Glutathione S-transferase pi in an arsenic-resistant Chinese hamster ovary cell line

A Comprehensive Analysis and Anti-Cancer Activities of Quercetin in ROS-Mediated Cancer and Cancer Stem Cells

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce carcinogenesis by causing genetic mutations, activating oncogenes, and increasing oxidative stress, all of which affect cell proliferation, survival, and apoptosis. When compared to normal cells, cancer cells have higher levels of ROS, and they are responsible for the maintenance of the cancer phenotype; this unique feature in cancer cells may, therefore, be exploited for targeted therapy. Quercetin (QC), a plant-derived bioflavonoid, is known for its ROS scavenging properties and was recently discovered to have various antitumor properties in a variety of solid tumors. Adaptive stress responses may be induced by persistent ROS stress, allowing cancer cells to survive with high levels of ROS while maintaining cellular viability. However, large amounts of ROS make cancer cells extremely susceptible to quercetin, one of the most available dietary flavonoids. Because of the molecular and metabolic distinctions between malignant and normal cells, targeting ROS metabolism might help overcome medication resistance and achieve therapeutic selectivity while having little or no effect on normal cells. The powerful bioactivity and modulatory role of quercetin has prompted extensive research into the chemical, which has identified a number of pathways that potentially work together to prevent cancer, alongside, QC has a great number of evidences to use as a therapeutic agent in cancer stem cells. This current study has broadly demonstrated the function-mechanistic relationship of quercetin and how it regulates ROS generation to kill cancer and cancer stem cells. Here, we have revealed the regulation and production of ROS in normal cells and cancer cells with a certain signaling mechanism. We demonstrated the specific molecular mechanisms of quercetin including MAPK/ERK1/2, p53, JAK/STAT and TRAIL, AMPKα1/ASK1/p38, RAGE/PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis, HMGB1 and NF-κB, Nrf2-induced signaling pathways and certain cell cycle arrest in cancer cell death, and how they regulate the specific cancer signaling pathways as long-searched cancer therapeutics.

Enhanced cytotoxic effects of arsenite in combination with anthocyanidin compound, delphinidin, against a human leukemia cell line, HL-60

Among five major anthocyanin compounds, delphinidin exhibited the most potent and selective cytocidal effect against HL-60, a trivalent arsenic (As(III))-resistant cell line. Co-treatment with delphinidin and As(III) resulted in the reduction of IC₅₀ value for As(III) from 11.2 to 1.5 μM, which was considered as clinically achieved concentrations of As(III). The combination treatment strongly preferred to selectively enhance the cytotoxicity of As(III) against HL-60 cells rather than human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The induction of apoptosis as evidenced by the increase of sub-G₁ cells, DNA fragmentation, annexin V-positive cells and the activation of caspase-8, -9 and -3 was observed in HL-60 cells co-treated with As(III) and delphinidin. Similar to the activation pattern of caspases, a substantial decrease in the expression level of Bid along with the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential was also observed. These results suggested that the combination treatment triggered a convergence of the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of apoptosis via the activation of caspase-8 and cleaved Bid. Delphinidin itself significantly decreased the intracellular GSH ([i]GSH) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) binding activity, and further returned As(III)-triggered increment of [i]GSH and enhancement of NF-κB binding activity to control level. Additionally, buthionine sulfoximine, a GSH depletor; JSH-23, a NF-κB inhibitor, also mimicked the capacity of delphinidin to significantly induce the reduction of [i]GSH along with the potentiation of As(III) cytotoxicity in HL-60 cells. These observations suggested that delphinidin-induced sensitization of HL-60 cells to As(III) was caused by the reduction of [i]GSH, which was probably associated with the inhibitory effect of delphinidin on NF-κB binding activity. These findings further suggest that delphinidin-induced sensitization of HL-60 cells to As(III) may lead to dose reduction of As(III) in clinical application, and ultimately contribute to minimizing its side effects.

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.

Individual variations in arsenic metabolism in Vietnamese: the association with arsenic exposure and GSTP1 genetic polymorphism

We investigated the association of As exposure and genetic polymorphism in glutathione S-transferase π1 (GSTP1) with As metabolism in 190 local residents from the As contaminated groundwater areas in the Red River Delta, Vietnam. Total As concentrations in groundwater ranged from <0.1 to 502 μg l(-1). Concentrations of dimethylarsinic acid (DMA(V)), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA(V)), and arsenite (As(III)) in human urine were positively correlated with total As levels in the groundwater, suggesting that people in these areas may be exposed to As through the groundwater. The concentration ratios of urinary As(III)/arsenate (As(V)) and MMA(V)/inorganic As (IA; As(III) + As(V))(M/I), which are indicators of As metabolism, increased with the urinary As level. Concentration and proportion of As(III) were high in the wild type of GSTP1 Ile105Val compared with the hetero type, and these trends were more pronounced in the higher As exposure group (>56 μg l(-1) creatinine in urine), but not in the lower exposure group. In the high As exposure group, As(III)/As(V) ratios in the urine of wild type of GSTP1 Ile105Val were significantly higher than those of the hetero type, while the opposite trend was observed for M/I. These results suggest that the excretion and metabolism of IA may depend on both the As exposure level and the GSTP1 Ile105Val genotype.

Potentiation of arsenic trioxide-induced apoptosis by 8-bromo-7-methoxychrysin in human leukemia cells involves depletion of intracellular reduced glutathione

The novel chrysin analog 8-bromo-7-methoxychrysin (BrMC) has been reported to induce apoptosis of various cancer cell lines. Arsenic trioxide (ATO) treatment induces clinical remission in acute promyelocytic leukemia patients. The combination of ATO with other agents has been shown to improve therapeutic effectiveness in vitro and in vivo. In this report, the mechanism of apoptosis induced by treatment with ATO alone or in combination with BrMC was studied in U937, HL-60, and Jurkat cells. Our results demonstrated that BrMC cooperated with ATO to induce apoptosis in human leukemia cells. This co-treatment caused mitochondrial transmembrane potential dissipation and stimulated the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, as evidenced by cytochrome c release, down-regulation of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) and Bcl-XL, and up-regulation of Bax. BrMC alone or in combination with ATO, decreased Akt phosphorylation as well as intracellular reduced glutathione (GSH) content. The thiol antioxidant N-acetylcysteine and exogenous GSH restored GSH content and attenuated apoptosis induced by co-treatment with ATO plus BrMC. In contrast, the non-thiol antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole and mannitol failed to do so. These findings suggest that GSH depletion explains at least in part the potentiation of ATO-induced apoptosis by BrMC.

Use of antimony in the treatment of leishmaniasis: current status and future directions

In the recent past the standard treatment of kala-azar involved the use of pentavalent antimonials Sb(V). Because of progressive rise in treatment failure to Sb(V) was limited its use in the treatment program in the Indian subcontinent. Until now the mechanism of action of Sb(V) is not very clear. Recent studies indicated that both parasite and hosts contribute to the antimony efflux mechanism. Interestingly, antimonials show strong immunostimulatory abilities as evident from the upregulation of transplantation antigens and enhanced T cell stimulating ability of normal antigen presenting cells when treated with Sb(V) in vitro. Recently, it has been shown that some of the peroxovanadium compounds have Sb(V)-resistance modifying ability in experimental infection with Sb(V) resistant Leishmania donovani isolates in murine model. Thus, vanadium compounds may be used in combination with Sb(V) in the treatment of Sb(V) resistance cases of kala-azar.

Association between GSTO2 polymorphism and the urinary arsenic profile in copper industry workers

Two members of the recently identified Omega class glutathione S-transferase enzymes (GSTO1 and GSTO2) have been proposed to play a role in the response to arsenic exposure. Therefore, polymorphisms in these genes could be related with variations in the arsenic excretion profile and, consequently, with the individual response to chronic exposure. Exons and flanking regions of GSTO2 gene have been screened in two different ethnic groups (20 Europeans and 20 Chilean Indians), and the urinary arsenic patterns and the GSTO2 Asn142Asp polymorphism have been investigated in 207 copper mine workers occupationally exposed to arsenic. Three polymorphisms of GSTO2 already described were detected in Europeans and Chilean Indians, although with significant different allele frequencies. The genotyping for the Asn142Asp polymorphism revealed that almost no significant association exists between this change and the arsenic excretion profile. However, 142Asp change seems to be correlated with an increase in DMA excretion after age and total urinary arsenic adjustment (OR=3.61; P=0.05). Altogether, our findings indicate that ethnical differences should be taken into account for correlation studies between GST Omega polymorphisms and arsenic susceptibility, and that the 142Asp allozyme could modulate arsenic biotransformation and thereby arsenic toxicity.

Interfering with ROS Metabolism in Cancer Cells: The Potential Role of Quercetin

A main feature of cancer cells, when compared to normal ones, is a persistent pro-oxidative state that leads to an intrinsic oxidative stress. Cancer cells have higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) than normal cells, and ROS are, in turn, responsible for the maintenance of the cancer phenotype. Persistent ROS stress may induce adaptive stress responses, enabling cancer cells to survive with high levels of ROS and maintain cellular viability. However, excessive ROS levels render cancer cells highly susceptible to quercetin, one of the main dietary flavonoids. Quercetin depletes intracellular glutathione and increases intracellular ROS to a level that can cause cell death.

AidH, an alpha/beta-hydrolase fold family member from an Ochrobactrum sp. strain, is a novel N-acylhomoserine lactonase

N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) are signaling molecules in many quorum-sensing (QS) systems that regulate interactions between various pathogenic bacteria and their hosts. Quorum quenching by the enzymatic inactivation of AHLs holds great promise in preventing and treating infections, and several such enzymes have been reported. In this study, we report the characterization of a novel AHL-degrading protein from the soil bacterium Ochrobactrum sp. strain T63. This protein, termed AidH, shares no similarity with any of the known AHL degradases but is highly homologous with a hydrolytic enzyme from Ochrobactrum anthropi ATCC 49188 that contains the alpha/beta-hydrolase fold. By liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (MS) analysis, we demonstrate that AidH functions as an AHL-lactonase that hydrolyzes the ester bond of the homoserine lactone ring of AHLs. Mutational analyses indicate that the G-X-Nuc-X-G motif or the histidine residue conserved among alpha/beta-hydrolases is critical for the activity of AidH. Furthermore, the AHL-inactivating activity of AidH requires Mn(2+) but not several other tested divalent cations. We also showed that AidH significantly reduces biofilm formation by Pseudomonas fluorescens 2P24 and the pathogenicity of Pectobacterium carotovorum, indicating that this enzyme is able to effectively quench QS-dependent functions in these bacteria by degrading AHLs.

Sensitivity to sodium arsenite in human melanoma cells depends upon susceptibility to arsenite-induced mitotic arrest

Arsenic induces clinical remission in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia and has potential for treatment of other cancers. The current study examines factors influencing sensitivity to arsenic using human malignant melanoma cell lines. A375 and SK-Mel-2 cells were sensitive to clinically achievable concentrations of arsenite, whereas SK-Mel-3 and SK-Mel-28 cells required supratherapeutic levels for toxicity. Inhibition of glutathione synthesis, glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity, and multidrug resistance protein (MRP) transporter function attenuated arsenite resistance, consistent with studies suggesting that arsenite is extruded from the cell as a glutathione conjugate by MRP-1. However, MRP-1 was not overexpressed in resistant lines and GST-pi was only slightly elevated. ICP-MS analysis indicated that arsenite-resistant SK-Mel-28 cells did not accumulate less arsenic than arsenite-sensitive A375 cells, suggesting that resistance was not attributable to reduced arsenic accumulation but rather to intrinsic properties of resistant cell lines. The mode of arsenite-induced cell death was apoptosis. Arsenite-induced apoptosis is associated with cell cycle alterations. Cell cycle analysis revealed arsenite-sensitive cells arrested in mitosis whereas arsenite-resistant cells did not, suggesting that induction of mitotic arrest occurs at lower intracellular arsenic concentrations. Higher intracellular arsenic levels induced cell cycle arrest in the S-phase and G(2)-phase in SK-Mel-3 and SK-Mel-28 cells, respectively. The lack of arsenite-induced mitotic arrest in resistant cell lines was associated with a weakened spindle checkpoint resulting from reduced expression of spindle checkpoint protein BUBR1. These data suggest that arsenite has potential for treatment of solid tumors but a functional spindle checkpoint is a prerequisite for a positive response to its clinical application.

Roles of trypanothione S-transferase and tryparedoxin peroxidase in resistance to antimonials

The clinical value of antimonial drugs, the mainstay therapy for leishmaniasis, is now threatened by the emergence of acquired drug resistance, and a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms is required. Using the model organism Leishmania tarentolae, we have examined the role of trypanothione S-transferase (TST) in trivalent antimony [Sb(III)] resistance. TST has S-transferase activity with substrates such as chlorodinitrobenzene as well as peroxidase activity with alkyl and aryl hydroperoxides but not with hydrogen peroxide. Although S-transferase activity and TST protein levels were unchanged in Sb(III)-sensitive and -resistant lines, rates of metabolism of hydrogen peroxide, t-butyl hydroperoxide, and cumene hydroperoxide were significantly increased. Elevated peroxidase activities were shown to be both trypanothione and tryparedoxin dependent and were associated with the overexpression of classical tryparedoxin peroxidase (TryP) in the cytosol of L. tarentolae. The role of TryP in Sb(III) resistance was verified by overexpression of the recombinant Leishmania major protein in Sb(III)-sensitive promastigotes. An approximate twofold increase in the level of TryP activity in this transgenic cell line was accompanied by a significant decrease in sensitivity to Sb(III) (twofold; P < 0.001). Overexpression of an enzymatically inactive TryP failed to result in Sb(III) resistance. This indicates that TryP-dependent resistance is not due to sequestration of Sb(III) and suggests that enhanced antioxidant defenses may well be a key feature of mechanisms of clinical resistance to antimonial drugs.

Activation of the Nrf2 pathway, but decreased gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase heavy subunit chain levels and caspase-3-dependent apoptosis during exposure of primary mouse hepatocytes to diphenylarsinic acid

Diphenylarsinic acid (DPAsV) is a degradation product of chemical warfare agents, over which there has been a public outcry in the Kamisu Area of Ibaraki Prefecture in Japan. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxicity of and cellular response to DPAsV in primary mouse hepatocytes. Exposure of the hepatocytes to DPAsV resulted in cell damage accompanied by cellular accumulation of DPAsV in a time-dependent manner. The cell death caused by DPAsV was attributable to apoptosis. DPAsV activated a basic leucine-zipper transcription factor Nrf2 as determined by the nuclear translocation of Nrf2, anti-oxidant response element (ARE)-dependent luciferase activity, and upregulation of downstream gene products. However, gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase heavy subunit chain (gamma-GCS(H)), which is regulated by Nrf2, underwent cleavage by activated caspase-3 to a 17 kDa fragment, leading to a minimal level of constitutive gamma-GCS(H) expression 72 h following the exposure (25 microM). Experiments with cycloheximide revealed that the DPAsV-mediated reduction in gamma-GCS(H) was due to a post-translational modification. The results suggest that DPAsV causes caspase-3-dependent cleavage of gamma-GCS(H) regardless of Nrf2 activation in primary mouse hepatocytes.

Molecular processes in cellular arsenic metabolism

Elucidating molecular processes that underlie accumulation, metabolism and binding of iAs and its methylated metabolites provides a basis for understanding the modes of action by which iAs acts as a toxin and a carcinogen. One approach to this problem is to construct a conceptual model that incorporates available information on molecular processes involved in the influx, metabolism, binding and efflux of arsenicals in cells. This conceptual model is initially conceived as a non-quantitative representation of critical molecular processes that can be used as a framework for experimental design and prediction. However, with refinement and incorporation of additional data, the conceptual model can be expressed in mathematical terms and should be useful for quantitative estimates of the kinetic and dynamic behavior of iAs and its methylated metabolites in cells. Development of a quantitative model will be facilitated by the availability of tools and techniques to manipulate molecular processes underlying transport of arsenicals across cell membranes or expression and activity of enzymes involved in methylation of arsenicals. This model of cellular metabolism might be integrated into more complex pharmacokinetic models for systemic metabolism of iAs and its methylated metabolites. It may also be useful in development of biologically based dose-response models describing the toxic and carcinogenic actions of arsenicals.

Molecular mechanisms of antimony resistance in Leishmania

Leishmaniasis causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The disease is endemic in developing countries of tropical regions, and in recent years economic globalization and increased travel have extended its reach to people in developed countries. In the absence of effective vaccines and vector-control measures, the main line of defence against the disease is chemotherapy. Organic pentavalent antimonials [Sb(V)] have been the first-line drugs for the treatment of leishmaniasis for the last six decades, and clinical resistance to these drugs has emerged as a primary obstacle to successful treatment and control. A multiplicity of resistance mechanisms have been described in resistantLeishmaniamutants developedin vitroby stepwise increases of the concentration of either antimony [Sb(III)] or the related metal arsenic [As(III)], the most prevalent mechanism being upregulated Sb(III) detoxification and sequestration. With the availability of resistant field isolates, it has now become possible to elucidate mechanisms of clinical resistance. The present review describes the mechanisms of antimony resistance inLeishmaniaand highlights the links between previous hypotheses and current developments in field studies. Unravelling the molecular mechanisms of clinical resistance could allow the prevention and circumvention of resistance, as well as rational drug design for the treatment of drug-resistantLeishmania.

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.

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.

Drug resistance in leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a complex disease, with visceral and cutaneous manifestations, and is caused by over 15 different species of the protozoan parasite genus Leishmania. There are significant differences in the sensitivity of these species both to the standard drugs, for example, pentavalent antimonials and miltefosine, and those on clinical trial, for example, paromomycin. Over 60% of patients with visceral leishmaniasis in Bihar State, India, do not respond to treatment with pentavalent antimonials. This is now considered to be due to acquired resistance. Although this class of drugs has been used for over 60 years for leishmaniasis treatment, it is only in the past 2 years that the mechanisms of action and resistance have been identified, related to drug metabolism, thiol metabolism, and drug efflux. With the introduction of new therapies, including miltefosine in 2002 and paromomycin in 2005-2006, it is essential that there be a strategy to prevent the emergence of resistance to new drugs; combination therapy, monitoring of therapy, and improved diagnostics could play an essential role in this strategy.

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.

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.

The role of thiol species in the hypertolerance of Aspergillus sp. P37 to arsenic

Aspergillus sp. P37 is an arsenate-hypertolerant fungus isolated from a river in Spain with a long history of contamination with metals. This strain is able to grow in the presence of 0.2 M arsenate, i.e. 20-fold higher than the reference strain, Aspergillus nidulans TS1. Although Aspergillus sp. P37 reduces As(V) to As(III), which is slowly pumped out of the cell, the measured efflux of oxyanions is insufficient to explain the high tolerance levels of this strain. To gain an insight into this paradox, the accumulation of acid-soluble thiol species in Aspergillus sp. P37 when exposed to arsenic was compared with that of the arsenic-sensitive A. nidulans TS1 strain. Increasing levels of arsenic in the medium did not diminish the intracellular pool of reduced glutathione in Aspergillus sp. P37, in sharp contrast with the decline of glutathione in A. nidulans under the same conditions. Furthermore, concentrations of arsenic that were inhibitory for the sensitive A. nidulans strain (e.g. 50 mM and above) provoked a massive formation of vacuoles filled with thiol species. Because the major fraction of the cellular arsenic was present as the glutathione conjugate As(GS)3, it is plausible that the arsenic-hypertolerant phenotype of Aspergillus sp. P37 is in part due to an enhanced capacity to maintain a large intracellular glutathione pool under conditions of arsenic exposure and to sequester As(GS)3 in vacuoles. High pressure liquid chromatography analysis of cell extracts revealed that the contact of Aspergillus sp. P37 (but not A. nidulans) with high arsenic concentrations (> or =150 mM) induced the production of small quantities of a distinct thiol species indistinguishable from plant phytochelatin-2. Yet, we argue that phytochelatins do not explain arsenic resistance in Aspergillus, and we advocate the role of As(GS)3 complexes in arsenic detoxification.

Arsenic transport by the human multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1/ABCC1). Evidence that a tri-glutathione conjugate is required

Inorganic arsenic is an established human carcinogen, but its metabolism is incompletely defined. The ATP binding cassette protein, multidrug resistance protein (MRP1/ABCC1), transports conjugated organic anions (e.g. leukotriene C(4)) and also co-transports certain unmodified xenobiotics (e.g. vincristine) with glutathione (GSH). MRP1 also confers resistance to arsenic in association with GSH; however, the mechanism and the species of arsenic transported are unknown. Using membrane vesicles prepared from the MRP1-overexpressing lung cancer cell line, H69AR, we found that MRP1 transports arsenite (As(III)) only in the presence of GSH but does not transport arsenate (As(V)) (with or without GSH). The non-reducing GSH analogs L-gamma-glutamyl-L-alpha-aminobutyryl glycine and S-methyl GSH did not support As(III) transport, indicating that the free thiol group of GSH is required. GSH-dependent transport of As(III) was 2-fold higher at pH 6.5-7 than at a more basic pH, consistent with the formation and transport of the acid-stable arsenic triglutathione (As(GS)(3)). Immunoblot analysis of H69AR vesicles revealed the unexpected membrane association of GSH S-transferase P1-1 (GSTP1-1). Membrane vesicles from an MRP1-transfected HeLa cell line lacking membrane-associated GSTP1-1 did not transport As(III) even in the presence of GSH but did transport synthetic As(GS)(3). The addition of exogenous GSTP1-1 to HeLa-MRP1 vesicles resulted in GSH-dependent As(III) transport. The apparent K(m) of As(GS)(3) for MRP1 was 0.32 microM, suggesting a remarkably high relative affinity. As(GS)(3) transport by MRP1 was osmotically sensitive and was inhibited by several conjugated organic anions (MRP1 substrates) as well as the metalloid antimonite (K(i) 2.8 microM). As(GS)(3) transport experiments using MRP1 mutants with substrate specificities differing from wild-type MRP1 suggested a commonality in the substrate binding pockets of As(GS)(3) and leukotriene C(4). Finally, human MRP2 also transported As(GS)(3). In conclusion, MRP1 transports inorganic arsenic as a tri-GSH conjugate, and GSTP1-1 may have a synergistic role in this process.

Dual effects of glutathione-S-transferase π on As2O3 action in prostate cancer cells: enhancement of growth inhibition and inhibition of apoptosis

To determine the effects of glutathione-S-transferase pi (GSTpi) on the actions of As2O3, As2O3-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis was studied in three prostate cancer cell lines: DU-145, PC-3 and LNCaP cells. As2O3 inhibited cell proliferation of DU-145 and PC-3 cells (both cells express GSTpi), but not of LNCaP cells (which lack GSTpi expression) at concentrations below 1 microM. LNCaP cells stably transfected and expressed GSTpi (LNCaP/GSTpi) became sensitive to As2O3 growth inhibition. As2O3 arrested cell growth of DU-145, PC-3 and LNCaP/GSTpi cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle at low concentrations (<2 microM), but did not induce apoptosis. At higher concentrations (10-20 microM), As2O3 induced apoptosis in LNCaP cells, but not in DU-145 or PC-3 cells. The apoptosis induction due to As2O3 treatment of LNCaP cell correlated with the activation of JNK and p38 and induction of p53 protein. LNCaP/GSTpi cells became insensitive to As2O3-induced apoptosis with reduced JNK activition. These data indicate that GSTpi increases growth inhibition due to As2O3 treatment and prevents As2O3-induced apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. Therefore, it appears that As2O3 inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis through different mechanisms.

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.

Glutathione depletion overcomes resistance to arsenic trioxide in arsenic-resistant cell lines

Arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) is an effective treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), but is less effective against other leukemias. Although the response of APL cells to As(2)O(3) has been linked to degradation of the PML/RARalpha fusion oncoprotein, there is evidence that PML/RARalpha expression is not the only mediator of arsenic sensitivity. Indeed, we found that exogenous expression of PML/RARalpha did not sensitize a non-APL leukemic line to As(2)O(3). To evaluate possible other determinants of sensitivity of leukemic cells to As(2)O(3), we derived two arsenic-resistant NB4 subclones. Despite being approximately 10-fold more resistant to arsenic than their parental cell line, PML/RARalpha protein was still degraded by As(2)O(3) in these cells, providing further evidence that loss of expression of the oncoprotein does not confer arsenic sensitivity. Both arsenic-resistant clones contained high glutathione (GSH) levels, however, and we found that GSH depletion coupled with As(2)O(3) treatment dramatically inhibited their growth. Annexin V-staining and TUNEL analysis confirmed a synergistic induction of apoptosis. In addition, these cells failed to accumulate ROS in response to arsenic treatment, in contrast to their arsenic-sensitive parental cells, unless cotreated with buthionine sulfoximine. While other malignant cells did not show a good correlation between arsenic sensitivity and GSH content, GSH depletion nevertheless sensitized all cell lines examined, regardless of their initial response to arsenic alone. These findings suggest that PML/RARalpha expression is not a determinant of arsenic sensitivity, and further support the coupling of GSH depletion and arsenic treatment as a novel treatment for human malignancies that are unresponsive to arsenic alone.

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).

The parasite-specific trypanothione metabolism of trypanosoma and leishmania

The bis(glutathionyl)spermidine trypanothione exclusively occurs in parasitic protozoa of the order Kinetoplastida, such as trypanosomes and leishmania, some of which are the causative agents of several tropical diseases. The dithiol is kept reduced by the flavoenzyme trypanothione reductase and the trypanothione system replaces in these parasites the nearly ubiquitous glutathione/glutathione reductase couple. Trypanothione is a reductant of thioredoxin and tryparedoxin, small dithiol proteins, which in turn deliver reducing equivalents for the synthesis of deoxyribonucleotides as well as for the detoxification of hydroperoxides by different peroxidases. Depending on the individual organism and the developmental state, the parasites also contain significant amounts of glutathione, mono-glutathionylspermidine and ovothiol, whereby all four low molecular mass thiols are directly (trypanothione and mono-glutathionylspermidine) or indirectly (glutathione and ovothiol) maintained in the reduced state by trypanothione reductase. Thus the trypanothione system is central for any thiol regeneration and trypanothione reductase has been shown to be an essential enzyme in these parasites. The absence of this pathway from the mammalian host and the sensitivity of trypanosomatids toward oxidative stress render the enzymes of the trypanothione metabolism attractive target molecules for the rational development of new drugs against African sleeping sickness, Chagas' disease and the different forms of leishmaniasis.

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.

Association of blood arsenic levels with increased reactive oxidants and decreased antioxidant capacity in a human population of northeastern Taiwan

Arsenic is a notorious environmental toxicant known as both a carcinogen and an atherogen in human beings, but the pathogenic mechanisms are not completely understood. In cell culture studies, trivalent arsenic enhanced oxidative stress in a variety of mammalian cells, and this association may be closely associated with the development of arsenic-related diseases. To investigate the effect of arsenic exposure on oxidative stress in humans, we conducted a population study to determine the relationships of blood arsenic to reactive oxidants and antioxidant capacity at the individual level. We recruited 64 study subjects ages 42-75 years from residents of the Lanyang Basin on the northeast coast of Taiwan, where arsenic content in well water varies from 0 to > or = 3,000 microg/L. We used a chemiluminescence method, with lucigenin as an amplifier for measuring superoxide, to measure the plasma level of reactive oxidants. We used the azino-diethyl-benzthiazoline sulphate method to determine the antioxidant capacity level in plasma of each study subject. We determined arsenic concentration in whole blood by hydride formation with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The average arsenic concentration in whole blood of study subjects was 9.60 +/- 9.96 microg/L (+/- SD) with a range from 0 to 46.50 microg/L. The level of arsenic concentration in whole blood of study subjects showed a positive association with the level of reactive oxidants in plasma (r = +0.41, p = 0.001) and an inverse relationship with the level of plasma antioxidant capacity (r = -0.30, p = 0.014). However, we found no significant association (p = 0.266) between levels of plasma reactive oxidants and antioxidant capacity. Our results also show that the lower the primary arsenic methylation capability, the lower the level of plasma antioxidant capacity (p = 0.029). These results suggest that ingestion of arsenic-contaminated well water may cause deleterious effects by increasing the level of reactive oxidants and decreasing the level of antioxidant capacity in plasma of individuals. Persistent oxidative stress in peripheral blood may be a mechanism underlying the carcinogenesis and atherosclerosis induced by long-term arsenic exposure.

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)

Arsenic trioxide sensitivity is associated with low level of glutathione in cancer cells

Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is a novel anticancer agent, which has been found to induce remission in acute promyelocytic leukaemic patients following daily intravenous administration. The therapeutic value of As2O3 in other cancers is still largely unknown. Cytotoxic tests in a panel of cancer cell lines showed that bladder cancer, acute promyelocytic leukaemic and gastrointestinal cancer cells were the most sensitive to As2O3 among 17 cell lines tested. Cellular glutathione (GSH) system plays an important role in arsenic detoxification in mammalian cells. Cancer cells that were intrinsically sensitive to As2O3 contained lower levels of GSH, whereas resistant cancer cells contained higher levels of GSH. On the other hand, there was no association of glutathione-S-transferase-pi or multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 levels with arsenic sensitivity in these cancer cells. Multidrug-resistant cancer cells that were cross-resistant to arsenic contained higher levels of GSH or multidrug-resistance-associated protein 1 than their drug-sensitive parental cells. Cancer cells become more sensitive to arsenic after depletion of cellular GSH with L-buthionine sulphoximine. We concluded that cellular GSH level is the most important determinant of arsenic sensitivity in cancer cells. Cellular GSH level and its modulation by buthionine sulphoximine should be considered in designing clinical trials using arsenic in solid tumours.

Elevated levels of polyamines and trypanothione resulting from overexpression of the ornithine decarboxylase gene in arsenite-resistant Leishmania

The levels of trypanothione, a glutathione-spermidine conjugate, are increased in the protozoan parasite Leishmania selected for resistance to the heavy metal arsenite. The levels of putrescine and spermidine were increased in resistant mutants. This increase is mediated by overexpression of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the rate-limiting enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis. Gene overexpression is generally mediated by gene amplification in Leishmania but, here, the mRNA and the enzymatic activity of ODC are increased without gene amplification. This RNA overexpression is stable when cells are grown in the absence of the drug and does not result from gene rearrangements or from an increased rate of RNA synthesis. Transient transfections suggest that mutations in the revertant cells contribute to these elevated levels of RNA. Stable transfection of the ODC gene increases the level of trypanothione, which can contribute to arsenite resistance. In addition to ODC overexpression, the gene for the ABC transporter PGPA is amplified in the mutants. The co-transfection of the ODC and PGPA genes confers resistance in a synergistic fashion in partial revertants, also suggesting that PGPA recognizes metals conjugated to trypanothione.

Malignant Cells Can Be Sensitized to Undergo Growth Inhibition and Apoptosis by Arsenic Trioxide Through Modulation of the Glutathione Redox System

Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) induces clinical remission in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with minimal toxicity and apoptosis in APL-derived NB4 cells at low (1 to 2 μmol/L) concentration. We examined the basis for NB4 cell sensitivity to As2O3 to identify experimental conditions that would render other malignant cells responsive to low concentrations of As2O3. The intracellular glutathione (GSH) content had a decisive effect on As2O3-induced apoptosis. Highly sensitive NB4 cells had the lowest GSH and the sensitivity of other cell lines was inversely proportional to their GSH content. The t(14;18) B-cell lymphoma cell line had low GSH levels and sensitivity to As2O3 at levels slightly higher than in APL cells. Experimental upmodulation of GSH content decreased the sensitivity to As2O3. Ascorbic acid and buthionine sulfoxide (BSO) decreased GSH to a greater extent, and rendered malignant cells more sensitive to As2O3. As2O3-induced apoptosis was not enhanced by ascorbic acid in normal cells, suggesting that the combination of ascorbic acid and As2O3may be selectively toxic to some malignant cells. Ascorbic acid enhanced the antilymphoma effect of As2O3 in vivo without additional toxicity. Thus, As2O3alone or administered with ascorbic acid may provide a novel therapy for lymphoma.

Malignant Cells Can Be Sensitized to Undergo Growth Inhibition and Apoptosis by Arsenic Trioxide Through Modulation of the Glutathione Redox System

Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) induces clinical remission in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with minimal toxicity and apoptosis in APL-derived NB4 cells at low (1 to 2 μmol/L) concentration. We examined the basis for NB4 cell sensitivity to As2O3 to identify experimental conditions that would render other malignant cells responsive to low concentrations of As2O3. The intracellular glutathione (GSH) content had a decisive effect on As2O3-induced apoptosis. Highly sensitive NB4 cells had the lowest GSH and the sensitivity of other cell lines was inversely proportional to their GSH content. The t(14;18) B-cell lymphoma cell line had low GSH levels and sensitivity to As2O3 at levels slightly higher than in APL cells. Experimental upmodulation of GSH content decreased the sensitivity to As2O3. Ascorbic acid and buthionine sulfoxide (BSO) decreased GSH to a greater extent, and rendered malignant cells more sensitive to As2O3. As2O3-induced apoptosis was not enhanced by ascorbic acid in normal cells, suggesting that the combination of ascorbic acid and As2O3may be selectively toxic to some malignant cells. Ascorbic acid enhanced the antilymphoma effect of As2O3 in vivo without additional toxicity. Thus, As2O3alone or administered with ascorbic acid may provide a novel therapy for lymphoma.

Reversal of heavy metal resistance in multidrug-resistant human KB carcinoma cells

Human KB carcinoma C-A120 cells that express multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) were cross-resistant to trivalent and pentavalent antimonials and arsenicals. Intracellular glutathione (GSH) content was higher in C-A120 than its parental KB-3-1 cell line. Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) was similar in both cell lines. Depletion of cellular GSH by treatment of the cells with the inhibitor of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS), buthione sulfoximine (BSO), significantly increased the sensitivity of both KB-3-1 and C-A120 cells to heavy metals. A pyridine analog, PAK-104P, almost completely reversed the resistance to antimonials and arsenicals in C-A120 cells. BSO at 100 microM or PAK-104P at 10 microM enhanced the accumulation of antimony potassium tartrate in C-A120 cells to the level of that in KB-3-1 cells without the agents. PAK-104P inhibited the ATP-dependent efflux of antimony potassium tartrate. These findings suggest that MRP transports antimony conjugated with GSH ATP-dependently outside the cells and PAK-104P inhibits the transporting activity of MRP.

Comparison of the mRNA sequences for Pi class glutathione transferases in different hamster species and the corresponding enzyme activities with anti-benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol 9,10-epoxide

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) of class Pi (GST Pi) is known to detoxify the mutagenic and carcinogenic (+)-anti-benzo[a]pyrene-7, 8-dihydrodiol 9,10-epoxide [(+)-anti-BPDE] by conjugation with glutathione. Previously, we have shown that Chinese hamster V79 cells contain GST Pi, but seem to lack the capacity to conjugate (+)-anti-BPDE, although these cells do conjugate other substrates with GSH [Romert, Dock, Jenssen and Jernström (1989) Carcinogenesis 10, 1701-1707; Swedmark, Romert, Morgenstern and Jenssen (1992) Carcinogenesis 13, 1719-1723; Swedmark and Jenssen (1994) Gene 139, 251-256]. In the present study we have compared four cell lines derived from different hamster species with respect to GST cDNA sequences and capacity to conjugate (+)-or(-)-anti-BPDE. The cell lines were V79 and Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO), Armenian hamster lung (AHL) cells and baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells. The sequencing revealed a complete homology between the V79 and CHO cDNA for GST Pi, whereas the corresponding amino acid sequences predicted from the corresponding AHL and BHK cDNAs differed by six and nine amino acids, respectively, from the predicted V79 sequence. None of these changes alone was found to influence the xenobiotic substrate-binding site. The cytosolic fractions from BHK and AHL cells were found to catalyse conjugation of (+)-anti-BPDE with GSH, whereas the corresponding activity in CHO cells was non-detectable. As shown previously, V79 cells were devoid of activity towards (+)-anti-BPDE. All the cell lines studied demonstrated appreciable GST activity towards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, but no activity with (-)-anti-BPDE. The latter result suggests that GST Pi is the sole or predominant GST in these cell lines. This was confirmed by HPLC analysis of purified enzymes obtained by affinity chromatography. However, when the catalytic activities of the pure enzymes were determined, all four different GST Pi enzymes were found to be highly capable of conjugating (+)-anti-BPDE with GSH. This observation indicates the existence of an intracellular factor that selectively inhibits conjugation of (+)-anti-BPDE, but not of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene in the V79 and CHO cell lines. This new phenomenon seems to be specific for Chinese hamster, since both these cell lines originate from this species.

Inhibition by arsenite of anticancer drug cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) induced DNA repair and drug resistance in HeLa cells

We have previously reported a cisplatin-resistant HeLa variant cell line (HeLa/CPR) which exhibited an enhancement in repairing cisplatin-DNA adducts (Chao, 1994, Mol. Pharmacol. 45, 1137-1144). In this study, using this cell line, we investigated the modification, by arsenite, of cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity and DNA repair in the resistant cell line. By a sublethal dose of arsenite, cytotoxicity of the resistant cells was enhanced by 2.5-fold, compared to 1.62-fold in the parental cells. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a monoclonal antibody specific for cisplatin-DNA adducts, we found that the resistant cells showed a 5.15-fold decrease in the adduct formation compared to the parental cells. However, in the presence of arsenite, the resistant cells showed only a 1.47-fold decrease in the adduct formation, indicating a more than 3-fold modification. Using host cell reactivation of transfected plasmid DNA carrying cisplatin damage (an indirect detection of DNA repair), arsenite also revealed a ∼2-fold modification of adduct formation in the resistant cells. In addition, the time-dependent potentiation of cytotoxicity by arsenite in both cell lines was parallel to the increase of adduct formation. These results indicate that arsenite is an effective modifier of cisplatin-induced resistance and enhanced DNA repair in HeLa/CPR cells. The results are consistent with the notion that the cisplatin-resistant phenotype in HeLa cells is mainly mediated by enhancement of DNA repair.

Arsenic increased lipid peroxidation in rat tissues by a mechanism independent of glutathione levels

The role of lipid peroxidation in the mechanism of arsenic toxicity was investigated in female rats pretreated with N-acetylcysteine (NAC, a glutathione [GSH] inducer) or with buthionine sulfoximine (BSO, a GSH depletor). Rats were challenged with sodium arsenite, and sacrificed 1 hr after this treatment. Results showed that arsenic decreased GSH levels and increased lipid peroxidation in liver, kidney, and heart, with a larger effect at 18.2 mg/kg than at 14.8 mg/kg for lipid peroxidation induction. In the liver of rats treated with arsenic, pretreatment with NAC increased the levels of GSH and decreased lipid peroxidation. In kidney and heart, NAC pretreatment protected the tissues against arsenic-induced depletion of GSH levels, but the same degree of protection was not found for lipid peroxidation induction. In its turn, BSO had an additive effect with arsenic in lowering the levels of GSH in the liver and kidney, but an inverse correlation between GSH levels and lipid peroxidation was found only in liver. Arsenic content in tissues of rats pretreated with NAC was lower than in rats treated only with arsenic. In rats with depleted levels of GSH (BSO-pretreated rats), a shift in arsenic tissue distribution was found, with higher levels in skin and lower levels in kidney. A clear tendency for a positive correlation between arsenic concentration and lipid peroxidation levels was found in liver, kidney, and heart.

Resistance mechanisms to arsenicals and antimonials

Salts and organic derivatives of arsenic and antimony are quite toxic. Living organisms have adapted to this toxicity by the evolution of resistance mechanisms. Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells develop resistance when exposed to arsenicals or antimonials. In the case of bacteria resistance is conferred by plasmid-encoded arsenical resistance (ars) operons. The genes and gene products of the ars operon of the clinically-isolated conjugative R-factor R773 have been identified and their mechanism of action elucidated. The operon encodes an ATP-driven pump that extrudes arsenite and antimonite from the cells. The lowering of their intracellular concentration results in resistance. Arsenate resistance results from the action of the plasmid-encoded arsenate reductase that reduces arsenate to arsenite, which is then pumped out of the cell.

Differential cytotoxic effects of arsenic on human and animal cells

Human fibroblasts (HFW) were 10-fold more susceptible than Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells to sodium arsenite. Comparison of cellular antioxidant enzyme activities showed that CHO-K1 cells contained 3- and 8-fold more glutathione-peroxidase and catalase activities, respectively, than HFW cells. Since vitamin E, methylamine, and benzyl alcohol could prevent, in part, the arsenite-induced killing of HFW cells, we suggest that arsenite can induce oxidative damage in HFW cells. We have also established arsenic-resistant cells, SA7 and CL3R, from CHO cells and from a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (CL3), respectively. The arsenic resistance of SA7 cells was attributed mainly to elevation of glutathione S-transferase pi levels, and that of CL3R cells was possibly due to an increase in heme oxygenase activity. Since induction of heme oxygenase is a general response to oxidative stress, we suspect that the differential toxicity of arsenic to human and animal cells could be due to arsenic's more efficient induction of oxidative damage in human cells.