Increased thiol levels in antimony-resistant Leishmania infantum isolated from treatment-refractory visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil

BACKGROUND Treatment-refractory visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has become an important problem in many countries. OBJECTIVES We evaluated the antimony-resistance mechanisms of Leishmania infantum isolated from VL patients refractory or responsive to treatment with pentavalent antimony. METHODS Strains isolated from antimony-refractory patients (in vitro antimony-resistant isolates) and antimony-responsive patients (in vitro antimony-sensitive isolates) were examined. Morphological changes were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy after trivalent antimony exposure. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux pump activity was evaluated using the pump-specific inhibitor verapamil hydrochloride, and the role of thiol in trivalent antimony resistance was investigated using the enzymatic inhibitor L-buthionine sulfoximine. FINDINGS Antimony treatment induced fewer alterations in the cellular structure of L. infantum resistant isolates than in that of sensitive isolates. P-gp efflux activity was not involved in antimony resistance in these isolates. Importantly, the resistant isolates contained higher levels of thiol compared to the sensitive isolates, and inhibition of thiol synthesis in the resistant isolates recovered their sensitivity to trivalent antimony treatment, and enhanced the production of reactive oxygen species in promastigotes exposed to the drug. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that isolates from patients with antimony-refractory VL exhibited higher thiol levels than antimony-sensitive isolates. This indicates that redox metabolism plays an important role in the antimony-resistance of New World VL isolates.

GS28 Protects Neuronal Cell Death Induced by Hydrogen Peroxide under Glutathione-Depleted Condition

Golgi SNAP receptor complex 1 (GS28) has been implicated in vesicular transport between intra-Golgi networks and between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi. Additional role(s) of GS28 within cells have not been well characterized. We observed decreased expression of GS28 in rat ischemic hippocampus. In this study, we examined the role of GS28 and its molecular mechanisms in neuronal (SK-N-SH) cell death induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). GS28 siRNA-transfected cells treated with H2O2 showed a significant increase in cytotoxicity under glutathione (GSH)-depleted conditions after pretreatment with buthionine sulfoximine, which corresponded to an increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cells. Pretreatment of GS28 siRNA-transfected cells with p38 chemical inhibitor significantly inhibited cytotoxicity; we also observed that p38 was activated in the cells by immunoblot analysis. We confirmed the role of p38 MAPK in cotransfected cells with GS28 siRNA and p38 siRNA in the cell viability assay, flow cytometry, and immunoblot. Involvement of apoptotic or autophagic processes in the cells was not shown in the cell viability, flow cytometry, and immunoblot analyses. However, pretreatment of the cells with necrostatin-1 completely inhibited H2O2-induced cytotoxicity, ROS generation, and p38 activation, indicating that the cell death is necroptotic. Collectively these data imply that H2O2 induces necroptotic cell death in the GS28 siRNA-transfected cells and that the necroptotic signals are mediated by sequential activations in RIP1/p38/ROS. Taken together, these results indicate that GS28 has a protective role in H2O2-induced necroptosis via inhibition of p38 MAPK in GSH-depleted neuronal cells.

Neurotoxicity Screening in a Multipotent Neural Stem Cell Line Established from the Mouse Brain

Neural stem cells (NSCs) have mainly been applied to neurodegeneration in some medically intractable neurologic diseases. In this study, we established a novel NSC line and investigated the cytotoxic responses of NSCs to exogenous neurotoxicants, glutamates and reactive oxygen species (ROS). A multipotent NSC line, B2A1 cells, was established from long-term primary cultures of oligodendrocyte-enriched cells from an adult BALB/c mouse brain. B2A1 cells could be differentiated into neuronal, astrocytic and oligodendroglial lineages. The cells also expressed genotypic mRNA messages for both neural progenitor cells and differentiated neuronoglial cells. B2A1 cells treated with hydrogen peroxide and L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine underwent 30-40% cell death, while B2A1 cells treated with glutamate and kainate showed 25-35% cell death. Cytopathologic changes consisting of swollen cell bodies, loss of cytoplasmic processes, and nuclear chromatin disintegration, developed after exposure to both ROS and excitotoxic chemicals. These results suggest that B2A1 cells may be useful in the study of NSC biology and may constitute an effective neurotoxicity screening system for ROS and excitotoxic chemicals.

Avaliação in vitro de fármacos pró-oxidantes sobre o Schistosoma mansoni / In vitro evaluation of drugs pro-oxidants on Schistosoma mansoni

Segundo a Organização Mundial de Saúde (2002), a esquistossomose é a segunda maior doença tropical, causadora de 200 a 300 mil mortes por ano. Mesmo apresentando alguns quimioterápicos eficazes para o tratamento, como o praziquantel (PZQ) e a oxamniquina (OXQ), ocorrem muitos casos refratários e efeitos colaterais. Diante deste contexto, é necessária a busca racional de novos medicamentos e combinações para o tratamento desta doença. Uma possível solução é o estudo de drogas relacionadas com o estresse oxidativo do patógeno. Dentre estas podem ser analisadas: a artemisinina (ART) , que induz uma maior produção de radicais livres por inibição da formação da hemozoína em Plasmodium falciparum; a butionina sulfoximina (850), que impede a produção da glutationa; além do dietilditiocarbamato de sódio (DDC), que age como inibidor das superóxido dismutases. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi testar in vitro essas drogas, isoladas e combinadas, analisando a atividade das superóxido dismutases, alterações morfológicas e produção de hemozoína em vermes adultos, além de avaliar a toxicidade em esplenócitos. A ART apresentou efeito esquistossomicida em concentrações elevadas. O DDC mostrou um efeito esquistossomicida satifatório e inibiu as superóxido dismutases. Quanto à associação ART - DDC, esta inibiu a formação da hemozoína, apresentou danos nos tegumentos dos vermes e não apresentou citotoxicidade significativa. Estes resultados indicam que estas drogas são viáveis para estudos in vivo, podendo ser uma nova alternativa quimioterápica para esta patologia.

Arsenic trioxide combined with buthionine sulfoximine enhances apoptosis in multidrug-resistant human leukemia K562/ADM cells in vitro / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the apoptosis-inhancing effect of the combination of arsenic trioxide (As2O3 ) and buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) on multidrug-resistant human leukemic K562/ADM cells, to compare the effect of As2O3 alone and As2O3 combined with BSO and As2O3 alone, and to determine the effect of intracellular GSH content on this treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>As2O3 was used in a dose of 0.5 micromol/L, 2.0 micromol/L and 5.0 micromol/L, respectively, and BSO was used in a dose of 100 micromol/L in the culture of multidrug-resistant human leukenic K562/ADM cells. The cell proliferation activity was assessed with MTT assay. The cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry using Annexin-V and propidium iodide (PI) staining. Intracellular GSH content was measured using glutathione assay kit by spectrophotometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After the GSH contents were reduced by the combination of arsenic in clinic dose (0.5, 2 micromol/L) and BSO (100 micromol/L), respectively, the K562/ADM cell proliferation activity was obviously inhibited and the cell apoptosis-inducing effect was advanced in 24 hours. In 48 and 72 hours, the effect of the combination group (clinic dose arsenic group) was significantly stronger than that of clinic dose arsenic alone group and the high dose arsenic alone group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The cell apoptosis-inducing effect of arsenic in combination of BSO on multidrug resistant human leukemia K562/ADM cells is significantly enhanced in comparison with that of arsenic alone. The reduction of intracellular glutathione content is closely correlated with this apoptosis-enhancing effect.</p>

Co-operative effect of glutathione depletion and selenium induced oxidative stress on API and NFkB expression in testicular cells in vitro: insights to regulation of spermatogenesis

Previous studies have shown that transcription factors, API and NFkB exert important roles in the process by which selenium regulates spermatogenesis. Glutathione, an intracellular thiol, acts as a source of reducing power and aids in maintenance of the cellular redox status. The activities of selenium are closely related to the availability of glutathione. Presently, mouse testicular cells were cultured in the presence of BSO, a known glutathione depletor, to generate oxidative stress. Selenium (Se) was added as sodium selenite to these cells at concentrations of 0.5 µM and 1.5 µM. It was observed that at 1.5 µM, Se acted as a pro-oxidant and significantly decreased the redox ratio. RT PCR analysis revealed that cjun, cfos expression increased in testicular cells cultured with Se compared to control. However, the major outcome was that the combined effect of Se supplementation and GSH depletion resulted in reduced expression of cjun and cfos while p65 expression increased. This suggests that selenium affects both these transcription factors differently. Our study indicates that though low levels of oxidative stress generated by moderate doses of selenium augments the expression of cjun and cfos, a robust increase in the ROS generation caused by the dual effect high levels of selenium and glutathione depletion leads to decrease in the expression of these genes. The present work substantiates our in vivo experiments and indicates the detrimental effect of excess selenium supplementation on male fertility.

The effect of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) combined with BSO on K562/ADM cell and its mechanisms / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the apoptosis-induction, P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and mdr1 mRNA inhibition effects of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) and buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) on multidrug-resistant cell line K562/ADM cells, and to determine the relationship between intracellular GSH content and arsenic effect.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>K562/ADM cells were treated with arsenic (0.5, 2.0, 5.0 micromol/L) alone or combined with BSO (100 micromol/L). The cell proliferating capacity was assessed with MTT assay, and cell apoptosis by Annexin V and propidium iodide (PI) staining. Intracellular GSH contents were measured using a glutathione assay kit by spectrophotometry. P-gp expression was determined by flow cytometry, and mdr1 mRNA expression by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The GSH contents in K562/ADM cell was (81.13 +/- 3.91) mg/g protein. After the GSH contents were degraded by BSO, the K562/ADM cell proliferating capacity was obviously inhibited and the cells were induced apoptosis in 24 hours by the combination of clinic dose arsenic group (0.5, 2.0 micromol/L) and BSO (100 micromol/L). The cell apoptosis rates at 48 hours in arsenic alone group and combination group were (59.29 +/- 6.01)% and (65.06 +/- 8.29)%, and at 72 hours were (82.15 +/- 9.28)% and (92.72 +/- 9.41)% retrospectively. At 48 hours, the mdr1 mRNA inhibition effect of the combination group was obviously stronger than that of high dose arsenic alone group. At 72 hours, the P-gp inhibition effect of the combination group (clinic dose arsenic group, 0.5, 2.0 micromol/L) was obviously stronger than that of high dose arsenic alone group (5.0 micromol/L).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The intracellular GSH contents are closely correlated with the arsenic effect. The combination of conventional dose arsenic and BSO significantly induces K562/ADM cell apoptosis and inhibits P-gp and mdr1 mRNA expression in the cells.</p>

Effect of Beta Mercaptaethanol with and without BSO [DL-Buthionine Sulfoximine] on Resumption of Meisosis, in vitro maturation and Embryo development of immature mouse oocytes

The purpose of this study was to evaluated the effect of beta-mercaptoethanol on resumption of meiosis, in vitro maturation of immature mouse oocytes and resulting embryo development with and without BSO [DL-Buthionine sulfoximine] Material and Germinal vesicle [GV] were recovered from 6-8 weeks old NMRI ovaries and cultured in maturation medium in MEMalpha supplemented with 7.5IU/ml hCG, 100mIU/ml rhFSH, 5% FCS [control group] and adding 100 micro m beta-mercaptoethanol [group 1] or with 5mM BSO + 100 micro m beta-mercaptoethanol [group 2] for 24h. The matured oocytes then were fertilized and cultured for 5 days. Fertilization and development were accomplished in T6 medium.The percentage of GV oocytes reaching to metaphase I [or undergo GVBD] were 78.5%, 85%, 86% in control group, group 1 and group 2 respectively, that no significant difference was detected between groups. The proportion of oocytes that progressed to the metaphase II [MII] stage was minimum within 5mM BSO group [group 2] and maximum within beta-mercaptoetanol group [group 1] with significant difference comparing with control and each other [P<=0.05]. The percentage of embryos reaching to morula stage within beta-mercaptoetanol group was significantly higher than the control group [5% and 12.2% respectively]. None of oocytes treated with BSO could pass the 8 cell stage. beta-mercaptoetanol enhances IVM and improves embryo development. While adding BSO into the maturation medium even with beta-mercaptoetanol decreases maturation and declines the embryo development

Pharmacological studies on mechanisms of aminophylline-induced seizures in rats.

In the present study, the possible role of free radicals in aminophylline-induced seizures was evaluated in albino rats. Aminophylline (theophylline in ethylene diamine; 50 - 300 mg/kg) induced convulsions in rats in a dose-dependent manner, and both incidence of seizure and mortality were maximum at 300 mg/kg. Conventional anti-epileptics, diphenylhydantoin and dizocilpine, as well as adenosine agonists were ineffective in antagonizing these seizures. On the other hand, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, pentoxyphylline and rolipram, showed insignificant seizurogenic effects. Pretreatment with antioxidants (ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, and melatonin) showed differential attenuating effects on aminophylline seizures and lethality. Further, prior administration of 1-buthionine sulfoxamine (BSO, glutathione depletor) and triethyltetramine (TETA, superoxide dismutase inhibitor), precipitated seizures and enhanced lethality in response to subthreshold doses of aminophylline. The present results suggested of the possible involvement of oxidative stress during aminophylline-induced seizures.

CD59 mutation and DNA oxidative damage in A(L) cells induced by crocidolite fibers / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the effects of buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) and free radical scavenger, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), on mutation frequency and the formation of 8-hydroxydeoxyganosine (8-OHdG) induced by crocidolite fibers in human-hamster hybrid (A(L)) cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The cytotoxicity and mutagenicity were determined by the formation of colonies. 8-OHdG was examined by immunoperoxidase staining. Non-protein sulfhydryl (NPSH) compound was assayed by modified Tietze's method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The level of NPSH in A(L) cell pretreated with 25 micro mol/L of BSO was decreased to 2 nmol/10(7) cells, only 5% of the control after 24 h. The mutation frequency of CD59 gene of A(L) cell in crocidolite alone treated group was 208 +/- 18 while that in BSO pretreated group (397 +/- 55) was about twice the former (P < 0.05). The mutation frequency of CD59 gene in the group treated with crocidolite and in the presence of DMSO (57 +/- 8) was 72.6% less than that in crocidolite alone treated group. Crocidolite fibers induced a dose-effect relationship in the formation of 8-OHdG in A(L) cells (y = 150 + 20x, r = 0.9621). The level of 8-OHdG in cells was 289 +/- 6 at the dose of 6 micro g/cm(2) crocidolite, which was about twice the control group (137 +/- 9). In the presence of DMSO, 8-OHdG level decreased to 170 +/- 3 at the same dose of crocidolite.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Free radicals are the important inducer of mutagenesis and DNA damage in A(L) cells caused by crocidolite, which has dose-effect relationship.</p>

Effects of buthionine sulfoximine nifurtimox and benznidazole upon trypanothione and metallothionein proteins in Trypanosoma cruzi

Proteins rich in sulfhydryl groups, such as metallothionein, are present in several strains of the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas' disease. Metallothionein-like protein concentrations ranged from 5.1 to 13.2 pmol/mg protein depending on the parasite strain and growth phase. Nifurtimox and benznidazole, used in the treatment of Chagas' disease, decreased metallothionein activity by approximately 70%. T. cruzi metallothionein was induced by ZnCl2. Metallothionein from T. cruzi was partially purified and its monobromobimane derivative showed a molecular weight of approximately 10,000 Da by SDS-PAGE analysis. The concentration of trypanothione, the major glutathione conjugate in T. cruzi, ranged from 3.8 to 10.8 nmol/mg protein, depending on the culture phase. The addition of buthionine sulfoximine to the protozoal culture considerably reduced the concentration of trypanothione and had no effect upon the metallothionein concentration. The possible contribution of metallothionein-like proteins to drug resistance in T. cruzi is discussed.

Effects of Glutathione on Cisplatin-Induced Cytotoxicity In Human Cervical Cancer Cell Lines / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of glutathione on cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity of human cervical carcinoma cell lines (SiHa: squamous cell carcinoma cell, CaSki: epidermoid metastatic carcinoma cell). METHODS: Human cervical carcinoma cells (SiHa, CaSki) were incubated with culture media (RPMI1640) in the presence of cisplatin and/or buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), as a inhibitor of gamma-glutamyl- cysteine synthetase, and/or glutathione (GSH) and/or 2-oxo 4-thiazolidine carboxylic acid (OTC). The viable cells were examined by using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and was determined by spectrophotometer at 570 nm. RESULTS: The incubation of cervical cells with cisplatin resulted in an decreasing cells viability by dose response. The MTT reduction rate were not different by BSO (5 mM) treatment in cervical cell lines. The viable cells were increased significantly by glutathione (5 mM) or OTC (5 mM) in cisplatin-treated cell lines. CONCLUSION: gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase inhibitor had no effect on cisplatin toxicity. GSH and OTC had effect on cisplatin cytotoxicity. So, These result suggested that cervical cancer line cells were more susceptive to protective effects of glutathione and OTC than BSO on cisplatin induced-toxicity.

Effect of Glutathione on Lead Induced Modulation of NO Synthesis in RAW 264.7 Cell / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of glutathione(GSH) on lead induced modulation of nitric oxide(NO) synthesis, and to examine how lead modulates NO production in macrophages. METHODS: This study was observed in a culture of RAW 264.7 cells, which originated from a tumor in a Balb/c mouse that was induced by the Abelson murine leukemia virus. The compounds investigated were lead chloride, N-acetyl-cystein(NAC), and Buthionine Sulfoximine(BSO). RESUJLTS: ATP synthesis in RAW 264.7 cells was unchanged by each lead concentration exposure in a dose dependent manner. The NO synthesis was decreased when exposed to lead(PbCl2) concentration 0.5 micro M. The presence of 300 micro M NAC, used as a pretreatment in the culture medium, caused the recovery of the lead induced decrease in NO synthesis, but in the presence of 300 micro M BSO as a pretreatment, there was no recoverey. Pretreatment with NAC and BSO had no affect on ATP synthesis at any of the lead concentrations used. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that GSH has a protective effect toward lead toxicity, and suggested that the inhibition of NO production in macrophage due to lead toxicity may be related to cofactors of iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase)

Effect of Glutathione on Lead Induced Modulation of NO Synthesis in RAW 264.7 Cell / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of glutathione(GSH) on lead induced modulation of nitric oxide(NO) synthesis, and to examine how lead modulates NO production in macrophages. METHODS: This study was observed in a culture of RAW 264.7 cells, which originated from a tumor in a Balb/c mouse that was induced by the Abelson murine leukemia virus. The compounds investigated were lead chloride, N-acetyl-cystein(NAC), and Buthionine Sulfoximine(BSO). RESUJLTS: ATP synthesis in RAW 264.7 cells was unchanged by each lead concentration exposure in a dose dependent manner. The NO synthesis was decreased when exposed to lead(PbCl2) concentration 0.5 micro M. The presence of 300 micro M NAC, used as a pretreatment in the culture medium, caused the recovery of the lead induced decrease in NO synthesis, but in the presence of 300 micro M BSO as a pretreatment, there was no recoverey. Pretreatment with NAC and BSO had no affect on ATP synthesis at any of the lead concentrations used. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that GSH has a protective effect toward lead toxicity, and suggested that the inhibition of NO production in macrophage due to lead toxicity may be related to cofactors of iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase)

The Effects of Glutathione on Cyclosporine Induced Cytotoxicity in Cultured Insulinoma Cells / 대한이식학회지

PURPOSE: Cycloporine A (CsA) is a immunosuppressive agent most widely used in organ transplanted patients for preventing immunorejection, but it has some side effects, including hypertension, nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and diabetes. The mechanism of toxicity of CsA was not completely understood, but the reactive oxygen species has been proposed to be involved in the reaction of toxicity of CsA. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of glutathione, as a physiological antioxidant on CsA induced cytotoxicity in rat insulinoma (RINm5F) cells. METHODS: RINm5F cells were incubated in the presence of CsA (105~108 M) and buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), as a inhibitor of r-glutamyl cysteine synthetase, was added to cultured media (RPMI1640). Twenty four hours of incubation with CsA and BSO, viable cells were determined by MTT method. RESULTS: CsA decreased cell viability in dose response in cultured RINm5F cells and significantly decreased according to redusing glutathione. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that CsA may induce the diabetes and glutathione have some roles in the pathogenesis of CsA-induced diabetes.

Comparison of neurotoxicity induced by some glutathione depletors in mouse cortical cell cultures

We examined the neurotoxic effects of 3 glutathione (GSH) depletors, buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), diethyl maleate (DEM) and phorone, under the presence of trolox, cycloheximide (CHX), pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) or MK-801 in primary mouse cortical cell cultures. All three depletors induced neuronal death in dose and exposure time dependent manner, and decreased total cellular GSH contents. The patterns of the neuronal death and the GSH decrements were dependent on the individual agents. DEM (200 micrometer) induced rapid and irreversible decrement of the GSH. BSO (1 mM) also decreased the GSH irreversibly but the rate of decrement was more progressive than that of DEM. Phorone (1 mM) reduced the GSH content to 40% by 4 hr exposure, that is comparable to the decrement of BSO, but the GSH recovered and reached over the control value by 36 hr exposure. BSO showed a minimal neurotoxicity (0-10%) at the end of 24 hr exposure, but marked neuronal cell death at the end of 48 hr exposure. The BSO (1 mM)-induced neurotoxicity was markedly inhibited by trolox or CHX and partially attenuated by MK-801. DEM induced dose-dependent cytotoxicity at the end of 24 hr exposure. Over the doses of 400 micrometer, glial toxicity also appeared. DEM (200 micrometer)-induced neurotoxicity was markedly inhibited by trolox or PDTC. Phorone (1 mM) induced moderate neurotoxicity (40%) at the end of 48 hr exposure. Only CHX showed significant inhibitory effect on the phorone-induced neurotoxicity. These results suggest that the GSH depletors induce neuronal injury via different mechanisms and that GSH depletors should be carefully employed in the researches of neuronal oxidative injuries.

Effect of Trolox, Cycloheximide or MK-801 on the Neuronal Cell Death Induced by FeCl2, Buthionine Sulfoximine or KCN in Primary Murine Mixed Cortical Cell Culture

Oxidative stress is known to be a major neuropathologic mechanism in chronic neurodegenerative disorders as well as in stroke, trauma and epilepsy, and many kinds of oxidative insults induce neuronal injury. The purpose of this study was to examine the temporal effects of trolox(TLX; water and lipid soluble vitamin E analog), cycloheximide(CHX; protein synthesis inhibitor) and MK-801(NMDA receptor antagonist) on neuronal death indu-ced by different kinds of oxidative insults in primary murine mixed cortical cell culture(14-16 days in vitro), and to gain information on the mechanisms underlying oxidative cell death. As oxidative insults, the authors used iron(FeCl2), buth-ionine sulfoximine(BSO; glutathione depletor) and potassium cyanide(KCN; ATP depletor). Cell death was assessed by measurement of LDH efflux to bathing media at the end of exposure. All three agents induced neuronal cell death associated with cell body swelling. FeCl2(30nM-1mM) induced conce-ntration- and exposure time-dependent neurotoxicity, while BSO(10nM-3mM) showed little neurotoxicity at the end of 24 hrs exposure, but marked neuronal cell death at the end of 48 hrs; at concentrations of over 100uM of BSO neurotoxicity reached a plateau. KCN(0.1mM-1mM) also showed dose-dependent neurotoxicity. TLX(100nM) did not affect the neurotoxicity induced by KCN(1mM) but almost completely block BSO(1mM)- or FeCl2(100, 300nM)- induced neuronal cell death. CHX(1ng/ml) significantly attenuated BSO-induced cell death but did not protect against KCN(1mM)-induced cell death. CHX treatment, on the other hand, significantly potentiated FeCl2(100 or 300nM)-induced death. MK-801(10nM) markedly inhibited KCN-induced cell death but had no effect on FeCl2-induced death. MK-801 also significantly attenuated BSO-induced neurotoxicty after exposure for 48hrs but this protective effect disappeared at the end of 72hr. These results suggest that protein synthesis as well as lipid peroxidation of cell membrane may involve oxidative neuronal injury and that one oxidative agent may induce various cell death processes.

Mechanism of Hypoxia-Induced Cytotoxicity in Cultured Rat Retinal Neurons

Retinal neurons are highly vulnerable to hypoxia/ischemia. Excitotoxicity and free radical injury have been proposed as the major mechanisms of ischemic retinal injury have been proposed as the major mechanisms of ischemic retinal neuronal death. In the present study, we examined these possibilities in retinal cultures. Exposure of these cultures to hypoxia for 48 hr induced selective death of neurons. Addition of an antioxidiant trolox markedly attenuated hypoxiainduced retinal neuronal death, whereas addition of glutamate antagonists, MK-801 or CNQX,did not. Morphologically, hypoxic neuronal death in cultures was accompanied by cell body swelling, a feature of necrosis, yet simultaneously exhibited some features of apoptosis such as TUNEL positivity and protection by cycloheximide. However, unlike in classical programmed cell death, adding buthionine sulfoximine, a potent inhibitor of glutathione synthesis, completely reversed the protective effect of cycloheximide. The results have demonstrated that free radical injury is the main mechanism of neuronal death in the present retinal culture, and suggest an intriguing possibility that free redical injury may become a prominent mechanism, when excitotoxic injury is masked.

Effect of enterotoxin on glutathione status in the intestinal mucosa.

The effect of luminal exposure of enterotoxins on the intestinal mucosal glutathione (GSH) was studied in rat. Cholera toxin induced fluid secretion and decreased mucosal GSH by 35% without altering oxidized glutathione (GSSG) level. Toxin induced fluid secretion was tested after mucosal GSH depletion by compounds such as diethyl maleate (DEM) and buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) and thiol supplementation with N-Acetyl cysteine (NAC). Fluid secretion was not altered by prior thiol depletion or supplementation. Exposure of intestinal lumen to bacterial endotoxin resulted in 25% decrease in mucosal GSH with two fold increase in GSSG. Luminal exposure of Shiga toxin did not alter the mucosal thiol. The level of other low molecular weight thiols, cysteine and cystine was not altered by luminal exposure of any of these toxins. These results show that although cholera toxin decreased the mucosal GSH level, prior modulation of thiol status of the mucosa may not have any effect on toxin-induced fluid secretion.

Possible role of glutathione in resistance to heavy metals and hydrogen peroxide in a radioresistant Chinese hamster V79 cell strain.

To understand the cellular and biochemical nature of radioresistance in the strain M5 derived from Chinese hamster V79 cells, the sensitivity of the resistant cells towards CdCl2, Zn(Ac)2, and H2O2 by the colony forming ability has been tested. D0 values for these compounds in Chinese hamster V79 cells were 5.4 microM, 27.8 microM and 4.3 micrograms/ml respectively while for M5 cells these were 8.3 microM, 142.9 microM and 11.9 micrograms/ml respectively. The resistance to heavy metals as well as the oxidative damage could be reversed by the inhibition of glutathione synthesis by the drug buthionine sulfoximine (BSO). These set of data indicate that the cellular antioxidant glutathione plays an important role in the observed oxidant-resistant phenotype as well as heavy metal resistance in M5 cells.