Metabolism of extracellular glutathione in rat small-intestinal mucosa

Metabolism of exogenous glutathione was investigated in suspensions of freshly isolated rat small-intestinal mucosal cells. The cells catalyzed the oxidation of reduced glutathione (GSH) to glutathione disulfide (GSSG). Neither serine . borate nor methionine significantly influenced this reaction. Formed GSSG was further metabolized as indicated by its disappearance from the medium. Degradation of GSSG was stimulated by methionine and inhibited by serine . borate. Separation and identification of GSSG metabolites were achieved by high performance liquid chromatography. The results indicate that the preferred route for GSSG metabolism to the constituent amino acids in small intestine, is by hydrolytic removal of the two gamma-glutamyl groups of GSSG to yield cystinyl-bisglycine which is subsequently hydrolyzed to cystine. gamma-Glutamyltransferase activity was compared in isolated intestinal, kidney and liver cells using gamma-glutamyl-p-nitrocarboxyanilide as substrate. Kidney cells were approximately 5-fold and 150-fold more active than intestinal and liver cells, respectively. Serine . borate markedly inhibited, and glycyl-glycine stimulated, hydrolysis of gamma-glutamyl-p-nitrocarboxyanilide in all cell types confirming the involvement of gamma-glutamyltransferase in the reaction. The hydrolysis of gamma-glutamyl-p-nitrocarboxyanilide was inhibited to approximately the same extent by either GSH or GSSG suggesting that both compounds interact at the donor site of gamma-glutamyltransferase. Comparison of the rates of glutathione metabolism by isolated intestinal and kidney cells suggests that the intestinal contribution to the degradation of extracellular glutathione may be physiologically more important than has previously been assumed.     

Effect of glutathione depletion on urinary acidification in the rat

Glutathione (GSH) depletion by diethyl maleate (DEM) administration and its rapid repletion were associated with the development of a moderate acidosis in the rat. The acidosis observed after DEM treatment could be a consequence of an impairment of lactate metabolism. GSH-depleted rats also showed an increased urine pH and a higher bicarbonate fractional excretion compared with control rats. Renal bicarbonate excretion was magnified when blood bicarbonate levels were normalized by means of a bicarbonate infusion in GSH-depleted rats; however, the amount of bicarbonate excreted in the urine was a very small fraction (less than 5%) of the calculated filtered load. GSH-depleted rats failed to elevate the relation urine minus blood (U-B) pCO2 as compared with control rats when they were subjected to a high bicarbonate load to the distal portions of the nephron. All these data were consistent with a distal renal tubular acidosis due to GSH depletion which could participate in the maintenance of the systemic acidosis, although it is unlikely that it is the primary cause of the acidosis.     

Close-arterial administration of the thromboxane mimetic U-46619 induces damage to the rat gastric mucosa

The pro-ulcerogenic actions of the thromboxane mimetic, U-46619 on the rat gastric mucosa have been investigated, utilizing a novel technique which allows administration directly into the left gastric artery. Local intra-arterial infusion of U-46619 (100-500 ng/kg/min for 10 min) induced dose-dependent macroscopic damage in both the corpus and antral regions, characterized as vasocongestion, disruption and haemorrhage, with deep penetrating ulcers in the antral mucosa. Vascular congestion, epithelial cell and glandular disruption was observed histologically in both corpus and antral regions. Local intra-arterial infusion of lower doses of U-46619 (25-100 ng/kg/min) significantly disrupted the mucosa in the presence of 10% ethanol in a concentration which itself did not induce macroscopic damage. The damaging actions of U-46619 were substantially reduced by pretreatment with the thromboxane-receptor antagonist, BM 13,177 (5mg/kg i.v.) or 16,16-dimethyl PGE2 (5 micrograms/kg s.c.). These findings support the role of endogenous thromboxane A2 as a local mediator of gastric injury.     

Enzymatic sulfation of gastrin in rat gastric mucosa

An enzyme which catalyzes the transfer of sulfate from 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) to gastrin (G17) was identified in rat gastric mucosal cells. The enzyme activity was detected in the 105,000xg supernatant fraction. Formation of gastrin sulfate was shown by using 125I-gastrin and non-radioactive PAPS. The product was sensitive to acid hydrolysis, arylsulfatase treatment and removed by gastrin antibody, but not changed by treatments with chondro-4-sulfatase and chondro-6-sulfatase. The product had a molecular weight of 2050 daltons, close to the molecular weight of G17 sulfate, and, therefore, indicating the sulfated product is not APS derived from the degradation of PAPS. The enzyme activity showed a Km value of 5 microM for PAPS and a pH optimum of 6.0. The activity was not detected in the liver preparation.     

Nitric oxide exposure of CC531 rat colon carcinoma cells induces gamma-glutamyltransferase which may counteract glutathione depletion and cell death

Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) has a central role in glutathione homeostasis by initiating the breakdown of extracellular GSH. We investigated in the present study whether nitric oxide exposure of CC531 rat colon carcinoma cells modulates GGT and how the activity of the enzyme affects the level of intracellular GSH. The data show that GGT activity was induced in a dose-related manner by two NO-donors (spermineNONOate and nitrosoglutathione) and that antioxidants partly inhibited the induction. SpermineNONOate lowered intracellular GSH and induced apoptosis. Cultivating the cells in cystine-depleted medium also resulted in a 50% lowering of GSH, but this was avoided when GSH was added to the medium. This effect was mediated by the activity of GGT and shown after inhibiting GGT activity with acivicin and cyst(e)ine transporters with alanine and homocysteic acid. This shows that the cells benefit from GGT in maintaining the intracellular GSH level. Cells with induced GGT activity obtained after NO incubation showed a higher uptake rate of cysteine (2-fold), measured by incubating the cells with 5S-radiolabeled GSH. The enzyme was also induced by interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, but this induction was not connected to activation of the endogenous nitric oxide synthase, as the addition of aminoguanidine, a NO-synthase inhibitor, did not affect the induction. The present study shows that the activity of GGT is upregulated by NO-donors and that the colon carcinoma cells, when cultivated in cystine-depleted medium, benefit from the enzyme in maintaining the intracellular level of GSH. Thus, the enzyme will add to the protective measures of the tumor cells during nitrosative stress.     

Increased efflux of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) causes glutathione depletion and potentially diminishes antioxidant defense in sickle erythrocytes

Erythrocytes are both an important source and target of reactive oxygen species in sickle cell disease. Levels of glutathione, a major antioxidant, have been shown to be decreased in sickle erythrocytes and the mechanism leading to this deficiency is not known yet. Detoxification of reactive oxygen species involves the oxidation of reduced glutathione (GSH) into glutathione-disulfide (GSSG) which is actively transported out of erythrocyte. We questioned whether under oxidative conditions, GSSG efflux is increased in sickle erythrocytes. Erythrocytes of 18 homozygous sickle cell patients and 9 race-matched healthy controls were treated with 2,3-dimethoxy-l,4-naphthoquinone, which induces intracellular reactive oxygen species generation, to stimulate GSSG production. Intra- and extracellular concentrations of GSH and GSSG were measured at baseline and during 210-minute 2,3-dimethoxy-l,4-naphthoquinone stimulation. While comparable at baseline, intracellular and extracellular GSSG concentrations were significantly higher in sickle erythrocytes than in healthy erythrocyte after 210-minute 2,3-dimethoxy-l,4-naphthoquinone stimulation (69.9 ± 3.7 μmol/l vs. 40.6 ± 6.9 μmol/l and 25.8 ± 2.7 μmol/l vs. 13.6 ± 1.7 μmol/l respectively, P<0.002). In contrast to control erythrocytes, where GSH concentrations remained unchanged (176 ± 8.4 μmol/l vs. 163 ± 13.6 μmol/l, NS), GSH in sickle erythrocytes decreased significantly (from 167 ± 8.8 μmol/l to 111 ± 11.8 μmol/l, P<0.01) after 210-minute 2,3-dimethoxy-l,4-naphthoquinone stimulation. Adding multidrug resistance-associated protein-1 inhibitor (MK571) to erythrocytes blocked GSSG efflux in both sickle and normal erythrocytes. GSSG efflux, mediated by multidrug resistance-associated protein-1, is increased in sickle erythrocytes, resulting in net loss of intracellular glutathione and possibly higher susceptibility to oxidative stress.     

Allyl alcohol cytotoxicity and glutathione depletion in isolated periportal and perivenous rat hepatocytes

The mechanism of the periportal (p.p.) toxicity of allyl alcohol (AlOH) was investigated in p.p. and perivenous (p.v.) hepatocytes isolated by digitonin-collagenase perfusion. The distinct origin of the cell preparations was confirmed by the p.p./p.v. ratios of alanine aminotransferase (p.p./p.v. = 1.8), lactate dehydrogenase (1.3) and glutamine synthetase (0.10). The activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) was not markedly different in p.p. and p.v. cells. Both types of cells oxidized AlOH at a high but equal rate of about 3 mumol/(min.g cells). Concomitantly with rapid oxidation of 0.7 mM AlOH, glutathione (GSH) was depleted by about 95% and its secretion was completely inhibited in both cell types. Although the GSH content was partially restored during a subsequent 3-h incubation, cellular ATP and K+ content gradually decreased and the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase increased in both types of cells. However, the p.p. cells tended to resist AlOH in vitro better, probably due to their 26% higher GSH content after preincubation with L-methionine. Altering the partial pressure of oxygen in physiological range had no effect on the toxicity of AlOH. The results are contrary to the suggestions that the p.p. location of AlOH liver injury is caused by higher ADH activity or higher oxygen tension in the p.p. zone. Rather, the regiospecificity of the injury may be due to rapid uptake and oxidation of AlOH in the p.p. region.     

Toxic consequence of the abrupt depletion of glutathione in cultured rat hepatocytes

Cultured hepatocytes were exposed to two chemicals, dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) and diethyl maleate (DEM), that abruptly deplete cellular stores of glutathione. Upon the loss of GSH, lipid peroxidation was evidenced by an accumulation of malondialdehyde in the cultures followed by the death of the hepatocytes. Pretreatment of the hepatocytes with a ferric iron chelator, deferoxamine, or the addition of an antioxidant, N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPPD), to the culture medium prevented both the lipid peroxidation and the cell death produced by either DNFB or DEM. However, neither deferoxamine nor DPPD prevented the depletion of GSH caused by either agent. Inhibition of glutathione reductase by 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) or inhibition of catalase by aminotriazole sensitized the hepatocytes to the cytotoxicity of DNFB. In a similar manner, pretreatment with BCNU potentiated the cell killing by DEM. DPPD and deferoxamine protected hepatocytes pretreated with BCNU and then exposed to DNFB or DEM. These data indicate that an abrupt depletion of GSH leads to lipid peroxidation and cell death in cultured hepatocytes. It is proposed that GSH depletion sensitizes the hepatocyte to its constitutive flux of partially reduced oxygen species. Such an oxidative stress is normally detoxified by GSH-dependent mechanisms. However, with GSH depletion these activated oxygen species are toxic as a result of the iron-dependent formation of a potent oxidizing species.     

An LTC4 binding site in gastric mucosa is shared with glutathione

Recent results from our laboratory and others have suggested a possible physiological functional role(s) for leukotrienes in gastric mucosa. In the present study 3H-LTC4 binds to washed rabbit gastric mucosal membranes at 4 degrees C with a Kd of 5 nM and a Bmax of 31.3 pmol/mg protein. Leukotrienes D4, E4, B4, oxidized glutathione (GSSG), cysteine, and mercaptoethanol were unable to displace 3H-LTC4 at 1 microM concentrations, while GSH inhibited binding with a Ki of 47 nM. Differential centrifugation of the membrane preparation to remove mitochondria resulted in Ki values for LTC4 and GSH of 14 and 23 nM, respectively. The similar binding affinities and competitive receptor binding kinetics for GSH and LTC4, the low affinity for other leukotrienes, and a Ki of 7 microM for hematin, a substrate for glutathione S-transferase, suggest that 3H-LTC4 binds to a GSH site which does not discriminate between LTC4 and GSH. Membranes fractionated to remove mitochondria were assayed for glutathione peroxidase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, and glutathione S-transferase as possible binding sites for LTC4. We were unable to detect enzyme activity for any of the three enzymes. The binding of LTC4 in gastric mucosa differs from other tissues with respect to the high affinity for GSH, and thus becomes an appropriate tissue in which to investigate the relationships between LTC4 and GSH.     

Chronic depletion of glutathione (GSH) and minimal modification of LDL in vivo: its prevention by glutathione mono ester (GME) therapy

A decline in reduced glutathione (GSH) level is associated with aging and free radical mediated diseases. The objective of this study was to determine whether the chronic depletion of extra cellular GSH causes oxidative damage to the circulating macromolecules such as lipoproteins. Decreased concentrations of plasma glutathione, vitamin E and ascorbic acid were recorded in the rats treated with buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), a selective GSH inhibitor. In LDL isolated from BSO-treated animals, the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and conjugated dienes were significantly increased (P<0.01), whereas the levels of vitamin E were decreased (P<0.01). The analysis of total and LDL cholesterol revealed significant changes between the control and experimental groups. Of interest, altered concentrations of lyso-phosphatidyl choline (Lyso-PC) and phosphatidyl choline (PC) were recorded from the BSO mediated minimally modified LDL. A negative correlation between LDL-BDC/MDA and its antioxidant capacity was noted. Upon in vitro oxidation with CuSO(4), the electrophoretic behavior of purified LDL-apoprotein-B on agarose gel showed an increased mobility in BSO-treated rats, indicative of in vivo modification of LDL to become susceptible for in vitro oxidation. The increased mobility of LDL (after in vitro oxidation) isolated from the BSO-treated animals correlates with a decrease in its amino groups, as determined by the trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) reactants. However, the mobility of LDL molecule was not altered due to BSO treatment in vivo. Interestingly, the minimal modification on LDL does not lead to any vascular damage in the dorsal aorta of the rats injected with BSO. The administration of glutathione monoester (GME), at a dose of 5 mmol/kg body weight, twice a day, for 30 days, to animals treated with l-buthionine-SR-sulfoximine (BSO, 4 mmol/kg body weight, twice a day, for 30 days) normalized the antioxidant status and prevented the minimal modifications on LDL. Thus, increasing the cellular GSH levels may trigger beneficial effects against oxidative stress.     

Lysophospholipase and transacylase activities of rat gastric mucosa.

A transacylase that converts 1-palmitoyl lysophosphatidylcholine to dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine was demonstrated in the rat gastric mucosa. This enzyme required neither ATP or CoA nor bile salt and detergent for its activity. The enzyme preparation also exhibited powerful lysophospholipase activity. The transacylase and lysophospholipase were both located in the cytosol fraction, and their activities remained associated at a constant ratio throughout the purification steps, including the isoelectrofocusing procedure. They responded similarly with respect to the addition of metal ions, bile salt, detergent, and heat treatment. Both enzyme activities also exhibited similar apparent K_m values for lysophosphatidylcholine. These observations suggest that both the lysophospholipase and transacylase activities may reside in the same enzyme.     

Identification of tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase in rat gastric mucosa.

An enzyme activity which catalyzes the transfer of the sulfate group from 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) to poly-Glu6,Ala3,Tyr1 (EAY; M(r) 47,000) has been demonstrated in the antral and body mucosa of the rat stomach. The distribution of this tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase was similar to that of the Golgi marker enzyme, glycoprotein sulfotransferase, and its activity from body mucosa was 23% higher than that from the antrum. The optimum for tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase activity was obtained at pH 6.8, in the presence of 0.5% Triton X-100, 20 mmol/l MnCl2, 50 mmol/l NaF, 2 mmol/l 5'-AMP, and 1 mmol/l DTT, whereas Ca2+, Mg2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, EDTA, NEM, NaCl and Na2SO4 were inhibitory. The apparent Km of the sulfotransferase for EAY was 1.5 x 10(-6) mol/l and for PAPS 0.75 x 10(-6) mol/l. The enzyme was 28 times less susceptible to 2,6-dichloro-4-nitrophenol inhibition as compared to that required for phenol sulfotransferase inhibition. The tyrosine sulfation by the tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase was independent of the sulfation of carbohydrate residues in mucous glycoproteins and glycolipids, thus indicating that the identified sulfotransferase is specific for sulfation of the tyrosyl residues in the peptide core.     

Cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) has a binding specificity for adjoining guanine bases

Self complementary deoxyribooctanucleotides, [5′-d(GpGpTpCpGpApCpC)-3′]₂ and [5’-d(CpGpGp- ApTpCpCpG)-3’]₂, were allowed to react with cis- PtCl₂(NH₃)₂, and the reaction mixture was treated with exonuclease (snake venom phosphodiesterase and/or calf spleen phosphodiesterase). Semi-quantitative analysis by HPLC showed that the adjoining guanine bases have a specific binding affinity to cis-PtCl₂(NH₃)₂.     

Localization of (3H)histamine and (3H)prostaglandin E2 receptors in isolated cells of rat gastric mucosa

Isolated cells of rat gastric mucosa were obtained by treatment of rat stomach with pronase. Two fractions were isolated, one of which was rich (up to 90%) and the second one poor (to 25%) of parietal cells. Using specific antagonists and agonists of H1- and H2-receptors of histamine (diphenhydramine, metiamide, cimetidine, impromidine, dimaprit) the H2-receptors of histamine were shown to be localized in parietal cells. A preferential binding of (3H)prostaglandin E2 by the receptor proteins of plasma membranes of non-parietal (presumably mucoid) cells was found. The data obtained indicate that rat gastric mucosa contains receptors of histamine and PGE2 which differ in their intracellular localization and strictly selectively bind (3H)histamine and (3H)PGE2. It is assumed that the starting point in the mechanism of action of these intercellular regulators on gastric secretion is probably the process of their specific recognition by the protein receptors localized in functionally different cells.     

The effect of glutathione monoester (GME) on glutathione (GSH) depleted rat liver

The effect of glutathione monoester (GME) on buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) mediated glutathione (GSH) depletion in rats was studied to understand the defensive role of intraperitoneally supplemented GSH. Administration of glutathione mono ester (GME) (at a dose of 5 mmole/kg body weight, twice a day for 30 days) significantly prevented the buthionine sulfoximine (at a dose of 4 mmole/kg body weight, twice a day for 30 days) induced alterations. This study suggests that glutathione mono ester is hepatoprotective and plays an important role in preventing lipid peroxidation, which leads to cytotoxic effects.     

Cytoprotective effect of copper(II) complexes against ethanol-induced damage to rat gastric mucosa.

The cytoprotective effect of various copper(II) complexes on the gastric mucosa damage induced by acute intragastric administration of ethanol was investigated. For in vitro experiments, the following copper(II) complexes were tested: Cu(II)(L-Trp)(L-Phe), Cu(II)(L-Leu)Cu(II)(L-Leu-Leu)(L-Leu), Cu(II)(L-Phe-L-Leu), Cu(II)(Gly-His-Lys), and Cu(II)(cyHis)2(ClO4)2. Inorganic copper such as CuSO4 was also tested. The free radical generating system, acting for 2 hr on cardial and fundic mucosa scrapings or mucosal microsomes, was Fe++ (20 microM)/ascorbate (0.25 mM). We found a marked inhibition to 75% of lipid peroxidation in the range 10-100 mM, regardless of whether copper was given in complexed or inorganic form. The results suggest that nontoxic copper(II)-amino acid complexes are able to neutralize oxygen-derived free radicals. In addition, copper(II) complexes suppressed membrane lipid peroxidation when mucosa homogenates were exposed to t-butyl hydroperoxide (1-20 microM) plus Fe++ (50 microM). In vivo experiments on rat stomachs, pretreated p.o. by gavage either with Cu(II)(L-Trp)(L-Phe) as paradigmatic agent or with copper sulphate at equivalent doses in the range 3-30 mg/kg body weight showed a significant decrease (30 min after 95% ethanol administration) in the number and severity of mucosal hemorrhagic lesions. In the gastric mucosa scrapings of copper-treated rats after ethanol exposure, we found that malondialdehyde and conjugated diene levels were unchanged compared to those of untreated controls; five enzyme activities released from lysosomes were near control values. In isolated mucosal cells, whether or not pretreated with 200 microM solution of either Cu(II)(L-Trp)(L-Phe) or CuSO4, the release of cathepsin D activity was also unmodified. The results suggest that the cytoprotective effect of Cu(II) complexes against ethanol-induced mucosal lesions was not associated in vivo to lipid peroxidation.     

Differential distribution of ghrelin-O-acyltransferase (GOAT) immunoreactive cells in the mouse and rat gastric oxyntic mucosa

The enzyme that acylates ghrelin was recently identified in mice as the fourth member of the membrane-bound O-acyltransferases superfamily (MBOAT4) and named ghrelin-O-acyltransferase (GOAT). Only one report showed GOAT mRNA expression in ghrelin-expressing cells of the mouse stomach. We investigated the distribution of GOAT protein in peripheral tissues and co-expression with endocrine markers in the gastric mucosa using a custom-made anti-GOAT antibody. Tissues were collected from male Sprague-Dawley rats and C57BL/6 mice. Western blot revealed two immunoreactive bands in rat and mouse gastric corpus mucosal proteins, a 50 kDa band corresponding to the GOAT protein and a 100 kDa band likely corresponding to a dimer. Western blot also detected GOAT in the plasma and levels were strongly increased after 24-h fasting in mice and slightly in rats. GOAT-immunoreactive cells were located in the gastric corpus mucosa and the anterior pituitary gland, whereas other peripheral tissues of rats and mice examined were negative. In mice, GOAT-immunoreactive cells were mainly distributed throughout the middle portion of the oxyntic glands, whereas in rats they were localized mainly in the lower portion of the glands. Double labeling showed that 95 ± 1% of GOAT-immunoreactive cells in mice co-labeled with ghrelin, whereas in rats only 56 ± 4% of GOAT-positive cells showed co-expression of ghrelin. The remainder of the GOAT-immunopositive cells in rats co-expressed histidine decarboxylase (44 ± 3%). No co-localization was observed with somatostatin in rats or mice. These data suggest species differences between rats and mice in gastric GOAT expression perhaps resulting in a different role of the MBOAT4 enzyme in the rat stomach. Detection of GOAT in the plasma raises the possibility that ghrelin octanoylation may occur in the circulation and the fasting-induced increase in GOAT may contribute to the increase of acylated ghrelin after fasting.     

Molecular species of phosphatidylcholine from rat gastric mucosa

Phosphatidylcholine of rat gastric mucosa were found to constitute about half of the total phospholipids. The composition of 20 molecular species accounting for approx. 90% of the total phosphatidylcholine was determined by specific enzymic hydrolyses and AgNO3 thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatography. Disaturated (dipalmitoyl) phosphatidylcholine made up about 31% of the total phosphatidylcholines. Other species which occurred in significant concentrations included 16:0/18:1, 18:0/18:1, 16:0/18:2, 18:0/18:2, 16:0/18:3, 18:0/18:3, 16:0/20:4, and 18:0/20:4. These results indicate that rat gastric mucosa is similar to lung in that both contain elevated amounts of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine. Other similarities between these two tissues are discussed.