Sex differences in diquat-induced hepatic necrosis and DNA fragmentation in Fischer 344 rats.

Redox cycling metabolism of diquat catalyzes generation of reactive oxygen species, and diquat-induced acute hepatic necrosis in male Fischer 344 (F344) rats has been studied as a model of oxidant mechanisms of cell killing in vivo. At equal doses of diquat, female F344 rats sustained less hepatic damage than did male rats, as estimated by plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities after 6 h. Biliary efflux of glutathione disulfide (GSSG) was greater in male than in female rats at each dose of diquat, but even comparable rates of GSSG excretion were associated with less hepatic injury in female rats. Hepatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were similar in the two genders, and activities of glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione S-transferase-alpha (GST-alpha) activities were higher in the male rats. Previous studies in male rats have implicated formation of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH)-reactive "protein carbonyls" and related iron chelate-catalyzed redox reactions as mechanisms critical to diquat-induced acute cell death in vivo. However, diquat-treated female rats showed higher levels of DNPH-reactive proteins in livers and in bile than did males, both at identical doses of diquat and at doses that produced similar elevations in plasma ALT activities. In female rats, fragmentation of hepatic deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) was increased by doses of diquat that did not increase plasma ALT activities, and increased fragmentation was observed prior to elevation of plasma ALT activities. In the present studies, hepatic necrosis was most closely associated with DNA fragmentation, although additional studies are needed to determine the mechanisms responsible for and the pathophysiological consequences of the fragmentation.

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.