Tanshinone IIA prevents acute lung injury by regulating macrophage polarization / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#Acute lung injury (ALI) is a serious respiratory dysfunction caused by pathogen or physical invasion. The strong induced inflammation often causes death. Tanshinone IIA (Tan-IIA) is the major constituent of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge and has been shown to display anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of Tan-IIA on ALI.@*METHODS@#A murine model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI was used. The lungs and serum samples of mice were extracted at 3 days after treatment. ALI-induced inflammatory damages were confirmed from cytokine detections and histomorphology observations. Effects of Tan-IIA were investigated using in vivo and in vitro ALI models. Tan-IIA mechanisms were investigated by performing Western blot and flow cytometry experiments. A wound-healing assay was performed to confirm the Tan-IIA function.@*RESULTS@#The cytokine storm induced by LPS treatment was detected at 3 days after LPS treatment, and alveolar epithelial damage and lymphocyte aggregation were observed. Tan-IIA treatment attenuated the LPS-induced inflammation and reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines released not only by inhibiting neutrophils, but also by macrophage. Moreover, we found that macrophage activation and polarization after LPS treatment were abrogated after applying the Tan-IIA treatment. An in vitro assay also confirmed that including the Tan-IIA supplement increased the relative amount of the M2 subtype and decreased that of M1. Rebalanced macrophages and Tan-IIA inhibited activations of the nuclear factor-κB and hypoxia-inducible factor pathways. Including Tan-IIA and macrophages also improved alveolar epithelial repair by regulating macrophage polarization.@*CONCLUSION@#This study found that while an LPS-induced cytokine storm exacerbated ALI, including Tan-IIA could prevent ALI-induced inflammation and improve the alveolar epithelial repair, and do so by regulating macrophage polarization.

Anti-cancer effects of cerium oxide nanoparticles and its intracellular redox activity.

Data on medical applications of cerium oxide nanoparticles CeO2 (CONP) are promising, yet information regarding their action in cells is incomplete and there are conflicting reports about in vitro toxicity. Herein, we have studied cytotoxic effect of CONP in several cancer and normal cell lines and their potential to change intracellular redox status. The IC50 was achieved only in two of eight tested cell lines, melanoma 518A2 and colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29. Self-propagating room temperature method was applied to produce CONP with an average crystalline size of 4 nm. The results confirmed presence of Ce(3+) and O(2-) vacancies. The induction of cell death by CONP and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were analyzed by flow-cytometry. Free radicals related antioxidant capacity of the cells was studied by the reduction of stable free radical TEMPONE using electron spin resonance spectroscopy. CONP showed low or moderate cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines: adenocarcinoma DLD1 and multi-drug resistant DLD1-TxR, non-small cell lung carcinoma NCI-H460 and multi-drug resistant NCI-H460/R, while normal cell lines (keratinocytes HaCaT, lung fetal fibroblasts MRC-5) were insensitive. The most sensitive were 518A2 melanoma and HT-29 colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines, with the IC50 values being between 100 and 200 µM. Decreased rate of TEMPONE reduction and increased production of certain ROS species (peroxynitrite and hydrogen peroxide anion) indicates that free radical metabolism, thus redox status was changed, and antioxidant capacity damaged in the CONP treated 518A2 and HT-29 cells. In conclusion, changes in intracellular redox status induced by CONP are partly attributed to the prooxidant activity of the nanoparticles. Further, ROS induced cell damages might eventually lead to the cell death. However, low inhibitory potential of CONP in the other human cell lines tested indicates that CONP may be safe for human usage in industry and medicine.

A novel analytical method to evaluate directly catalase activity of microorganisms and mammalian cells by ESR oximetry.

Electron spin resonance (ESR) oximetry technique was applied for analysis of catalase activity in the present study. Catalase activity was evaluated by measuring oxygen from the reaction between hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and catalase-positive cells. It was demonstrated that the ESR spectra of spin-label probes, 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl (TEMPOL), 4-oxo-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (4-oxo-TEMPO) and 4-maleimido-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (4-maleimido-TEMPO) in the presence of H(2)O(2) were broadened with the concentrations of catalase. It was possible to make a calibration curve for catalase activity by peak widths of the spectra of each spin-label probe, which are broadened dependently on catalase concentrations. The broadened ESR spectra were also observed when the catalase-positive micro-organisms or the mammalian cells originally from circulating monocytes/macrophages were mixed with TEMPOL and H(2)O(2). Meanwhile, catalase-negative micro-organisms caused no broadening change of ESR spectra. The present study indicates that it is possible to evaluate directly the catalase activity of various micro-organisms and mammalian cells by using an ESR oximetry technique.

Formation of TEMPOL-hydroxylamine during reaction between TEMPOL and hydroxyl radical: HPLC/ECD study.

Nitroxyl radicals are important antioxidants that have been used to protect animal tissues from oxidative damage. Their reaction with hydroxyl radical ((*)OH) is generally accepted to be the mechanism of antioxidant function. However, the direct interaction of nitroxyl radicals with (*)OH does not always provide a satisfactory explanation in various pH, because the concentration of hydrogen ion may affect the generation of secondary (*)OH-derived radicals. In the present study, it was confirmed that the reaction between 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPOL) and (*)OH generated TEMPOL-hydroxylamine, 4-oxo-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPON) and TEMPON-hydroxylamine using HPLC coupled with electrochemical detection. In the absence of NADH, TEMPOL-H may be generated by the reaction with secondary (*)OH-derived radicals in acidic condition. In the presence of NADH, a large proportion of the non-paramagnetic products was TEMPOL-H. Finally, it was clarified that TEMPOL-H was generated during dopamine metabolism, which is believed to be one of the (*)OH sources in pathological processes such as Parkinson's disease.

Neurotoxicity of reactive aldehydes: the concept of "aldehyde load" as demonstrated by neuroprotection with hydroxylamines.

The concept of "oxidative stress" has become a mainstay in the field of neurodegeneration but has failed to differentiate critical events from epiphenomena and sequalae. Furthermore, the translation of current concepts of neurodegenerative mechanisms into effective therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases has been meager and disappointing. A corollary of current concepts of "oxidative stress" is that of "aldehyde load". This relates to the production of reactive aldehydes that covalently modify proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and carbohydrates and activate apoptotic pathways. However, reactive aldehydes can also be generated by mechanisms other than "oxidative stress". We therefore hypothesized that agents that can chemically neutralize reactive aldehydes should demonstrate superior neuroprotective actions to those of free radical scavengers. To this end, we evaluated hydroxylamines as aldehyde-trapping agents in an in vitro model of neurodegeneration induced by the reactive aldehyde, 3-aminopropanal (3-AP), a product of polyamine oxidase metabolism of spermine and spermidine. In this model, the hydroxylamines N-benzylhydroxylamine, cyclohexylhydroxylamine and t-butylhydroxylamine were shown to protect, in a concentration-dependent manner, against 3-AP neurotoxicity. Additionally, a therapeutic window of 3 h was demonstrated for delayed administration of the hydroxylamines. In contrast, the free radical scavengers TEMPO and TEMPONE and the anti-oxidant ascorbic acid were ineffective in this model. Extending these tissue culture findings in vivo, we examined the actions of N-benzylhydroxylamine in the trimethyltin (TMT) rat model of hippocampal CA3 neurodegeneration. This model involves augmented polyamine metabolism resulting in the generation of reactive aldehydes that compromise mitochondrial integrity. In the rat TMT model, NBHA (50 mg/kg, sc, daily) provided 100% protection against neurodegeneration, as reflected by measurements of KCl-evoked glutamate release from hippocampal brain slices and septal high affinity glutamate uptake. In contrast, ascorbic acid (100 mg/kg, sc, daily) failed to protect CA3 neurons from TMT toxicity. In summary, our data support further evaluation of the concept of "aldehyde load" in neurodegeneration and the potential clinical investigation of agents that are effective traps for reactive aldehydes.

Comparison between sonodynamic effect and photodynamic effect with photosensitizers on free radical formation and cell killing.

Although enhancement of ultrasound-induced cell killing by photodynamic reagents has been shown, the sonochemical mechanism in detail is still not clear. Here, comparison between sonodynamic effect and photodynamic effect with photosensitizers at a concentration of 10 microM on free radical formation and cell killing was made. When electron paramagnetic-resonance spectroscopy (EPR) was used to detect 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidone-N-oxyl (TAN) after photo-irradiation or sonication with 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidone (TMPD), the order of TAN formation in the photo-irradiated samples was as follows: rhodamine 6G (R6) > sulforhodamine B (SR) > hematoporphyrin (Hp) > rhodamine 123 (R123) > rose bengal (RB)>erythrosine B (Er) = 0; although there was time-dependent TAN formation when the samples were sonicated, no significant difference among these agents were observed. All these agents suppressed ultrasound-induced OH radical formation detected by EPR-spin trapping. Sensitizer-derived free radicals were markedly observed in SR, RB and Er, while trace level of radicals derived from R6 and R123 were observed. Enhancement of ultrasound-induced decrease of survival in human lymphoma U937 cells was observed at 1.5 W/cm(2) (less than inertial cavitation threshold) for R6, R123, SR and Er, and at 2.3 W/cm(2) for R6, R123, Er, RB and SR. On the other hand, photo-induced decrease of survival was observed for R6, Hp and RB at the same concentration (10 microM). These comparative results suggest that (1) (1)O(2) is not involved in the enhancement of ultrasound-induced loss of cell survival, (2) OH radicals and sensitizer-derived free radicals do not take part in the enhancement, and (3) the mechanism is mainly due to certain mechanical stress such as augmentation of physical disruption of cellular membrane by sensitizers in the close vicinity of cells and/or cavitation bubbles.

Nitroxide tempo, a small molecule, induces apoptosis in prostate carcinoma cells and suppresses tumor growth in athymic mice.

BACKGROUND: In previous studies, nitroxide tempo (2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-piperidine-1-oxyl), a small molecule, induced cell death in cancer cells. The current study examined the antineoplastic properties of tempo in the human hormone-dependent/hormone-independent prostate carcinoma models (LNCaP, DU-145, and PC-3). METHODS: The apoptotic effects of tempo were examined by the flow cytometric analysis of cells labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated annexin-V, and by electron microscopy. Enzymatic assays were performed to measure the activities of 2 cysteine proteases, i.e., caspase-9 and caspase-3, in tempo-treated cells. The effects of tempo on cell proliferation and on cell cycle distribution profiles were measured by the flow cytometric assay using immunofluorescent staining of incorporated 5'-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) coupled with 7-amino-actinomycin D (7-AAD) staining of total DNA. The number of proliferating cells was also determined independently by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using chemiluminescent detection of incorporated BrdU. Subcutaneous growth of human prostate carcinoma in athymic mice was monitored after intratumoral administration of tempo into tumor-bearing mice. In addition, cell viability assays were performed to compare the cytotoxic effect of a combination of doxorubicin or mitoxantrone and tempo with single agents. RESULTS: Tempo treatment of prostate carcinoma cells caused a significant increase in the number of apoptotic cells compared with control groups (tempo, 2.5 mM, 24 hours: DU-145, approximately 3.4-fold; PC-3, approximately 6-7-fold; tempo 1 mM, 24 hours: LNCaP, approximately 12-fold). Tempo-induced loss of cell viability was blocked partially or completely after pretreatment of cells with actinomycin-D or cycloheximide, suggesting a de novo macromolecule synthesis-dependent mechanism of cell death. Electron microscopy revealed aggregation and marginalization of chromatin in the nuclei of a large number of tempo-treated LNCaP cells. Tempo treatment of LNCaP cells resulted in enhanced activities of caspase-9 (tempo, 5 mM, 15 hours: approximately 2-fold) and caspase-3 (tempo, 2.5 mM, 24 hours: approximately 12-fold). Tempo treatment also led to an enhanced number of cells in G2/M phase of the cell cycle (tempo, 5.0 mM, 24 hours: DU-145, approximately 1.6-fold; PC-3, approximately 1.5-fold; LNCaP, approximately 5.3-fold), and decreased BrdU incorporation indicative of a decline in the number of proliferating cells (tempo, 2.5 mM, 24 or 48 hours; DU-145, approximately 2-3-fold; PC-3, approximately 1.2-fold; LNCaP, approximately 5-10-fold). Administration of tempo into LNCaP tumor-bearing mice resulted in a significant inhibition of tumor growth (percent initial tumor volume [Day 30, n = 4]: vehicle, 845.35 +/- 272.83; tempo, 9.72 +/- 9.72; tempo vs. vehicle, P < 0.02). In hormone-refractory prostate carcinoma cells, a combination of relatively low doses of tempo and doxorubicin or mitoxantrone caused enhanced cytotoxicity as compared with single agents. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrated that nitroxide tempo induced apoptosis and activated a caspase-mediated signaling pathway in prostate carcinoma cells. Tempo treatment also caused cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase and decreased the number of proliferating cells (S phase). Tempo treatment of tumor-bearing mice led to inhibition of tumor growth, suggesting that tempo is a novel member of the small-molecule family of antineoplastic agents.

Actividad antioxidante del clorhidrato de triacetonamina in vitro / Antioxidant activity of triacetoneamine hydrochloride in vitro

Se estudiaron los efectos antioxidantes del clorhidrato de triacetonamina (THC) in vitro a través de una serie de ensayos, en los que se analizó la capacidad secuestrante del OH· y quelante de Fe, con el ensayo de la 2 desoxi-d-ribosa y la capacidad secuestrante del O2· por la autooxidación del pirogalol (2-12 mM THC). Se estudió además la actividad prooxidante del THC (0,1-0,6 mM), sobre el ADN inducida por Cu-fenantrolina y Fe-bleomicina. También se valoró la actividad prooxidante del TH-NO· (10-12 mM) y del THNOO· (10-12 mM), radicales derivados del THC. Finalmente se determinó el efecto del THC sobre la peroxidación lipídica en homogenato de cerebro de rata. Los resultados demostraron que el THC posee capacidad secuestrante del O2·, con un comportamiento dependiente de la concentración y CI50 de 10 mM de THC. Se encontró efecto protector sobre la 2 desoxi-d-ribosa, tanto por acción quelante de Fe, como por secuestro directo de OH· con una Ks de 4.6 ´ 108 M-1s-1. El THC mostró efecto dependiente de la concentración para el daño sobre el ADN, mientras que el THNO· no dañó a esta molécula, a diferencia del THNOO· que si produjo daño a las concentraciones ensayadas. La peroxidación lipídica en homogenato de cerebro de rata no fue inhibida(AU)

TEMPONE reduces renal dysfunction and injury mediated by oxidative stress of the rat kidney.

Here we investigate the effects of the stable, water-soluble nitroxyl radical, TEMPONE, on renal dysfunction and injury caused by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) of the rat kidney in vivo. TEMPONE significantly improved both glomerular and tubular function (serum urea, creatinine, creatinine clearance, and fractional excretion of Na(+)) in a dose-dependent manner and significantly attenuated the reperfusion-injury associated with I/R (urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, aspartate aminotransferase, assessment of renal histology). TEMPONE also markedly reduced the immunohistochemical evidence of the formation of nitrotyrosine and poly(ADP-ribose), indicating reduction of nitrosative and oxidative stress, respectively. The latter was reflected in vitro, where TEMPONE significantly reduced cellular injury of primary cultures of rat renal proximal tubular (PT) cells caused by hydrogen peroxide in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, in contrast to its in vivo metabolite TEMPOL (which also provided protective effects against renal I/R and oxidative stress of PT cells), TEMPONE reduced renal dysfunction and injury without causing a significant reduction in blood pressure upon administration. These results suggest, for the first time, that TEMPONE can reduce the renal dysfunction and injury caused by I/R and the injury caused to PT cells by oxidative stress without producing the adverse cardiovascular effects observed when using other nitroxyl radicals.

Differential protection by nitroxides and hydroxylamines to radiation-induced and metal ion-catalyzed oxidative damage.

Modulation of radiation- and metal ion-catalyzed oxidative-induced damage using plasmid DNA, genomic DNA, and cell survival, by three nitroxides and their corresponding hydroxylamines, were examined. The antioxidant property of each compound was independently determined by reacting supercoiled DNA with copper II/1,10-phenanthroline complex fueled by the products of hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase (HX/XO) and noting the protective effect as assessed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The nitroxides and their corresponding hydroxylamines protected approximately to the same degree (33-47% relaxed form) when compared to 76.7% relaxed form in the absence of protectors. Likewise, protection by both the nitroxide and corresponding hydroxylamine were observed for Chinese hamster V79 cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide. In contrast, when plasmid DNA damage was induced by ionizing radiation (100 Gy), only nitroxides (10 mM) provide protection (32.4-38.5% relaxed form) when compared to radiation alone or in the presence of hydroxylamines (10 mM) (79.8% relaxed form). Nitroxide protection was concentration dependent. Radiation cell survival studies and DNA double-strand break (DBS) assessment (pulse field electrophoresis) showed that only the nitroxide protected or prevented damage, respectively. Collectively, the results show that nitroxides and hydroxylamines protect equally against the damage mediated by oxidants generated by the metal ion-catalyzed Haber-Weiss reaction, but only nitroxides protect against radiation damage, suggesting that nitroxides may more readily react with intermediate radical species produced by radiation than hydroxylamines.

In vivo characterization of the effects of abscisic acid and drying protocols associated with the acquisition of desiccation tolerance in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) somatic embryos.

Although somatic embryos of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) had acquired some tolerance to desiccation at the cotyledonary stage of development (22 d after plating), additional culturing in 20 microm abscisic acid (ABA) for 8 d induced greater desiccation tolerance, as determined by increased germination. Compared with fast drying, slow drying of the ABA-treated embryos improved desiccation tolerance. However, slow drying of non-ABA-treated embryos led to the complete loss of germination capacity, while some fast-dried embryos survived. An electron paramagnetic resonance spin probe technique and in vivo Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy revealed that cellular membrane integrity and a-helical protein secondary structure were maintained during drying in embryos cultured in media enriched with 20 microM ABA, but not in embryos cultured in the absence of ABA. Slow-dried, non-ABA-treated embryos had low oligosaccharide to sucrose ratios, an increased proportion of beta-sheet protein secondary structures and broad membrane phase transitions extending over a temperature range of more than 60 degrees C, suggestive of irreversible phase separations. The spin probe study showed evidence of imbibitional damage, which could be alleviated by prehydration in humid air. These observations emphasize the importance of appropriate drying and prehydration protocols for the survival and storage of somatic embryos. It is suggested that ABA also plays a role in suppressing metabolism, thus increasing the level of desiccation tolerance; this is particularly evident under stressful conditions such as slow drying.

Free radical scavenging actions of hippocampal metallothionein isoforms and of antimetallothioneins: an electron spin resonance spectroscopic study.

The high concentration of zinc in the hippocampal mossy fiber axon boutons is localized in the vesicles and is mobilized by exocytosis of the zinc-laden vesicles. Furthermore, the mammalian hippocampi contain metallothionein (MT) isoforms which regulate the steady state concentration of zinc, an important antioxidant. Indeed, zinc deprivation leads to an increased lipid peroxidation, reduces the activity of Cu++-Zn++ superoxide dismutase, and protect against oxidative stress such as exposure to ultraviolet A irradiation. By employing electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, we have demonstrated that rat hippocampal MT isoforms 1 and 2 were able to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals (DPPH), hydroxyl radicals (*OH) generated in a Fenton reaction, and superoxide anions (O2*-) generated by the hypoxanthine and xanthine oxidase system. In addition, MT-1 isoform protected the isolated hepatocytes from lipid peroxidation as determined by thiobarbituric acid bound malondialdehyde. MT antibodies scavenged DPPH radicals, hydroxyl radicals and reactive oxygen species but not superoxide anions. The results of these studies suggest that although both isoforms of MT are able to scavenge free radicals, the MT-1 appears to be a superior scavenger of superoxide anions and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals. Moreover, antibodies formed against MT isoform retain some, but not all, free radical scavenging actions exhibited by MT-1 and MT-2.

Increased endogenous ascorbyl free radical formation with singlet oxygen scavengers in reperfusion injury: an EPR and functional recovery study in rat hearts.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of singlet oxygen ((1)O2) scavengers on functional recovery and ascorbyl free radical (AFR) formation in isolated ischemic rat hearts. Hearts were subjected to 40 min. of global ischemia followed by 30 min. of reperfusion. Hemodynamics were measured as heart rate (HR), coronary flow (CF), left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and contractility (dP/dt). Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used to measure AFR release in coronary perfusate during the first two min. of reperfusion as a function of ROS scavengers. Relative to ischemic controls the administration of the (1)O2 scavengers 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidone x HCl (4-oxo-TEMP), carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine) or a combination of the two significantly improved functional recovery as measured by LVDP. While no AFR signal was detected in coronary perfusate collected during preischemic perfusion with and without (1)O2 scavengers, the AFR background signal due to ischemia was significantly increased with the (1)O2 and *O2- scavengers. No such increase was observed with the hydroxyl radical (*OH) scavenger mannitol. Besides the AFR increase with the (1)O2 and *O2- scavengers the functional recovery was only significantly improved with the (1)O2 scavengers. In contrast to previous AFR studies we found with endogenous AFR that an increased AFR formation is not necessarily only reflecting increased oxidative stress but can also report improved functional recovery. Combining the hemodynamic data with increased AFR formation in the presence of several different ROS scavengers gives supportive evidence for (1)O2 also being involved in reperfusion injury.

UVA-induced oxidative damage in retinal pigment epithelial cells after H2O2 or sparfloxacin exposure.

Retinal impairment is one of the leading causes of visual loss in an aging human population. To explore a possible cause for retinal damage in the human population, we have monitored DNA oxidation in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells after exposure to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or the quinolone antibacterial sparfloxacin. When H2O2- or sparfloxacin-exposed cells were further exposed to ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation, oxidative damage to the DNA of these cells was greatly increased over baseline values. This RPE+pharmaceutical-UVA cell system was developed to mimic in vivo retinal degeneration, seen in mouse studies using quinolone and UVA exposure. DNA damage produced by sparfloxacin and UVA in RPE cells could be remedied by the use of antioxidants, indicating a possible in vivo method for prevention or minimization of retinal damage in humans

Singlet oxygen-dependent hydroxyl radical formation during uroporphyrin-mediated photosensitization in the presence of NADPH.

The conversion of singlet oxygen ((1)O2) to hydroxyl radical (*OH) during photosensitization of uroporphyrin (UP) in the presence of NADPH was examined by a spin-trapping technique with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO). Significant electron spin resonance (ESR) signals of DMPO-OH adduct were observed during irradiation of the UP-NADPH system with visible light. Scavengers of *OH reduced the signal intensity to 3-30% of control, indicating that more than 70% of DMPO-OH results from freely diffusing *OH. The ESR signal was almost completely lost when quenchers of (1)O2 were added, and was enhanced when the amount of deutrated solvent was increased. The appearance of (1)O2, as determined by the oxidation of 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidone (TEMPD), was delayed with an increase in the concentration of NADPH, whereas the production of *OH was upregulated. These observations indicate that conversion of (1)O2 to *OH occurs quickly in the presence of NADPH. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was produced (1)O2-dependently during irradiation of UP in the presence of NADPH. However, neither catalase nor desferrioxamine decreased the DMPO-OH signal, and addition of H2O2 did not increase the signal. SOD increased the signal only slightly. These results suggest that the production of *OH from (1)O2 involves neither superoxide anion radical nor H2O2.

Characterization of redox activity in resting and activated mast cells by reduction and reoxidation of lipophilic nitroxides.

1. We measured redox systems in resting and activated rat peritoneal mast cells under anoxia by using the redox metabolism of free doxyl stearic acid (5DS) and phosphatidylcholine with two 5DS molecules esterified to the glycerol (di5DSPC). 2. In the absence of oxygen, 5DS and di5DSPC were reduced to the corresponding hydroxylamines by resting mast cells, with apparent first-order kinetics of 0.085 and 0.078/min, respectively. 3. The activation of mast cells induced by compound 48/80 and bradykinin did not affect the rates of reduction of the nitroxides, and therefore the activation appeared not to be closely coupled to the redox system of these cells; this finding implies that ischemia is unlikely to affect histamine release from mast cells. 4. The oxidation of the nitroxides by the mast cells was very fast and may be nonenzymatic. 5. We concluded that nitroxides can be useful probes of redox metabolism in the mast cells but, because the characteristics of the cellular reduction-reoxidation systems differed from that of other cells, the use of this approach in other cells will require careful characterization of the redox metabolism of nitroxides in those cells.

Measurement of human sperm intracellular water volume by electron spin resonance.

An electron spin resonance technique using the spin label tempone and the broadening agent potassium chromium oxalate was used to measure the water volume of human sperm. The toxicity of tempone (5 mmol/L) and potassium chromium oxalate (50 mmol/L) to sperm was measured over a time span of 120 minutes using computer-assisted semen analysis. Tempone had no effect on any computer-assisted semen analysis parameters, including motility. Potassium chromium oxalate reduced sperm motility by an average of 24% during the first 30 minutes of exposure. After selection by swim-up and correction for the presence of dead cells and cytoplasmic droplets, a water volume of 20.0 +/- 2.9 microns3 was obtained. This yields a total volume of 33.9 microns3 if a water compartment of 59% by volume is assumed. These results are consistent with other shape-independent techniques for measuring volume, but larger than the generally accepted optical and electronic particle counter sizes.

Identification of nitroxide radioprotectors.

The nitroxide Tempol, a stable free radical, has recently been shown to protect mammalian cells against several forms of oxidative stress including radiation-induced cytotoxicity. To extend this observation, six additional water-soluble nitroxides with different structural features were evaluated for potential radioprotective properties using Chinese hamster V79 cells and clonogenic assays. Nitroxides (10 mM) were added 10 min prior to radiation exposure and full radiation dose-response curves were determined. In addition to Tempol, five of the six nitroxides afforded in vitro radioprotection. The best protectors were found to be the positively charged nitroxides, Tempamine and 3-aminomethyl-PROXYL, with protection factors of 2.3 and 2.4, respectively, compared with Tempol, which had a protection factor of 1.3. 3-Carboxy-PROXYL, a negatively charged nitroxide, provided minimal protection. DNA binding characteristics as studied by nonequilibrium dialysis of DNA with each of the nitroxides demonstrated that Tempamine and 3-amino-methyl-PROXYL bound more strongly to DNA than did Tempol. Since DNA is assumed to be the target of radiation-induced cytotoxicity, differences in protection may be explained by variabilities in affinity of the protector for the target. This study establishes nitroxides as a general class of new nonthiol radioprotectors and suggests other parameters that may be exploited to find even better nitroxide-induced radioprotection.

The effect of the anoxic radiosensitizing agent TAN on induction of revertants by gamma-rays and helium ions in Salmonella tester strains.

The modification effect of the anoxic radiosensitizer TAN on the mutagenesis in various Salmonella tester strains after gamma-ray and helium ion irradiation was studied. The oxygen enhancement ratios (OER) for all 3 strains on the lethal assay after gamma-irradiation are approximately equal to 2. The induction of reversions in TA98 and TA100 does not modify under anoxia. The value of OER on the mutagenic assay in TA102 equals 1.6. The OER after helium ion irradiation on the lethal and mutagenic assays was less than after gamma-irradiation. The mutagenesis in 3 strains after irradiation under anoxia is enhanced by TAN. The value of the TAN modification effect after gamma-irradiation increases from 2.1 +/- 0.2 for TA102 to 5.2 +/- 0.4 for TA100. However, the TAN influence on mutagenesis in TA100 after helium ion irradiation decreases to 3.1 +/- 0.3. We conclude that peculiarities of mutagenesis in various tester strains under anoxia with TAN can be explained by considering the nature of premutational DNA damages.

[Cooperative inactivation of glutamate dehydrogenase of 2,2,6,6- tetramethyl-4-oxopiperidine-1-oxyl. Interpretation of results within the scope of a hexamer model with equivalent subunit orientation]. / Kooperativnaia inaktivatsiia glutamatdegidrogenazy 2,2,6,6- tetrametil-4-oksopiperidin-1-oksilom. Interpretatsiia resul'tatov v ramkakh modeli geksamera s ékvivalentnoi orientatsiei sub''edinits.

It was shown that the blockage of epsilon-amino group of Lis-126 residue by 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-oxo-piperidine-1-oxyl (TMPO) leads to the cooperative inactivation of glutamate dehydrogenase (L-glutamate-NAD(P)-oxidoreductase, EC 1.4.1.3). The data concerning cooperative inactivation of the enzyme are interpreted by the model of hexamer with identical orientation of subunits. It was shown that the modification of any of enzyme subunits is accompanied by an inactivation of the hexamer's fragment which is a dimer, with subunits interacting reciprocally by means of isological contacts.