Attenuation of hyperoxia-induced growth inhibition in H441 cells by gene transfer of mitochondrially targeted glutathione reductase.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are implicated as agents of cellular damage in pulmonary oxygen toxicity. Glutathione (GSH) and GSH-dependent antioxidant enzymes protect against damage by ROS, and recycling of glutathione disulfide (GSSG) to GSH by glutathione reductase (GR) is essential for the optimum functioning of this system. Exposure to hyperoxia inhibits lung development in newborn animals and humans, and attenuates cell growth in proliferating cell cultures. Considerable evidence supports a role for ROS as growth-altering molecules. Previously, we have observed that gene transfer of GR to mitochondria in H441 cells, using a vector containing a mitochondrial leader sequence (LGR), protected these cells against t-BuOOH-induced cytotoxicity. The present studies tested the hypothesis that gene transfer of LGR would attenuate the cytostatic effects of hyperoxia exposure in H441 cells. H441 cells (0.9 x 10(6) cells/plate) transfected with adenovirus containing LGR or the complementary DNA (cDNA) for manganese superoxide dismutase in reverse orientation (DOS) as a control construct, and untransfected cells (CON) were maintained in 21% oxygen (normoxia) or 95% oxygen (hyperoxia) for 48 h, and cell growth was assessed by cell counts and by reduction of the tetrazolium dye 3-(4,5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) to formazan. Cells maintained in normoxia achieved normal growth (CON, 1.98; DOS, 1.91; LGR, 2.0 x 10(6) cells/plate). Hyperoxia inhibited cell growth and the reduction of MTT; however, cells transfected with LGR had greater mitochondrial GR activities (CON, 16+/-2; DOS, 19+/-3; LGR, 322+/-18 mU/mg of protein), sustained more normal growth patterns (CON, 1.25+/-0.12; DOS, 1.24 +/-0.21, LGR, 1.8+/-0.25 x 10(6) cells/plate), and had less inhibition of MTT reduction (CON, 29; DOS, 27; LGR, 16% inhibition, P<0.01) after exposure to hyperoxia for 48 h than was observed in cells transfected with DOS or in control cells not infected with virus. In addition, resistant cells had higher mitochondrial GSH levels and maintained mitochondrial GSH/GSSG ratios in hyperoxia, suggesting that maintaining mitochondrial GSH homeostasis determined critical aspects of cell division in these studies. The mechanisms for sustaining cell growth during hyperoxia in H441 cells with enhanced mitochondrial GR activities are unknown, but similar effects in infants exposed to supplemental oxygen could be highly beneficial.

Endothelial alpha 2,6-linked sialic acid inhibits VCAM-1-dependent adhesion under flow conditions.

We have previously shown that costimulation of endothelial cells with IL-1 + IL-4 markedly inhibits VCAM-1-dependent adhesion under flow conditions. We hypothesized that sialic acids on the costimulated cell surfaces may contribute to the inhibition. Northern blot analyses showed that Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc alpha 2, 6-sialyltransferase (ST6N) mRNA was up-regulated in cultured HUVEC by IL-1 or IL-4 alone, but that the expression was enhanced by costimulation, whereas the level of Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc/Gal beta 1-3GalNAc alpha2,3-sialyltransferase (ST3ON) mRNA was unchanged. Removing both alpha 2,6- and alpha 2,3-linked sialic acids from IL-1 + IL-4-costimulated HUVEC by sialidase significantly increased VCAM-1-dependent adhesion, whereas removing alpha 2,3-linked sialic acid alone had no effect; adenovirus-mediated overexpression of ST6N with costimulation almost abolished the adhesion, which was reversible by sialidase. The same treatments of IL-1-stimulated HUVEC had no effect. Lectin blotting showed that VCAM-1 is decorated with alpha 2,6- but not alpha 2,3-linked sialic acids. However, overexpression of alpha 2,6-sialyltransferase did not increase alpha 2,6-linked sialic acid on VCAM-1 but did increase alpha 2,6-linked sialic acids on other proteins that remain to be identified. These results suggest that alpha 2,6-linked sialic acids on a molecule(s) inducible by costimulation with IL-1 + IL-4 but not IL-1 alone down-regulates VCAM-1-dependent adhesion under flow conditions.

Gene transfer of mitochondrially targeted glutathione reductase protects H441 cells from t-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxidant stresses.

Increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and low levels of antioxidants may cause morbidity in premature infants on supplemental oxygen. Glutathione (GSH)-dependent antioxidant systems protect against ROS, and regenerating GSH from GSH disulfide (GSSG) by the flavoenzyme GSH reductase (GR) is essential for the optimal function of this system. Previously, we have observed enhanced resistance to t-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH) in Chinese hamster ovary cells stably transfected with a vector (leader sequence GR [LGR]) for human GR cDNA that contained a functional synthetic mitochondrial targeting signal. The present studies were designed to investigate adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of LGR to H441 cells and resistance of such cells to t-BuOOH. Adenovirus-mediated transfection of H441 cells with LGR increased total GR activities more than 11-fold (mitochondria more than 10-fold and cytosolic more than 7-fold) and protected against t-BuOOH cytotoxicity, as indicated by lower fractional release of cellular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) than was observed in wild-type untransfected cells (CON) or in cells transfected with a control gene (human manganese superoxide dismutase in the antisense orientation [DOS]) (*LGR 6.6 +/- 1.7; DOS 16 +/- 1.8; CON 16.6 +/- 0.7% LDH release). In addition, cells transfected with LGR retained higher GSH/GSSG ratios (*LGR 66 +/- 0.4; DOS 47 +/- 1; CON 52.6 +/- 2.3) and released less GSH + GSSG to the media in response to challenge with t-BuOOH (*LGR 0.05 +/- 0.01; DOS 0.08 +/- 0.01; CON 0.07 +/- 0.01 nmol/mg of protein) than did wild-type cells or cells transfected with a control vector, indicating an enhanced ability of the LGR cells to reduce GSSG formed in response to exposure to t-BuOOH. In conclusion, adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of LGR enhanced cellular GR activities and protected H441 cells from oxidant stresses.

Exogenous surfactant enhances the delivery of recombinant adenoviral vectors to the lung.

Somatic gene therapy for pulmonary diseases must be accomplished in vivo, requiring the spread of a gene transfer vector across a vast expanse of respiratory epithelium. Surfactant, a naturally occurring protein and lipid mixture used to treat the respiratory distress syndrome of prematurity, disperses rapidly and evenly throughout the lung. We employed exogenous bovine surfactant (Survanta beractant) as a carrier vehicle for pulmonary delivery of a recombinant adenovirus expressing beta-galactosidase (beta-Gal). Rats treated with an adenovirus-beractant mixture demonstrated more uniform lobar distribution of transgene expression than rats treated with the same amount of virus in saline. Tissue homogenates were examined for quantitative beta-Gal expression by reaction with o-nitrophenol beta-n-galactopyranoside (ONPG). The degree of beta-Gal activity was affected by both the volume and type of carrier used to deliver the virus. At low volumes (0.5 ml, 1.3 ml/kg), beractant-treated animals demonstrated significantly greater pulmonary beta-Gal activity than saline-treated animals (p < 0.002) and untreated controls. At high volume (1.2 ml, 4 ml/kg), average beta-Gal activity was similar between groups treated with beractant or saline, but was more variable within the saline treated group. Higher volumes of delivery medium were associated with increased levels of beta-Gal expression regardless of the carrier used. Survanta was well tolerated by the animals and did not affect the duration of transgene expression. Exogenous beractant provides a useful medium for delivering recombinant adenoviruses to the lung when diffuse distribution of transgene expression is desired.

Aerosol delivery of a beta-galactosidase adenoviral vector to the lungs of rodents.

Aerosol delivery of adenoviral vectors is of particular interest in regard to gene therapy for cystic fibrosis (CF), with potential advantages of more uniform respiratory delivery, a less invasive approach, and ease of repetition. The AdHCMVsp1LacZ (AdLacZ) adenoviral vector was used to evaluate the feasibility of aerosol delivery to the respiratory epithelium in rodents. The adenoviral vector tolerated aerosol generation as measured by recovery in an all-glass impinger. Using an Andersen sampler to mimic the human respiratory tract, aerosol particles were found to have an average mass mean aerodynamic diameter of 1.6 microns and a geometric standard deviation of 1.7 microns. Cotton rats and mice exposed to viral aerosols demonstrated beta-galactosidase expression in up to 10-30% of the epithelial surface of the small and large airways, whereas expression in Sprague Dawley rats was largely limited to the alveolar epithelium. Transgene expression was distributed uniformly through both lungs in animals treated by aerosol. The variables for aerosol delivery are complex and include viral titer, aerosol device, duration of exposure, species of recipient, and respiratory behavior among other factors. Species differences in expression in airways as compared to alveolar epithelium have important implications for clinical application.

CD34+ peripheral blood progenitors as a target for genetic correction of the two flavocytochrome b558 defective forms of chronic granulomatous disease.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) can result from any of four single gene defects involving components of the superoxide (O2-.)-generating phagocyte NADPH oxidase (phox). The phox transmembrane flavocytochrome b558 is composed of two peptides, gp91phox and p22phox. Mutations of gp91phox cause X-linked CGD, whereas mutations of p22phox cause one of the three autosomal recessive forms of CGD. We used the Maloney leukemia virus-based MFG retrovirus vector to produce replication defective retroviruses encoding gp91phox or p22phox. To maximize viral titer MFG retroviruses do not contain internal promoter or resistance elements. Epstein-Barr virus transformed B-lymphocyte cell lines (EBV-B) derived from normal individuals contain phox components and produce O2-., whereas those derived from CGD patients show the CGD defect. Transduction of gp91phox or p22phox-deficient CGD EBV-B lines resulted in correction of O2-. production from a barely detectable baseline to an average 7.2% and 13.8% of normal control, respectively, without any selective regimen to enrich for transduced cells. CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells, the therapeutic target for gene therapy of CGD, were isolated from peripheral blood of CGD patients, transduced with MFG-phox retroviruses, and differentiated in culture to mature phagocytes. Transduction of progenitors corrected the gp91phox (seven patients) and p22phox (two patients) CGD phagocyte oxidase defect to 2.5% and 4.9% of normal O2-. production, respectively, representing an 87-fold and 161-fold increase. These studies show correction of flavocytochrome b558-deficient CGD in primary hematopoietic progenitors, providing a basis for development of gene therapy for the X-linked gp91phox and autosomal p22phox-deficient forms of CGD.

Production of recombinant cytochrome b558 allows reconstitution of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase solely from recombinant proteins.

Phagocytic white blood cells contain a multicomponent oxidase that generates microbicidal products by catalyzing electron transfer from NADPH to molecular oxygen. Activation of this oxidase requires interactions of a unique membrane flavocytochrome with the cytosolic proteins p47phox, p67phox, and p21Rac. This flavocytochrome, designated cytochrome b558, is a heteromer comprising a 22-kDa alpha-subunit (p22phox) and a glycosylated approximately 91-kDa beta-subunit (gp91phox). Cytochrome b558 was expressed in Sf9 insect cells coinfected with recombinant baculoviruses carrying cDNAs for p22phox and gp91phox. Membranes of these cells contained a b-type cytochrome with a dithionite-reduced minus oxidized difference spectrum similar to that of neutrophil cytochrome b558. The recombinant cytochrome b558 beta-subunit was heterogeneously N-glycosylated as demonstrated by its susceptibility to cleavage with endoglycosidases F and H. In contrast to the neutrophil cytochrome b558, a portion of the N-linked oligosaccharide was of the high mannose type. Recombinant cytochrome b558 supported superoxide production in a cell-free assay containing recombinant p47phox, p67phox, and p21Rac. The enzymatic turnover of the partially purified recombinant cytochrome b558 and neutrophil cytochrome b558 were similar (approximately 100-160 mol of superoxide generated/s/mol of cytochrome heme, range of two experiments) and the native and recombinant cytochromes showed similar requirements for NADPH and exogenous FAD. These studies represent the first reconstitution of the NADPH oxidase solely from recombinant proteins and define a model system to explore the structure and function of cytochrome b558.

Baculovirus mediated expression of human phagocytic cell oxidase cytochrome b558 in sf9 insect cells.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) results from deficient production of components of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase. Most commonly affected is cytochrome b558, a heterodimer composed of a 22-kDa protein (p22phox) noncovalently bound to a 91-kDa transmembrane glycoprotein (gp91phox). CGD phagocytes lack both p22phox and gp91phox peptides when either gene is affected, suggesting that both peptides must be produced for individual subunit stability. Both genes have been cloned, but eukaryotic expression of recombinant gp91phox has not been reported. To investigate the stability and interaction of cytochrome b558 subunits, we introduced p22phox and gp91phox cDNA into recombinant baculoviruses. Recombinant gp91phox (rgp91phox) and p22phox (rp22phox) were detected individually and together in the same cells by in situ immunofluorescence and by SDS-PAGE immunoblotting of membranes from sf9 cells infected with baculovirus constructs. Formation of rp22phox/rgp91phox complexes was demonstrated by coprecipitation using subunit-specific antibodies. This study demonstrates for the first time that cDNA encoding either subunit is capable of initiating production of stable recombinant cytochrome b558 subunits in eukaryotic cells.