Aliphatic aldehydes inhibit the proliferative response of human peripheral blood lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin and alloantigens

Lipid Peroxidation and Cancer: A Critical Reconsideration

The author reviews the problem of the pattern of lipid peroxidation in cancer cells with special reference to a comparison between normal liver cells and hepatomas both transplanted and induced by diethylnitrosamine. It is stated that the loss of lipid peroxidation is proportional to the degree of dedifferentiation of hepatoma cells. During carcinogenesis, however, the loss is already evident at the stage of preneoplastic nodules. A common feature of all tumors, independently of the extent of the loss of peroxidation in basal conditions, is the lack of further stimulation by ADP/iron or by ascorbate/iron. As regards the reasons for the decline in lipid peroxidation, they are certainly not unique. An important cause is the low activity of the enzymes of the monooxygenase microsomal chain. Another very important one is the change in lipid composition of membranes, with a marked decrease in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are the main substrate for lipid peroxidation. It has been shown that enrichment of membranes of hepatomas with arachidonic acid results in restoration of stimulation of peroxidation by ascorbate/iron, but not with ADP/iron. The last type of stimulation mostly reflects the behaviour of the monooxygenase chain, whereas ascorbate/ iron-induced stimulation does not require the presence of an efficient cytochrome P450-chain. Another cause for decreased lipid peroxidation in tumors is the increased rigidity of membranes, due to the large increase in cholesterol content: this prevents to some extent the influx of oxygen inside the membranes. Yet another cause is the presence of increased amounts of antioxidants in both cytosol and membranes. The main toxic product of lipid peroxidation, 4-hydroxynonenal, has been found to elicit several actions at extremely low concentrations. In fact, 4-hydroxynonenal stimulates Chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, stimulates plasma membrane adenylate cyclase, stimulates plasma membrane guanylate cyclase, and stimulates phospholipase C. The last three enzymes involve the action of G-proteins. The effect of the aldehyde is present at less than micromolar concentrations, which may occur inside the cells in certain conditions. Morever, at concentrations from 10–6 to 10–7 M, the aldehyde is able to block oncogene c-myc expression in the human erythroleukemic K562 cell line, which at the same time becomes able to express the gamma-globin gene. These facts are discussed with reference to a possible biological meaning of the loss of lipid peroxidation in tumors.

4-hydroxynonenal prevents NO production in vascular smooth muscle cells by inhibiting nuclear factor-kappaB-dependent transcriptional activation of inducible NO synthase

The role of lipid peroxidation products in atherogenesis was studied. We investigated whether 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) modulates activation of the nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB system or alters expression of the NF-kappaB target gene product, inducible NO synthase (iNOS), in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in combination with interferon (IFN)-gamma (LPS/IFN). NO production induced by LPS/IFN was dose-dependently inhibited by HNE. NF-kappaB activation by LPS/IFN was inhibited by HNE in a dose-dependent manner. HNE significantly decreased LPS/IFN-stimulated proteolysis of IkappaB-alpha. iNOS promoter activity stimulated by LPS/IFN was also decreased by HNE dose-dependently. The treatment of VSMCs with LPS/IFN strongly stimulated iNOS mRNA and protein expression. The LPS/IFN-induced increases in iNOS mRNA and protein levels were dose-dependently decreased by HNE. Our data suggest that treatment with HNE blocks signaling events required for IkappaB-alpha degradation, thereby preventing NF-kappaB activation. Inhibition of NF-kappaB-regulated gene expression, especially modulation of NO production, may contribute to atherogenesis.

Determination of the lipid peroxidation product (E)-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal in clinical samples by gas chromatography--negative-ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry of the O-pentafluorobenzyl oxime

(E)-4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) is a highly reactive product of the free radical-stimulated lipid peroxidation of phospholipid-bound arachidonic acid in cellular membranes. We describe a sensitive and specific method for the determination of HNE in clinical samples. The method is based on the formation of the O-pentafluorobenzyl (O-PFB) oxime derivative of HNE, which is then extracted and cleaned up by solid-phase extraction. The HNE O-PFB oxime is then analysed without further derivatisation by capillary column gas chromatography-negative ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry (GC-NICI-MS) using selected-ion monitoring. Concentrations down to the pmol range were achieved using deuterated HNE as an internal standard. The method was used to determine HNE in the cerebrospinal fluid and plasma of patients with Parkinson's disease, the plasma of patients with HIV-1 infection and AIDS and in inflamed mucosal biopsy specimens from patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Modulation of human T lymphocyte proliferation by 4-hydroxynonenal, the bioactive product of neutrophil-dependent lipid peroxidation

The proliferative capacity of immune cells is known to be sensitive to conditions of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. We tested the hypothesis that activated neutrophils can induce peroxidation in extracellular lipid substrates, and evaluated the effects of 4-hydroxy-2,3-trans-nonenal (4-HNE)--the most reactive aldehydic product of lipid peroxidation--on mitogen-induced proliferation of human T lymphocytes. Neutrophils activated in the presence of extracellular lipid substrates (liposomes, cellular membranes) induced lipid peroxidation. By means of cytoimmunofluorescent labeling and confocal microscopy, the binding of 4-HNE to surface and cytoplasmic proteins of activated neutrophils was observed. Short (20 min) pre-treatment of cells with low concentrations of 4-HNE were able to dose-dependently decrease the proliferation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes challenged with PHA or anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody OKT3, as well as the proliferation of a tetanus specific human T-cell line challenged with tetanus toxoid. In these conditions, the binding of 4-HNE to surface and cytoplasmic proteins of lymphocytes was also observed. When the proliferative capacity of peripheral blood lymphocytes was monitored over several days after 4-HNE treatment and PHA challenge, a recovery and a rebound in cell proliferation was observed. Data reported indicate that the lipid peroxidation promoted by activated neutrophils can exert modulatory effects on the responsivity of human T cells, through the action of its most reactive product, 4-HNE.

Effect of methylglyoxal on human leukaemia 60 cell growth: modification of DNA G1 growth arrest and induction of apoptosis

Methylglyoxal induced growth arrest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and toxicity in human leukaemia 60 cells in vitro. Inhibition of DNA synthesis but not inhibition of RNA synthesis, protein synthesis or inhibition of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity correlated with cytotoxicity. Incubation of human leukaemia 60 cells with methylglyoxal led to the rapid accumulation of adducts of methylglyoxal with DNA, and a lower accumulation of methylglyoxal adducts with RNA and protein in the initial hour of culture; fragmentation of nuclear DNA characteristic of apoptosis developed in the second hour of culture. Methylglyoxal induced apoptosis in human leukaemia 60 cells but did not affect the growth and viability of concanavalin A-stimulated human peripheral lymphocytes in vitro. These effects confirm and further substantiate the anti-proliferative anti-tumour activity of methylglyoxal in vitro, which may mediate the anti-tumour activity of glyoxalase I inhibitors in vivo.

Effect of 4-Hydroxynonenal on cell cycle progression and expression of differentiation-associated antigens in HL-60 cells

4-Hydroxynonenal (HNE) is a highly reactive aldehyde produced by lipid peroxidation of cellular membranes that inhibits growth and induces differentiation in HL-60 cells. Its mechanisms of action were investigated by analyzing the cell cycle distribution and the appearance of differentiated phenotypes in HL-60 cells. Data obtained by exposing cells to DMSO for 7.5 h (same time as for HNE treatment) or for the whole length of the experiments (5 d) were used for comparison. HNE induced a marked increase in the proportion of G0/G1 cells after 1 and 2 d. The brief DMSO treatment did not affect the distribution, whereas continuous exposure led to a progressive accumulation of cells in G0/G1 (maximal at day 5). The proportion of phagocytic cells gradually increased in HNE-treated and DMSO long-exposed cultures from day 2 and peaked at day 5 (35 and 63%, respectively), whereas the effect of the brief DMSO treatment was negligible. The expression of CD11b and CD67 increased in cells treated with HNE or continuously exposed to DMSO, whereas CD36 was expressed at low levels on both treatments. These results indicate that the pathway of the granulocytic differentiation induced by HNE in HL-60 cells differs from that of DMSO: with HNE, growth inhibition precedes the onset of differentiation, whereas in DMSO-treated cells the two processes are chronologically associated.

Detection of aldehydes and their conjugated hydroperoxydiene precursors in thermally-stressed culinary oils and fats: investigations using high resolution proton NMR spectroscopy

High field (400 and 600 MHz) proton NMR spectroscopy has been employed to investigate the thermally-induced autoxidation of glycerol-bound polyunsaturated fatty acids present in intact culinary frying oils and fats. Heating of these materials at 180 degrees C for periods of 30, 60 and 90 min. generated a variety of peroxidation products, notably aldehydes (alkanals, trans-2-alkenals and alka-2,4-dienals) and their conjugated hydroperoxydiene precursors. Since such aldehydes appear to be absorbed into the systemic circulation from the gut in vivo, the toxicological significance of their production during standard frying practices is discussed.

Humoral mediation for cachexia in tumour-bearing rats

Early and severe loss of body weight associated with pronounced tissue changes developed in rats transplanted with a fast-growing ascites hepatoma (Yoshida AH-130). The protein content showed an early and marked fall in the skeletal muscle, while in the liver it transiently increased 4 days after implantation then declined to values lower than in control animals. Protein loss in gastrocnemius muscle and liver resulted mainly from enhancement of protein catabolism (Tessitore L. et al., Biochem. J., 241: 153-158, 1987). In contrast to the tumour-bearing rats, in the pair-fed animals the initial body weight was maintained, while the protein mass decreased sharply in the liver and moderately in the gastrocnemius muscle. In host animals total plasma protein decreased during the period of tumour growth, while both triglycerides and total cholesterol markedly increased. Glucose remained unchanged even when overt cachexia had developed. The total free amino acid concentration in the plasma of tumour-bearing rats decreased slightly by day 4 and returned to values close to those of controls in the late stages of tumour growth. By contrast, in the pair-fed controls the plasma levels of triglycerides and particularly of total free amino acids and glucose decreased over the whole experimental period, whereas total protein and cholesterol were unchanged. Marked perturbations in the hormonal homeostasis developed early after tumour transplantation. The plasma levels of glucagon, corticosterone and catecholamines rose sharply, while those of insulin and thyroid hormones decreased. Furthermore, high plasma concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) were observed over the whole experimental period. IL-1-like activity, TNF and PGE2 were released in vitro from AH-130 cells. These data suggest that the systemic effects of AH-130 tumour on the host rat reflected the interplay of a complex network of factors, including classical hormones and cytokines, all of which likely concur in enhancing tissue protein catabolism.

Occurrence of (E)-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal in plasma and synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

(E)-4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), a cytotoxic propagation product of lipid peroxidation, is present in the synovial fluid (0.54 (0.19) mumol/l; mean (SE), n = 9) and plasma (0.34 (0.09) mumol/l, n = 9) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This compound was also found in the synovial fluid (0.24 (0.19) mumol/l, n = 9) and plasma (0.09 (0.03) mumol/l, n = 9) of patients with osteoarthritis. The concentration of HNE in the plasma of patients with rheumatoid arthritis was significantly greater than in patients with osteoarthritis.

Effects of 4-hydroxynonenal, a product of lipid peroxidation, on cell proliferation and ornithine decarboxylase activity

4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) is one of the major breakdown products of cellular lipid peroxidation. Its effects on proliferation, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and DNA synthesis have been investigated in leukemic cell lines. The cells were incubated for 1 hour with different aldehyde concentrations, then washed and resuspended in medium with fresh foetal calf serum. HNE concentrations ranging from 10(-5) to 10(-6) M significantly inhibited ODC activity when induced by addition of fresh foetal calf serum both in K562 and HL-60 cells. 3H-Thymidine incorporation in K562 cells was also inhibited from 6 to 12 hours after the treatment. The same HNE concentrations did not inhibit ODC activity when added to cytosol, thus a direct action on the enzyme can be excluded. Moreover, HNE did not affect the half-life of ODC, so that a specific effect on ODC synthesis may be supposed. These data indicate a reduction of proliferative capacity of the cells and are consistent with the possibility that HNE, at concentrations close to those found in normal cells, plays a role in the control of cell proliferation.

Determination of the lipid peroxidation product trans-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal in biological samples by high-performance liquid chromatography and combined capillary column gas chromatography-negative-ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry

trans-4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) is an aldehyde end-product of lipid peroxidation in biological systems which is capable of producing a range of powerful biological effects. We wish to describe a sensitive and selective strategy for the determination of HNE in biological samples. The method is based on the formation of the O-pentafluorobenzyl (O-PFB) oxime derivatives of HNE and its deuterated internal standard which, after sample clean-up by solid-phase extraction and purification by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), were derivatised further to trimethylsilyl ethers. Subsequent capillary column gas chromatography-negative-ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry (GC-NICIMS) using selected-ion monitoring allowed quantitation in the low ng/ml range. The use of an internal standard and the O-PFB oxime derivatives circumvented the problems encountered previously by other workers because of the volatility and instability of HNE. The syn-isomer of HNE O-PFB oxime followed the anti-isomer on the HPLC and GC columns used, giving a distinctive pair of peaks of characteristic relative proportion. Moreover, the NICI mass spectra of the geometrical isomers were significantly different, providing further evidence to validate the identity of any endogenous HNE recovered. The method was used to identify and quantify HNE in platelets, monocytes, plasma and oxidised low-density lipoprotein.

Effect of two aliphatic aldehydes, methylglyoxal and 4-hydroxypentenal, on the growth of Yoshida ascites hepatoma AH-130

The influence of a ketoaldehyde, methylglyoxal (MG), and a hydroxyalkenal, 4-hydroxypentenal (HPE), on the growth of a highly-deviated tumour has been investigated. MG and HPE, administered intraperitoneally, strongly depressed in rats the proliferative activity of the Yoshida ascites hepatoma AH-130, reducing its mitotic and labelling indices as well as the proportion of cycling cells (growth fraction). Monitoring the effects on the cell cycle by the labelled mitoses method showed that the percentage of labelled mitoses was markedly lowered after either aldehyde, which is indicative for a blocking effect in the S phase. In addition, the mean cell cycle time was slightly prolonged by MG, probably due to accumulation of cells in G1, whereas HPE delayed the first mitotic peak and increased the mean DNA synthetic period without modifying the overall cycle time. The effects of HPE on the cell cycle were prevented by pretreatment with polyamines. Repeated doses of MG significantly increased the fraction of tumour-bearing rats surviving at 90 days ('indefinite' survivors) as well as the survival time of those which succumbed, implying that the carcinostatic effect of MG persisted over several cell cycles. By contrast, HPE did not significantly modify the survival of AH-130-bearing rats, suggesting that its influence on tumour growth was rapidly reversible.