The levels of quinone reductases, superoxide dismutase and glutathione-related enzymatic activities in diethylstilbestrol-induced carcinogenesis in the kidney of male Syrian golden hamsters

The Potential Role of Mitochondrial Acetaldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 in Urological Cancers From the Perspective of Ferroptosis and Cellular Senescence

Overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and superlative lipid peroxidation promote tumorigenesis, and mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) is associated with the detoxification of ROS-mediated lipid peroxidation-generated reactive aldehydes such as 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE), malondialdehyde, and acrolein due to tobacco smoking. ALDH2 has been demonstrated to be highly associated with the prognosis and chemoradiotherapy sensitivity of many types of cancer, including leukemia, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer, hepatocellular cancer, pancreatic cancer, and ovarian cancer. In this study, we explored the possible relationship between ALDH2 and urological cancers from the aspects of ferroptosis, epigenetic alterations, proteostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cellular senescence.

Fish oils protects against cecal ligation and puncture‑induced septic acute kidney injury via the regulation of inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis

Septic acute kidney injury (AKI) is usually caused by sepsis. ω3 fatty acid has been reported to suppress sepsis-induced organ dysfunction to a certain degree. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of ω3 fatty acid in septic renal injury. Sprague Dawley rats were used to establish a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model in order to mimic the development of septic injury. The rats were treated with dexamethasone and fish oils (FOs) for 4 days prior to CLP. Alterations in the morphology of the tissues, the renal function and the induction of inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis were evaluated. The effects of FOs on nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), JAK2/STAT3 and p38-MAPK were determined. The rats of the CLP model group exhibited low survival rates and increased expression of serum creatine, blood urea nitrogen, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, kidney injury molecule-1 and of proinflammatory cytokines. In addition, the levels of the markers of oxidative injury and apoptosis were increased. The induction of renal injury was notably reversed by administration of dexamethasone and FOs. The expression levels of the protein markers involved in inflammation and apoptosis were measured and the results indicated that FOs inhibited JAK/STAT3 and p-38MAPK signaling, while they concomitantly increased the expression of NF-κB. The present study highlighted that FOs improve CLP-induced mortality and renal injury by inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Substrate profiling of glutathione S-transferase with engineered enzymes and matched glutathione analogues

The identification of specific substrates of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) is important for understanding drug metabolism. A method termed bioorthogonal identification of GST substrates (BIGS) was developed, in which a reduced glutathione (GSH) analogue was developed for recognition by a rationally engineered GST to label the substrates of the corresponding native GST. A K44G-W40A-R41A mutant (GST-KWR) of the mu-class glutathione S-transferases GSTM1 was shown to be active with a clickable GSH analogue (GSH-R1) as the cosubstrate. The GSH-R1 conjugation products can react with an azido-based biotin probe for ready enrichment and MS identification. Proof-of-principle studies were carried to detect the products of GSH-R1 conjugation to 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and dopamine quinone. The BIGS technology was then used to identify GSTM1 substrates in the Chinese herbal medicine Ganmaocongji.

Protein oxidation in male Syrian hamster kidney during estrogen-induced carcinogenesis

Chronic administration of estradiol leads to generation of estrogen-dependent renal cancer in male Syrian hamsters within 9-12 months. The pathogenesis of this tumour is associated with oxygen free radicals, however, it is still not clear which metabolic pathway of estrogens is responsible for the generation of the radicals, and which part of the cell is mostly affected by it. The paper presents an experiment in which the protein oxidation measured by carbonyl groups level in 9-month estrogenization scheme. The level of carbonyl groups was significantly elevated starting from the 1st month of estrogenization until the 9th. The weight of the kidneys reflecting possible tumuorigenesis was also significantly increased in estrogenized group starting at the 2nd month of the experiment. The weight of the testes, a sign of adequate estrogenicity, was decreased dramatically in the estrogenized group from the first to the last month of experiment. The results suggest that the kidney of estrogenized male Syrian hamster suffers from oxidative stress affecting proteins.

beta-Lapachone-induced apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells: involvement of NQO1/xip3

beta-Lapachone (beta-lap) induces apoptosis in various cancer cells, and its intracellular target has recently been elucidated in breast cancer cells. Here we show that NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1/xip3) expression in human prostate cancer cells is a key determinant for apoptosis and lethality after beta-lap exposures. beta-Lap-treated, NQO1-deficient LNCaP cells were significantly more resistant to apoptosis than NQO1-expressing DU-145 or PC-3 cells after drug exposures. Formation of an atypical 60-kDa PARP cleavage fragment in DU-145 or PC-3 cells was observed after 10 microM beta-lap treatment and correlated with apoptosis. In contrast, LNCaP cells required 25 microM beta-lap to induce similar responses. Atypical PARP cleavage in beta-lap-treated cells was not affected by 100 microM zVAD-fmk; however, coadministration of dicoumarol, a specific inhibitor of NQO1, reduced beta-lap-mediated cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and atypical PARP cleavage in NQO1-expressing cells. Dicoumarol did not affect the more beta-lap-resistant LNCaP cells. Stable transfection of LNCaP cells with NQO1 increased their sensitivity to beta-lap, enhancing apoptosis compared to parental LNCaP cells or vector-alone transfectants. Dicoumarol increased survival of beta-lap-treated NQO1-expressing LNCaP transfectants. NQO1 activity, therefore, is a key determinant of beta-lap-mediated apoptosis and cytotoxicity in prostate cancer cells.

Role of NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase in the hypoxic accumulation and metabolism of BRU59-21, a technetium-99m-nitroimidazole for imaging tumor hypoxia

Nitroimidazoles labeled with technetium-99m are being investigated as non-invasive markers of tumor hypoxia. They are bioreductive compounds that require enzymatic reduction for retention in hypoxic cells, but little is known about the cellular factors affecting their accumulation in hypoxic cells. If the absolute accumulation of hypoxia markers is affected by enzyme levels, an inaccurate assessment of the hypoxic cell fraction in tumors may occur. BRU59-21, (99m)Tc-oxo[[3,3,9, 9-tetramethyl-6-[(2-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl]5-oxa-4, 8-diazadioximato]-(3-)-N,N',N",N"'] technetium (V), a technetium-99m-nitroimidazole that is being studied as a potential marker of tumor hypoxia, was used in the present study to evaluate the effect of NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase (EC 1.6.2.4) levels on BRU59-21 accumulation and metabolism. Metabolism of BRU59-21 in hypoxic cellular lysates derived from Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase was 8-fold greater than in control cells. This effect required the presence of exogenous NADPH. The increased metabolism of BRU59-21 in lysates overexpressing NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase was inhibited at 4 degrees and by the addition of NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase inhibitors. The addition of inhibitors of other nitroreductase enzymes had no effect on BRU59-21 metabolism in these lysates. When the accumulation and metabolism of BRU59-21 were studied in stirred suspension cultures, it was found that cells overexpressing NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase exhibited about a 3-fold increase in both the hypoxic metabolism and the accumulation of BRU59-21. These findings suggest that NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase is an important enzyme in BRU59-21 metabolism in model systems of tumor hypoxia.

Effect of the microsomal system on interconversions between hydroquinone, benzoquinone, oxygen activation, and lipid peroxidation

Our previous results indicated that cytochrome P450 destruction by benzene metabolites was caused mainly by benzoquinone (Soucek et al., Biochem. Pharmacol. 47 (1994) 2233-2242). The aim of this study was to investigate the interconversions between hydroquinone, semiquinone, and benzoquinone with regard to both spontaneous and enzymatic processes in order to test the above hypothesis. We have also studied the participation of hydroquinone and benzoquinone in OH radicals formation and lipid peroxidation as well as the role of ascorbate and transition metals. In buffered aqueous solution, hydroquinone was slowly oxidized to benzoquinone via a semiquinone radical. This conversion was slowed down by the addition of NADPH and completely stopped by microsomes in the presence of NADPH. Benzoquinone was reduced to semiquinone radical at a significantly higher rate and this conversion was stimulated by NADPH and more effectively by microsomes plus NADPH while semiquinone radical was quenched there. In microsomes with NADPH. both hydroquinone and benzoquinone stimulated the formation of OH radicals but inhibited peroxidation of lipids. Ascorbate at 0.5-5 mM concentration also produced significant generation of OH radicals in microsomes. Neither hydroquinone nor benzoquinone did change this ascorbate effect. On the contrary, 0.1-1.0 mM ascorbate stimulated peroxidation of lipids in microsomes whereas presence of hydroquinone or benzoquinone completely inhibited this deleterious effect of ascorbate. Iron-Fe2+ apparently played an important role in lipid peroxidation as shown by EDTA inhibition, but it did not influence OH radical production. In contrast, Fe3+ did not influence lipid peroxidation, but stimulated OH radical production. Thus, our results indicate that iron influenced the above processes depending on its oxidation state, but it did not influence hydroquinone/benzoquinone redox processes including the formation of semiquinone. It can be concluded that interconversions between hydroquinone and benzoquinone are influenced by NADPH and more effectively by the complete microsomal system. Ascorbate, well-known antioxidant produces OH radicals and peroxidation of lipids. On the other hand, both hydroquinone and benzoquinone appear to be very efficient inhibitors of lipid peroxidation.

Human class Mu glutathione transferases, in particular isoenzyme M2-2, catalyze detoxication of the dopamine metabolite aminochrome

Human glutathione transferases (GSTs) were shown to catalyze the reductive glutathione conjugation of aminochrome (2, 3-dihydroindole-5,6-dione). The class Mu enzyme GST M2-2 displayed the highest specific activity (148 micromol/min/mg), whereas GSTs A1-1, A2-2, M1-1, M3-3, and P1-1 had markedly lower activities (<1 micromol/min/mg). The product of the conjugation, with a UV spectrum exhibiting absorption peaks at 277 and 295 nm, was 4-S-glutathionyl-5,6-dihydroxyindoline as determined by NMR spectroscopy. In contrast to reduced forms of aminochrome (leucoaminochrome and o-semiquinone), 4-S-glutathionyl-5, 6-dihydroxyindoline was stable in the presence of molecular oxygen, superoxide radicals, and hydrogen peroxide. However, the strongly oxidizing complex of Mn3+ and pyrophosphate oxidizes 4-S-glutathionyl-5,6-dihydroxyindoline to 4-S-glutathionylaminochrome, a new quinone derivative with an absorption peak at 620 nm. GST M2-2 (and to a lower degree, GST M1-1) prevents the formation of reactive oxygen species linked to one-electron reduction of aminochrome catalyzed by NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase. The results suggest that the reductive conjugation of aminochrome catalyzed by GSTs, in particular GST M2-2, is an important cellular antioxidant activity preventing the formation of o-semiquinone and thereby the generation of reactive oxygen species.

Development and validation of a spectrophotometric assay for measuring the activity of NADH: cytochrome b5 reductase in human tumour cells

As part of an 'enzyme-directed' approach to bioreductive drug development, we have measured the activity of NADH: cytochrome b5 reductase (B5R) in human cancer cell lines in order to assess the role of this enzyme in activating bioreductive drugs, and thus in influencing the cytotoxicity of these compounds. At present, there is no validated assay reported in the literature for measuring the activity of B5R in tumour cells, and current measurements have assumed that the enzyme activity can be measured either as the NADH-dependent reduction of cytochrome c or as the non-dicoumarol-inhibitable activity in the DT-diaphorase assay. Using p-hydroxymercuribenzoate (pHMB) as an inhibitor of B5R, we have quantified the contribution of B5R to the NADH-dependent reduction of cytochrome c and to the overall reduction of cytochrome c in the DT-diaphorase assay. In the former we found that residual uninhibited activity remained in the presence of pHMB, in some cases accounting for up to 60% of the total reduction of cytochrome c. Thus, simply measuring the NADH-dependent reduction of cytochrome c consistently overestimated B5R activity. We also found that the non-dicoumarol-inhibitable activity in the DT-diaphorase assay underestimated B5R activity, especially in cell lines with high DT-diaphorase activity. Therefore, we have developed a spectrophotometric assay for measuring B5R activity as the pHMB-inhibitable NADH-dependent reduction of cytochrome c. This has been used to measure the B5R activity of a panel of 22 human tumour cell lines, in which we found 7-fold and 3-fold variations in activity expressed per cell or per mg protein respectively.

Enzymology of the reduction of the novel fused pyrazine mono-n-oxide bioreductive drug, RB90740 roles for P450 reductase and cytochrome b5 reductase

RB90740 is the lead compound in a series of fused pyrazine mono-N-oxide bioreductive drugs. Theses agents have potential application in cancer therapy, since they are more toxic to hypoxic than to aerobic cells as a consequence of their bioactivation by cellular reductase enzymes within the hypoxic regions of a tumour. In this study, mouse liver microsomes have been used to characterise the enzymology of the reductive activation of RB90740. Under hypoxic conditions, the reduction of RB90740 to its stable 2-electron reduced product RB92815 was supported by both NADH and NADPH, the former supporting a rate approximately 80% of the latter. Combining the two cofactors had no additive effect. Neither carbon monoxide nor metyrapone inhibited reduction of RB90740, indicating that P450 isozymes were not involved in the reduction of this compound. 2' AMP, and inhibitor of P450 reductase, did not inhibit formation of RB92815, whereas DPIC, another inhibitor but with a different mode of action, inhibited both the NADH, and NADPH-dependent reduction of RB90740. Similarly, two selective inhibitors of NADH: cytochrome b5 reductase, pHMB and PTU, completely inhibited both NADH and NADPH-dependent reduction of RB90740. Our findings implicate P450 reductase, cytochrome b5 reductase, and cytochrome b5 in the activation of the compound. However, there is no clear relationship between the intracellular levels of P450 reductase and cytochrome b5 reductase and the hypoxic toxicity of RB90740, which implies that other factors, in addition to drug activation, play a major role in controlling the toxicity of this particular bioreductive drug.

The catalytic outcomes of the constitutive and the mitogen inducible isoforms of prostaglandin H2 synthase are markedly affected by glutathione and glutathione peroxidase(s)

Reduced glutathione (GSH), at physiological concentrations, was found to markedly alter the profile of arachidonate metabolism by prostaglandin H2 synthase. In 1 mM GSH, the constitutive (COX-1) and the mitogen inducible (COX-2) isoforms metabolized arachidonate to 12-hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid (12-HHT) (88% and 78% of total products, respectively). Prostanoid formation was consequently reduced to only 12% (COX-1) and 19% (COX-2) of the total metabolites. The GSH-dependent production of 12-HHT was regio- and enantioselective for the 12(S)-isomer. We propose that 12(S)-HHT is formed by a GSH-dependent enzymatic cleavage of the PGH2 8,9 and 11,12 carbon-carbon bonds based on the following: (a) nonsignificant GSH-dependent formation of 12(S)-HHT during chemical decomposition of synthetic PGH2, (b) the structural similarities between the asymmetric carbons at C(12) in 12-HHT and C(15) in PGH2, (c) the GSH concentration-dependent product/precursor relationship between 12-HHT and prostanoid production, and (d) aspirin inhibition of 12-HHT formation by both enzymes. Arachidonic acid oxidation by COX-1, and not by COX-2, was inhibited by the combined presence of GSH and liver cytosol. In contrast, metabolism by neither isoform was inhibited when the cytosol was obtained from selenium-depleted animals. This is consistent with a unique, selenium dependent, cytosolic GSH peroxidase that inhibits specifically prostanoid and 12(S)-HHT formation by COX-1. These results suggest an additional role for GSH and GSH peroxidase(s) in regulating prostanoid biosynthesis. Differences between the isoforms in their sensitivities to GSH peroxidase may reflect differences in their requirements for an "initiator hydroperoxide".

Direct measurement of pO2 distribution and bioreductive enzymes in human malignant brain tumors

PURPOSE

To measure the oxygen status of human malignant brain tumors in vivo and to determine the activities and expression of bioreductive enzymes in these same human brain tumor samples, as a means of assessing their suitability as targets for bioreductive drug therapy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A polarographic oxygen electrode was used to measure the intratumoral oxygen tension in twenty patients with malignant brain tumors during open brain surgery, performed under standard anaesthetic conditions. Six different tracks, each with a path length of 22 mm, were recorded per patient representing 192 readings. Following pO2 measurements the tumors were resected and stored in liquid N2 for subsequent bioreductive enzyme analysis. Eight human malignant brain tumors were assessed, by enzyme activity and western blot expression, for the presence of various bioreductive enzymes. These enzymes included DT-diaphorase, NADH cytochrome b5 reductase, and NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase. Of these eight gliomas analyzed six samples were incubated with the bioreductive drug tirapazamine, in the presence of cofactor(s), to establish whether human brain tumors could metabolize this compound.

RESULTS

Both the high grade intrinsic and metastatic brain tumors showed significant regions of hypoxia. All the tumors subjected to enzyme profiling contained the bioreductive enzymes, DT-diaphorase, NADH cytochrome b5 reductase and NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase. Also all six of the brain tumors investigated could metabolize tirapazamine to the two-electron reduction product.

CONCLUSION

These findings would favor primary brain tumors as suitable targets for bioreductive therapy.

Diet/toxin interactions

Biotoxins derived from bacteria, fungi and algae in food play an important role for development of diseases of unknown aetiology. Furthermore, dietary components modulate their toxicity and carcinogenicity. Current progress on their mode of action postulated the contribution of cytochrome P-450 system as well as oxygen radicals, and phosphoprotein phosphatases are the target of several tumour promoters. For prevention of biotoxin-mediated development of diseases, a detailed study and information on biological function of dietary components and a possible association between diet/toxins are needed.

Induction of renal cell tumors in rats and mice, and enhancement of hepatocellular tumor development in mice after long-term hydroquinone treatment

Hydroquinone (HQ) was administered to F344 rats and B6C3F1 mice of both sexes at a level of 0.8% in the diet for two years. This treatment induced renal tubular hyperplasia as well as adenomas, predominantly in males of both species, and was associated with chronic nephropathy in rats. In addition, the occurrence of epithelial hyperplasia of the renal papilla was increased in male rats. Foci of cellular alteration of the liver were significantly reduced in number by HQ in rats, but in contrast, were increased in mice, where development of hepatocellular adenoma was also enhanced in males. The incidence of squamous cell hyperplasia of the forestomach epithelium was significantly higher in mice of both sexes given HQ than in the controls, but no corresponding increase in tumor development was observed. The present study strongly indicates potential renal carcinogenicity of HQ in male rats and hepatocarcinogenicity in male mice. Thus, it is possible that HQ, which is present in the human environment, may play a role in cancer development in man.

Chemoprotective and hepatic enzyme induction properties of indole and indenoindole antioxidants in rats

Three indole antioxidants were compared for their efficacy to inhibit lipid peroxidation, prevent chemical hepatotoxicity and induce enzyme systems involved in the biotransformation of xenobiotics. The dietary indolyl compound indole-3-carbinol (I-3-C), and the synthetic compounds 5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]-indole (DHII) and 4b,5,9b,10-tetrahydroindeno[1,2-b]indole (THII) inhibited carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-initiated lipid peroxidation in rat-liver microsomes, with the order of efficacy THII greater than DHII = butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) much greater than I-3-C. Each of the indole compounds protected isolated rat hepatocytes against toxicity by CCl4, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and methylmethanesulphonate (THII congruent to DHII much greater than I-3-C). In vivo administration of the indole compounds 1 hr before treatment with CCl4 protected against hepatotoxicity (THII greater than DHII greater than I-3-C). For the enzyme induction studies, phenobarbital and beta-naphthoflavone were used as standards, with corn-oil vehicle controls. The compounds were administered by gavage at 50 mg/kg body weight/day for 10 days. I-3-C produced increases in levels of hepatic cytochromes P-450 and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity, as well as in UDP-glucuronosyl transferase (UDPGT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GSSG-Red) and quinone reductase. I-3-C produced decreased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. DHII produced increases in EROD, UDPGT, GST, GSSG-Red and quinone reductase, with decreases in NDMA-demethylase and GSH-Px activities. The only observed effect of THII was a modest induction of EROD activity. After treatment with the indole compounds for 10 days, I-3-C enhanced, while DHII diminished, CCl4-mediated 24-hr hepatotoxicity in rats. We conclude that DHII and THII are suitable candidates to develop further as potential chemoprotective and therapeutic agents for use in humans to treat disorders involving free radicals. THII has the greater radical scavenging efficacy, whereas DHII has the greater capacity to induce many different antioxidative enzymes.