Elevation of glutathione levels and glutathione S-transferase activity in arsenic-resistant Chinese hamster ovary cells

Arsenic induced alteration in Mrp-1 like activity leads to zebrafish hepatocyte apoptosis: The cellular GSH connection

Multidrug-resistance protein-1 facilitates the efflux of arsenic conjugated with reduced glutathione nonetheless; the relation between Mrp-1 ATPase activity and cellular GSH levels is contentious. To study this, Mrp-1-ATPase activity was measured in 5 μM arsenic trioxide exposed zebrafish hepatocytes (ZFH) and correlated with intracellular GSH levels. Alongside, mrp-1 gene expression as well as Mrp-1 protein level was also monitored. Diverse mode of Mrp-1 inhibition was reflected from differential level of Km and Vmax of Mrp-1 at different time points. 3 h post-arsenic treatment demonstrated non-competitive inhibition. At 6 h, there was significant increase in Km and ZFH death, suggesting reduced binding affinity of Mrp-1 for ATP. Increased caspase-9-cytochromeC-ATP levels (putative apoptosome), reinforced ZFH apoptosis. The increase in Vmax coupled with reduced substrate affinity of Mrp-1 suggests malfunctioning in arsenic- tolerance mechanisms. We posit the triggering glutathione level regulate arsenic tolerance in ZFH. Irreversible impairment of ATP binding to Mrp-1 culminates in arsenic-induced ZFH apoptosis.

Evaluation of phyto-medicinal efficacy of thymoquinone against Arsenic induced mitochondrial dysfunction and cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells

BACKGROUND

It is evaluated that a few million individuals worldwide are experiencing Arsenic (As) harmfulness coming about because of anthropogenic discharges. There is likewise proof to propose that As can affect the peripheral, as well as, the central nervous system (CNS). On the contrary, thymoquinone (TQ), a biologically active ingredient of Nigella sativa has exhibited numerous neuro-pharmacological traits since ancient times.

HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE

In the present study, the neuroprotective efficacy of TQ was explored by primarily studying its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic potential against Arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃) induced toxicity in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell lines.

STUDY DESIGN

For experimentation, cells were seeded in 96 well tissue culture plates and kept undisturbed for 24 h to attain proper adhesion. After 75-80% confluence, cells were pretreated with 10 µM and 20 µM thymoquinone (TQ) for 1 h After adding 2 µM As, cells were set aside for incubation for 24 h without changing the medium.

METHODS

The mitigatory effects of TQ with particular reference to cell viability and cytotoxicity, the generation of reactive oxygen species, DNA damage, and mitochondrial dynamics were studied.

RESULTS

Pretreatment of SH-SY5Y cells with TQ (10 and 20 μM) for an hour and subsequent exposure to 2 μM As₂O₃ protected the SH-SY5Y cells against the neuro-damaging effects of the latter. Also, the SH-SY5Y cells were better preserved with increased viability, repaired DNA, less free radical generation and balanced transmembrane potential than those exposed to As₂O₃ alone. TQ pretreatment also inhibited As₂O₃-induced exacerbation in protein levels of BAX and PARP-1 and restored the loss of Bcl₂ levels.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study suggest that TQ may prevent neurotoxicity and As₂O₃-induced apoptosis and cytotoxicity. It is, therefore, worth studying further for its potential to reduce the risks of arsenic-related neurological implications.

Chrysin and silibinin sensitize human glioblastoma cells for arsenic trioxide

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is highly efficient in treating acute promyelocytic leukemia. Other malignancies, however, are often less sensitive. Searching for compounds sensitizing arsenic resistant tumours for ATO the plant polyphenols, chrysin and silibinin, and the ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter inhibitor MK-571, respectively, were investigated in human glioblastoma A-172 cells. The sensitivity of A-172 cells to ATO was characterized by a median cytotoxic concentration of 6 μM ATO. Subcytotoxic concentrations of chrysin, silibinin and MK-571, respectively, remarkably increased the sensitivity of the cells to ATO by factors of 4-6. Isobolographic analysis revealed synergistic interaction of the polyphenols and MK-571, respectively, with ATO. Sensitization by chrysin was associated with depletion of cellular glutathione and increased accumulation of arsenic. In contrast, silibinin and also MK-571 increased the accumulation of arsenic more strongly but without affecting the glutathione level. The increase of arsenic accumulation could be attributed to a decreased rate of arsenic export and, additionally, in the case of silibinin and MK-571, to an increasing amount of irreversibly accumulated arsenic. Direct interaction with ABC transporters stimulating export of glutathione and inhibiting export of arsenic, respectively, are discussed as likely mechanisms of the sensitizing activity of chrysin and silibinin.

Glutathione transferase P1-1 as an arsenic drug-sequestering enzyme

Arsenic-based compounds are paradoxically both poisons and drugs. Glutathione transferase (GSTP1-1) is a major factor in resistance to such drugs. Here we describe using crystallography, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, mutagenesis, mass spectrometry, and kinetic studies how GSTP1-1 recognizes the drug phenylarsine oxide (PAO). In conditions of cellular stress where glutathione (GSH) levels are low, PAO crosslinks C47 to C101 of the opposing monomer, a distance of 19.9 Å, and causes a dramatic widening of the dimer interface by approximately 10 Å. The GSH conjugate of PAO, which forms rapidly in cancerous cells, is a potent inhibitor (K_i  = 90 nM) and binds as a di-GSH complex in the active site forming part of a continuous network of interactions from one active site to the other. In summary, GSTP1-1 can detoxify arsenic-based drugs by sequestration at the active site and at the dimer interface, in situations where there is a plentiful supply of GSH, and at the reactive cysteines in conditions of low GSH.

Adding ascorbic acid to arsenic trioxide produces limited benefit in patients with acute myeloid leukemia excluding acute promyelocytic leukemia

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is highly effective in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), but despite its multiple mechanism of action, it has no activity in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that excludes APL (non-APL AML). Ascorbic acid (AA) and ATO induces apoptosis in AML cell lines by depleting intracellular glutathione and generation of reactive oxygen species. In this study, we evaluated the effect of ATO plus AA in patients with non-APL AML. The study enrolled patient aged 18 or older with relapsed or refractory AML (non-APL) after conventional chemotherapy or previously untreated patients 55 years or older who were unfit for standard induction chemotherapy for AML. Intravenous ATO (0.25 mg/kg/day over 1-4 h) was given with intravenous AA (1 g/day over 30 min after ATO) for 5 days a week for 5 weeks (25 doses). Eleven AML patients were enrolled, including six previously untreated elderly patients aged 66-84 years in whom five had antecedent hematological disorder (ADH). Among 10 evaluable patients, one achieved a CR one a CRi and 4 patients had disappearance of blasts from peripheral blood and bone marrow. Five of the six responders were seen in previously untreated elderly patients. ATO related toxicity was mild. The combination of ATO and AA has limited clinical meaningful antileukemia activity in patients with non-APL AML.

The novel arsenical darinaparsin is transported by cystine importing systems

Darinaparsin (Dar; ZIO-101; S-dimethylarsino-glutathione) is a promising novel organic arsenical currently undergoing clinical studies in various malignancies. Dar consists of dimethylarsenic conjugated to glutathione (GSH). Dar induces more intracellular arsenic accumulation and more cell death than the FDA-approved arsenic trioxide (ATO) in vitro, but exhibits less systemic toxicity. Here, we propose a mechanism for Dar import that might explain these characteristics. Structural analysis of Dar suggests a putative breakdown product: dimethylarsino-cysteine (DMAC). We show that DMAC is very similar to Dar in terms of intracellular accumulation of arsenic, cell cycle arrest, and cell death. We found that inhibition of γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase (γ-GT) protects human acute promyelocytic leukemia cells (NB4) from Dar, but not from DMAC, suggesting a role for γ-GT in the processing of Dar. Overall, our data support a model where Dar, a GSH S-conjugate, is processed at the cell surface by γ-GT, leading to formation of DMAC, which is imported via xCT, xAG, or potentially other cystine/cysteine importing systems. Further, we propose that Dar induces its own import via increased xCT expression. These mechanisms may explain the enhanced toxicity of Dar toward cancer cells compared with ATO.

The kinetic signature of toxicity of four heavy metals and their mixtures on MCF7 breast cancer cell line

This study evaluated the kinetic signature of toxicity of four heavy metals known to cause severe health and environmental issues—cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) lead (Pb) arsenic (As)—and the mixture of all four metals (Mix) on MCF7 cancer cells, in the presence and absence of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH). The study was carried out using real time cell electronic sensing (RT-CES). RT-CES monitors in real time the electrical impedance changes at the electrode/culture medium interface due to the number of adhered cells, which is used as an index of cell viability. Cells were seeded for 24 h before exposure to the metals and their mixtures. The results showed that in the presence and absence of cellular glutathione, arsenic was the most cytotoxic of all five treatments, inducing cell death after 5 h of exposure. Lead was the least cytotoxic in both scenarios. In the presence of cellular GSH, the cytotoxic trend was As > Cd > MIX > Hg > Pb, while in the absence of GSH, the cytotoxic trend was As > Hg > MIX > Cd > Pb. The findings from this study indicate the significance of glutathione-mediated toxicity of the metals examined—particularly for mercury—and may be clinically relevant for disorders such as autism spectrum disorder where decreased glutathione-based detoxification capacity is associated with increased mercury intoxication.

The glutathione reductase GSR-1 determines stress tolerance and longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans

Glutathione (GSH) and GSH-dependent enzymes play a key role in cellular detoxification processes that enable organism to cope with various internal and environmental stressors. However, it is often not clear, which components of the complex GSH-metabolism are required for tolerance towards a certain stressor. To address this question, a small scale RNAi-screen was carried out in Caenorhabditis elegans where GSH-related genes were systematically knocked down and worms were subsequently analysed for their survival rate under sub-lethal concentrations of arsenite and the redox cycler juglone. While the knockdown of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase led to a diminished survival rate under arsenite stress conditions, GSR-1 (glutathione reductase) was shown to be essential for survival under juglone stress conditions. gsr-1 is the sole GSR encoding gene found in C. elegans. Knockdown of GSR-1 hardly affected total glutathione levels nor reduced glutathione/glutathione disulphide (GSH/GSSG) ratio under normal laboratory conditions. Nevertheless, when GSSG recycling was impaired by gsr-1(RNAi), GSH synthesis was induced, but not vice versa. Moreover, the impact of GSSG recycling was potentiated under oxidative stress conditions, explaining the enormous effect gsr-1(RNAi) knockdown had on juglone tolerance. Accordingly, overexpression of GSR-1 was capable of increasing stress tolerance. Furthermore, expression levels of SKN-1-regulated GSR-1 also affected life span of C. elegans, emphasising the crucial role the GSH redox state plays in both processes.

The novel arsenical Darinaparsin circumvents BRG1-dependent, HO-1-mediated cytoprotection in leukemic cells

Darinaparsin (Dar) is a more potent cytotoxic arsenical than arsenic trioxide (ATO). We hypothesized that the increased cytotoxicity of Dar may be because of a decreased cytoprotective response. We observed that, unlike ATO, Dar does not induce heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), even though it induces expression of other nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2)-dependent detoxifying enzymes to a greater extent than ATO, in both cancer cell lines and patient-derived leukemic cells. This strengthens the emerging evidence, showing that response to reactive oxygen species (ROS) is stimuli specific. Dar treatment prevents recruitment of the transcriptional coregulator Brahma-related gene 1 (BRG1) to the HMOX1 promoter, which is required for HMOX1 expression. The inability of Dar to induce HO-1 correlates with arrest in G2/M cell cycle phase and BRG1 phosphorylation. Inhibition of HO-1 increases the toxicity of ATO, but has no effect on Dar-induced apoptosis. Accordingly, the lack of HO-1 induction is involved in Dar's enhanced antileukemic properties. Our data highlight cytoprotective responses mediated by HO-1 and BRG1 as a novel target for enhancing the therapeutic range of arsenicals.

Oxidative DNA damage after acute exposure to arsenite and monomethylarsonous acid in biomethylation-deficient human cells

The carcinogen inorganic arsenic (iAs) undergoes biomethylation (BMT) in some cells. The methylated metabolite, monomethylarsonous (MMA(3+)), may cause oxidative DNA damage (ODD). With chronic iAs exposure, BMT-competent cells show ODD while BMT-deficient do not. To further define these events, we studied ODD produced by acute iAs or MMA(3+) in the BMT-deficient human prostate cell line, RWPE-1. ODD, measured by the immuno-spin trapping method, was assessed after exposure to iAs or MMA(3+) alone, with the arsenic BMT inhibitor selenite or after glutathione (GSH) depletion. The expression of oxidative stress-related genes (HO-1, SOD-1, SOD-2, Nrf2 and Keap-1) was also assessed. Exposure to iAs at 24 h (0-20 µM), stimulated ODD only at levels above the LC50 of a 48 h exposure (17 µM). If iAs induced ODD, it also activated oxidative stress-related genes. Selenium did not alter iAs-induced ODD. MMA(3+) at 24 h (0-0.5 µM) caused ODD at levels below the LC50 of a 48 h exposure (1.5 µM), which were greatly increased by GSH depletion but not selenite. MMA(3+) induced ODD at levels not activating oxidant stress response genes. Overall, iAs induced ODD in BMT-deficient cells only at toxic levels. MMA(3+) caused ODD at non-toxic levels, independently of cellular BMT capacity and in a fashion not requiring further BMT.

The inhibitory effect of glutamate on the growth of a murine hybridoma is caused by competitive inhibition of the x(-) (C) transport system required for cystine utilization

Glutamic acid was found to be growth inhibitory to a murinelymphocyte hybridoma in a concentration-dependent manner from 3to 12 mM glutamate. At 12 mM glutamate there was a 70% decreasein the specific growth rate of the cells. Attempts to alleviateinhibition or adapt cells to growth in glutamate-based mediawere unsuccessful. It is proposed that elevated glutamate levelsimpair adequate uptake of cystine, a critical amino acid for thesynthesis of glutathione. Glutathione is required by cells toprevent intracellular oxidative stress. The measured rate ofuptake of U-(14)C L-cystine into the cells was found to havethe following parameters: K(m) = 0.87 mM, V(max) = 0.9nmole/mg cell protein per min. The uptake was sodiumindependent and resembled the previously described x(-) (c)transport system, with elevated glutamate levels causingextensive inhibition. Glutamate at a concentration of 1.4 mMcaused a 50% decrease in cystine uptake from the serum-freegrowth medium. Glutamate was taken up from the external medium(K(m) = 20 mM and V(max) = 12.5 nmole/mg cell protein permin) by the same transport system in a stereo specific, sodiumindependent manner. Of the amino acids examined, it was foundthat cystine and homocysteic acid were the most extensiveinhibitors of glutamate uptake and that inhibition was competitive. Metabolic profiles of the cells grown in culturescontaining enhanced glutamate levels revealed an overallincrease in net production of alanine, serine, asparagine andaspartate. A substantially increased specific consumption ofglutamate was accompanied by a decreased consumption of cystine,valine and phenylalanine.The combined kinetic and metabolic results indicate thatglutamate and cystine are taken up by the anionic transportsystem x(-) (c). The increasing levels of glutamate in themedium result in a decreased transport of cystine by this systemdue to competitive inhibition by glutamate.

Polymorphisms inGSTT1andp53and urinary transitional cell carcinoma in south-western Taiwan: A preliminary study

Little is known about the relevance of genetic polymorphisms to arsenic-related bladder cancer. A preliminary case-control study was conducted to explore the association between genetic polymorphisms of GSTT1, p53 codon 72 and bladder cancer in southern Taiwan, a former high arsenic exposure area. Fifty-nine urinary transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) patients from a referral centre in south-western Taiwan and 81 community controls matched on residence were recruited from 1996 to 1999. A questionnaire was administered to obtain arsenic exposure and general health information. Genotypes of p53 codon 72 and GSTT1 were analysed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymerase. The combined variant genotypes (heterozygous or homozygous variant) of p53 codon 72 and GSTT1 null were observed in 29% of cases and in 44% of controls, respectively. In this preliminary study, bladder cancer risk was slightly elevated for subjects carrying the variant genotype of p53 codon 72 or in subjects carrying the GSTT1 null genotype. Variants in p53 codon 72 increased the risk of bladder cancer among smokers. However, the results were not statistically significant and larger confirmatory studies are needed to clarify the role of candidate gene polymorphisms and bladder cancer risk in arsenic exposed populations.

A novel arsenical has antitumor activity toward As2O3-resistant and MRP1/ABCC1-overexpressing cell lines

Inorganic arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) is a highly effective treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). However, other cancers do not respond well to this form of arsenic at clinically achievable doses. We tested a novel arsenical, S-dimethylarsino-glutathione (darinaparsin) for efficacy in various malignancies in vitro. Darinaparsin is significantly more potent than As(2)O(3) at mediating apoptosis in various malignant cell lines and is highly active against APL cells derived for As(2)O(3) resistance. We provide evidence that darinaparsin triggers apoptosis by inducing signaling pathways that do not completely overlap with As(2)O(3). We show that darinaparsin induces apoptosis and oxidative stress to a greater extent than As(2)O(3), although like As(2)O(3), darinaparsin-induced toxicity is c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase-dependent. However, darinaparsin does not induce promyelocytic leukemia/retinoic acid receptor alpha (PML/RAR alpha) degradation or rearrange PML nuclear bodies in APL cells, nor is its toxicity increased by glutathione depletion. Darinaparsin treatment results in higher intracellular arsenic accumulation when compared to As(2)O(3) treatment. This may be explained by our finding that As(2)O(3), but not darinaparsin, is efficiently exported by ABCC1, suggesting increased therapeutic efficacy of darinaparsin in ABCC1-overexpressing tumors. Our studies indicate that darinaparsin efficiently kills tumor cells with increased antioxidant capacity and drug exporters and suggest that darinaparsin may have a broader therapeutic spectrum than As(2)O(3).

Human gastric cells resistant to (−)-epigallocatechin gallate show cross-resistance to several environmental pollutants

After a long-term culture in (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG, 20 microM), a major constituent of green tea, human gastric AGS cells developed 2.2-fold resistance to EGCG. The resistant AGS (AGS-R) cells were cross-resistant to several N-methylcarbamate insecticides, which are among the major control agents for pest insects in Taiwan. The AGS-R cells also showed protective effects against both the cytotoxicity and DNA damage induced by one of the mutagenic derivatives of N-methylcarbamate insecticide, N-nitroso methomyl, which is known to target the mammalian gastric tract. Therefore, acquisition of resistance by AGS cells through chronic exposure to EGCG implies that the tea-drinking habit of the Taiwanese is probably beneficial for the health of the gastric tract. In addition, AGS-R cells were cross-resistant to sodium arsenite and hydrogen peroxide, indicating that tolerance to oxidative stress might play a role in the development of resistance described in this investigation.

Gene expression levels in normal human lymphoblasts with variable sensitivities to arsenite: identification of GGT1 and NFKBIE expression levels as possible biomarkers of susceptibility

Drinking arsenic-contaminated water is associated with increased risk of neoplasias of the skin, lung, bladder and possibly other sites, as well as other diseases. Earlier, we showed that human lymphoblast lines from different normal unexposed donors showed variable sensitivities to the toxic effects of arsenite. In the present study, we used microarray analysis to compare the basal gene expression profiles between two arsenite-resistant (GM02707, GM00893) and two arsenite-sensitive lymphoblast lines (GM00546, GM00607). A number of genes were differentially expressed in arsenite-sensitive and arsenite-resistant cells. Among these, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase 1 (GGT1) and NF kappa B inhibitor-epsilon (NFKBIE) showed higher expression levels in arsenite-resistant cells. RT-PCR analysis with gene-specific primers confirmed these results. Reduction of GGT1 expression level in arsenite-resistant lymphoblasts with GGT1-specific siRNA resulted in increased cell sensitivity to arsenite. In conclusion, we have demonstrated for the first time that expression levels of GGT1 and possibly NFKBIE might be useful as biomarkers of genetic susceptibility to arsenite. Expression microarrays can thus be exploited for identifying additional biomarkers of susceptibility to arsenite and to other toxicants.

Arsenic induces apoptosis in mouse liver is mitochondria dependent and is abrogated by N-acetylcysteine

Arsenicosis, caused by arsenic contamination of drinking water supplies, is a major public health problem in India and Bangladesh. Chronic liver disease, often with portal hypertension occurs in chronic arsenicosis, contributes to the morbidity and mortality. The early cellular events that initiate liver cell injury due to arsenicosis have not been studied. Our aim was to identify the possible mechanisms related to arsenic-induced liver injury in mice. Liver injury was induced in mice by arsenic treatment. The liver was used for mitochondrial oxidative stress, mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT). Evidence of apoptosis was sought by TUNEL test, caspase assay and histology. Pretreatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) was done to modulate hepatic GSH level. Arsenic treatment in mice caused liver injury associated with increased oxidative stress in liver mitochondria and alteration of MPT. Altered MPT facilitated cytochrome c release in the cytosol, activation of caspase 9 and caspase 3 activities and apoptotic cell death. Pretreatment of NAC to arsenic-treated mice abrogated all these alteration suggesting a glutathione (GSH)-dependent mechanism. Oxidative stress in mitochondria and inappropriate MPT are important in the pathogenesis of arsenic induced apoptotic liver cell injury. The phenomenon is GSH dependent and supplementation of NAC might have beneficial effects.

Elevation of cellular BPDE uptake by human cells: a possible factor contributing to co-carcinogenicity by arsenite

BACKGROUND

Arsenite (iAsIII) can promote mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of other carcinogens. Considerable attention has focused on interference with DNA repair by inorganic arsenic, especially the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway, whereas less is known about the effect of arsenic on the induction of DNA damage by other agents.

OBJECTIVES

We examined how arsenic modulates DNA damage by other chemicals.

METHODS

We used an NER-deficient cell line to dissect DNA damage induction from DNA repair and to examine the effects of iAsIII on the formation of benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE)-DNA adducts.

RESULTS

We found that pretreatment with iAsIII at subtoxic concentrations (10 microM) led to enhanced formation of BPDE-DNA adducts. Reduced glutathione levels, glutathione S-transferase activity and chromatin accessibility were also measured after iAsIII treatment, but none of these factors appeared to account for the enhanced formation of DNA adducts. However, we found that pretreatment with iAsIII increased the cellular uptake of BPDE in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that iAsIII enhanced the formation of BPDE-DNA adducts by increasing the cellular uptake of BPDE. Therefore, the ability of arsenic to increase the bioavailability of other carcinogens may contribute to arsenic co-carcinogenicity.

Relationship of expression of aquaglyceroporin 9 with arsenic uptake and sensitivity in leukemia cells

Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is highly efficacious in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Aquaglyceroporin 9 (AQP9) is a transmembrane protein that may be involved in arsenic uptake. In 10 of 11 myeloid and lymphoid leukemia lines, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) and Western blotting showed that AQP9 expression correlated positively with As2O3-induced cytotoxicity. As a proof-of-principle, transfection of EGFP-tagged AQP9 to the hepatoma line Hep3B, not expressing AQP9 and As2O3 insensitive, led to membrane AQP9 expression and increased As2O3-induced cytotoxicity. Similarly, the chronic myeloid leukemia line K562 expressed low levels of AQP9 and was As2O3 insensitive. The K562EGFP-AQP9 transfectant accumulated significantly higher levels of intracellular arsenic than control K562EGFP when incubated with As2O3, resulting in significantly increased As2O3-induced cytotoxicity. Pretreatment of the myeloid leukemia line HL-60 with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) up-regulated AQP9, leading to a significantly increased arsenic uptake and As2O3-induced cytotoxicity on incubation with As2O3, which might explain the synergism between ATRA and As2O3. Therefore, AQP9 controlled arsenic transport and might determine As2O3 sensitivity. Q-PCR showed that primary APL cells expressed AQP9 significantly (2-3 logs) higher than other acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs), which might explain their exquisite As2O3 sensitivity. However, APL and AML with maturation expressed comparable AQP9 levels, suggesting that AQP9 expression was related to granulocytic maturation.

Induction of DNA–protein crosslinks by dichloromethane in a V79 cell line transfected with the murine glutathione-S-transferase theta 1 gene

Dichloromethane (DCM) is considered a probable human carcinogen. Laboratory studies have shown an increased incidence of lung and liver cancer in mice but not in rats or hamsters. Despite the correlation between metabolism of DCM by the glutathione-S-transferase (GST) pathway and the occurrence of tumors in different species, the mechanism of tumor induction by DCM metabolites produced through the GST pathway remains unclear. In this study a V79 cell line stably transfected with the murine GST theta 1 gene (mGSTT1) was compared to the parent cell line (MZ) to determine how the construct affects DCM metabolism and the sensitivity of the cell line to DNA damage and cytotoxicity. V79 cells were treated with DCM (2.5-10mM) or formaldehyde (150-600muM) for 2h. Also, formaldehyde produced by V79 cytosol metabolism of DCM was measured spectrophotometrically. DNA damage and DNA-protein crosslinks were measured by the standard and proteinase K-modified alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (SCG) assays. Cytotoxicity was assessed by trypan blue stain exclusion, the Live/Dead((R)) cell viability/cytotoxicity kit for animal cells, and the neutral red assay. After DCM treatment a significant concentration-dependent increase in tail moment in the V79 MZ cells was observed compared to a significant concentration-dependent decrease in tail moment in the V79 mGSTT1 cells. Post-incubation with proteinase K significantly increased DNA migrations in DCM-treated V79 mGSTT1 cells. DCM formed significantly higher levels of formaldehyde in the cytosol of the V79 mGSTT1 cells than in the cytosol of the V79 MZ cells. Results using the cytotoxicity assays were comparable using the trypan blue and Live/Dead((R)) assays, neither showing a difference in response between the two cell lines when exposed to either formaldehyde or DCM. These results indicate that V79 mGSTT1 can metabolize DCM to a genotoxic and cytotoxic metabolite, which is likely formaldehyde. This is the first time that the magnitude of the GSTT1 effect can be observed in mammalian cells without confounding caused by using cells with different genetic backgrounds.

Cytotoxic effect of As(III) in Caco-2 cells and evaluation of its human intestinal permeability

Inorganic arsenic has been classified as a carcinogen for humans (Group I). However, its transit across the human intestinal epithelium has not been characterized. Using Caco-2 cells, the thiol-redox balance and apparent permeability coefficients (P(app)) for As(III) in the apical to basolateral (AP-BL) and basolateral to apical (BL-AP) direction were evaluated. After As(III) exposure, GSH-induced synthesis was observed, increasing the GSH/GSSG ratio by elevating the As(III) concentration. The AP-BL permeabilities decreased as the As(III) concentrations increased, indicating the existence of a mediated transport mechanism. The (BL-AP)/(AP-BL) permeability ratios were higher than unity, suggesting the existence of a secretion process.

Enhanced Expression of Multidrug resistance-associated Protein 2 and Reduced Expression of Aquaglyceroporin 3 in an Arsenic-resistant Human Cell Line

Arsenic-resistant cells (R15), derived from a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (CL3), were 10-fold more resistant to sodium arsenite (As(III)). Because R15 cells accumulated less arsenic than parental CL3 cells, this arsenic resistance may be due to higher efflux and/or lower uptake of As(III). We therefore compared expression of the multidrug resistance-associated proteins MRP1, MRP2, and MRP3 in these two cell lines. MRP2 expression was 5-fold higher in R15 cells than in CL3 cells, whereas MRP1 and MRP3 expression levels were similar. Furthermore, verapamil and cyclosporin A, inhibitors of multidrug resistance transporters, significantly reduced the efflux of arsenic from R15. Thus, increased arsenic extrusion by MRP2 may contribute to arsenic resistance in R15 cells. We also examined the expression of several aquaglyceroporins (AQPs), which mediate As(III) uptake by cells. Little AQP7 or AQP9 mRNA was detected by reverse transcription-PCR in either cell line, whereas AQP3 mRNA expression was 2-fold lower in R15 cells than in CL3 cells. When AQP3 expression in CL3 cells was knocked down by RNA interference, CL3 cells accumulated less arsenic and became more resistant to As(III). Conversely, overexpression of AQP3 in human embryonic kidney 293T cells increased arsenic accumulation, and the cells were more susceptible to As(III) than 293T cells transfected with vector alone. These results suggest that AQP3 is involved in As(III) accumulation. Taken together, our results suggest that enhanced expression of MRP2 and lower expression of AQP3 are responsible for lower arsenic accumulation in arsenic-resistant R15 cells.

Some insights into the mode of action of butadiene by examining the genotoxicity of its metabolites

1,3-Butadiene (BTD) is an important commodity chemical and air pollutant that has been shown to be a potent carcinogen in mice, and to a lesser extent, a carcinogen in rats. To better assess butadiene's carcinogenic risk to humans, it is important to understand its mode of action and how this relates to differences in responses among species. In a series of in vitro experiments, lymphocytes from rats, mice, and humans were exposed to 3,4-epoxy-1-butene (EB) or 1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane (DEB) for 1h at the G(0) stage of the cell cycle, stimulated to divide, and cultured to assess the ability of these metabolites to induce sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and chromosome aberrations (CAs). EB induced no increases in SCEs or CAs in the cells from the three species. DEB was a potent SCE- and CA-inducer, with the results being similar in each rodent species. The response for SCEs seen in the human cells was more complex, with genetic polymorphism for glutathione-S-transferases (GST) possibly modulating the response. The single cell gel electrophoresis assay was used on genetically engineered V79 cell lines to investigate a possible influence of GST status. Experiments were also conducted to investigate the reason for EB's failure to induce SCEs or CAs in G(0) cells. The results indicate that EB-induced DNA damage was repaired before DNA synthesis in unstimulated lymphocytes, but EB caused a large increase in SCEs if actively cycling cells were treated. Thus, the results indicate that DEB damage is persistent in G(0) cells, and DEB is a much more potent genotoxicant than EB. The carcinogenic effect of butadiene will most likely depend on the degree to which DEB is produced and reaches target tissues, and to a lesser extent on the ability of EB to reach actively dividing or repair deficient cells.

Ascorbic acid differentially modulates the induction of heme oxygenase-1, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 and glutathione S-transferase Ya by As(3+), Cd(2+) and Cr(6+)

The induction of phase II drug metabolizing enzymes serves as a detoxification mechanism for many mutagens, carcinogens and other toxic compounds. Specifically, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (Nqo1) and glutathione S-transferase Ya subunit (Gst ya) are key enzymes involved in cellular defense against reactive forms of oxygen and the inhibition of carcinogenesis. As(3+), which induces these enzymes, has been proven to have a role in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Ascorbic acid (AA) potentiates the anticancer effect of As(3+) and thus it is expected that this antioxidant will have a paradoxical effect on the ability of heavy metals, specifically As(3+), to induce Nqo1 and Gst ya. We have shown that As(3+) and Cd(2+) induce heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), Nqo1 and Gst ya mRNA levels but Cr(6+) decreases Nqo1 and Gst ya mRNA. Surprisingly, AA superinduced the induction of HO-1, Nqo1 and Gst ya mRNA by As(3+), while inhibiting the induction of HO-1 mRNA by Cd(2+) and Cr(6+). Hence, it is tempting to speculate that AA may potentiate the therapeutic efficacy of As(3+) by enhancing the expression of HO-1, Nqo1, and Gst ya while acting as a potent antioxidant.

Chronic Exposure to Methylated Arsenicals Stimulates Arsenic Excretion Pathways and Induces Arsenic Tolerance in Rat Liver Cells

Although inorganic arsenicals are toxic and carcinogenic in humans, inorganic arsenite has recently emerged as a highly effective chemotherapeutic agent for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Inorganic arsenicals are enzymatically methylated to monomethylarsonic acid (MMAs(V)), dimethylarsinic acid (DMAs(V)), and trimethylarsine oxide (TMAs(V)O) in mammals. We examined the effects of chronic exposure to methylated arsenicals on arsenic tolerance by using rat normal liver TRL 1215 cells. TRL 1215 cells were exposed for 20 weeks to MMAs(V), DMAs(V), or TMAs(V)O at levels that produced submicromolar cellular concentrations of arsenic. On chronic exposure to these methylated arsenicals, the cells acquired tolerance to acute arsenic cytolethality. Cellular arsenic uptake was reduced in these cells compared to passage-matched control cells. The long-term arsenic exposure increased glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity and cellular glutathione (GSH) levels. Glutathione S-transferase, multidrug resistance-associated proteins (Mrps; efflux transporters encoded by Mrp genes), and P-glycoprotein [P-gp; efflux transporter encoded by multidrug resistance gene (MDR)] had also increased in these cells at the transcript and protein levels. The depletion of cellular GSH and the inhibition of Mrps and P-gp functions increased cellular arsenic uptake and reduced arsenic tolerance in these cells. These results indicate that chronic exposure to methylated arsenicals induces a generalized arsenic tolerance that is caused by increased arsenic excretion. Because accumulation of methylated arsenicals may occur in patients with chronic arsenic poisoning and arsenic-treated APL patients, this study may provide important information regarding chronic arsenic poisoning and the latent risk of developing multidrug resistance in APL therapy using inorganic arsenite.

Metal ions and carcinogenesis

Metals are essential for the normal functioning of living organisms. Their uses in biological systems are varied, but are frequently associated with sites of critical protein function, such as zinc finger motifs and electron or oxygen carriers. These functions only require essential metals in minute amounts, hence they are termed trace metals. Other metals are, however, less beneficial, owing to their ability to promote a wide variety of deleterious health effects, including cancer. Metals such as arsenic, for example, can produce a variety of diseases ranging from keratosis of the palms and feet to cancers in multiple target organs. The nature and type of metal-induced pathologies appear to be dependent on the concentration, speciation, and length of exposure. Unfortunately, human contact with metals is an inescapable consequence of human life, with exposures occurring from both occupational and environmental sources. A uniform mechanism of action for all harmful metals is unlikely, if not implausible, given the diverse chemical properties of each metal. In this chapter we will review the mechanisms of carcinogenesis of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and nickel, the four known carcinogenic metals that are best understood. The key areas of speciation, bioavailability, and mechanisms of action are discussed with particular reference to the role of metals in alteration of gene expression and maintenance of genomic integrity.

Synergistic effect of all-trans-retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide on growth inhibition and apoptosis in human hepatoma, breast cancer, and lung cancer cells in vitro

AIM: To investigate the effect of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) on arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃)-induced apoptosis of human hepatoma, breast cancer, and lung cancer cells in an attempt to find a better combination therapy for solid tumors.

METHODS: Human hepatoma cell lines HepG2, Hep3B, human breast cancer cell line MCF-7, and human lung adenocarcinoma cell line AGZY-83-a were treated with As₂O₃ together with ATRA. Cell survival fraction was determined by MTT assay, cell viability and apoptosis were measured by annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and PI staining, and intracellular glutathione (GSH) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were determined using commercial kits.

RESULTS: Cytotoxicity of ATRA was low. ATRA (0.1, 1, and 10 μmol/L) could synergistically potentiate As₂O₃ to exert a dose-dependent inhibition of growth and to induce apoptosis in each of the cell lines. HepG2 and Hep3B with low intracellular GSH or GST activities were remarkably sensitive to As₂O₃ or As₂O₃+ATRA, while AGZY-83-a with higher GSH or GST activities was less sensitive to As₂O₃ or As₂O₃+ATRA. Treatment with 2 μmol/L As₂O₃ for 72 h significantly decreased intracellular GSH and GST levels in each of the cell lines, and 1 μmol/L ATRA alone reduced minimal intracellular GSH and GST levels. ATRA potentiated the effect of As₂O₃ on intracellular GSH levels, but intracellular GST levels were not significantly affected by the combination of As₂O₃ and ATRA for 72 h as compared to As₂O₃ alone.

CONCLUSION: ATRA can strongly potentiate As 2O3-induced growth-inhibition and apoptosis in each of the cell lines, and two drugs can produce a significant synergic effect. The sensitivity to As2O3 or As2O3+ATRA is inversely proportional to intracellular GSH or GST levels in each of the cell lines. The GSH redox system may be the possible mechanism by which ATRA synergistically potentiates As2O3 to exert a dose-dependent inhibition of growth and to induce apoptosis.

Arsenic trioxide represses constitutive activation of NF-kappaB and COX-2 expression in human acute myeloid leukemia, HL-60

It has been proposed that eukaryotic nuclear factor nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappaB) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) are implicated in the pathogenesis of many human diseases including cancer. Arsenic has been widely used in medicine in Oriental countries. Recent studies have shown that arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) could induce in vitro growth inhibition and apoptosis of malignant lymphocytes, and myeloma cells. However, the molecular mechanisms by which As(2)O(3) initiates cellular signaling toward cell death are still unclear. In the present study, the effects of As(2)O(3) on NF-kappaB and COX-2 expression in HL-60 cells were investigated. As(2)O(3) suppressed DNA-binding activity of NF-kappaB composed of p65/p50 heterodimer through preventing the degradation of IkappaB-alpha and the nuclear translocation of p65 subsequently as well as interrupting the binding of NF-kappaB with their consensus sequences. Inhibitory effect of As(2)O(3) on NF-kappaB DNA activity was dependent upon intracellular glutathione (GSH) and H(2)O(2) level, but not superoxide anion. Futhermore, we found that As(2)O(3) also downregulated the expression of COX-2, which has NF-kappaB binding site on its promoter through repressing the NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity.

Implications of oxidative stress and hepatic cytokine (TNF-alpha and IL-6) response in the pathogenesis of hepatic collagenesis in chronic arsenic toxicity

INTRODUCTION

Noncirrhotic portal fibrosis has been reported to occur in humans due to prolonged intake of arsenic contaminated water. Further, oxystress and hepatic fibrosis have been demonstrated by us in chronic arsenic induced hepatic damage in murine model. Cytokines like tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) are suspected to play a role in hepatic collagenesis. The present study has been carried out to find out whether increased oxystress and cytokine response are associated with increased accumulation of collagen in the liver due to prolonged arsenic exposure and these follow a dose-response relationship.

METHODS

Male BALB/c mice were given orally 200 microl of water containing arsenic in a dose of 50, 100, and 150 mug/mouse/day for 6 days a week (experimental group) or arsenic-free water (<0.01 microg/l, control group) for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Hepatic glutathione (GSH), protein sulfhydryl (PSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Catalase, lipid peroxidation (LPx), protein carbonyl (PC), interleukin (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), arsenic and collagen content in the liver were estimated from sacrificed animals.

RESULTS

Significant increase of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in the liver associated with depletion of hepatic thiols (GSH, PSH), and antioxidant enzymes (GPx, Catalase) occurred in mice due to prolonged arsenic exposure in a dose-dependent manner. Significant elevation of hepatic collagen occurred at 9 and 12 months in all the groups associated with significant elevation of TNF-alpha and IL-6. However, arsenic level in the liver increased progressively from 3 months onwards. There was a positive correlation between the hepatic arsenic level and collagen content (r = 0.8007), LPx (r = 0.779) and IL-6 (r = 0.7801). Further, there was a significant negative correlation between GSH and TNF-alpha (r = -0.5336)) and LPx (r = -0.644).

CONCLUSION

Increasing dose and duration of arsenic exposure in mice cause progressive increase of oxystress and elevation of cytokines associated with increasing level of collagen in the liver.

Pharmacologic inhibitors of PI3K/Akt potentiate the apoptotic action of the antileukemic drug arsenic trioxide via glutathione depletion and increased peroxide accumulation in myeloid leukemia cells

Treatment for 14 to 24 hours with low concentrations of arsenic trioxide (As2O3, 1-4 μM) caused apoptosis in U-937 promonocytes and other human myeloid leukemia cell lines (HL-60, NB4). This effect was potentiated by cotreatment with the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors LY294002 and wortmannin, and the Akt inhibitor Akti5. However, the inhibitors did not increase the toxicity of the mitochondria-targeting drug lonidamine, and the DNA-specific drugs camptothecin and cisplatin, when used under similar experimental conditions as As2O3. The potentiation of As2O3-provoked apoptosis involved the increased disruption of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, increased caspase-3 activation and cytochrome c release from mitochondria, increased Bax and Bid activation, and attenuation of 27-kDa heat shock protein (HSP27) expression; the potentiation was prevented by Bcl-2 overexpression. The PI3K/Akt inhibitors decreased the intracellular glutathione content, and caused intracellular oxidation, as measured by peroxide accumulation. Cotreatment with subcytotoxic concentrations of hydrogen peroxide increased apoptosis induction by As2O3. On the other hand, the treatments did not significantly affect glutathione S-transferase π expression and activity. These results, which indicate that glutathione is a target of PI3K/Akt in myeloid leukemia cells, may partially explain the selective increase of As2O3 toxicity by PI3K/Akt inhibitors, and may provide a rationale to improve the efficacy of these inhibitors as therapeutic agents.

Glutathione-S-transferase π inhibits As2O3-induced apoptosis in lymphoma cells: involvement of hydrogen peroxide catabolism

Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is an effective agent for the treatment of relapsed and refractory acute promyelocytic leukemia by induction of partial differentiation and apoptosis. As2O3, at therapeutic concentrations (1-2 μM), induced apoptosis in Raji lymphoma cells but not in Jurkat lymphoma cells, which inversely correlated with the levels of glutathione-S-transferase π (GSTP1), but not GSTπ1 and GSTM1, expression and activity. GSTP1 mRNA, protein level, and activity were high in Jurkat cells but undetectable in Raji cells. Stable transfection of GSTP1 into Raji cells decreased the amount of As2O3-induced apoptosis. Apoptosis induced by therapeutic concentrations of As2O3 in Raji cells is related to increasing H2O2 intracellular accumulation but not to JNK activation. Forced expression of GSTP1 by transfection of Raji cells significantly decreased the basal amount of H2O2 and its levels after therapeutic concentration of As2O3 treatment. Added exogenous H2O2 was removed more rapidly, which correlated with a greater decrease in reduced glutathione level in Raji clones expressing GSTP1 than in those clones without GSTP1 expression. Overexpression of GSTP1 in transfected Raji clones was also found to decrease the retention of As2O3. These data suggest that GSTP1 blocks As2O3-induced apoptosis in lymphoma cells by decreasing intracellular amounts of H2O2 by catabolism and H2O2 production by decreasing the intracellular retention of As2O3.

Vitamin C protects HL60 and U266 cells from arsenic toxicity

Although there is no compelling evidence that vitamin C has antitumor activity in humans, clinical trials are testing the hypothesis that ascorbic acid (AA) will enhance the efficacy of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) in myeloma. In vitro, AA cytotoxicity depends on its interaction with free transition metal ions in culture media leading to the generation of H2O2 and other reactive oxygen species (ROSs). Therefore, to circumvent the extracellular in vitro pro-oxidant effects of AA, we loaded HL60, U266, and RPMI-8226 cells with vitamin C by incubation with dehydroascorbic acid (DHA). Loading cells in this manner resulted in prominent, dose-dependent protection of As2O3-treated cells as measured by viability, colony formation, and apoptosis assays. Glutathione depletion enhanced cell sensitivity to the cytotoxic effects of As2O3 and vitamin C loading provided protection. AA was found to generate cytotoxic concentrations of H2O2 in culture medium without cells and copper/iron chelators inhibited this reaction. However, AA did not generate H2O2 in simple buffer or human plasma. Direct incubation with AA resulted in increased intracellular ROSs, whereas DHA incubation decreased it. These results clarify an apparent paradox and indicate that vitamin C loading in HL60, U266, and RPMI-8226 cells ameliorates As2O3 cytotoxicity.

Association of chromosomal alterations with arsenite-induced tumorigenicity of human HaCaT keratinocytes in nude mice

Inorganic arsenic is a well-documented human carcinogen. Chronic low-dose exposure to inorganic arsenic is associated with an increased incidence of a variety of cancers, including skin, lung, bladder, and liver cancer. Because genetic alterations often occur during cancer development, the objective of this study was to explore what types of genetic alterations were induced by chronic exposure of human HaCaT cells to arsenic. After 20 passages in the presence of inorganic trivalent arsenite at concentrations of 0.5 or 1 microM, HaCaT cells had higher intracellular levels of glutathione, became more resistance to arsenite, and showed an increased frequency of micronuclei. Furthermore, the previously nontumorigenic HaCaT cells became tumorigenic, as shown by subcutaneous injection into Balb/c nude mice. Cell lines derived from the tumors formed by injection of arsenite-exposed HaCaT cells into nude mice expressed higher levels of keratin 6, a proliferation marker of keratinocytes, than did parental HaCaT cells, whereas the expression of keratins 5, 8, and 10 was significantly decreased. Comparative genomic hybridization demonstrated chromosomal alterations in the 11 cell lines derived from these tumors; all 11 showed significant loss of chromosome 9q, and seven showed significant gain of chromosome 4q. The present results show that long-term exposure to low doses of arsenite transformed nontumorigenic human keratinocytes to cells that were tumorigenic in nude mice and that chromosomal alterations were observed in all cell lines established from the tumors.

Arsenic intoxication-induced reduction of glutathione level and of the activity of related enzymes in rat brain regions: reversal by dl-?-lipoic acid

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of DL: -alpha-lipoic acid (LA) on arsenic (As) induced alteration of glutathione (GSH) level and of the activity of glutathione-related enzymes-glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH)-in rat brain regions (cortex, hypothalamus, striatum, cerebellum and hippocampus). Male Wistar rats of 150+/-10 g weight were divided into four groups: control and three experimental groups supplemented with arsenic (sodium arsenite) alone (100 ppm mixed in drinking water), lipoic acid alone (70 mg kg(-1) body weight), arsenic plus lipoic acid (100 ppm arsenic in drinking water plus 70 mg lipoic acid kg(-1) body weight). The arsenic content of brain regions was found to increase with the administration of sodium arsenite. Arsenic exposure elicited a significant decline in glutathione content and in the activity of related enzymes, with the greatest decreases seen in the cortex, striatum, and hippocampus, whereas there were no significant differences between control rats and the group treated with lipoic acid alone. Highly elevated content of the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain regions of arsenic-exposed rats reflected extensive lipid peroxidation (LPO) processes. Simultaneous lipoic acid treatment was effective in reducing brain regional arsenic levels and lipid peroxidation and in increasing the glutathione content and the activity of its related enzymes. Lipoic acid, by acting as an alternative sulfhydryl nucleophile to glutathione, prevents its oxidation to glutathione disulfide in detoxifying reactions against reactive oxygen species and consequently increases the activity of glutathione-related enzymes.

Cellular glutathione prevents cytolethality of monomethylarsonic acid

Inorganic arsenicals are clearly toxicants and carcinogens in humans. In mammals, including humans, inorganic arsenic often undergoes methylation, forming compounds such as monomethylarsonic acid (MMAs(V)) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAs(V)). However, much less information is available on the in vitro toxic potential or mechanisms of these methylated arsenicals, especially MMAs(V). We studied the molecular mechanisms of in vitro cytolethality of MMAs(V) using a rat liver epithelial cell line (TRL 1215). MMAs(V) was not cytotoxic in TRL 1215 cells even at concentrations exceeding 10 mM, but it became weakly cytotoxic and induced both necrotic and apoptotic cell death when cellular reduced glutathione (GSH) was depleted with the glutathione synthase inhibitor, l-buthionine-[S,R]-sulfoximine (BSO), or the glutathione reductase inhibitor, carmustine. Similar results were observed in the other mammalian cells, such as human skin TIG-112 cells, chimpanzee skin CRT-1609 cells, and mouse metallothionein (MT) positive and MT negative embryonic cells. Ethacrynic acid (EA), an inhibitor of glutathione S-transferase (GST) that catalyses GSH-substrate conjugation, also enhanced the cytolethality of MMAs(V), but aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA), an inhibitor of beta-lyase that catalyses the final breakdown of GSH-substrate conjugates, had no effect. Both the cellular GSH levels and the cellular GST activity were increased by the exposure to MMAs(V) in TRL 1215 cells. On the other hand, the addition of exogenous extracellular GSH enhanced the cytolethality of MMAs(V), although cellular GSH levels actually prevented the cytolethality of combined MMAs(V) and exogenous GSH. These findings indicate that human arsenic metabolite MMAs(V) is not a highly toxic compound in mammalian cells, and the level of cellular GSH is critical to its eventual toxic effects.

Arsenite and its biomethylated metabolites interfere with the formation and repair of stable BPDE-induced DNA adducts in human cells and impair XPAzf and Fpg

The underlying mechanisms of arsenic carcinogenicity are only poorly understood and especially the role of biomethylation is still a matter of debate. Besides the induction of oxidative DNA damage the interference with DNA repair processes have been proposed to contribute to arsenic-induced carcinogenicity. Within the present study the effects of arsenite and its mono- and dimethylated trivalent and pentavalent metabolites on BPDE-induced DNA adduct formation and repair has been investigated and compared in cultured human lung cells. Whereas only arsenite and MMA(III) increased BPDE-DNA adduct formation, arsenite (>/=5 microM), the trivalent (>/=2.5 microM) and the pentavalent (>/=250 microM) metabolites diminished their repair at non-cytotoxic concentrations. As potential molecular targets, interactions with the zinc finger domain of the human XPA protein (XPAzf) and the Escherichia coli zinc finger protein Fpg, involved in NER and BER, respectively, have been investigated. All trivalent arsenicals were able to release zinc from XPAzf; furthermore, MMA(III) and DMA(III) inhibited the activity of isolated Fpg. Altogether the results suggest that besides arsenite, especially the trivalent methylated metabolites may contribute to diminished NER at low concentrations.

Sustained activation of c-jun-terminal kinase (JNK) is closely related to arsenic trioxide-induced apoptosis in an acute myeloid leukemia (M2)-derived cell line, NKM-1

High concentrations (greater than 5 microM) of arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) have been reported to be able to induce apoptosis in several malignant cells. We explored cell lines in which apoptosis was induced with a therapeutic concentration (1-2 microM) of As(2)O(3), and found that 1 microM of As(2)O(3) induced apoptosis in the NKM-1 cell line, which was established from a patient with acute myeloid leukemia (M2). Apoptosis induced by 1 microM of As(2)O(3) in NKM-1 cells was accompanied by an increased cellular content of H(2)O(2), a decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (Deltapsim), and activation of caspase-3. C-Jun-terminal kinase (JNK) was activated only in NKM-1 cells and arsenic-sensitive NB4 cells, but not in arsenic-insensitive HL-60 cells. Activation of JNK in NKM-1 was sustained from 6 to 24 h after As(2)O(3) treatment, and preceded changes in cellular H(2)O(2), Deltapsim, and caspase-3 activation. Moreover, addition of a JNK inhibitor reduced the percentage of apoptotic cells after the As(2)O(3) treatment. Taken together, in the M2 cell line NKM-1, 1 microM of As(2)O(3) induced sustained activation of JNK and apoptosis. This finding may provide a basis to select a subgroup other than acute promyelocytic leukemia, which can benefit from As(2)O(3) treatment.

Oxidative stress contributes to arsenic-induced telomere attrition, chromosome instability, and apoptosis

The environmental contaminant arsenic causes cancer, developmental retardation, and other degenerative diseases and, thus, is a serious health concern worldwide. Paradoxically, arsenic also may serve as an anti-tumor therapy, although the mechanisms of its antineoplastic effects remain unclear. Arsenic exerts its toxicity in part by generating reactive oxygen species. We show that arsenic-induced oxidative stress promotes telomere attrition, chromosome end-to-end fusions, and apoptotic cell death. An antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine, effectively prevents arsenic-induced oxidative stress, telomere erosion, chromosome instability, and apoptosis, suggesting that increasing the intracellular antioxidant level may have preventive or therapeutic effects in arsenic-induced chromosome instability and genotoxicity. Embryos with shortened telomeres from late generation telomerase-deficient mice exhibit increased sensitivity to arsenic-induced oxidative damage, suggesting that telomere attrition mediates arsenic-induced apoptosis. Unexpectedly, arsenite did not cause chromosome end-to-end fusions in telomerase RNA knockout mouse embryos despite progressively damaged telomeres and disrupting embryo viability. Together, these findings may explain why arsenic can initiate oxidative stress and telomere erosion, leading to apoptosis and anti-tumor therapy on the one hand and chromosome instability and carcinogenesis on the other.

Identification of galectin I and thioredoxin peroxidase II as two arsenic-binding proteins in Chinese hamster ovary cells

In this study, we report the identification of two arsenic-binding proteins from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The crude extract derived from CHO and SA7 (arsenic-resistant CHO cells) was applied to a phenylarsine oxide-agarose affinity column, and after extensive washing, the absorbed proteins were eluted with buffers containing 20 mM 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) or dithiothreitol (DTT). Three differentially expressed proteins, galectin 1 (Gal-1; in the 2-ME-eluted fraction from CHO cells), glutathione S-transferase P-form (GST-P) and thioredoxin peroxidase II (TPX-II), respectively in the 2-ME- and DTT-eluted fractions from SA7 cells, were identified by partial amino acid sequence analysis after separation by SDS/PAGE. The GST-P protein has been previously shown to facilitate the excretion of sodium arsenite [As(III)] from SA7 cells. TPX II was detected predominately in SA7 cells [routinely cultured in As(III)-containing medium], but not in CHO or SA7N (a revertant of SA7 cells cultured in regular medium) cells. In contrast, Gal-1 was specifically identified in CHO and SA7N cells, but not in SA7 cells. The preferential expression of Gal-1 in CHO cells and TPX-II in SA7 cells was further illustrated by quantitative PCR analysis. The binding of Gal-1 and TPX-II with As(III) was further verified by both co-immunoprecipitation and co-elution of Gal-1 and TPX-II with As(III). It is suggested that Gal-1 and TPX-II are two proteins that serve as high-affinity binding sites for As(III) and thus both may be involved in the biological action of As(III).

Inhibition by arsenic trioxide of human hepatoma cell growth

Arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) has been shown to be effective for treatment of patients with refractory or relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia and a variety of other malignant hematopoetic disorders. We studied the effect of this agent on proliferation of human hepatoma-derived cell lines (SK-Hep-1, HepG2, and HuH7). In HuH7 cells, As(2)O(3) reduced proliferation time- and dose-dependently at 1 and 2 microM, while in SK-Hep-1 and HepG2 cells, As(2)O(3) inhibited proliferation at 2 and 4 microM respectively. Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry showed that As(2)O(3) induced apoptosis in these hepatoma-derived cells as confirmed by appearance of sub-G(1) cells. Sensitivity of hepatoma-derived cells to As(2)O(3) was inversely related to their intracellular glutathione (GSH) and intensity of GSH synthesis. Arsenic sensitivity was restored to relatively resistant cell lines when GSH was depleted by L-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO). These results indicate that As(2)O(3) may have therapeutic potential for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Cytotoxicity of arsenic trioxide to transitional carcinoma cells

OBJECTIVES

To explore the therapeutic efficacy of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) in human transitional cell carcinomas, we investigated the potential use of the compound as a chemotherapeutic agent and the possible cross-resistance with cisplatin in this malignancy.

METHODS

Three bladder transitional carcinoma cell lines, NTUB1, NTUB1/P (cisplatin-resistant), and NTUB1/As (As2O3-resistant), were used. The chemosensitivity of the three cell lines to cisplatin and As2O3 was determined by the microculture tetrazolium assay. The modulatory effect of buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) on As2O3 cytotoxicity was studied by combining the two agents simultaneously or sequentially and evaluated using the median-effect analysis. Cellular glutathione contents were determined using a biochemical method.

RESULTS

There was evident cross-resistance between cisplatin and As2O3 in the cell model used. BSO significantly enhanced As2O3 cytotoxicity in the three cell lines, indicating synergism in combination. In the presence of 3 microM BSO, the sensitivity of NTUB1, NTUB1/P, and NTUB1/As to As2O3 was increased 3, 7.4, and 8.4-fold, respectively. Among the three different combination schedules, greater cytotoxic effects were obtained by concurrent exposure to both agents. A significant dose-response relationship was found between the BSO concentrations and glutathione contents in NTUB1 (P = 0.007) and NTUB1/As (P = 0.05) but not NTUB1/P (P = 0.1) cells.

CONCLUSIONS

As2O3 in the presence of BSO may be an active agent against transitional cell carcinoma. Our results have clinical implications and warrant further investigation.

Arsenic trioxide-induced apoptosis through oxidative stress in cells of colon cancer cell lines

Exposure of three colon cancer cell lines, SW480, DLD-1, and COLO201, to arsenic trioxide in the medium induced a marked concentration-dependent suppression of cell growth. The intracellular contents of reduced glutathione (GSH) in these cell lines tended to be inversely correlated with the sensitivity of the cells to arsenic trioxide. Among the cell lines, SW480 cells underwent apoptosis at the low arsenic trioxide concentration of 2 microM, which was prevented by pretreatment of the cells with N-acetylcysteine and was enhanced by buthionine sulfoximine. The production of reactive oxygen intermediates which were examined by 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCF-DA), increased with time after treatment with arsenic trioxide. The apoptosis was executed by the activation of caspase 3, which was shown by Western blot, enzymatic activity, and apoptosis inhibition assay. The mitochondrial membrane potential of adherent apoptotic SW480 cells and the cells from intermediate layer separated by density gradient centrifugation, both of which showed the active form of caspase 3 by Western blot analysis, was not lost. The overexpression of Bcl-2 protein in SW480 cells could not prevent the apoptosis induced by the treatment with arsenic trioxide. All these findings indicate that arsenic trioxide-induced apoptosis in SW480 cells is executed by the activation of caspase 3 without mediating by mitochondria under the overproduction of reactive oxygen species.

Induction of genotoxic damage is not correlated with the ability to methylate arsenite in vitro in the leukocytes of four mammalian species

Arsenic is a natural drinking water contaminant that impacts the health of large populations of people throughout the world; however, the mode or mechanism by which arsenic induces cancer is unclear. In a series of in vitro studies, we exposed leukocytes from humans, mice, rats, and guinea pigs to a range of sodium arsenite concentrations to determine whether the lymphocytes from these species showed differential sensitivity to the induction of micronuclei (MN) assessed in cytochalasin B-induced binucleate cells. We also determined the capacity of the leukocytes to methylate arsenic by measuring the production of MMA [monomethylarsinic acid (MMA(V)) and monomethylarsonous acid (MMA(III))] and DMA [dimethylarsinic acid (DMA(V)) and dimethylarsonous acid (DMA(III))]. The results indicate that cells treated for 2 hr at the G(0) stage of the cell cycle with sodium arsenite showed only very small to negligible increases in MN after mitogenic stimulation. Treatment of actively cycling cells produced induction of MN with increasing arsenite concentration, with the human, rat, and mouse lymphocytes being much more sensitive to MN induction than those of the guinea pig. These data gave an excellent fit to a linear model. The leukocytes of all four species, including the guinea pig (a species previously thought not to methylate arsenic), were able to methylate arsenic, but there was no clear correlation between the ability to methylate arsenic and the induction of MN.

Overexpression of glutathione S-transferase II and multidrug resistance transport proteins is associated with acquired tolerance to inorganic arsenic

Recent work shows that long-term exposure to low levels of arsenite induces malignant transformation in a rat liver epithelial cell line. Importantly, these chronic arsenic-exposed (CAsE) cells also develop self-tolerance to acute arsenic exposure. Tolerance is accompanied by reduced cellular arsenic accumulation, suggesting a mechanistic basis for reduced arsenic sensitivity. The present study examined the role of xenobiotic export pumps in acquired arsenic tolerance. Microarray analysis of CAsE cells showed increased expression of the genes encoding for glutathione S-transferase Pi (GST-Pi), multidrug resistance-associated protein genes (MRP1/MRP2, which encode for the efflux transporter Mrp1/Mrp2) and the multidrug resistance gene (MDR1, which encodes for the efflux transporter P-glycoprotein). These findings were confirmed at the transcription level by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and at the translation level by Western-blot analysis. Acquired arsenic tolerance was abolished when cells were exposed to ethacrynic acid (an inhibitor of GST-Pi), buthionine sulfoximine (a glutathione synthesis inhibitor), MK571 (a specific inhibitor for Mrps), and PSC833 (a specific inhibitor for P-glycoprotein) in dose-dependent fashions. MK571, PSC833, and buthionine sulfoximine markedly increased cellular arsenic accumulation. Consistent with a role for multidrug resistance efflux pumps in arsenic resistance, CAsE cells were found to be cross-resistant to cytotoxicity of several anticancer drugs, such as vinblastine, doxorubicin, actinomycin-D, and cisplatin, that are also substrates for Mrps and P-glycoprotein. Thus, acquired tolerance to arsenic is associated with increased expression GST-Pi, Mrp1/Mrp2 and P-glycoprotein, which function together to reduce cellular arsenic accumulation.

Ascorbic acid enhances arsenic trioxide-induced cytotoxicity in multiple myeloma cells

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal B-cell malignancy characterized by slow-growing plasma cells in the bone marrow (BM). Patients with MM typically respond to initial chemotherapies; however, essentially all progress to a chemoresistant state. Factors that contribute to the chemorefractory phenotype include modulation of free radical scavenging, increased expression of drug efflux pumps, and changes in gene expression that allow escape from apoptotic signaling. Recent data indicate that arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) induces remission of refractory acute promyelocytic leukemia and apoptosis of cell lines overexpressing Bcl-2 family members; therefore, it was hypothesized that chemorefractory MM cells would be sensitive to As(2)O(3). As(2)O(3) induced apoptosis in 4 human MM cell lines: 8226/S, 8226/Dox40, U266, and U266/Bcl-x(L). The addition of interleukin-6 had no effect on cell death. Glutathione (GSH) has been implicated as an inhibitor of As(2)O(3)-induced cell death either through conjugating As(2)O(3) or by sequestering reactive oxygen induced by As(2)O(3). Consistent with this possibility, increasing GSH levels with N-acetylcysteine attenuated As(2)O(3) cytotoxicity. Decreases in GSH have been associated with ascorbic acid (AA) metabolism. Clinically relevant doses of AA decreased GSH levels and potentiated As(2)O(3)-mediated cell death of all 4 MM cell lines. Similar results were obtained in freshly isolated human MM cells. In contrast, normal BM cells displayed little sensitivity to As(2)O(3) alone or in combination with AA. Together, these data suggest that As(2)O(3) and AA may be effective antineoplastic agents in refractory MM and that AA might be a useful adjuvant in GSH-sensitive therapies. (Blood. 2001;98:805-813)

Resistance of human multidrug resistance-associated protein 1-overexpressing lung tumor cells to the anticancer drug arsenic trioxide

The human multidrug-resistance protein (MRP1) confers resistance to some heavy metals such as arsenic and antimony, mainly through mediating an increased cellular efflux of metal. However, it was recently suggested that arsenic, used under its trioxide derivative form as anticancer drug, is not handled by MRP1. The aim of the present study was to test this hypothesis in MRP1-overexpressing human lung tumor GLC4/Sb30 cells. Using the cytotoxicity MTT assay, GLC4/Sb30 cells were found to be 10.8-fold more resistant to arsenic trioxide (As2O3) than parental GLC4 cells. MK571, a potent inhibitor of MRP1 activity, almost totally reversed resistance of GLC4/Sb30 cells, but did not alter the sensitivity of GLC4 cells. Moreover, As2O3-loaded GLC4/Sb30 cells poorly accumulated arsenic through an increased MK571-sensitive efflux of metal. Finally, depletion of cellular glutathione levels in buthionine sulfoximine-treated GLC4/Sb30 cells was found to result in increased accumulation and reduced efflux of arsenic in cells exposed to As2O3, outlining the glutathione-dependence of MRP1-mediated transport of the metal. These results indicate that MRP1 overexpression in human tumor cells can confer resistance to As2O3, which may limit the clinical use of this anticancer drug for treatment of MRP1-positive tumors.

Induction of oxyradicals by arsenic: implication for mechanism of genotoxicity

Although arsenic is a well-established human carcinogen, the mechanisms by which it induces cancer remain poorly understood. We previously showed arsenite to be a potent mutagen in human-hamster hybrid (A(L)) cells, and that it induces predominantly multilocus deletions. We show here by confocal scanning microscopy with the fluorescent probe 5',6'-chloromethyl-2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate that arsenite induces, within 5 min after treatment, a dose-dependent increase of up to 3-fold in intracellular oxyradical production. Concurrent treatment of cells with arsenite and the radical scavenger DMSO reduced the fluorescent intensity to control levels. ESR spectroscopy with 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-hydroxypiperidine (TEMPOL-H) as a probe in conjunction with superoxide dismutase and catalase to quench superoxide anions and hydrogen peroxide, respectively, indicates that arsenite increases the levels of superoxide-driven hydroxyl radicals in these cells. Furthermore, reducing the intracellular levels of nonprotein sulfhydryls (mainly glutathione) in A(L) cells with buthionine S-R-sulfoximine increases the mutagenic potential of arsenite by more than 5-fold. The data are consistent with our previous results with the radical scavenger DMSO, which reduced the mutagenicity of arsenic in these cells, and provide convincing evidence that reactive oxygen species, particularly hydroxyl radicals, play an important causal role in the genotoxicity of arsenical compounds in mammalian cells.

Induction of oxyradicals by arsenic: implication for mechanism of genotoxicity

Although arsenic is a well-established human carcinogen, the mechanisms by which it induces cancer remain poorly understood. We previously showed arsenite to be a potent mutagen in human-hamster hybrid (A(L)) cells, and that it induces predominantly multilocus deletions. We show here by confocal scanning microscopy with the fluorescent probe 5',6'-chloromethyl-2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate that arsenite induces, within 5 min after treatment, a dose-dependent increase of up to 3-fold in intracellular oxyradical production. Concurrent treatment of cells with arsenite and the radical scavenger DMSO reduced the fluorescent intensity to control levels. ESR spectroscopy with 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-hydroxypiperidine (TEMPOL-H) as a probe in conjunction with superoxide dismutase and catalase to quench superoxide anions and hydrogen peroxide, respectively, indicates that arsenite increases the levels of superoxide-driven hydroxyl radicals in these cells. Furthermore, reducing the intracellular levels of nonprotein sulfhydryls (mainly glutathione) in A(L) cells with buthionine S-R-sulfoximine increases the mutagenic potential of arsenite by more than 5-fold. The data are consistent with our previous results with the radical scavenger DMSO, which reduced the mutagenicity of arsenic in these cells, and provide convincing evidence that reactive oxygen species, particularly hydroxyl radicals, play an important causal role in the genotoxicity of arsenical compounds in mammalian cells.

Arsenic-induced apoptosis in malignant cells in vitro

Arsenic trioxide-induced apoptosis was identified by morphological change and nucleosomal DNA fragmentation in hematopoietic malignant cells and neuroblastoma cells. Arsenic trioxide directly induced apoptosis in the acute promyelocytic cell line NB4 cells at a low dose of 1 microM, whereas all-trans-retinoic acid caused the cells to differentiate and finally induced apoptosis. In addition to the involvement of caspase 3 in arsenic trioxide-induced apoptosis of NB4 cells, the activation of caspase 8 was also shown to be involved by Western blot analysis or by apoptosis inhibition assay using caspase 8 inhibitor Ac-IETD-CHO. The down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein was shown in arsenic trioxide-treated pre-apoptotic and early apoptotic mouse B-cell line LyH7 cells, which overexpress Bcl-2 protein, by the studies of Western blot and immunoelectron microscopy. Arsenic trioxide also induced apoptosis in the majority of neuroblastomas cell lines. The arsenic-induced apoptosis in neuroblastoma cell lines was mediated by the activation of caspase 3 in all cases tested. In regard to the intracellular content of reduced glutathione in various neuroblastoma cell lines, the level in the cells sensitive to arsenic trioxide was under 40 nmol/mg protein, but the cells having more than 40 nmol/mg protein did not undergo apoptosis. N-acetylcysteine protected neuroblastoma cells from arsenic-induced apoptosis. Therefore, the intracellular glutathione content may be a good indicator of application of arsenic trioxide for various kinds of cancer cells. Our results raise the possibility that arsenic trioxide will be effective even against a solid tumor such as neuroblastoma and warrants clinical trials for patients with other kinds of tumors not only by systemic therapy but also using local therapy.