatus proteases in disruption of the actin fiber cytoskeleton and loss of focal adhesion sites in infected A549 lung pneumocytes

Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic pathogenic fungus that predominantly infects the respiratory system. Penetration of the lung alveolar epithelium is a key step in the infectious process. The cytoskeleton of alveolar epithelial cells forms the cellular basis for the formation of a physical barrier between the cells and their surroundings. This study focused on the distinct effects of A. fumigatus on the actin cytoskeleton of A549 lung pneumocytes. Of the 3 major classes of cytoskeletal fibers--actin microfilaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments--only the actin cytoskeleton was found to undergo major structural changes in response to infection, including loss of actin stress fibers, formation of actin aggregates, disruption of focal adhesion sites, and cell blebbing. These changes could be specifically blocked in wild-type strains of A. fumigatus by the addition of antipain, a serine and cysteine protease inhibitor, and were not induced by an alkaline serine protease-deficient strain of A. fumigatus. Antipain also reduced, by approximately 50%, fungal-induced A549 cell detachment from the plates and reduction in viability. Our findings suggest that A. fumigatus breaches the alveolar epithelial cell barrier by secreting proteases that act together to disorganize the actin cytoskeleton and destroy cell attachment to the substrate by disrupting focal adhesions.

Cytotoxicity evaluation of enzyme inhibitors and absorption enhancers in Caco-2 cells for oral delivery of salmon calcitonin

The usefulness of enzyme inhibitors and absorption enhancers with least mucosal cell cytotoxicity was evaluated on Caco-2 cell monolayers. The temporal cytotoxicity of several protease inhibitors at 500 microg/mL (e.g., turkey and chicken ovomucoids, aprotinin, and Protease Inhibitor Cocktail) and absorption enhancers [e.g., cholate (3%), glycocholate (3%), glycosursodeoxycholate (3%), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA, 0.1%), hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD, 5%), hydroxypropyl-gamma-cylcodextrin (HP-gamma-CD, 5%), gamma-cylcodextrin (gamma-CD, 5%), tetradecyl-beta-D-maltoside (0.25%), octylglucoside (0.25%), citric acid (10%), glycyrrhetinic acid (0.34 mM), and Tween-80 (0.1%)] was measured by monitoring their effect on Caco-2 cell viability. Cell viability was measured by mannitol permeability measurements, transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements, DNA-propidium iodide staining assay, and WST-1 assay (tetrazolium salt based assay). Sodium dodecyl sulfate (0.1%), a potent surfactant, was used as a positive control. Chicken and turkey ovomucoids were nontoxic to cells as evaluated by all the methods used. Aprotinin decreased the TEER, whereas plasma membrane damage was seen with Protease Inhibitor Cocktail after a 24-h period. With respect to the absorption enhancers, the toxicity increased directly as a result of an increase in the time of incubation. The enhancers EDTA and HP-beta-CD can be used safely for a short period of time, whereas glycosursodeoxycholate, glycyrrhetinic acid, octylglucoside, HP-gamma-CD, and gamma-CD can be used for a longer period.

Light-absorption ratio variation approach to determination of nickel (II) in ng/ml level with 1, 5-di(2-hydroxy-5-sulfophenyl)-3-cyanoformazan

The light-absorption ratio variation approach (LARVA) has been described and applied to the quantitative detection of ultramicro amounts of Ni by spectrophotometry, which raises notably the detection sensitivity. The complexation between 1, 5-di(2-hydroxy-5-sulfophenyl)-3-cyanoformazan (DSPCF) and Ni(II) at pH 9.11 was investigated and the binary complex was characterized by the spectral correction technique. Results have shown that deltaAr-1 (deltaAr--light-absorption ratio variation) is linear in the range of Ni(II) between 5 and 200 ng/ml. The limit of detection (3sigma) of Ni(II) is only 1.3 ng/ml. The complexation is selective in the presence of fluoride, hexametaphosphate, ethylene diamine tetraacetate and thioglycollic acid. It has been applied to analysis of water quality with satisfactory results.

A modified Ce/Mg-BCIP-NBT formazan/indigoblue technique for demonstration of non-specific alkaline phosphatase activity

The wide ranged structurally variability of formazans and their accessibility for auxiliary additives as redoxmediators or metals provide an easy tunable chromogenic visualization technique. We present here an improved nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate (BCIP) method which is superior to the classical McGadey's procedure regarding proper precipitation and localization as well as sensitivity. Different metal additives as well as the overall reaction course modifying additives (redox mediators, chelating additives, buffer) were optimized.

Reduction of human monocytic cell neurotoxicity and cytokine secretion by ligands of the cannabinoid-type CB2 receptor

1 Two cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, have been identified. The CB1 receptor is preferentially expressed in brain, and the CB2 receptor in cells of leukocyte lineage. We identified the mRNA for the CB1 receptor in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, and the mRNA and protein for the CB2 receptor in human microglia and THP-1 cells. 2 Delta(9)-and Delta(8)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) were toxic when added directly to SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. The toxicity of Delta(9)- THC was inhibited by the CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716A but not by the CB2 receptor antagonist SR144528. The endogenous ligand anandamide was also toxic, and this toxicity was enhanced by inhibitors of its enzymatic hydrolysis. 3 The selective CB2 receptor ligands JWH-015 and indomethacin morpholinylamide (BML-190), when added to THP-1 cells before stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and IFN-gamma, reduced the toxicity of their culture supernatants to SH-SY5Y cells. JWH-015 was more effective against neurotoxicity of human microglia than THP-1 cells. The antineurotoxic activity of JWH-015 was blocked by the selective CB2 receptor antagonist SR144528, but not by the CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716A. This activity of JWH-015 was synergistic with that of the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) inhibitor REV 5901. 4 Cannabinoids inhibited secretion of IL-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) by stimulated THP-1 cells, but these effects could not be directly correlated with their antineurotoxic activity. 5 Specific CB2 receptor ligands could be useful anti-inflammatory agents, while avoiding the neurotoxic and psychoactive effects of CB1 receptor ligands such as Delta(9)-THC.

Utility of formazans and cetylpyridinium chloride in rapid spectrophotometric determination of zinc in biological materials and pharmaceutical formulations

A facile, rapid and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of zinc is performed, based on complexation reaction between the metal ion and 1,5-diphenyl-3-acetylformazan (I) 1-(o-carboxyphenyl)-3-acetyl-5-acetylformazan (II), 1-(o-carboxyphenyl)-3-acetyl-5-phenylformazan (III), and 1-(o-carboxyphenyl)-3-acetyl-5-m-tolylformazan (IV) in the presence of cationic surfactant cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC). The important analytical parameters and their effects on the reported system are investigated. Zinc reacts with the reagents (I-IV) and CPC in the ratio 1:1:2 (metal:reagent:CPC) in the pH range 8.5, 7.5, 5.5 and 6.5 to form a ternary complex with an absorption maximum 616, 656, 672 and 599 nm, respectively. The reaction was extremely rapid at room temperature, and the absorbance value remains unchanged for at least 1 week. The apparent stability constant of the complex were found to be 13.1 9.2, 11.4 and 12.3, and adheres to Beer's law for 0.05-3.50 microg per 10 ml of zinc. For more accurate analysis, Ringbom optimum concentration range was found from 0.08 to 3.20 microg per 10 ml of zinc. The apparent molar absorptivity, Sandell sensitivity, detection and quantification limits are also calculated. Taking a constant concentration of metal ion and determining its concentration in the presence of large number of foreign ions tested the effect of foreign ions. The method was applied for determination of zinc in serum, human hair and pharmaceutical formulations, where excellent agreements between reported and obtained results were achieved. The relative standard deviation was better than 1.67%.

XTT formazan widely used to detect cell viability inhibits HIV type 1 infection in vitro by targeting gp41

XTT can be metabolically reduced by mitochondrial dehydrogenase in viable cells to a water-soluble formazan product. Thus XTT has been widely used to evaluate cell viability and to screen anti-HIV agents and the cytotoxicity of these agents. The present studies demonstrated that XTT formazan derived from XTT in cell culture significantly inhibits the fusion of HIV-1-infected cells with uninfected cells. Synthetic XTT formazan effectively inhibited the replication of laboratory-adapted and primary HIV-1 isolates and cell-to-cell fusion with low cytotoxicity. It blocks the six-helix bundle formation between peptides derived from the N- and C-terminal heptad repeat regions of the gp41 ectodomain (designated N- and C-peptides, respectively). Analysis by a computer-aided docking program indicates that XTT formazan may bind to the highly conserved hydrophobic pocket on the surface of the central trimeric coiled coil of gp41. These results suggest that XTT formazan inhibits HIV-1 entry by targeting the alpha-helical coiled-coil domain of gp41. This small molecular nonpeptide antiviral compound can be used as a lead for designing more effective HIV-1 entry inhibitors targeting the fusion stage of HIV-1 infection. But because XTT formazan itself has anti-HIV-1 activity, caution should be exercised when XTT is used to evaluate HIV-1 infectivity.

Involvement of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) in arsenic trioxide induced apoptotic cell death of murine myeloid leukemia cells

Arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) has recently been shown to be effective to inhibit the growth and to induce apoptosis in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) but not in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. Recently, we have isolated an As(2)O(3) sensitive subclone JCS-16 from the murine myeloid leukemia WEHI 3B (JCS). At the concentrations of 0.3-3 microM, As(2)O(3) induces a dose-dependent cytotoxicity and growth inhibition on the JCS-16 cells. As(2)O(3) also induces apoptotic cell death, as judged by the presence of apoptotic nuclei, at 6 h after treatment. Morphological differentiation was not observed in As(2)O(3) treated JCS cells. Neutralizing anti-TNF-alpha antibody was found to reduce the As(2)O(3)-mediated apoptotic cell death of JCS-16 cells. Growth inhibitory effect of As(2)O(3) was also reduced after the addition of anti-TNF-alpha. In addition, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and reverse northern blot analysis demonstrated that the expression of TNF receptor (TNF-R2), IL-4, and IL-4R was down-regulate at 1 h after As(2)O(3) treatment. The expression of TNF-alpha and TNF-R1 was not affected. Our results suggest that the autocrine action of TNF-alpha might play a role in As(2)O(3)-induced apoptotic cell death of JCS-16 leukemia cells.

In vitro effects of antibiotics on Brugia malayi worm survival and reproduction

Recent studies have suggested that intracellular Wolbachia spp. endobacteria are necessary for the reproduction and survival of filarial nematodes. The effects of antibiotics that are active against related bacteria on adult worms and microfilariae (Mf) of Brugia malayi in vitro were investigated. Antibiotics tested were doxycycline (Doxy), tetracycline (Tet), rifampicin (Rif), azithromycin (Azith), and chloramphenicol (Chlor). Doxy, Tet, Rif, and Azith reduced release of Mf by adult female worms. The minimum effective concentrations that reduced Mf release by 50% were 5 microg/ml for Doxy, 20 microg/ml for Tet, 40 microg/ml for Rif, and 100 microg/ml for Azith. The same drugs (at higher concentrations) killed adult worms and Mf. Embryograms showed that Tets blocked embryogenesis in female worms. Electron microscopy (EM) showed that the Tets, Rif, and Azith cleared Wolbachia spp. from adult worms and damaged developing embryos. These studies show that antibiotics active against Rickettsiaceae affect adult B. malayi worms and Mf in vitro. Additional studies will be needed to elucidate the mechanisms of action of these antibiotics on Wolbachia and filarial worms.

Design, synthesis and biological activity of novel non-peptidyl endothelin converting enzyme inhibitors, 1-phenyl-tetrazole-formazan analogues

A novel non-peptidyl endothelin converting enzyme inhibitor was obtained through a pharmacophore analysis of known inhibitors and three-dimensional structure database search. Analogues of the new inhibitor were designed using the structure-activity relationship of known inhibitors and synthesized. In anesthetized rats, intraperitoneal administration of the analogues suppressed the pressor responses induced by big endothelin-1.

Plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in cats with congestive heart failure

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) are increased in cats with congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to cardiomyopathy.

ANIMALS

26 adult cats with CHF and cardiomyopathy and 9 healthy control cats.

PROCEDURE

Plasma concentrations of TNF-alpha were measured in cats with CHF and cardiomyopathy. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha was measured by quantifying cytotoxic effects of TNF-alpha on L929 murine fibrosarcoma cells.

RESULTS

Concentrations of TNF-alpha were increased (0.13 to 3.6 U/ml) in 10 of 26 cats with CHF but were undetectable in the other 16 cats with CHF and all control cats. In 20 of 26 cats with CHF right-sided heart failure (RHF) was evident; TNF-alpha concentrations were increased in 9 of these 20 cats. The remaining 6 cats had left-sided heart failure (LHF); TNF-alpha concentrations were increased in only 1 of these cats. Age of cats with LHF (mean +/- SD, 12.1+/-6.2 years) was not significantly different from age of the cohort with RHF (10.5+/-5.2 years). Body weight of cats with increased TNFalpha concentrations (5.4+/-1.8 kg) was not significantly different from body weight of cats with CHF that did not have measurable concentrations of TNF-alpha (4.7+/-1.6 kg).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Concentrations of TNF-alpha were increased in many cats with CHF. Cats with RHF were most likely to have increased TNF-alpha concentrations. Increased plasma concentrations of TNF-alpha in cats with CHF may offer insights into the pathophysiologic mechanisms of heart failure and provide targets for therapeutic interventions.

Conversion of a glutamate dehydrogenase into methionine/norleucine dehydrogenase by site-directed mutagenesis

In earlier attempts to shift the substrate specificity of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) in favour of monocarboxylic amino-acid substrates, the active-site residues K89 and S380 were replaced by leucine and valine, respectively, which occupy corresponding positions in leucine dehydrogenase. In the GDH framework, however, the mutation S380V caused a steric clash. To avoid this, S380 has been replaced with alanine instead. The single mutant S380A and the combined double mutant K89L/S380A were satisfactorily overexpressed in soluble form and folded correctly as hexameric enzymes. Both were purified successfully by Remazol Red dye chromatography as routinely used for wild-type GDH. The S380A mutant shows much lower activity than wild-type GDH with glutamate. Activities towards monocarboxylic substrates were only marginally altered, and the pH profile of substrate specificity was not markedly altered. In the double mutant K89L/S380A, activity towards glutamate was undetectable. Activity towards L-methionine, L-norleucine and L-norvaline, however, was measurable at pH 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0, as for wild-type GDH. Ala163 is one of the residues that lines the binding pocket for the side chain of the amino-acid substrate. To explore its importance, the three mutants A163G, K89L/A163G and K89L/S380A/A163G were constructed. All three were abundantly overexpressed and showed chromatographic behaviour identical with that of wild-type GDH. With A163G, glutamate activity was lower at pH 7.0 and 8.0, but by contrast higher at pH 9.0 than with wild-type GDH. Activities towards five aliphatic amino acids were remarkably higher than those for the wild-type enzyme at pH 8.0 and 9.0. In addition, the mutant A163G used L-aspartate and L-leucine as substrates, neither of which gave any detectable activity with wild-type GDH. Compared with wild-type GDH, the A163 mutant showed lower catalytic efficiencies and higher K(m ) values for glutamate/2-oxoglutarate at pH 7.0, but a similar k(cat)/K(m) value and lower K(m) at pH 8.0, and a nearly 22-fold lower S(0.5) (substrate concentration giving half-saturation under conditions where Michaelis-Menten kinetics does not apply) at pH 9.0. Coupling the A163G mutation with the K89L mutation markedly enhanced activity (100-1000-fold) over that of the single mutant K89L towards monocarboxylic amino acids, especially L-norleucine and L-methionine. The triple mutant K89L/S380A/A163G retained a level of activity towards monocarboxylic amino acids similar to that of the double mutant K89L/A163G, but could no longer use glutamate as substrate. In terms of natural amino-acid substrates, the triple mutant represents effective conversion of a glutamate dehydrogenase into a methionine dehydrogenase. Kinetic parameters for the reductive amination reaction are also reported. At pH 7 the triple mutant and K89L/A163G show 5 to 10-fold increased catalytic efficiency, compared with K89L, towards the novel substrates. In the oxidative deamination reaction, it is not possible to estimate k(cat) and K(m) separately, but for reductive amination the additional mutations have no significant effect on k(cat) at pH 7, and the increase in catalytic efficiency is entirely attributable to the measured decrease in K(m). At pH 8 the enhancement of catalytic efficiency with the novel substrates was much more striking (e.g. for norleucine approximately 2000-fold compared with wild-type or the K89L mutant), but it was not established whether this is also exclusively due to more favourable Michaelis constants.

The sites of interaction of triphenyltetrazolium chloride with mitochondrial respiratory chains

The inability of cells and microorganisms to reduce the colourless electron acceptor triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) to a red formazan precipitate is commonly used as a means of screening for cells that have a dysfunctional respiratory chain. The site of reduction of TTC is often stated to be at the level of cytochrome c oxidase where it is assumed to compete with oxygen for reducing equivalents. However, we show here that TTC is reduced not by cytochrome c oxidase but instead by dehydrogenases, particularly complex I, probably by accepting electrons directly from low potential cofactors. The reduction rate is fastest in coupled membranes because of accumulation in the matrix of the positively charged TTC+ cation. However, the initial product of TTC reduction is rapidly reoxidised by molecular oxygen, so that generation of the stable red formazan product from this intermediate occurs only under strictly anaerobic conditions. Colonies of mutants defective in cytochrome oxidase do not generate sufficiently anaerobic conditions to allow the intermediate to form the stable red formazan. This revision of the mode of interaction of TTC with respiratory chains has implications for the types of respiratory-defective mutants that might be detected by TTC screening.

The use of cultured hepatocytes to investigate the metabolism of drugs and mechanisms of drug hepatotoxicity

Hepatotoxins can be classified as intrinsic when they exert their effects on all individuals in a dose-dependent manner, and as idiosyncratic when their effects are the consequence of an abnormal metabolism of the drug by susceptible individuals (metabolic idiosyncrasy) or of an immune-mediated injury to hepatocytes (allergic hepatitis). Some xenobiotics are electrophilic, and others are biotransformed by the liver into highly reactive metabolites that are usually more toxic than the parent compound. This activation process is the key to many hepatotoxic phenomena. Mitochondria are a frequent target of hepatotoxic drugs, and the alteration of their function has immediate effects on the energy balance of cells (depletion of ATP). Lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, alteration of Ca(2+) homeostasis, and covalent binding to cell macromolecules are the molecular mechanisms that are frequently involved in the toxicity of xenobiotics. Against these potential hazards, cells have their own defence mechanisms (for example, glutathione, DNA repair, suicide inactivation). Ultimately, toxicity is the balance between bioactivation and detoxification, which determines whether a reactive metabolite elicits a toxic effect. The ultimate goal of in vitro experiments is to generate the type of scientific information needed to identify compounds that are potentially toxic to man. For this purpose, both the design of the experiments and the interpretation of the results are critical.]

Mitosis and differentiation in T-cells under cytotoxic action of Echinococcus granulosus hydatid fluid

In the T-cell line, D10, thymidine uptake was used to measure the proportion of cells in S-phase, and the MTT assay to measure the number of viable cells. The effect of Echinococcus granulosus hydatid fluid (HF) on the lymphocytes was assayed in 3-day cultures of the T-cell line, D10, in increasing concentrations of HF. Apparent cytotoxic effects of HF were recorded as a log-linear decline in S-phase activity, which was reduced by the presence of IL-1, IL-2, or a combination of the two. In the presence of IL-2, however, mitogenic treatment with concanavalin A increased the cytotoxic effect in 3-day cultures, while in day-2 cultures, HF itself showed mitogenic effect. HF-induced decline in S-phase activity was not matched by a parallel decline in viable cells, suggesting that the apparent cytotoxicity of HF could result from cell-cycle arrest. Depending on its origin, HF enhanced membrane expression of CD25 and CD38 on human peripheral blood lymphoblasts, and diminished that of CD28. Taken together, these changes suggest that HF can induce T-cell mitosis and reduce co-stimulation with subsequent T-cell anergy or apoptosis.

Cytotoxicity effects of di- and tri-hydroxybenzaldehydes as a chemopreventive potential agent on tumor cells

As part of our earlier search for new compounds with improved biological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and tumor growth inhibition activities, we synthesized 2,4,5-trihydroxybenzaldehyde (2,4,5-THBA) from commercially available Sesamol. First we examined the free radical-quenching capacity of 2,4,5-THBA, 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (3,4-DHBA), and 2,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (2,5-DHBA) in vitro by 1,1-diphenyl-1,2-picryhydrazylradical (DPPH) test. The antioxidant bioactivity was also evaluated using the model of t-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced cytotoxicity in rat primary hepatocytes. Finally, three chemicals were tested by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay on human nasopharynx carcinoma cells (KB cells), human hepatoblastoma (HepG2), and human leukemia HL-60 cells. The 2,4,5-THBA shows significant cytotoxicity on HL-60 cells. The results suggest that 2,4,5-THBA may be a potential chemopreventor or chemotherapy agent against HL-60 cells.