In vivo activity of lymphokine-activated macrophages in host defense against neoplasia

Purified splenic macrophage (M phi) from normal DBA/2J mice and mice bearing P815 tumors were examined for responsiveness to lymphokine (LK) preparations containing high concentrations of IFN-gamma. For both normal and tumor-bearing M phi, LK treatment induced morphologic changes and increased the percentage of Ia+ cells from 35 to 55%. Although neither population exhibited spontaneous cytotoxicity toward P815 targets, LK treatment induced considerable tumoricidal activity in tumor-bearing M phi (32 to 80% lysis) but only minimal activity in normal M phi (8 to 17% lysis). Subcutaneous injection of 1 X 10(6)P815 cells into DBA/2J led to progressive tumor growth and death of 100% of the recipients after 27 +/- 3 days. Injection of a 1:18 mixture of P815 with either LK-activated normal or tumor-bearing M phi caused tumor regression after 10 days, and prolonged life until 43 +/- 4 days with tumor-bearing M phi and 39 +/- 3 days with normal M phi. Untreated normal or tumor-bearing M phi were unable to cause the effect (30 +/- 2 days), and lymphocytes could not be substituted for M phi (25 +/- 3 days). In x-irradiated recipients, no effect of LK-activated M phi could be observed (control = 19 +/- 2 days; LK-activated tumor-bearing M phi = 21 +/- 3 days). In addition, administration of an admixture of LK-treated M phi and x-rayed tumor before challenge with viable P815 enabled the recipient to inhibit tumor growth and caused tumor necrosis with inflammatory cell infiltration of the tumor. These observations suggest that, in part, LK-activated M phi may interact in vivo with host-derived cellular components and enhance the immune reactivity of the host against the tumor.     

Enhancing effects of diethyldithiocarbamate on increase of sodium channel by sulfur dioxide derivatives in ventricular myocytes

The enhancing effects of diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) on increase of sodium channel by sulfur dioxide derivatives in ventricular myocytes were studied using the whole cell patch-clamp technique to probe the mechanism of SO(2) on the cardiovascular system in this study. Firstly, the effects of DDC and/or sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) derivatives on the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were studied. The results showed that DDC decreased SOD activities significantly and SO(2) derivatives had no significant effect on SOD activities; however, DDC and SO(2) derivatives combined led to a significant decrease of SOD activities. In the electrophysiological test, DDC (1-100mM) increased sodium current (I(Na)) in a concentration-dependent manner and the concentration for half-maximum increase (EC(50)) was 20mM. Addition of 20mM DDC to the SO(2) derivatives-containing medium significantly shifted the voltage-dependent activation curve of I(Na) toward the hyperpolarizing direction (V(h) are -51mV, -53mV and -54mV, respectively) and shifted the steady-state inactivation curve to more positive potentials (V(h) are -74mV, -71mV and -65mV, respectively) compared with the control and 10muM SO(2) derivatives exposure. These results indicated that DDC could enhance the increasing effects on Na(+) channels induced by SO(2) derivatives, and suggested that the toxicity of SO(2) on ventricular myocytes of rats was realized by free radical, especially O(2)(-).     

The respiratory burst oxidase of neutrophils. Separation of an FAD enzyme and its characterization

Pig blood neutrophils were briefly activated by various fatty acids and then fractionated into membrane vesicles with different NADPH oxidase activities. Treatment of these membranes with a detergent, octyl glucoside, resulted in a high yield of solubilized oxidase, which was subjected to isoelectric focusing on gels (pI 4.0-8.0). 1) A distinct band staining with NADPH-nitroblue tetrazolium focused at pI 5.0. The enzyme (pI 5.0) showed high specificity for NADPH and similar characteristics to the oxidase involved in the respiratory burst. 2) The enzyme was extracted from gel slices and analyzed. When measured promptly after its extraction, its NADPH oxidase activity was high, but there was apparent superoxide dismutase-insensitive cytochrome c reduction, probably due to direct electron transfer to the heme protein. However, it could produce superoxide anion (O2-) under some micelle conditions. 3) Therefore, the formation of the enzyme-substrate complex of yeast cytochrome c peroxidase was employed for the detection of H2O2. A fresh extract of stimulated cells catalyzed equimolar NADPH oxidation and H2O2 production of 306 and 300 nmol min-1 (mg protein)-1, respectively. The Km value of the enzyme for NADPH was 30 +/- 13 (S.D.) microM. The recovery of the extract (pI 5.0) was 19% of the total activity. 4) The enzyme extract contained 1.1-1.9 nmol of FAD/mg of protein, giving a turnover number of 300-600 min-1 in terms of O2- generation/FAD. No heme protein was found in the enzyme. The enzyme was mainly of 67-kDa molecular mass.     

Studies on the mechanism of NADPH oxidation by the granule fraction isolated from human resting polymorphonuclear blood cells.

Various factor affecting NADPH-oxidation by resting human leucocyte granules (LG) at acid pH, have been investigated. It was found that: 1) oxidation of NADPH by LG was increasingly inhibited by increased cyanide concentrations in the medium and was abolished by 4 mM cyanide. 2) with or without cyanide in the incubation medium, LG omitted, Mn++ in the presence of NADPH induced superoxide anion (O- WITH 2) production, as evidenced by oxygen consumption and H2O2 production, which were abolished (in the absence of cyanide) by cytochrome C (a potent O- with 2 scavenger). 3) Both NADPH oxidation in the presence of 2 mM cyanide (cyanide-resistant) and in its absence (cyanide-sensitive) by LG occurred only in the presence of Mn++, and both were inhibited by superoxide dismutase. 4) Cyanide-resistant NADPH oxidation by LG generated H2O2, was inhibited by H2O2 and was not modified by "active" catalase. The ratio of cyanide-resistant NADPH oxidation/O2 uptake was 1 up to 1.25 mM NADPH, and increased above this concentration. 5) Cyanide-sensitive NADPH oxidation was inhibited by catalase and increased upon addition of H2O2. The ratio of cyanide-sensitive NADPH oxidation/O2 uptake was 2. It was concluded that after initiation by O - with 2, produced independently of LG, two sequential types of LG dependent NADPH oxidations occur. First, an O - with 2-dependent protein mediated NADPH oxidation (cyanide-resistant) which generates H2O2 and O - with 2 occurs. Second, NADPH peroxidation (cyanide-sensitive) which utilizes H2O2 takes place.     

Effect of beta-lapachone on superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide production in Trypanosoma cruzi.

Addition of beta-lapachone, an o-naphthoquinone endowed with trypanocidal properties to respiring Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes induced the release of O2- and H2O2 from the whole cells to the suspending medium. The same beta-lapachone concentration (4 micron) that released H2O2 at maximal rate completely inhibited T. cruzi growth in a liquid medium. The position isomer, alpha-lapachone, did not stimulate O2- and H2O2 release, and did not inhibit epimastigote growth. beta-Lapachone was able to stimulate H2O2 production by the epimastigote homogenate in the presence of NADH as reductant. The same effect was observed with the mitochondrial fraction supplemented with NADH, where beta-lapachone enhanced the generation of O2- and H2O2 4.5- and 2.5-fold respectively. beta-Lapachone also increased O2- and H2O2 production (2.5 and 2-fold respectively) by the microsomal fraction with NADPH as reductant. Cyanide-insensitive NADH and NADPH oxidation by the mitochondrial and microsomal fractions (quinone reductase activity) was stimulated to about the same extent by beta-lapachone. alpha-Lapachone was unable to increase O2- and H2O2 production and quinone reductase activity of the mitochondrial and microsomal fractions.     

Macrophage cytotoxicity against schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni involves arginine-dependent production of reactive nitrogen intermediates

Lymphokine (LK)-activated macrophages are cytotoxic for multicellular larvae of the helminth parasite Schistosoma mansoni. Macrophage-mediated larval killing was found to be arginine dependent, as indicated by inhibition in the presence of exogenous arginase or the competitive inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine. Culture supernatant fluids from the larvicidal LK-activated macrophages contained nitrite, a product of activated macrophages derived by oxidation of arginine and implicated in the antitumor and antimicrobial effector function of these cells. Nitrite was not detectable in supernatant fluids obtained from nonactivated macrophages or from macrophages stimulated with LK in the presence of arginase or NG-monomethyl-L-arginine. Addition of excess iron or the reductant sodium dithionite to LK-activated macrophage cultures also inhibited larval killing in vitro, under conditions that have been shown by others to stabilize the activity of iron-containing enzymes involved in respiration. Nitrite production was not decreased under these conditions. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that macrophage-mediated schistosomulum killing is caused, at least in part, by a mechanism proposed for tumor cytotoxicity, whereby production of reactive nitrogen intermediates triggers iron loss from critical target cell enzymes leading to lethal metabolic inhibition. In accordance, schistosomula were shown to be killed by inhibitors of mitochondrial respiration.     

Apocynin inhibits NADPH oxidase in phagocytes but stimulates ROS production in non-phagocytic cells

Apocynin is a naturally occurring methoxy-substituted catechol, experimentally used as an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase. Since it acts as a potent inhibitor in studies with neutrophils and macrophages, no inhibitory effect can often be found in non-phagocyte cells. In our experiments, apocynin even stimulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by vascular fibroblasts. Even when added to macrophages, apocynin initially caused an increase in ROS production. The inhibition of ROS formation followed, suggesting that in the presence of leukocyte myeloperoxidase and hydrogen peroxide, apocynin is converted to another compound. Apocynin pre-activated with H2O2 and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) inhibited ROS production immediately. In non-phagocytes, apocynin stimulated ROS production and no inhibition was observed even after 60 min. Apocynin treated with H2O2 and HRP, however, decreased ROS production in the same manner as in macrophages. The stimulatory effect on ROS production can be abolished by tiron and superoxide dismutase (SOD), suggesting that superoxide was the produced species. The effect of apocynin was inhibited by diphenylene iodinium (DPI), a non-scavenging NADPH oxidase inhibitor. It can be summarized that apocynin stimulates cell superoxide production. In the presence of peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide, however, it is converted into another compound that acts as an inhibitor of superoxide production. It strongly suggests that under conditions in vivo, apocynin can have opposite effects on phagocytes and non-phagocyte cells. It acts as an inhibitor of phagocyte NADPH oxidase but also as a ROS production stimulator in non-phagocyte cells.     

二乙基二硫代氨基甲酸钠对二氧化硫衍生物引起的心肌细胞钠电流增大的增强效应

超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)是生物体内专一的过氧自由基(superoxide anions,O2.-)清除剂,而二乙基二硫代氨基甲酸钠(diethyldithiocarbamate,DDC)则是公认的Cu,Zn-SOD的抑制剂。采用全膜片钳技术研究了DDC对二氧化硫(sulfur dioxide,SO2)衍生物引起的大鼠心肌细胞钠电流增大效应的作用,以期更进一步揭示SO2的毒性机理。结果表明:SO2衍生物对SOD活性无显著影响,SO2衍生物存在时,DDC仍可以显著降低SOD的活性。DDC(10￣100 mmol/L)剂量依赖性地增大钠电流(INa),半数效应浓度为(19.85±0.95)mmol/L。将20 mmol/L的DDC与10μmol/L的SO2衍生物同时作用于心肌细胞,INa仍表现为电压依赖性的增大,并使INa的电压依赖性激活曲线显著地向负电压方向移动,稳态失活曲线向正电压方向移动,差异极其显著。这表明DDC增强了SO2衍生物对心肌细胞钠电流的增大效应,提示SO2衍生物引起的大鼠心肌细胞毒性主要是通过自由基,特别是O2.-氧化损伤实现的。     

Oxidation of melatonin and tryptophan by an HRP cycle involving compound III

We recently described that horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) catalyze the oxidation of melatonin, forming the respective indole ring-opening product N(1)-acetyl-N(2)-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AFMK) (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 279, 657-662, 2001). Although the classic peroxidatic enzyme cycle is expected to participate in the oxidation of melatonin, the requirement of a low HRP:H(2)O(2) ratio suggested that other enzyme paths might also be operative. Here we followed the formation of AFMK under two experimental conditions: predominance of HRP compounds I and II or presence of compound III. Although the consumption of substrate is comparable under both conditions, AFMK is formed in significant amounts only when compound III predominates during the reaction. Using tryptophan as substrate, N- formyl-kynurenine is formed in the presence of compound III. Both, melatonin and tryptophan efficiently prevents the formation of p-670, the inactive form of HRP. Since superoxide dismutase (SOD) inhibits the production of AFMK, we proposed that compound III acts as a source of O(-*)(2) or participates directly in the reaction, as in the case of enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase.     

Macrophage cytotoxicity against Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites is mediated by nitric oxide from L-arginine.

The killing of Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites by phagocytes involves oxidative and nonoxidative mediators. In this study, we determine whether L-arginine-derived nitric oxide (NO) is involved in the killing of E. histolytica trophozoites by activated murine macrophages in vitro. Elicited peritoneal and bone marrow-derived macrophages activated with IFN-gamma alone or with IFN-gamma and LPS killed 62 to 73% of amebae, concomitant with increased levels of nitrate (NO2). Depletion of L-arginine by addition of arginase to culture medium abrogated macrophage amebicidal activity. NG-monomethyl L-arginine, an L-arginine analog, competitively inhibited NO2 release and amebicidal activity in a dose-dependent fashion, without affecting H2O2 production; however, the addition of excess L-arginine competitively restored macrophage amebicidal effects. In culture, sodium nitrite and sodium nitroprusside were cytotoxic to E. histolytica and this was reversed by the addition of myoglobin. Exogenously added FeSO4 prevented macrophage cytotoxicity. Addition of superoxide dismutase, a scavenger of O2-, partially inhibited amebicidal activity, without influencing NO2 production. Untreated and LPS-exposed macrophages produced high levels of H2O2 independent from NO2 production and amebicidal effects. However, the addition of catalase, a scavenger of H2O2, inhibited both amebicidal activity and NO2 production by activated macrophages. Our results demonstrate that NO is the major cytotoxic molecule released by activated macrophages for the in vitro cytotoxicity of E. histolytica and that O2- and H2O2 may be cofactors for the NO effector molecule.     

Hydrogen peroxide is a mediator of indole-3-acetic acid/horseradish peroxidase-induced apoptosis

Recently, we reported that a combination of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) induces apoptosis in G361 human melanoma cells. However, the apoptotic mechanism involved has been poorly studied. It is known that when IAA is oxidized by HRP, free radicals are produced, and since oxidative stress can induce apoptosis, we investigated whether reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in IAA/HRP-induced apoptosis. Our results show that IAA/HRP-induced free radical production is inhibited by catalase, but not by superoxide dismutase or sodium formate. Furthermore, catalase was found to prevent IAA/HRP-induced apoptotic cell death, indicating that IAA/HRP-produced hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) may be involved in the apoptotic process. Moreover, the antiapoptotic effect of catalase is potentiated by NADPH, which is known to protect catalase. On further investigating the IAA/HRP-mediated apoptotic pathway, we found that the IAA/HRP reaction leads to caspase-3 activation and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, which was also blocked by catalase. Additionally, we found that IAA/HRP produces H2O2 and induces peroxiredoxin (Prx) sulfonylation. Consequently, our results suggest that H2O2 plays a major role in IAA/HRP-induced apoptosis.     

Hydroperoxide reduction by thioredoxin-specific glutathione peroxidase isoenzymes of Arabidopsis thaliana

Arabidopsis thaliana contains eight glutathione peroxidase (GPX) homologs (AtGPX1-8). Four mature GPX isoenzymes with different subcellular distributions, AtGPX1, -2, -5 and -6, were overexpressed in Escherichia coli and characterized. Interestingly, these recombinant proteins were able to reduce H2O2, cumene hydroperoxide, phosphatidylcholine and linoleic acid hydroperoxides using thioredoxin but not glutathione or NADPH as an electron donor. The reduction activities of the recombinant proteins with H2O2 were 2-7 times higher than those with cumene hydroperoxide. Km values for thioredoxin and H2O2 were 2.2-4.0 and 14.0-25.4 microM, respectively. These finding suggest that GPX isoenzymes may function to detoxify H2O2 and organic hydroperoxides using thioredoxin in vivo and may also be involved in regulation of the cellular redox homeostasis by maintaining the thiol/disulfide or NADPH/NADP balance.     

Activation by ATP of calcium-dependent NADPH-oxidase generating hydrogen peroxide in thyroid plasma membranes

An H2O2-generating fraction was prepared from porcine thyroid homogenate by differential and Percoll-density gradient centrifugations. The fraction consisted of mainly fragmented plasma membranes as judged by marker enzyme analysis and electron microscopy. The fraction produced H2O2 by reaction with NADPH only in the presence of Ca2+. The Ca2+ concentration for half-maximal activation (KCa) was about 0.1 microM and the Hill coefficient was 2. Sr2+ also activated the reaction whereas Mn2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+ inhibited it. The reaction was enhanced about twice by addition of ATP but not ADP, and inhibited by addition of hexokinase together with glucose to remove ATP. The Km value for NADPH was 35 microM and was less than 1/12 that for NADH. The NADPH oxidation rate was measured and the KCa and the Km were similar to those for the H2O2 production. The stoichiometry between the oxidation and the H2O2 formation was essentially 1. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and KCN did not affect H2O2 production. The fraction catalyzed NADPH-cytochrome c reduction but the activity was SOD-insensitive. These results suggest that H2O2 was not generated through superoxide anion formation. NADPH-dichloroindophenol (DCIP) reductase activity was also observed and DCIP inhibited the production of H2O2. The cytochrome c and DCIP reductase activities were not influenced by Ca2+ or ATP. A unique electron transport system regulated by Ca2+ and ATP exists in the thyroid plasma membrane that produces H2O2. The concentrations of Ca2+ and ATP in thyroid cells may regulate hormone synthesis through activation of the production of H2O2, a substrate for peroxidase.     

A method for measuring H2O2 based on the potentiation of peroxidative NADPH oxidation by superoxide dismutase and scopoletin.

NADPH oxidation catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase is considerably increased by scopoletin and superoxide dismutase. These effects were used to develop a method for measuring H2O2 in a horseradish peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and scopoletin system by measuring the NADPH oxidation rate. The optimal concentration of each reactant was determined. H2O2 could be detected and measured when it was present free in the medium or when it was produced by an H2O2-generating system, such as glucose-glucose oxidase or NADPH oxidase from thyroid plasma membranes. H2O2 was measured either by taking aliquots of the incubation medium or by placing NADPH directly in the medium and following the kinetics of NADPH oxidation. This latter approach required smaller amounts of biological material. In contrast to other methods, the H2O2 which is measured is regenerated. This method is 10 times more sensitive than the standard scopoletin method for H2O2 measurement and will detect a H2O2 production rate as low as 0.2 nmol per hour. The method is particularly suitable for biological systems in which small quantities of biological material are available.     

The NADPH:O2 oxidoreductase of human neutrophils. Stoichiometry of univalent and divalent reduction of O2

The ratio of superoxide production to oxidation of NADPH affected by the NADPH:O2 oxidoreductase of human neutrophils is strongly influenced by pH, NADPH substrate concentration, aging of the enzyme, or its exposure to excess deoxycholate. Freshly prepared enzyme exhibited a Km for NADPH of 52 microM as determined by assaying NADPH oxidase activity, or approximately 33 microM by measurement of superoxide formation. In the range of 100-150 microM NADPH at pH 7.6 and in the presence of 0.06% deoxycholate, the univalent flux of electron equivalents given up by NADPH to O2 was 99%. Following storage of the oxidoreductase overnight on ice, its Km for NADPH rose to 125 microM as determined by monitoring oxidation of NADPH but was unaltered when measured in terms of superoxide production. Concomitantly, its capacity to affect univalent reduction of O2 fell approximately 20-30% under the same assay conditions. Univalent flux rates of less than 40% were observed with exposure of the enzyme to concentrations of deoxycholate in excess of 0.1% or to pH values below 6.0 or above 8.0. The capacity of the enzyme to carry out univalent reduction fell with increasing NADPH concentrations in a manner resembling that previously reported with increasing concentrations of xanthine in the case of xanthine oxidase (Fridovich, I. (1970) J. Biol. Chem. 245, 4053-4057). The reduced form of the neutrophil oxidoreductase, like xanthine oxidase, thus appears to be capable of conducting both 1- and 2-electron transfer steps in reducing O2. Its capacity to affect univalent reduction of O2 depends upon the concentration of electron donor (NADPH) supplied as well as conditions of storage and assay of the native enzyme.     

Rapid determination of seed vigor based on the level of superoxide generation during early imbibition.

It has been reported that a large amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is produced during seed imbibition and this ROS is related to seed vigor. To make this physiological mechanism clear, we have used 2-methyl-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dihydroimidazo(1,2-alpha)pyrazin-3-one (MCLA) as a sensitive and physiologically compatible probe for the determination of superoxide anion (O(2)(*-)) production in vivo. Our results showed that dry rice (Oryzae sativa L.) seed embryo cells possessed the capacity to generate O(2)(*-). Conversely, the O(2)(*-) production of seed embryo cells was inhibited by quinacrine (QA) and diphenylene iodonium (DPI), two specific inhibitors of NADPH oxidase, and O(2)(*-) induced MCLA-mediated chemiluminescence was also blocked by superoxide dismutase (SOD). Additionally, O(2)(*-) -production ability increased dramatically in a NADPH-dependent way in the plasma membrane protein abstract from rice seed embryo cells, whereas SOD and the inhibitors mentioned above suppressed O(2)(*-) production. These preliminary results suggested that rice seeds contained intrinsic NADPH oxidase activity. To validate this conclusion, dichlorofluorescein (DCF) fluorescence staining was used (observed under a laser scanning microscope, LSM) to reflect the in situ assessment of O(2)(*-) -generation. The position of O(2)(*-) production located at the plasma membrane. Additionally the ability to synthesize O(2)(*-) was activated directly by calcium ions. These observations are in accord with the character of NADPH oxidase catalyzed O(2)(*-) -generation. All these results indicated that NADPH oxidase contribute to O(2)(*-) production and release to the outside. We concluded that NADPH oxidase plays an intrinsic role as an NADPH sensor, so, measuring the O(2)(*-) one can monitor the NADPH concentration, which is an index of seed vigor. Therefore the O(2)(*-) generation during early imbibition can serve as a rapid measurement of seed vigor.     

Effects of diethyldithiocarbamate and endogenous polyamine content on cellular responses to hydrogen peroxide cytotoxicity.

In exponential-phase Chinese-hamster cells, 0.1 mM-diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) afforded greater than 1 log survival protection to cultures treated before and during exposure to 1 mM-H2O2. Both DDC and H2O2 treatment stimulated the activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the first enzyme in polyamine synthesis, within 4 h of exposure. DDC, and to a lesser degree H2O2, also stimulated the activity of spermidine N1-acetyltransferase (SAT), the rate-limiting enzyme in polyamine catabolism. The increase in SAT activity, after exposure to DDC or another stress (heat shock), was inhibited in cells depleted of putrescine and spermidine by alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), the enzyme-activated suicide inhibitor of ODC. Pretreatment with DFMO or heat shock also induced resistance to H2O2 cytotoxicity. Since SAT activity is low in resting cells, yet stimulation of enzyme activity depends on endogenous spermidine pools, these results suggest that the expression of SAT activity occurs by a mechanism involving a stress-dependent displacement of spermidine into a new intracellular compartment. The stimulation of ODC and SAT activities does not appear to be a necessary component of the mechanism by which DDC protects cells from H2O2 cytotoxicity, although spermidine displacement may be a common facet of the cellular response to stress.     

Copper,zinc superoxide dismutase as a univalent NO(-) oxidoreductase and as a dichlorofluorescin peroxidase.

Nitroxyl (NO(-)) may be produced by nitric-oxide synthase and by the reduction of NO by reduced Cu,Zn-SOD. The ability of NO(-) to cause oxidations and of SOD to inhibit such oxidations was therefore explored. The decomposition of Angeli's salt (AS) produces NO(-) and that in turn caused the aerobic oxidation of NADPH, directly or indirectly. O(2) was produced concomitant with the aerobic oxidation of NADPH by AS, as evidenced by the SOD-inhibitable reduction of cytochrome c. Both Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD inhibited the aerobic oxidation of NADPH by AS, but the amounts required were approximately 100-fold greater than those needed to inhibit the reduction of cytochrome c. This inhibition was not due to a nonspecific protein effect or to an effect of those large amounts of the SODs on the rate of decomposition of AS. NO(-) caused the reduction of the Cu(II) of Cu,Zn-SOD, and in the presence of O(2), SOD could catalyze the oxidation of NO(-) to NO. The reverse reaction, i.e. the reduction of NO to NO(-) by Cu(I),Zn-SOD, followed by the reaction of NO(-) with O(2) would yield ONOO(-) and that could explain the oxidation of dichlorofluorescin (DCF) by Cu(I),Zn-SOD plus NO. Cu,Zn-SOD plus H(2)O(2) caused the HCO(3)(-)-dependent oxidation of DCF, casting doubt on the validity of using DCF oxidation as a reliable measure of intracellular H(2)O(2) production.     

Coimobilization of superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase

For preparationing the polyenzyme antioxidant complex, containing superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and horseradish peroxidase (HRP), the different successivities of those enzymes co-immobilization were compared. The optimum successivity is provided by simultaneous co-immobilization of covalently bound HRP with the SOD and catalase. The catalytic enzyme activity and the catalase operational stability was kinetically characterized in various samples. For one sample, the influence of ascorbate, glutathione and ethanol on the catalase kinetic parameters was studied. A possible scheme of different processes at the H2O2 decomposition in the presence of co-immobilized SOD, catalase, HRP and the substrates-reductans was discussed.     

Macrophage activation for tumor cytotoxicity: Control of cytotoxic activity by the time interval effector and target cells are exposed to lymphokines

Macrophages continuously exposed to lymphokines (LK) and target cells throughout a 48-hr cytotoxicity assay exhibit 3-fold more tumoricidal activity than do cells optimally treated with LK before addition of tumor cells. Increased cytotoxic activity induced by continuous LK treatment was not due to direct toxic effects of LK on tumor target cells or to alterations in target cell susceptibility to cytopathic effects of LK-activated macrophages. Moreover, sensitivities of responsive macrophages to LK activation signals and time courses for onset and loss of tumoricidal activity during continuous exposure or LK pulse were identical. Analysis of macrophage or LK dose responses and time courses for development of cytotoxicity each suggest that differences in tumoricidal activity between macrophages continuously exposed or pulsed with LK were quantitative: the number of cytotoxic events was increased 2.7 ± 0.2-fold (mean ± SEM for 11 experiments) during continuous LK treatment. Optimal levels of macrophage tumoricidal activity then occur only if effector cells, target cells and activation stimuli are simultaneously present for a defined time interval: tumor cells need not be present during the initial 2 to 3 hr of culture; LK can be removed after 8 hr with little or no loss of cytotoxic activity. However, removal of LK or target cells during the critical 4- to 8-hr interval decreased levels of cytotoxicity 3-fold. Thus, nonspecific effector function by LK-activated macrophages in controlled by both the physicochemical nature of the LK mediator and the time interval effector and target cells are exposed to LK.