Inhibition of inducible liver enzymes by endotoxin and actinomycin D

Berry, L. Joe (Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pa.), Dorothy S. Smythe, and Louise S. Colwell. Inhibition of inducible liver enzymes by endotoxin and actinomycin D. J. Bacteriol. 92:107-115. 1966.-Bacterial endotoxin at the ld(50) level lowers liver tryptophan pyrrolase in mice, it prevents for 16 to 20 hr the induction of the enzyme by a concurrent injection of cortisone, it lowers significantly but does not prevent substrate induction, and it reduces the enzymatic activity promptly and significantly when administered during the course of hormonal induction. The ld(50) amount of actinomycin D has a similar effect on tryptophan pyrrolase, except that its inhibition of induction by cortisone persists for a longer period of time. Endotoxin in the intact mouse induces tyrosine-alpha-ketoglutarate transaminase almost as well as cortisone, but not in the adrenalectomized animal, a fact that suggests induction of this enzyme is due to release of endogenous adrenal hormones. Actinomycin D, on the other hand, has an effect on this transaminase similar to that on tryptophan pyrrolase. The site of action of endotoxin and actinomycin D would appear to be similar for one of the two enzymes studied and different for the other, a relationship that requires a specificity difficult to imagine for a material as complex as endotoxin.     

Inhibition of hepatic enzyme induction as a sensitive assay for endotoxin

Bacterial endotoxins in mice reduced the induction by cortisone of two hepatic enzymes, tryptophan oxygenase, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, they prevented the glyconeogenesis in liver induced by the same hormone, and they induced in intact animals the liver enzyme tyrosine-alpha-ketoglutarate transaminase, all in proportion to their ld(50). When cortisone was given in the least amount (100 mug), it resulted in near maximal induction of tryptophan oxygenase; a smaller amount of endotoxin reduced significantly the level of enzyme than that required when 5 mg of hormone was injected. The smallest amount of endotoxin that prevented tryptophan oxygenase induction was given intravenously to adrenalectomized mice in which 25 mug of cortisone was administered. The amount (0.01 mug) is 1/40,000th of the ld(50). The other metabolic processes subject to alteration by endotoxin required at least 100 to 400 times as much. This property of endotoxin can serve as a sensitive bioassay, although the dose-response curve is steep.     

Role of tryptophan pyrrolase in endotoxin poisoning

Using substrate induction as a tool, we attempted to determine the role of tryptophan pyrrolase in the response to endotoxin in mice. Previous results have shown that the administration of the ld(50) of endotoxin lowers tryptophan pyrrolase activity. alpha-Methyltryptophan was found to maintain tryptophan pyrrolase activity above control levels in endotoxin-poisoned mice without increasing survival. 5-Hydroxytryptophan, by contrast, lowered tryptophan pyrrolase activity but did not sensitize mice to endotoxin. These results suggest that tryptophan pyrrolase per se does not play a unique role in survival of mice poisoned with endotoxin. This enzyme, however, may reflect the fate of other liver enzymes inducible by adrenocorticoids. In mice given concurrent injections of tryptophan and endotoxin, tryptophan pyrrolase activity was elevated to a level intermediate between that of normal mice and that of mice given tryptophan alone. The mice injected with tryptophan and endotoxin also had about the same mortality as mice given endotoxin alone. Mice treated with tryptophan 4 hr after endotoxin, at a time when the substrate did not fully elevate tryptophan pyrrolase activity, died convulsively and in larger numbers than those given endotoxin alone. This effect was reversed by prior treatment with cyproheptadine, an antiserotonin drug. These results indicate that the depression of tryptophan pyrrolase activity previously observed in vitro after injection of endotoxin reflects an actual decrease in the in vivo activity of the enzyme.     

Studies on the induction of -aminolevulinic acid synthetase iun mouse liver

Administration of 3,5-diethoxy carbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC) to mice resulted in a striking increase in the level of δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthetase in liver. Although the enzyme activity was primarily localized in mitochondria and postmicrosomal supernatant fluid, a significant level of activity was also detected in purified nuclei. The time course of induction showed a close parallelism between the bound and free enzyme activities with the former always accounting for a higher percentage of the total activity as compared to the latter. Studies with cycloheximide indicated a half-life of around 3 hr for both the bound and free ALA synthetase. Actinomycin D and hemin prevented enzyme induction when administered along with DDC, but when administered 12 hr after DDC treatment Actinomycin D did not lead to a decay of either the bound or free enzyme activity and hemin inhibited the bound enzyme activity but not the free enzyme level. The molecular sizes of the mitochondrial and cytosolic ALA synthetase(s) were found to be similar on sephadex columns.     

Some metabolic aspects of tolerance to bacterial endotoxin

Berry, L. Joe (Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pa.), and Dorothy S. Smythe. Some metabolic aspects of tolerance to bacterial endotoxin. J. Bacteriol. 90:970-977. 1965.-The tolerance to bacterial endotoxins which is produced in mice given a series of daily injections of heat-killed Salmonella typhimurium failed to occur when actinomycin D was administered with the heat-killed cells. Neither ethionine nor 2-thiouracil, when given with endotoxin, altered the development of tolerance. An injection of endotoxin, actinomycin D, or ethionine lowered the activity of the liver enzyme tryptophan pyrrolase more significantly at either 4 or 17 hr postinjection in normal mice than in tolerant mice. Similarly, an injection of either saccharated iron oxide or Thorotrast lowered liver tryptophan pyrrolase activity more extensively in normal than in tolerant animals. Activation of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) of tolerant mice, as determined by an accelerated rate of carbon clearance from the blood, was observed, but this was prevented by the appropriate dose of actinomycin D. Similar results were obtained when saccharated iron oxide, rather than endotoxin, was used to activate the RES, but these animals were not resistant to endotoxin and their tryptophan pyrrolase was normally diminished after an injection of endotoxin. Thus, RES activation may occur without tolerance developing. A more nearly normal level of enzyme activity appears to be characteristic of the tolerant state.     

Increase in activity of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase in mouse mammary tissue cultured with insulin

1. In organ cultures of mammary tissue from C3H mice we observed increases in the activity of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase similar to that occurring at parturition. 2. In 22hr. cultures of tissue from late-pregnant mice insulin was required for the increases, but the further addition of prolactin, corticosterone and certain other hormones had no effect. The rise in activity occurred over the second half of the culture period. 3. Results from culture of adipose tissue, and mammary tissue rich in adipose tissue, strongly suggest that the rise in activity occurs in mammary parenchymal rather than adipose cells. 4. In 45hr. cultures prolactin prevented a fall in enzyme activity between 22hr. and 45hr. If the medium contained serum the activity at 22hr. was unaffected, but it continued to rise up to 45hr., and prolactin then had no effect. 5. The enzyme also increased in activity in cultures of mammary tissue from mid-pregnant mice. Insulin was again required, the activity was higher at 45hr. than at 24hr. and prolactin increased the activities at both these times. 6. Actinomycin D, cycloheximide and puromycin at low concentration in the media of 22hr. cultures all prevented increases in enzyme activity. Hydroxyurea at a concentration that inhibited the incorporation of [(3)H]thymidine into DNA by 92% had little effect. 7. Actinomycin D and cycloheximide largely failed to prevent the rise in enzyme activity if added after 3.5hr. and 12hr. respectively. Hence all essential RNA and protein synthesis appears to be finished by 3.5hr. and 12hr., although most of the increase in enzyme activity occurs gradually between 12hr. and 22hr. 8. We suggest that the increases in enzyme activity, both in culture and in the living animal at parturition, are induced by an influx of glucose that is restrained during pregnancy by the growth-hormone-like action of placental lactogen.     

Control of actinomycin D biosynthesis in Streptomyces parvullus: regulation of tryptophan oxygenase activity

Tryptophan oxygenase (tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase) activity increases immediately before the initiation of actinomycin D production by Streptomyces parvullus. We have attempted to discern whether this increase is due to a release from catabolite repression or to the synthesis of an inducer substance. The standard culture medium (glutamic acid-histidine-fructose medium) used in antibiotic production studies with S. parvullus contains l-glutamate as a major constituent. l-Glutamate is almost totally consumed before the onset of actinomycin D synthesis. The addition of 10 mM l-glutamate at this stage completely abolished actinomycin D production as well as tryptophan oxygenase synthesis. Fourteen amino acids were tested for a similar effect. Of these, l-glutamate and l-aspartate had the most dramatic effect on tryptophan oxygenase and beta-galactosidase (beta-d-galactosidase), another inducible enzyme. Standard glutamic acid-histidine-fructose medium, preincubated for 23 h to remove l-glutamate, allowed the synthesis of actinomycin D and tryptophan oxygenase by cells at a stage of growth normally considered too early for antibiotic production. A chemically defined medium lacking l-glutamate and adjusted to pH 8.0 was designed to simulate the preincubation medium. The transfer of cells to this artificial preincubation medium resulted in the appearance of tryptophan oxygenase as early as 19 h before normal synthesis occurred, eliminating the possibility that an inducer molecule is synthesized and excreted during the preincubation period. The results of these studies suggest that the increase in tryptophan oxygenase activity before the onset of actinomycin D synthesis, as well as the synthesis of actinomycin D itself, is due to a release from l-glutamate catabolite repression.     

The role of heme in the regulation of tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase activity and content of cytochrome P-450 in rat liver

The effects of exogenous heme on the activity of delta-aminolevulinate synthase, heme oxygenase, tryptophan-2.3-dioxygenase and microsomal cytochrome content in rat liver were studied. It was shown that hemin chloride diminishes the delta-aminolevulinate synthase activity and provokes heme oxygenase induction. This is paralleled with the induction of the tryptophan 2.3-dioxygenase apoenzyme and an increase in the saturation of the enzyme with heme. The cytochrome b5 content does not change thereby, whereas that of cytochrome P-450 shows a decrease. Upon combined administration of actinomycin D and hemin the cytochrome P-450 level is markedly increased. Actinomycin D by itself has no effect on the hemoprotein concentration. It is concluded that the increase in the cytochrome P-450 level results from the activation of heme-induced mRNA translation.     

Influence of Carbon Tetrachloride on Inducible Liver Enzymes and Response to Endotoxin in Mice

Injection of mice with a sublethal dose of endotoxin 2 hr after administration of 0.1 ml of carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) killed 75% of the animals. CCl(4) alone killed no controls. Significant protection against this effect was afforded by 5 mg of cortisone and by 5 mg of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). With a larger dose of endotoxin, cortisone did not give protection. Liver tryptophan pyrrolase activity was lowered 2 hr after CCl(4) injection and reached a minimum after 17 hr. Induction of tryptophan pyrrolase by cortisone, followed by administration of CCl(4), resulted in rapid loss of activity. A significant induction of tyrosine-alpha-ketoglutarate transaminase was observed in CCl(4)-treated mice. The induction of this enzyme by cortisone was somewhat impaired when CCl(4) was administered concurrently with the hormone. CCl(4) did not lower tryptophan pyrrolase in endotoxin-tolerant mice after 4 hr, but at 17 hr the activity was decreased as much as in control mice. Oxidized pyridine nucleotides were decreased 17 hr after administration of CCl(4). This loss was prevented by administration of NAD (5 mg) or by cortisone (5 mg). Carbon clearance from blood was reduced after treatment with CCl(4). These results indicate a degree of similarity between the metabolic effects of endotoxin and CCl(4) in that both depress tryptophan pyrrolase and prevent its induction by cortisone, and both induce tyrosine transaminase in intact mice. Both substances appear to exert these effects through some type of mediated reaction.     

Regulation of rat liver tryptophan pyrrolase by its cofactor haem: Experiments with haematin and 5-aminolaevulinate and comparison with the substrate and hormonal mechanisms.

1. The administration of haematin or 5-aminolaevulinate to rat enhances the activity of liver tryptophan pyrrolase; both endogenous and newly formed apoenzymes become strongly haem-saturated. Haem activation does not stabilize tryptophan pyrrolase. 2. Actinomycin D, puromycin or cycloheximide prevent the activation of the enzyme by 5-aminolaevulinate but not that by haematin. The latter is inhibited by haem-destroying porphyrogens. 3. The combined injection of either haematin or 5-aminolaevulinate with cortisol does not produce an additive effect, whereas potentation is observed when tryptophan is jointly given with either the cofactor or the haem precursor. 4. Further experiments on the substrate (tryptophan) mechanism of pyrrolase regulation are reported, and a comparison between this and the cofactor and hormonal mechanisms is made. 5. It is suggested that the substrate mechanism may also involve increased haem synthesis. 6. The role of tryptophan pyrrolase in the utilization of liver haem, and as a possible model for the exacerbation by drugs of human hepatic porphyrias, is discussed.     

Induction of tryptophan oxygenase by dexamethasone in isolated hepatocytes. Dependence on composition of medium and pH.

Hepatocytes were isolated from perfused rat livers. 4 x 10-6 cells/ml were incubated at at 37 degrees C in different media in the absence and presence of a steroid hormone, dexamethasone phosphate (2 x 10-5 M). 1. Hormonal enzyme induction occurred in cells suspended in a simple salt medium, devoid of amino acids and macromolecules. This induction was completely blocked by addition of either actinomycin D (2 mu-g/ml) or cycloheximide (50 mu-g/ml). 2. Incubation of cells in media containing defatted albumin did not enhance hormonal enzyme induction, although disintegration of cells during incubation was reduced. Addition of a crude albumin fraction reduced tryptophan oxygenase induction and dextran completely blocked enzyme induction by dexamethasone. 3. An increase of dexamethasone concentration in the presence of albumin to 9 x 10-5 M was unable to raise enzyme induction further, and a still higher concentration of hormone, 3 x 10-4 M, resulted in reduced enzyme induction. 4. The hormonal induction of tryptophan oxygenase was most pronounced when the pH of the medium was between 7.0 and 7.6, with an optium at 7.3. No induction was found when the pH of the medium was either 6.6 or 7.8. The basal tryptophan oxygenase activity was much less influenced by similar pH variations. It is concluded that hepatocytes in suspension are able to carry out hormone-stimulated enzyme synthesis and that factors influencing this process may be studied under controlled conditions in such systems.     

Studies on the effect of inflammation on the acute phase response using rat liver slices

Liver slices from control and inflamed rats were incubated in McCoy's medium and incorporation of [3H]leucine into liver and medium proteins and into albumin and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein was monitored over 48 hr. The release of the new acute phase reactant, sialyltransferase was also monitored in this system. Earlier observations in which liver slices were incubated for 6 hr showed that increased leucine incorporation into liver and medium proteins and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, coupled with decreased incorporation into albumin, correlated with the acute phase response of these proteins. Increased incorporation of leucine into these proteins was found following 48 hr incubation in McCoy's medium showing that slices were able to express the changes characteristic of the acute phase response over this longer time period of incubation. Sialyltransferase was released into medium in a linear fashion up to 15 hr and continued to increase for 30 hr in this system; there was a substantial increase in release of enzyme activity from slices from inflamed rats when compared to controls. Monokine-conditioned medium prepared from peritoneal exudate cells isolated from rats at various times after lipopolysaccharide administration was used to induce the acute phase response by intraperitoneal injection. Slices were prepared from these rats and sialyltransferase release from slices was monitored. Monokines prepared from peritoneal exudate cells isolated from rats at about 30 hr were most effective in stimulating sialyltransferase release from liver slices.     

Stimulation of liver cholesterol synthesis by actinomycin D

1. An eightfold increase in the incorporation of [2-(14)C]acetate into liver cholesterol in vivo was observed 24hr. after starved rats had been given actinomycin D (0.5mg./kg. of body wt.). Liver cholesterol radioactivity declined faster in the treated animals, suggesting a greater rate of cholesterol turnover. 2. Liver slices from treated animals showed a tenfold increase in the incorporation of [2-(14)C]acetate into cholesterol; conversion into CO(2) and into fatty acids was less markedly increased, and conversion into ketone bodies was not significantly affected. 3. The patterns of conversion into liver cholesterol in vivo of the lactone and the sodium salt of mevalonic acid differed markedly. The former was converted at a faster rate and to a greater extent than the latter. Treatment with actinomycin D increased the conversion of both forms of mevalonic acid into liver cholesterol, but only to a small extent. 4. Stimulation of the incorporation of acetate into cholesterol occurred at 4hr. after the administration of actinomycin D but not at 2hr. The response was abolished by the simultaneous administration of dl-ethionine or puromycin. 5. Pre-feeding with a cholesterol-rich diet greatly diminished the stimulation of conversion of acetate into cholesterol caused by actinomycin D, though it did not completely suppress it. Adrenalectomized animals responded to the drug, but much less markedly. 6. It is concluded that actinomycin D stimulates the synthesis of cholesterol in the liver at a stage in the pathway before mevalonic acid, by a mechanism that probably requires protein synthesis. A likely site would be the beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis. Some possible mechanisms by which the drug may lead to increased activity of this enzyme are considered.     

Effect of endotoxin on tryptophan pyrrolase and delta-aminolaevulinate synthase: evidence for an endogenous regulatory haem fraction in rat liver.

Endotoxin was administered to rats at a dose shown previously to stimulate hepatic haem oxygenase activity and to block induction of delta-aminolaevulinate synthase, apparently by causing redistribution of haem from cytochrome P-450 to a regulatory haem pool in the liver. Within 5h of the administration of endotoxin (at a time when the effect of the compound on cytochrome P-450 is maximal) the relative saturation of tryptophan pyrrolase with intrinsic haem rose, from a basal value of 50% to 90%, indicating that 'free' haem had become available. Concurrently, the activity of delta-aminolaevulinate synthase was decreased to 25% of its basal value. Haem oxygenase reached peak activity 13h after endotoxin administration. These findings provide new evidence for the existence of an 'unassigned' hepatic haem fraction, which exchanges with cytochrome P-450 haem and regulates these three enzyme functions.     

Immunological study of carbon tetrachloride-mediated induction of tyrosine aminotransferase in rat liver

Administration of CCl₄ (1.0 ml/kg) to rats resulted in a rise of liver tyrosine aminotransferase (l-tyrosine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.5) activity to a maximum of about 3.6 times the normal level 6 hr later. An immunological titration study proved that the phenomenon was due to increased enzyme content. Using an isotopic-immunochemical procedure the half-life of liver tyrosine aminotransferase at 3.5 hr after CCl₄ administration was shown to be 11.9 hr in contrast to 2.1 hr in the normal liver. Immunochemical analysis revealed that enzyme synthesis was decreased by CCl₄. Thus, in the early stage of CCl₄ poisoning, enzyme synthesis proceeded at a moderate rate while degradation was markedly impaired, resulting in the rise of tyrosine aminotransferase in the liver tissue.Several hours after administration of hydrocortisone to adrenalectomized rats, induced tyrosine aminotransferase reached its peak activity and then subsided to the basal level. At any time following hydrocortisone administration, administration of CCl₄ consistently caused an elevation of the enzyme activity above the level in controls not treated with CCl₄. Actinomycin D (5 mg/kg) also increased the enzyme at an early period of induction cycle but failed to do so at a later period.The CCl₄-mediated “superinduction” of hormonally preinduced tyrosine aminotransferase, like the induction of this enzyme by CCl₄ at a basal level, was found to be caused by the differential inhibitory effect of CCl₄ on the synthesis and degradation of this enzyme.     

Premature induction of hepatic tryptophan oxygenase

Subcutaneous administration of hydrocortisone acetate to the newborn rat produces a premature induction of hepatic tryptophan oxygenase consisting of a transient rise in activity 6–8 h after treatment, followed by a second sustained rise beginning 40 h later, which plateaus at 10 days of age. Cycloheximide treatment at the midpoint of this second elevation inhibits protein synthesis, but not tryptophan oxygenase activity. In older animals, cycloheximide treatment does both. Tryptophan administration at this midpoint rapidly elevates tryptophan oxygenase activity. This elevation can be partially blocked by treatment with actinomycin D within 1 h of tryptophan administration, but not thereafter. Actinomycin treatment is ineffective in blocking the tryptophan-induced rise in older animals. Administration of hydrocortisone acetate to 5- and 10-day-old pups leads to a more rapid and sustained rise in tryptophan oxygenase activity without appearance of a transient induction phase. Neither tryptophan alone, -aminolevulinic acid alone, nor tryptophan plus -aminolevulinic acid prematurely induces tryptophan oxygenase in newborn or 5-day-old rats.     

THE SYNTHESES OF TOTAL MACRONUCLEAR PROTEIN, HISTONE, AND DNA DURING THE CELL CYCLE IN EUPLOTES EURYSTOMUS

Increased alkaline phosphatase activity is induced in certain epithelial cell cultures by hormones with adrenal glucocorticoid activity or their analogues such as prednisolone (Δ^I-hydrocortisone). Enzyme induction occurs in two distinct phases. During the first 12 hr after the addition of prednisolone, there is a small increase in alkaline phosphatase levels. After 15 to 24 hr, the enzyme activity shows a sudden, marked linear rise, reaching a maximum at 60 to 80 hr. Puromycin blocks enzyme induction immediately, even when added during the period of rapid increase of enzyme. Actinomycin D blocks induction when added no later than 8 hr after the addition of prednisolone. On the other hand, Actinomycin D added during the phase of rapid enzyme induction has no effect for at least 12 hr. These findings suggest that de novo protein synthesis is involved in prednisolone induction of alkaline phosphatase and that the RNA messenger for this enzyme is relatively stable.     

Effect of propranolol and cycloheximide on the ethanol-induced increase in liver tryptophan oxygenase activity in starved rats

Increased supply of trytophan to the liver, resulting from the lipolytic action of ethanol, is suggested to be responsible for the increased activity of liver tryptophan oxygenase after ingestion of a single large dose of ethanol. This hypothesis was tested using an antilipolytic drug, propranolol, prior to ethanol treatment. It was found that, while propronolol did inhibit the ethanol-induced increase in blood unesterified fatty acids and free tryptophan concentrations it did not prevent the activation of tryptophan oxygenase by ethanol. In another experiment, where cycloheximide was used to block protein synthesis, it was found that increased protein synthesis rather than decreased protein degradation is probably responsible for the accumulation of liver tryptophan oxygenase after ethanol ingestion.     

Sulfate esterifying activity of embryonic chick liver in vitro

A method has been described for the study of tissue sulfate-conjugating systems in vitro. Liver slices from embryonic chicks were maintained in vitro in a medium containing labeled inorganic sulfate and phenol. It was found that more of the sulfate was esterified at 20 °C. than at 37 °C. due to the longer continued activity at the lower temperature. All sulfate-esterifying activity was lost in liver slices maintained at 37 °C. for 30 hr. while those cultures maintained at 20 °C. continued to esterify sulfate for 70 hr.On the basis of our data there would appear to be a change in the thermal stability of the sulfate-esterifying enzyme system of the chick liver upon its transition from the embryonic stage to the stage of the fully developed chick. Data were presented for the chick 4 months ex ovo. We have been unable to detect any analogous temperature effects upon the sulfate-esterifying system in the livers of embryonic and adult rats.     

Effect of propranolol and cycloheximide on the ethanol-induced increase in liver tryptophan oxygenase activity in starved rats

Increased supply of tryptophan to the liver, resulting from the lipolytic action of ethanol, is suggested to be responsible for the increased activity of liver tryptophan oxygenase after ingestion of a single large dose of ethanol. This hypothesis was tested using an antilipolytic drug, propranolol, prior to ethanol treatment. It was found that, while propranolol did inhibit the ethanol-induced increase in blood unesterified fatty acids and free tryptophan concentrations, it did not prevent the activation of tryptophan oxygenase by ethanol. In another experiment, where cycloheximide was used to block protein synthesis, it was found that increased protein synthesis rather than decreased protein degradation is probably responsible for the accumulation of liver tryptophan oxygenase after ethanol ingestion.