Autophagy of metallothioneins prevents TNF-induced oxidative stress and toxicity in hepatoma cells

Lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) induced by oxidative stress has recently emerged as a prominent mechanism behind TNF cytotoxicity. This pathway relies on diffusion of hydrogen peroxide into lysosomes containing redox-active iron, accumulated by breakdown of iron-containing proteins and subcellular organelles. Upon oxidative lysosomal damage, LMP allows relocation to the cytoplasm of low mass iron and acidic hydrolases that contribute to DNA and mitochondrial damage, resulting in death by apoptosis or necrosis. Here we investigate the role of lysosomes and free iron in death of HTC cells, a rat hepatoma line, exposed to TNF following metallothionein (MT) upregulation. Iron-binding MT does not normally occur in HTC cells in significant amounts. Intracellular iron chelation attenuates TNF and cycloheximide (CHX)-induced LMP and cell death, demonstrating the critical role of this transition metal in mediating cytokine lethality. MT upregulation, combined with starvation-activated MT autophagy almost completely suppresses TNF and CHX toxicity, while impairment of both autophagy and MT upregulation by silencing of Atg7, and Mt1a and/or Mt2a, respectively, abrogates protection. Interestingly, MT upregulation by itself has little effect, while stimulated autophagy alone depresses cytokine toxicity to some degree. These results provide evidence that intralysosomal iron-catalyzed redox reactions play a key role in TNF and CHX-induced LMP and toxicity. The finding that chelation of intralysosomal iron achieved by autophagic delivery of MT, and to some degree probably of other iron-binding proteins as well, into the lysosomal compartment is highly protective provides a putative mechanism to explain autophagy-related suppression of death by TNF and CHX.     

Sphingosine mediates TNFα-induced lysosomal membrane permeabilization and ensuing programmed cell death in hepatoma cells

Normally, cell proliferation and death are carefully balanced in higher eukaryotes, but one of the most important regulatory mechanisms, apoptosis, is upset in many malignancies, including hepatocellular-derived ones. Therefore, reinforcing cell death often is mandatory in anticancer therapy. We previously reported that a combination of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) and cycloheximide (CHX) efficiently kill HTC cells, a rat hepatoma line, in an apoptosis-like mode. Death is actively mediated by the lysosomal compartment, although lysosomal ceramide was previously shown not to be directly implicated in this process. In the present study, we show that TNF/CHX increase lysosomal ceramide that is subsequently converted into sphingosine. Although ceramide accumulation does not significantly alter the acidic compartment, the sphingosine therein generated causes lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) followed by relocation of lysosomal cathepsins to the cytoplasm. TNF/CHX-induced LMP is effectively abrogated by siRNAs targeting acid sphingomyelinase or acid ceramidase, which prevent both LMP and death induced by TNF/CHX. Taken together, our results demonstrate that lysosomal accumulation of ceramide is not detrimental per se, whereas its degradation product sphingosine, which has the capacity to induce LMP, appears responsible for the observed apoptotic-like death.     

Neuronal apoptosis induced by pharmacological concentrations of 3-hydroxykynurenine: characterization and protection by dantrolene and Bcl-2 overexpression

We have studied neurotoxicity induced by pharmacological concentrations of 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK), an endogenous toxin implicated in certain neurodegenerative diseases, in cerebellar granule cells, PC12 pheochromocytoma cells, and GT1-7 hypothalamic neurosecretory cells. In all three cell types, the toxicity was induced in a dose-dependent manner by 3-HK at high micromolar concentrations and had features characteristic of apoptosis, including chromatin condensation and internucleosomal DNA cleavage. In cerebellar granule cells, the 3-HK neurotoxicity was unaffected by xanthine oxidase inhibitors but markedly potentiated by superoxide dismutase and its hemelike mimetic, MnTBAP [manganese(III) tetrakis(benzoic acid)porphyrin chloride]. Catalase blocked 3-HK neurotoxicity in the absence and presence of superoxide dismutase or MnTBAP. The formation of H(2)O(2) was demonstrated in PC12 and GT1-7 cells treated with 3-HK, by measuring the increase in the fluorescent product, 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein. In both PC12 and cerebellar granule cells, inhibitors of the neutral amino acid transporter that mediates the uptake of 3-HK failed to block 3-HK toxicity. However, their toxicity was slightly potentiated by the iron chelator, deferoxamine. Taken together, our results suggest that neurotoxicity induced by pharmacological concentrations of 3-HK in these cell types is mediated primarily by H(2)O(2), which is formed most likely by auto-oxidation of 3-HK in extracellular compartments. 3-HK-induced death of PC12 and GT1-7 cells was protected by dantrolene, an inhibitor of calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum. The protection by dantrolene was associated with a marked increase in the protein level of Bcl-2, a prominent antiapoptotic gene product. Moreover, overexpression of Bcl-2 in GT1-7 cells elicited by gene transfection suppressed 3-HK toxicity. Thus, dantrolene may elicit its neuroprotective effects by mechanisms involving up-regulation of the level and function of Bcl-2 protein.     

Ferric iron and superoxide ions are required for the killing of cultured hepatocytes by hydrogen peroxide. Evidence for the participation of hydroxyl radicals formed by an iron-catalyzed Haber-Weiss reaction

Cultured hepatocytes pretreated with the ferric iron chelator deferoxamine were resistant to the toxicity of H2O2 generated by either glucose oxidase or by the metabolism of menadione (2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone). Ferric, ferrous, or cupric ions restored the sensitivity of the cells to H2O2. Deferoxamine added to hepatocytes previously treated with this chelator prevented the restoration of cell killing by only ferric iron. The free radical scavengers mannitol, thiourea, benzoate, and 4-methylmercapto-2-oxobutyrate protected either native cells exposed to H2O2 or pretreated hepatocytes exposed to H2O2 and given ferric or ferrous iron. Superoxide dismutase prevented the killing of native hepatocytes by either glucose oxidase or menadione. With deferoxamine-pretreated hepatocytes, superoxide dismutase prevented the cell killing dependent upon the addition of ferric but not ferrous iron. Catalase prevented the killing by menadione of deferoxamine-pretreated hepatocytes given either ferric or ferrous iron. Deferoxamine pretreatment did not prevent the toxicity of t-butyl hydroperoxide but did, however, prevent that of cumene hydroperoxide. It is concluded that both ferric iron and superoxide ions are required for the killing of cultured hepatocytes by H2O2. The toxicity of H2O2 is also dependent upon its reaction with ferrous iron to form hydroxyl radicals by the Fenton reaction. The ferrous iron needed for this reaction is formed by the reduction of cellular ferric iron by superoxide ions. Such a sequence corresponds to the so-called iron-catalyzed Haber-Weiss reaction, and the present report documents its participation in the killing of intact hepatocytes by H2O2. Cumene hydroperoxide but not t-butyl hydroperoxide closely models the toxicity of hydrogen peroxide.     

Transferrin iron interactions with cultured hepatocellular carcinoma cells (PLC/PRF/5)

Hepatocellular carcinoma cells of the PLC/PRF/5 cell line had 1.9 x 10(5) transferrin receptors per tumor cell with a Kd of 1.5 x 10(-8) M. At high concentrations of transferrin the binding was not saturable. Transferrin internalization by hepatoma cells was shown by time and temperature-dependent binding studies and by pronase experiments. Transferrin recycling was confirmed by the demonstration of a progressive increase in the cellular molar ratios of iron to transferrin and by chase experiments. Ammonium chloride interfered with iron unloading. The vinca alkaloid vincristine inhibited iron and transferrin uptake. The hepatocarcinoma cells appeared to lack asialoglycoprotein receptors and therefore internalized partially desialated transferrin by the regular route. Iron uptake from transferrin was markedly inhibited by the hydrophobic ferrous chelator 2,2' bipyridine but was relatively unaffected by the hydrophilic ferric chelator desferroxamine. The implication that ferrous iron was involved in postendocytic transvesicular membrane iron transport was supported by a study in which hepatoma cells were shown to take up large amounts of ferrous iron suspended in 270 mM sucrose at pH 5.5. The interaction at this pH between surface labeled hepatoma cell extracts and ferrous iron on a Sephacryl S-300 column suggested that the postendocytic transvesicular transport of iron through the membrane was in part protein mediated. The endocytosed iron in hepatoma cells was found in association with ferritin (33%), transferrin (31%) and a low molecular weight fraction (21%).     

TNF-induced activation of the Nox1 NADPH oxidase and its role in the induction of necrotic cell death

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is an important cytokine in immunity and inflammation and induces many cellular responses, including apoptosis and necrosis. TNF signaling enables the generation of superoxide in phagocytic and vascular cells through the activation of the NADPH oxidase Nox2/gp91. Here we show that TNF also activates the Nox1 NADPH oxidase in mouse fibroblasts when cells undergo necrosis. TNF treatment induces the formation of a signaling complex containing TRADD, RIP1, Nox1, and the small GTPase Rac1. TNF-treated RIP1-deficient fibroblasts fail to form such a complex, indicating that RIP1 is essential for Nox1 recruitment. Moreover, the prevention of TNF-induced superoxide generation with dominant-negative mutants of TRADD or Rac1, as well as knockdown of Nox1 using siRNA, inhibits necrosis. Thus our study suggests that activation of Nox1 through forming a complex with TNF signaling components plays a key role in TNF-induced necrotic cell death.     

Iron regulates xanthine oxidase activity in the lung

The iron chelator deferoxamine has been reported to inhibit both xanthine oxidase (XO) and xanthine dehydrogenase activity, but the relationship of this effect to the availability of iron in the cellular and tissue environment remains unexplored. XO and total xanthine oxidoreductase activity in cultured V79 cells was increased with exposure to ferric ammonium sulfate and inhibited by deferoxamine. Lung XO and total xanthine oxidoreductase activities were reduced in rats fed an iron-depleted diet and increased in rats supplemented with iron, without change in the ratio of XO to total oxidoreductase. Intratracheal injection of an iron salt or silica-iron, but not aluminum salts or silica-zinc, significantly increased rat lung XO and total xanthine oxidoreductase activities, immunoreactive xanthine oxidoreductase, and the concentration of urate in bronchoalveolar fluid. These results suggest the possibility that the production of uric acid, a major chelator of iron in extracellular fluid, is directly influenced by iron-mediated regulation of the expression and/or activity of its enzymatic source, xanthine oxidase.     

Cytoprotective Effect of Estrogen on Ammonium Chloride–Treated C6-Glioma Cells

The potential cytoprotective effects of estrogen in the brain are of special interest in aging, neurodegenerative diseases, exposure to toxins, and trauma. Estrogen effects on neurons have been widely explored, but less is known about estrogen effects on glia. Glial cells are primary targets of ammonia toxicity, which arises from liver disease or failure (such as from cirrhosis in alcoholics), urea cycle disorders, or inborn errors of metabolism. We examined the ability of estrogen to protect glial cells from ammonium chloride toxicity using an in vitro model system. C6-glioma cells in later passage have many astrocytic characteristics and provided a convenient and well established model system for this work. When C6-glioma cells were exposed to 15 mM ammonium chloride, we observed major cell death (only 32% cell survival relative to control) within 72 h. Pretreatment with 17beta-estradiol (10 microM) significantly protected C6-glioma cells from ammonia toxicity (99% cell survival relative to control). In addition to enhancing the viability of C6-glioma cells against ammonia challenge, estrogen pretreatment was also found to protect mitochondrial function as assayed using the MTT reduction assay. Mitochondrial function was reduced to 39% of control levels in ammonia-challenged cultures and was mostly protected by estrogen (72% of control levels). The findings are potentially relevant for the development of therapeutic strategies to protect glial cells against ammonia toxicity resulting from hepatic failure or other causes.     

Effects of scavengers for active oxygen species on cell death by cryptogein

The hypersensitive reaction is a type of programmed cell death in plants. Cryptogein is a proteinaceous elicitor secreted from Phythophthora cryptogea. In one current model, active oxygen species (AOS) trigger programmed cell death in plants. In this study, we examined a variety of AOS scavengers to elucidate the function of AOS in the death program. Most of these AOS scavengers, including tiron, a scavenger for superoxide radical, catalase for hydrogen peroxide, and hydroquinone, sodium ascorbate and propyl gallate for free radicals, almost completely removed extracellular AOS. However, none of the reagents completely blocked the cell death process. Other reagents, such as histidine and dimethylfuran, scavengers for singlet oxygen, and diphenyleneiodonium chloride, an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, showed significant toxicity in BY-2 cells. These results indicate that AOS produced in the extracellular space do not play a role in hypersensitive cell death.     

The rodent non-genotoxic hepatocarcinogen Nafenopin and EGF alter the mitosis/apoptosis balance promoting hepatoma cell clonal growth

The responses of a series of rat hepatoma cell lines (FaO, HTC, RH1) to the rodent non-genotoxic hepatocarcinogen and per-oxisome proliferator (PP) Nafenopin were studied to determine if this PP acts with EGF, a naturally occurring liver growth regulator, to perturb the balance between mitosis and apoptosis. EGF enhanced the growth of FaO cells (well differentiated) and HTC cells (intermediate differentiation) but not of the poorly differentiated RH1 cell line. Nafenopin also increased FaO cell growth but, surprisingly, retarded the growth of both HTC and RH1 cells. Since population expansion kinetics result from mitosis and death, replicative DNA synthesis (RDS) and apoptotic cell death were measured in HTC cells. As expected, EGF elevated RDS and suppressed cell death. However, Nafenopin depressed HTC net population expansion via a suppression of cell death coupled to a more marked inhibition of RDS. This apparent paradox was investigated using soft agar cloning. This revealed sub-populations with differing growth kinetics suggesting selective clonal expansion via an alteration in the balance between mitosis and apoptotic cell death. At later stages, cells are refractory to EGF and Nafenopin, suggesting that genetic changes may have superseded such factor-dependence.     

A possible involvement of plasma membrane NAD(P)H oxidase in the switch mechanism of the cell death mode from apoptosis to necrosis in menadione-induced cell injury

The effects of inhibitors of plasma membrane NADPH oxidase on menadione-induced cell injury processes were studied using human osteosarcoma 143B cells. The intracellular level of superoxide in the cells treated with menadione for 6 h reached a maximum followed by an abrupt decrease. The population of apoptotic cells detected by Annexin V and propidium iodide double staining also reached its maximum at 6 h of menadione-treatment while that of necrotic cells increased continuously reaching 90% of the total population at 9 h of the treatment. Pretreatment of the cells with inhibitors of NADPH oxidase, including diphenyliodonium chloride, apocynin, N-vanillylnonanamide and staurosporine was effective in lowering the menadione-induced elevations of superoxide, and also in the suppression of the switch of the cell death mode from apoptosis to necrosis in menadione-treated cells except for the case of staurosporine. These results strongly suggest that superoxide generated by NADPH oxidase, besides that generated by the mitochondria, may contribute to the remarkable increase in the intracellular level of superoxide in the cells treated with menadione for 6 h resulting in the switch from apoptosis to necrosis, although a direct evidence of the presence of active and inactive forms of NADPH oxidase in control and menadione-treated 143B cells is lacking at present.     

Calcium signals induced by amyloid beta peptide and their consequences in neurons and astrocytes in culture

In Alzheimer's disease, amyloid beta (Abeta) peptide is deposited in neuritic plaques in the brain. The Abeta peptide 1-42 or the fragment 25-35 are neurotoxic. We here review our recent explorations of the mechanisms of Abeta toxicity in hippocampal cultures. Abeta had no effect on intracellular calcium in neurons but caused striking changes in nearby astrocytes. The [Ca(2+)](c) signals started approximately 5-15 min after Abeta application and consisted of sporadic [Ca(2+)](c) pulses. These were entirely dependent on extracellular Ca(2+), independent of ER Ca(2+) stores and resulted from Ca(2+) influx, probably through Abeta-induced membrane channels. The Ca(2+) signals were closely associated with transient, episodic acidification which may reflect displacement of protons from binding sites or Ca(2+)/2H(+) exchange. Abeta caused an increased rate of generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), also seen in astrocytes and not in neurons. The increased ROS generation was blocked by inhibitors of the NADPH oxidase, strongly suggesting that this enzyme, normally associated with immune cells, is expressed in astrocytes. ROS generation was also Ca(2+)-dependent, suggesting that Abeta activation of the enzyme may be secondary to the increase in [Ca(2+)](c). Abeta caused delayed neuronal death despite the fact that all responses were seen only in astrocytes. Neurons could not be protected by glutamate receptor antagonists, but were rescued by inhibition of the NADPH oxidase, by antioxidants and by increasing glutathione. These data suggest that Abeta causes Ca(2+)-dependent oxidative stress by activating an astrocytic NADPH oxidase, and that neuronal death follows through a failure of antioxidant support.     

Growth inhibition of bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei by the iron chelator deferoxamine

Treatment of bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei with the iron chelator deferoxamine inhibits the proliferation of the parasites. Compared with mammalian cells, bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei are 10 times more sensitive to iron depletion. The primary target of the chelator is obviously the intracellular iron as the toxicity of deferoxamine is abolished by addition of holotransferrin, the exogenous source of iron for the parasite. To identify probable target sites, the effect of deferoxamine on ribonucleotide reductase, alternative oxidase and superoxide dismutase, three iron-dependent enzymes in bloodstream-form trypanosomes, was studied. Incubation of the parasites with the chelator leads to inhibition of DNA synthesis and lowers oxygen consumption indicating that deferoxamine may affect ribonucleotide reductase and alternative oxidase. The compound does not inhibit the holoenzymes directly but probably acts by chelating cellular iron thus preventing its incorporation into the newly synthesised apoproteins. Treatment of the parasites with deferoxamine for 24 h has no effect on the activity of superoxide dismutase. The results have implications for antitrypanosomal drug development based on specific intervention with the parasite's iron metabolism.     

Cellular iron depletion weakens induction of heme oxygenase-1 by cadmium

Heme oxygenase-1 is an inducible cytoprotective gene, although its induction by environmental factors is not completely understood. This study aimed to ascertain if specific nutritive factors or related compounds influence heme oxygenase-1 expression. In HCT-116 cells, cadmium increased heme oxygenase-1 enzymatic activity. This effect of cadmium was weaker in cells made iron-deficient with the iron chelator, desferrioxamine, which was associated with repression of heme oxygenase-1 protein and mRNA expression. The repression by desferrioxamine of cadmium-induced heme oxygenase-1 upregulation was reversed upon iron replenishment of the cells. Additionally, it was found that thiol antioxidants inhibited the heme oxygenase-1 upregulation caused by cadmium and also by ethacrynic acid, which each decreased intracellular glutathione as did buthionine sulfoxamine. Interestingly, cadmium and ethacrynic acid increased nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and subsequent heme oxygenase-1 expression, but buthionine sulfoxamine did not. Furthermore, NADPH oxidase inhibitors (diphenyleneiodonium and apocynin, and a superoxide scavenger (Tiron) inhibited cadmium-induced upregulation of heme oxygenase-1. Diphenyleneiodonium was the most potent and inhibited NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase as well, whereas apocynin and Tiron did not. It is concluded that adequate amounts of iron, which at the atomic level can serve as the pivotal element of heme in NADPH oxidase, must be present in cells to permit what appears to be thiol redox-sensitive, NADPH oxidase-dependent upregulation of heme oxygenase-1. Thus, these findings are significant because they suggest that cells without adequate iron would be unable to fully express the stress gene, heme oxygenase-1, when confronted with the toxic metal, cadmium.     

Phaeomoniella chlamydospora‐induced Oxidative Burst in Vitis vinifera Cell Suspensions: Role of NADPH Oxidase and Ca2+

The biphasic oxidative burst induced by Phaeomoniella chlamydospora extract (Pce) in Vitis vinifera (Vv) cell suspensions was investigated. Treatment of cell suspensions with diphenyleneiodonium chloride, an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, prevented the Pce‐induced biphasic reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, suggesting that NADPH oxidase is the primary ROS source in the oxidative burst induced by Pce elicitation of Vv cells. The role of Ca²⁺ in the oxidative burst was also investigated using a Ca²⁺ chelator and several Ca²⁺ channel blockers. The treatment of Vv cell suspensions with the Ca²⁺ chelator ethylene glycol‐bis(2‐aminoethylether)‐N, N, N’; N’‐tetraacetic acid (EGTA) completely inhibited Pce‐induced ROS accumulation, suggesting that Ca²⁺ availability is necessary for occurrence of the induced oxidative burst. However, only the Ca²⁺ channel blocker ruthenium red strongly inhibited the Pce‐induced ROS accumulation, suggesting that the specific Ca²⁺ channel types from which Ca²⁺ influx is originated also play an important role in the Pce‐induced oxidative burst. Furthermore, Ca²⁺ availability seems to be necessary for the Pce‐induced activity of NADPH oxidase.     

Induction of oxidative stress by humic acid through increasing intracellular iron: a possible mechanism leading to atherothrombotic vascular disorder in blackfoot disease

Humic acid (HA), a potential toxin that has penetrated the drinking well water of blackfoot disease-endemic areas in Taiwan, has been implicated as an etiological factor of this disease. In this study, we investigated the effects of HA on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The generation of ROS was monitored by flow cytometry. Pretreatment of HUVECs with HA induced reactive oxygen species in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Xanthine oxidase inhibitor (Allopurinol), NADPH oxidase inhibitor (diphenylene iodomium) and calcium chelator (BAPTA) could not reduce the generation of ROS. Protein kinase C inhibitor (H7) could reduce the generation of ROS slightly, but the intracellular antioxidant glutathione monoethyl ester and the iron chelator desferrioxamine (DFO) could inhibit the generation of ROS completely. HA also enhanced the expression of ferritin and induced intracellular chelatable iron; however, HA reduced the expression of transferrin receptor. Pretreatment with DFO inhibited HA-mediated increases of ferritin synthesis and intracellular chelatable iron, but caused recovery of the inhibitory effect on transferrin receptor. Cotreatment with iron and HA induced more ROS and intracellular chelatable iron than iron or HA treatment alone. Furthermore, HA enhanced the accumulation of iron in endothelial cells. These data demonstrate that HA can increase the generation of ROS through enhancing the accumulation of intracellular iron. Taken together, our findings suggest that iron mediates HA-associated oxidative stress in endothelial cells, which may be a possible mechanism leading to atherothrombotic vascular injury observed for patients with blackfoot disease.     

Oxidatively truncated phospholipids are required agents of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)-induced apoptosis

TNFα generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the cell surface that induce cell death, but how ROS communicate to mitochondria and their specific apoptotic action(s) are both undefined. ROS oxidize phospholipids to hydroperoxides that are friable and fragment adjacent to the (hydro)peroxide function, forming truncated phospholipids, such as azelaoyl phosphatidylcholine (Az-PC). Az-PC is relatively soluble, and exogenous Az-PC rapidly enters cells to damage mitochondrial integrity and initiate intrinsic apoptosis. We determined whether this toxic phospholipid is formed within cells during TNFα stimulation in sufficient quantities to induce apoptosis and if they are essential in TNFα-induced cytotoxicity. We found that TNFα induced ROS formation and phospholipid peroxidation in Jurkat cells, and either chemical interference with NADPH oxidase activity or siRNA suppression of the NADPH oxidase-4 subunit blocked ROS accumulation and phospholipid peroxidation. Mass spectrometry showed that phospholipid peroxides and then Az-PC increased after TNFα exposure, whereas ROS inhibition abolished Az-PC accumulation and TNFα-induced cell death. Glutathione peroxidase-4 (GPx4), which specifically metabolizes lipid hydroperoxides, fell in TNFα-stimulated cells prior to death. Ectopic GPx4 overcame this, reduced peroxidized phospholipid accumulation, blocked Az-PC accumulation, and prevented death. Conversely, GPx4 siRNA knockdown enhanced phospholipid peroxidation, increasing TNFα-stimulated Az-PC formation and apoptosis. Truncated phospholipids were essential elements of TNFα-induced apoptosis because overexpression of PAFAH2 (a phospholipase A(2) that selectively hydrolyzes truncated phospholipids) blocked TNFα-induced Az-PC accumulation without affecting phospholipid peroxidation. PAFAH2 also abolished apoptosis. Thus, phospholipid oxidation and truncation to apoptotic phospholipids comprise an essential element connecting TNFα receptor signaling to mitochondrial damage and apoptotic death.     

Lysosomal origin of the ferric iron required for cell killing by hydrogen peroxide

The lysosomotropic amines methylamine (40 mM) and chloroquine (125 mM) prevented the killing of cultured hepatocytes by hydrogen peroxide generated in the medium by glucose oxidase. Maximum protection required several hours preincubation with either amine. Sensitivity of the hepatocytes to H2O2 was restored either by the addition of ferrous or ferric iron to the culture medium, or by incubating the cells for 4 hours in the absence of either amine prior to treatment with H2O2. Neither methylamine nor chloroquine had any effect on the cell killing by t-butyl hydroperoxide, a hepatotoxin that does not require iron. The protective effect of the lysosomotropic amines was distinguished from that of the ferric iron chelator deferoxamine in two ways: 1) deferoxamine protected hepatocytes from H2O2 toxicity but did not require a pretreatment period; and 2) in contrast to methylamine or chloroquine, deferoxamine had no effect on lysosomal pH as assessed by the fluorescent probe acridine orange. The data suggest that a lysosomal pool is the source of the ferric iron necessary for the killing of hepatocytes by H2O2.