Sequential inactivation of reactive oxygen species by combined overexpression of SOD isoforms and catalase in insulin-producing cells

Insulin-producing cells show very low activity levels of the cytoprotective enzymes catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. This weak antioxidative defense status has been considered a major feature of the poor resistance against oxidative stress. Therefore, we analyzed the protective effect of a combined overexpression of Cu,ZnSOD or MnSOD together with different levels of catalase. Catalase alone was able to increase the resistance of transfected RINm5F insulin-producing tissue culture cells against H(2)O(2) and HX/XO, but no protection was seen in the case of menadione. In combination with an increase of the MnSOD or Cu,ZnSOD expression, the protective action of catalase overexpression could be further increased and extended to the toxicity of menadione. Thus, optimal protection of insulin-producing cells against oxidative stress-mediated toxicity requires a combined overexpression of both superoxide- and hydrogen peroxide-inactivating enzymes. This treatment can compensate for the constitutively low level of antioxidant enzyme expression in insulin-producing cells and may provide an improved protection in situations of free radical-mediated destruction of pancreatic beta cells in the process of autoimmune diabetes development.     

Protection of insulin-producing cells against toxicity of dexamethasone by catalase overexpression

Pancreatic β cells are very sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and this might play an important role in β cell death in diabetes. Dexamethasone is a synthetic diabetogenic glucocorticoid, which impairs pancreatic β cell function. Therefore we investigated the toxicity of dexamethasone in RINm5F insulin-producing cells and its dependence on the expression level of the antioxidant enzyme catalase, which inactivates hydrogen peroxide. This was correlated with oxidative stress and cell death. An increased generation of ROS was observed in dexamethasone-treated cells together with an increase in caspase-3 activity and apoptosis rate. Interestingly, exposure to dexamethasone increased the cytosolic superoxide dismutase Cu/ZnSOD protein expression and activity, whereas the mitochondrial MnSOD isoform was not affected by the glucocorticoid. Catalase overexpression in insulin-producing cells prevented all the cytotoxic effects of dexamethasone. In conclusion, dexamethasone-induced cell death in insulin-producing cells is ROS mediated. Increased levels of expression and activity of the Cu/ZnSOD might favor the generation of hydrogen peroxide in dexamethasone-treated cells. Increased ROS scavenging capacity in insulin-producing cells, through overexpression of catalase, prevents a deleterious increase in hydrogen peroxide generation and thus prevents dexamethasone-induced apoptosis.     

In situ assessment of oxidant and nitrogenic stress in bleomycin pulmonary fibrosis

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) have a role in the development of pulmonary fibrosis after bleomycin administration. The ROS production induces an antioxidant response, involving superoxide dismutases (SODs), catalase, and glutathione peroxidases. We compared in situ oxidative burden and antioxidant enzyme activity in bleomycin-injured rat lungs and normal controls. ROS expression and catalase, glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PHD), and NOS/NADPH-diaphorase activity were investigated by using histochemical reactions. Nitric oxide synthase (e-NOS and i-NOS) and SOD (MnSOD, Cu/ZnSOD, ECSOD) expression was investigated immunohistochemically. After treatment ROS production was enhanced in both phagocytes and in type II alveolar epithelial cells. Mn, Cu/Zn, and ECSOD were overexpressed in parenchymal cells, whereas interstitium expressed ECSOD. Catalase and G6PHD activity was moderately increased in parenchymal and inflammatory cells. NOS/NADPH-d activity and i-NOS expression increased in alveolar and bronchiolar epithelia and in inflammatory cells. It can be suggested that the concomitant activation of antioxidant enzymes is not adequate to scavenge the oxidant burden induced by bleomycin lung damage. Inflammatory cells and also epithelial cells are responsible of ROS and NO production. This oxidative and nitrosative stress may be a substantial trigger in TGF-β1 overexpression by activated type II pneumocytes, leading to fibrotic lesions.     

Differential regulation of antioxidant enzymes in response to oxidants.

We have demonstrated the selective induction of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) or catalase mRNA after exposure of tracheobronchial epithelial cells in vitro to different oxidant stresses. Addition of H2O2 caused a dose-dependent increase in catalase mRNA in both exponentially growing and confluent cells. A 3-fold induction of catalase mRNA was seen at a nontoxic dose of 250 microM H2O2. Increase in the steady-state mRNA levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and MnSOD were less striking. Expression of catalase, MnSOD, and GPX mRNA was highest in confluent cells. In contrast, constitutive expression of copper and zinc SOD (CuZnSOD) mRNA was greatest in dividing cells and was unaffected by H2O2 in both exponentially growing and confluent cells. MnSOD mRNA was selectively induced in confluent epithelial cells exposed to the reactive oxygen species-generating system, xanthine/xanthine oxidase, while steady-state levels of GPX, catalase, and CuZnSOD mRNA remained unchanged. The 3-fold induction of MnSOD mRNA was dose-dependent, reaching a peak at 0.2 unit/ml xanthine oxidase. MnSOD mRNA increases were seen as early as 2 h and reached maximal induction at 24 h. Immunoreactive MnSOD protein was produced in a corresponding dose- and time-dependent manner. Induction of MnSOD gene expression was prevented by addition of actinomycin D and cycloheximide. These data indicate that epithelial cells of the respiratory tract respond to different oxidant insults by selective induction of certain antioxidant enzymes. Hence, gene expression of antioxidant enzymes does not appear to be coordinately regulated in these cell types.     

Recombinant Human Superoxide Dismutases: Production and Potential Therapeutical Uses

In many pathological situations, tissue damage is caused by cellular generation of superoxide free radicals (O₂-). These active species are generated during post-ischemic reperfusion of organs, in hyperoxic tissue, during acute and chronic inflammation and during exposure to ionizing radiation. Exogenous superoxide dismutase (SOD) was shown to significantly prevent such damage.

The genes for human cytosolic Cu/ZnSOD and mitochondrial MnSOD were cloned and introduced into an E. coli expression system. The proteins were expressed in high yields and purified to homogeneity, yielding pharmaceutical-grade materials. These enzymes were used in a variety of in vivo animal models for the demonstration of their protective effects against oxidative damage. Comparative pharmacokinetic studies in rats have revealed that the half-life of Cu/ZnSOD was 6–10min., while that of MnSOD was 5–6 hours, thus indicating that MnSOD may be superior to Cu/ZnSOD for the treatment of chronic diseases. Indeed, MnSOD was found to be erective as an anti-inflammatory agent in the rat carrageenan induced paw edema acute inflammation model. Both enzymes were also effective in ameliorating post-irradiation damage in mice exposed to whole-body or localized chest X-ray radiation.     

Water restriction increases renal inner medullary manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD)

Oxidative stress damages cells. NaCl and urea are high in renal medullary interstitial fluid, which is necessary to concentrate urine, but which causes oxidative stress by elevating reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here, we measured the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutases (SODs, MnSOD, and Cu/ZnSOD) and catalase in mouse kidney that might mitigate the oxidative stress. MnSOD protein increases progressively from the cortex to the inner medulla, following the gradient of increasing NaCl and urea. MnSOD activity increases proportionately, but MnSOD mRNA does not. Water restriction, which elevates renal medullary NaCl and urea, increases MnSOD protein, accompanied by a proportionate increase in MnSOD enzymatic activity in the inner medulla, but not in the cortex or the outer medulla. In contrast, Cu/ZnSOD and TNF-α (an important regulator of MnSOD) do not vary between the regions of the kidney, and expression of catalase protein actually decreases from the cortex to the inner medulla. Water restriction increases activity of mitochondrial enzymes that catalyze production of ROS in the inner medulla, but reduces NADPH oxidase activity there. We also examined the effect of high NaCl and urea on MnSOD in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. High NaCl and high urea both increase MnSOD in MDCK cells. This increase in MnSOD protein apparently depends on the elevation of ROS since it is eliminated by the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine, and it occurs without raising osmolality when ROS are elevated by antimycin A or xanthine oxidase plus xanthine. We conclude that ROS, induced by high NaCl and urea, increase MnSOD activity in the renal inner medulla, which moderates oxidative stress.     

Expression of bovine and mouse endothelial cell antioxidant enzymes following TNF-alpha exposure

Endothelial cells are primary targets for injury by reactive oxygen species. Endothelial catalase, copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), and manganous superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) provide potential antioxidant enzymatic defenses against oxidant-induced cellular damage. Previous studies in vivo and in vitro have demonstrated that in certain cell types exposure to oxidants may increase the expression of one or more of these antioxidant enzymes, thus providing greater intracellular potential to withstand oxidant-induced cell stress. To test whether endothelial antioxidant enzyme expression is influenced by similar oxidant-induced stresses in vitro, we have exposed endothelial cells to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and have measured levels of catalase, CuZnSOD and MnSOD mRNA, and protein. Our results demonstrate a selective increase of MnSOD mRNA, with coordinate increases of both MnSOD protein and enzyme activity in endothelial cells treated for 24/h with TNF-alpha. In contrast, levels of catalase and CuZnSOD mRNA and protein remained unchanged in these cells after TNF-alpha treatment. These observations were made in microvessel endothelial cells derived from murine and bovine sources. Our results indicate that TNF-alpha can act specifically to increase enzymatic antioxidant potential in endothelial cells by induction of a particular antioxidant enzyme encoding mRNA species. These data demonstrate the capacity of endothelial cells to mount an antioxidant defense in response to exposure to an inducer of oxidative damage.     

Characterization of the Bacillus stearothermophilus manganese superoxide dismutase gene and its ability to complement copper/zinc superoxide dismutase deficiency in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Recombinant clones containing the manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) gene of Bacillus stearothermophilus were isolated with an oligonucleotide probe designed to match a part of the previously determined amino acid sequence. Complementation analyses, performed by introducing each plasmid into a superoxide dismutase-deficient mutant of Escherichia coli, allowed us to define the region of DNA which encodes the MnSOD structural gene and to identify a promoter region immediately upstream from the gene. These data were subsequently confirmed by DNA sequencing. Since MnSOD is normally restricted to the mitochondria in eucaryotes, we were interested (i) in determining whether B. stearothermophilus MnSOD could function in eucaryotic cytosol and (ii) in determining whether MnSOD could replace the structurally unrelated copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/ZnSOD) which is normally found there. To test this, the sequence encoding bacterial MnSOD was cloned into a yeast expression vector and subsequently introduced into a Cu/ZnSOD-deficient mutant of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Functional expression of the protein was demonstrated, and complementation tests revealed that the protein was able to provide tolerance at wild-type levels to conditions which are normally restrictive for this mutant. Thus, in spite of the evolutionary unrelatedness of these two enzymes, Cu/ZnSOD can be functionally replaced by MnSOD in yeast cytosol.     

Effect of Rhinovirus Challenge on Antioxidant Enzymes in Respiratory Epithelial Cells

The host inflammatory response appears to be an important contributor to the pathogenesis of human viral respiratory illness. Virus-induced oxidative stress appears to mediate an early phase of elaboration of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-8 by respiratory epithelial cells. The purpose of these studies was to determine if virus-induced alterations in either the expression or function of antioxidant enzymes contributes to the cellular oxidative stress following rhinovirus challenge. The activities of Mn superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were not significantly changed by rhinovirus challenge. CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) activity six hours after challenge was 2.55 &#45 0.56 U/mg protein in rhinovirus-challenged cells compared to 1.16 &#45 0.54 U/mg protein in control cells ( p =0.029). This increased activity was associated with a concomitant increase in CuZnSOD mRNA and protein concentration. These data suggest that rhinovirus-induced changes in the host cell redox state that result in the early elaboration of interleukin-8 are not mediated by inhibition of either the expression or function of these antioxidant enzymes.     

Effect of rhinovirus challenge on antioxidant enzymes in respiratory epithelial cells

The host inflammatory response appears to be an important contributor to the pathogenesis of human viral respiratory illness. Virus-induced oxidative stress appears to mediate an early phase of elaboration of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-8 by respiratory epithelial cells. The purpose of these studies was to determine if virus-induced alterations in either the expression or function of antioxidant enzymes contributes to the cellular oxidative stress following rhinovirus challenge. The activities of Mn superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were not significantly changed by rhinovirus challenge. CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) activity six hours after challenge was 2.55 ±0.56 U/mg protein in rhinovirus-challenged cells compared to 1.16 ±0.54 U/mg protein in control cells ( p =0.029). This increased activity was associated with a concomitant increase in CuZnSOD mRNA and protein concentration. These data suggest that rhinovirus-induced changes in the host cell redox state that result in the early elaboration of interleukin-8 are not mediated by inhibition of either the expression or function of these antioxidant enzymes.     

Evidence of oxidative stress following the viral infection of two lepidopteran insect cell lines.

The infection of Spodoptera frugiperda Sf-9 (Sf-9) and Trichoplusia ni BTI-Tn-5B1-4 (Tn-5B1-4) insect cell lines with Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) resulted in increased levels of lipid hydroperoxides and protein carbonyls. In addition, the viral infection resulted in a significant decrease in the reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione (2GSH/GSSG) ratio. These results are all consistent with an increased level of oxidative stress as a result of the viral infection. It was also observed that the oxidative damage corresponded to reduced cell viability, i.e., the results are consistent with the premise that oxidative damage contributes to cell death. Finally, the measured intracellular activities of most of the antioxidant enzymes, specifically manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APOX), and catalase (CAT, not present in Sf-9 cells), did not significantly decrease following viral infection. In contrast, the measured activity of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) decreased in the Sf-9 and Tn-5B1-4 cells following AcMNPV infection.     

Effects of Cr(VI) long-term and low-dose action on mammalian antioxidant enzymes (an in vitro study)

In order to investigate the low-dose long-term Cr(VI) action on antioxidant enzymes in cultured mammalian cells we estimated the activity of glutathione dependent antioxidant enzymes, catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) under various chromium concentrations in human epithelial-like L-41 cells. The long-term action of 20 microM causes the toxicity that results in losing of the cell viability by activating the apoptotic process, as identified by morphological analysis, the activation of caspase-3, and DNA fragmentation. The toxic chromium concentration totally destroys glutathione antioxidant system, and diminishes the activity of catalase and cytosolic Cu, ZnSOD. The non-toxic concentration (2 microM) causes the activation of the antioxidant defense systems, and they neutralize the oxidative impact.     

Use of cyanide and diethyldithiocarbamate in the assay of superoxide dismutases.

Eucaryotes have two major forms of superoxide dismutase (SOD), Cu,ZnSOD and MnSOD; in most tissues Cu,ZnSOD is present in higher amounts than MnSOD. To assay MnSOD, Cu,ZnSOD can be inhibited selectively by millimolar concentrations of cyanide ion. However, calculation of MnSOD activity from the differential cyanide inhibition assay is complex and small experimental errors can cause large errors in the calculated MnSOD activity. We have assessed how interaction of cyanide and hydrogen peroxide with cytochrome c can lead to further errors in the xanthine oxidase-cytochrome c assay for SOD. Alternatively, Cu,ZnSOD can be completely inactivated by 50 mM diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) at 30 degrees C for 1 h without affecting the activity of MnSOD. Since DDC reduces cytochrome c, the treated samples must be thoroughly dialyzed or desalted before assay. In the case of lung homogenates, dialysis is not an extra step since fresh, untreated samples must also be dialyzed or desalted before assaying by the cytochrome c method. Cu,ZnSOD activity is equal to the activity in the untreated sample minus the activity in the DDC-treated portion of the sample. Another copper chelator, triethylenetetramine, did not inactivate Cu,ZnSOD and could not be used instead of DDC. For accurate measurement of both enzymes in samples where MnSOD contributes only a small fraction of the total SOD activity, the DDC method has the advantage that it provides a direct measure of the MnSOD activity without interference by Cu,ZnSOD.