Enhancement of auranofin-induced lung cancer cell apoptosis by selenocystine,a natural inhibitor of TrxR1 in vitro and in vivo

Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is overpressed in many human tumors and has a key role in regulating intracellular redox balance. Recently, thioredoxin system has emerged as a valuable target for anticancer drug development. Herein we demonstrate that selenocystine (SeC) could enhance auranofin (AF)-induced A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo through synergetic inhibition of TrxR1. SeC pretreatment significantly enhanced AF-induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ_m) by regulating Bcl-2 family proteins. The combined treatment with SeC and AF also resulted in enhanced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, DNA damage, and inactivation of ERK and AKT. Inhibitors of ERK and AKT effectively enhanced combined treatment-induced apoptotic cell death. However, inhibition of ROS reversed the apoptosis induced by SeC and AF, and recovered the inactivation of ERK and AKT, which revealed the importance of ROS in cell apoptosis and regulation of ERK and AKT pathways. Moreover, xenograft lung tumor growth in nude mice was more effectively inhibited by combined treatment with SeC and AF by induction of apoptosis through targeting TrxR1 in vivo. Taken together, our results suggest the strategy to use SeC and AF in combination could be a highly efficient way to achieve anticancer synergism by targeting TrxR1.     

Ethaselen: a potent mammalian thioredoxin reductase 1 inhibitor and novel organoselenium anticancer agent

Mammalian thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) is considered to be an important anticancer drug target and to be involved in both carcinogenesis and cancer progression. Here, we report that ethaselen, a novel organoselenium compound with anticancer activity, specifically binds to the unique selenocysteine-cysteine redox pair in the C-terminal active site of mammalian TrxR1. Ethaselen was found to be a potent inhibitor rather than an efficient substrate of mammalian TrxR1. It effectively inhibits wild-type mammalian TrxR1 at submicromolar concentrations with an initial mixed-type inhibition pattern. By using recombinant human TrxR1 variants and human glutathione reductase, we prove that ethaselen specifically targets the C-terminal but not the N-terminal active site of mammalian TrxR1. In A549 human lung cancer cells, ethaselen significantly suppresses cell viability in parallel with direct inhibition of TrxR1 activity. It does not, however, alter either the disulfide-reduction capability of thioredoxin or the activity of glutathione reductase. As a downstream effect of TrxR1 inactivation, ethaselen causes a dose-dependent thioredoxin oxidation and enhances the levels of cellular reactive oxygen species in A549 cells. Thus, we propose ethaselen as the first selenium-containing inhibitor of mammalian TrxR1 and provide evidence that selenium compounds can act as anticancer agents based on mammalian TrxR1 inhibition.     

Interactions of nitroaromatic compounds with the mammalian selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase and the relation to induction of apoptosis in human cancer cells

Here we described novel interactions of the mammalian selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) with nitroaromatic environmental pollutants and drugs. We found that TrxR could catalyze nitroreductase reactions with either one- or two-electron reduction, using its selenocysteine-containing active site and another redox active center, presumably the FAD. Tetryl and p-dinitrobenzene were the most efficient nitroaromatic substrates with a k(cat) of 1.8 and 2.8 s(-1), respectively, at pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C using 50 muM NADPH. As a nitroreductase, TrxR cycled between four- and two-electron-reduced states. The one-electron reactions led to superoxide formation as detected by cytochrome c reduction and, interestingly, reductive N-denitration of tetryl or 2,4-dinitrophenyl-N-methylnitramine, resulting in the release of nitrite. Most nitroaromatics were uncompetitive and noncompetitive inhibitors with regard to NADPH and the disulfide substrate 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid), respectively. Tetryl and 4,6-dinitrobenzofuroxan were, however, competitive inhibitors with respect to 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) and were clearly substrates for the selenolthiol motif of the enzyme. Furthermore, tetryl and 4,6-dinitrobenzofuroxan efficiently inactivated TrxR, likely by alkylation of the selenolthiol motif as in the inhibition of TrxR by 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene/dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) or juglone. The latter compounds were the most efficient inhibitors of TrxR activity in a cellular context. DNCB, juglone, and tetryl were highly cytotoxic and induced caspase-3/7 activation in HeLa cells. Furthermore, DNCB and juglone were potent inducers of apoptosis also in Bcl2 overexpressing HeLa cells or in A549 cells. Based on these findings, we suggested that targeting of intracellular TrxR by alkylating nitroaromatic or quinone compounds may contribute to the induction of apoptosis in exposed human cancer cells.     

Gambogic acid induces apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells by targeting cytosolic thioredoxin reductase

The thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) isoenzymes, TrxR1 in cytosol or nucleus and TrxR2 in mitochondria, are essential mammalian selenocysteine (Sec)-containing flavoenzymes with a unique C-terminal -Gly-Cys-Sec-Gly active site. TrxRs are often overexpressed in a number of human tumors, and the reduction of their expression in malignant cells reverses tumor growth, making the enzymes attractive targets for anticancer drug development. Gambogic acid (GA), a natural product that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, demonstrates potent anticancer activity in numerous types of human cancer cells and has entered phase II clinical trials. We discovered that GA may interact with TrxR1 to elicit oxidative stress and eventually induce apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells. GA primarily targets the Sec residue in the antioxidant enzyme TrxR1 to inhibit its Trx-reduction activity, leading to accumulation of reactive oxygen species and collapse of the intracellular redox balance. Importantly, overexpression of functional TrxR1 in cells attenuates the cytotoxicity of GA, whereas knockdown of TrxR1 sensitizes cells to GA. Targeting of TrxR1 by GA thus discloses a previously unrecognized mechanism underlying the biological action of GA and provides useful information for further development of GA as a potential agent in the treatment of cancer.     

Enhancement of Auranofin-Induced Apoptosis in MCF-7 Human Breast Cells by Selenocystine,a Synergistic Inhibitor of Thioredoxin Reductase

Thioredoxin system plays an important role in regulation of intracellular redox balance and various signaling pathways. Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is overexpressed in many cancer cells and has been identified as a potential target of anticancer drugs. Auranofin (AF) is potent TrxR inhibitor with novel in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities. Selenocystine (SeC) is a nutritionally available selenoamino acid with selective anticancer effects through induction of apoptosis. In the present study, we demonstrated the synergistic effects and the underlying molecular mechanisms of SeC in combination with AF on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The results showed that SeC and AF synergistically inhibited the cancer cell growth through induction of ROS-dependent apoptosis with the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction. DNA damage-mediated p53 phosphorylation and down-regulation of phosphorylated AKT and ERK also contributed to cell apoptosis. Moreover, we demonstrated the important role of TrxR activity in the synergistic action of SeC and AF. Taken together, our results suggest the strategy to use SeC and AF in combination could be a highly efficient way to achieve anticancer synergism by targeting TrxR.     

Reactive oxygen species, antioxidants, and the mammalian thioredoxin system.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known mediators of intracellular signaling cascades. Excessive production of ROS may, however, lead to oxidative stress, loss of cell function, and ultimately apoptosis or necrosis. A balance between oxidant and antioxidant intracellular systems is hence vital for cell function, regulation, and adaptation to diverse growth conditions. Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) in conjunction with thioredoxin (Trx) is a ubiquitous oxidoreductase system with antioxidant and redox regulatory roles. In mammals, extracellular forms of Trx also have cytokine-like effects. Mammalian TrxR has a highly reactive active site selenocysteine residue resulting in a profound reductive capacity, reducing several substrates in addition to Trx. Due to the reactivity of TrxR, the enzyme is inhibited by many clinically used electrophilic compounds including nitrosoureas, aurothioglucose, platinum compounds, and retinoic acid derivatives. The properties of TrxR in combination with the functions of Trx position this system at the core of cellular thiol redox control and antioxidant defense. In this review, we focus on the reactions of the Trx system with ROS molecules and different cellular antioxidant enzymes. We summarize the TrxR-catalyzed regeneration of several antioxidant compounds, including ascorbic acid (vitamin C), selenium-containing substances, lipoic acid, and ubiquinone (Q10). We also discuss the general cellular effects of TrxR inhibition. Dinitrohalobenzenes constitute a unique class of immunostimulatory TrxR inhibitors and we consider the immunomodulatory effects of dinitrohalobenzene compounds in view of their reactions with the Trx system.     

Overexpression of thioredoxin reductase 1 inhibits migration of HEK-293 cells

Background information. TrxR (thioredoxin reductase), in addition to protecting against oxidative stress, plays a role in the redox regulation of intracellular signalling pathways controlling, among others, cell proliferation and apoptosis. The aim of the present study was to determine whether TrxR1 is involved in the regulation of cell migration. Results. Stably transfected HEK‐293 (human embryonic kidney) cells which overexpress cytosolic TrxR1 (HEK‐TrxR15 and HEK‐TrxR11 cells) were used in the present study. We found that the stimulation of cell motility induced by PKC (protein kinase C) activators, PMA and DPhT (diphenyltin), was inhibited significantly in the HEK‐TrxR15 and HEK‐TrxR11 cells compared with control cells. The overexpression of TrxR1 also inhibited characteristic morphological changes and reorganization of the F‐actin cytoskeleton induced by PMA and DPhT. In addition, the selective activation of PKCδ by DPhT was inhibited in cells that overexpressed cytosolic TrxR1. Furthermore, rottlerin, a selective inhibitor of PKCδ, and PKCδ siRNA (small interfering RNA), suppressed the morphological changes induced by DPhT in the control cells. Conclusions. The overexpression of TrxR1 inhibits migration of HEK‐293 cells stimulated with PMA and DPhT. Moreover, our observations suggest that this effect is mediated by the inhibition of PKCδ activation.     

Thioredoxin reductase is inhibited by the carbamoylating activity of the anticancer sulfonylhydrazine drug laromustine

The thioredoxin system facilitates proliferative processes in cells and is upregulated in many cancers. The activities of both thioredoxin (Trx) and its reductase (TrxR) are mediated by oxidation/reduction reactions among cysteine residues. A common target in preclinical anticancer research, TrxR is reported here to be significantly inhibited by the anticancer agent laromustine. This agent, which has been in clinical trials for acute myelogenous leukemia and glioblastoma multiforme, is understood to be cytotoxic principally via interstrand DNA crosslinking that originates from a 2-chloroethylating species generated upon activation in situ. The spontaneous decomposition of laromustine also yields methyl isocyanate, which readily carbamoylates thiols and primary amines. Purified rat liver TrxR was inhibited by laromustine with a clinically relevant IC₅₀ value of 4.65 μM. A derivative of laromustine that lacks carbamoylating activity did not appreciably inhibit TrxR while another derivative, lacking only the 2-chloroethylating activity, retained its inhibitory potency. Furthermore, in assays measuring TrxR activity in murine cell lysates, a similar pattern of inhibition among these compounds was observed. These data contrast with previous studies demonstrating that glutathione reductase, another enzyme that relies on cysteine-mediated redox chemistry, was not inhibited by methylcarbamoylating agents when measured in cell lysates. Mass spectrometry of laromustine-treated enzyme revealed significant carbamoylation of TrxR, albeit not on known catalytically active residues. However, there was no evidence of 2-chloroethylation anywhere on the protein. The inhibition of TrxR is likely to contribute to the cytotoxic, anticancer mechanism of action for laromustine.     

Inhibition of thioredoxin reductase but not of glutathione reductase by the major classes of alkylating and platinum-containing anticancer compounds

Mammalian thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is important for cell proliferation, antioxidant defense, and redox signaling. Together with glutathione reductase (GR) it is the main enzyme providing reducing equivalents to many cellular processes. GR and TrxR are flavoproteins of the same enzyme family, but only the latter is a selenoprotein. With the active site containing selenocysteine, TrxR may catalyze reduction of a wide range of substrates, but can at the same time easily be targeted by electrophilic compounds due to the extraordinarily high reactivity of a selenolate moiety. Here we addressed the inhibition of the enzyme by major anticancer alkylating agents and platinum-containing compounds and we compared it to that of GR. We confirmed prior studies suggesting that the nitrosourea carmustine can inhibit both GR and TrxR. We next found, however, that nitrogen mustards (chlorambucil and melphalan) and alkyl sulfonates (busulfan) efficiently inhibited TrxR while these compounds, surprisingly, did not inhibit GR. Inhibitions were concentration and time dependent and apparently irreversible. Anticancer anthracyclines (daunorubicin and doxorubicin) were, in contrast to the alkylating agents, not inhibitors but poor substrates of TrxR. We also found that TrxR, but not GR, was efficiently inhibited by both cisplatin, its monohydrated complex, and oxaliplatin. Carboplatin, in contrast, could not inhibit any of the two enzymes. These findings lead us to conclude that representative compounds of the major classes of clinically used anticancer alkylating agents and most platinum compounds may easily target TrxR, but not GR. The TrxR inhibition should thereby be considered as a factor that may contribute to the cytotoxicity seen upon clinical use of these drugs.     

Oxidation of thioredoxin reductase in HeLa cells stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha

Stimulation of cells with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) results in the increase in generation of H(2)O(2) in mitochondria that leads to apoptosis. The effect of H(2)O(2) produced by TNF-alpha on the redox status of selenocysteine (SeCys) residue essential for mitochondrial thioredoxin reductase (TrxR2) was investigated in HeLa cells. TNF-alpha caused accumulation of oxidized TrxR2 with a thioselenide bond. The conditional induction of SeCys-deficient TrxR2 resulted in the increased production of H(2)O(2) and apoptosis. These results suggest that the SeCys residue of TrxR2 plays a critical role in cell survival by serving as an electron donor for Trx-II and subsequent peroxiredoxin-III, which is a primary line of defense against H(2)O(2) in mitochondria.     

Mitochondrial thioredoxin system: effects of TrxR2 overexpression on redox balance, cell growth, and apoptosis

Thioredoxin-2 (Trx2) is a mitochondrial protein-disulfide oxidoreductase essential for control of cell survival during mammalian embryonic development. This suggests that mitochondrial thioredoxin reductase-2 (TrxR2), responsible for reducing oxidized Trx2, may also be a key player in the regulation of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. With this in mind, we investigated the effects of overexpression of TrxR2, Trx2, or both on mammalian cell responses to various apoptotic inducers. Stable transfectants of mouse Neuro2A cells were generated that overexpressed TrxR2 or an EGFP-TrxR2 fusion protein. EGFP-TrxR2 was enzymatically active and was localized in mitochondria. TrxR2 protein level and TrxR activity could be increased up to 6-fold in mitochondria. TrxR2 and EGFP-TrxR2 transfectants showed reduced growth rates as compared with control cells. This growth alteration was not due to cytotoxic effects nor related to changes in basal mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)), reactive oxygen species production, or to other mitochondrial antioxidant components such as Trx2, peroxyredoxin-3, MnSOD, GPx1, and glutathione whose levels were not affected by increased TrxR2 activity. In response to various apoptotic inducers, the extent of DeltaPsi(m) dissipation, reactive oxygen species induction, caspase activation, and loss of viability were remarkably similar in TrxR2 and control transfectants. Excess TrxR2 did not prevent trichostatin A-mediated neuronal differentiation of Neuro2A cells nor did it protect them against beta-amyloid neurotoxicity. Neither massive glutathione depletion nor co-transfection of Trx2 and TrxR2 in Neuro2A (mouse), COS-7 (monkey), or HeLa (human) cells revealed any differential cellular resistance to prooxidant or non-oxidant apoptotic stimuli. Our results suggest that neither Trx2 nor TrxR2 gain of function modified the redox regulation of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in these mammalian cells.     

Thioredoxin reductase is irreversibly modified by curcumin: a novel molecular mechanism for its anticancer activity

The thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) isoenzymes, TrxR1 in cytosol or nucleus and TrxR2 in mitochondria, are essential mammalian selenocysteine (Sec)-containing flavoenzymes with a -Gly-Cys-Sec-Gly active site. TrxRs are the only enzymes catalyzing the NADPH-dependent reduction of the active site disulfide in thioredoxins (Trxs), which play essential roles in substrate reductions, defense against oxidative stress, and redox regulation by thiol redox control. TrxRs have been found to be overexpressed by a number of human tumors. Curcumin, which is consumed daily by millions of people, is a polyphenol derived from the plant Curcuma longa. This phytochemical has well known anticancer and antiangiogenic properties. In this study we report that rat TrxR1 activity in Trx-dependent disulfide reduction was inhibited by curcumin. The IC(50) value for the enzyme was 3.6 microM after incubation at room temperature for 2 h in vitro. The inhibition occurred with enzyme only in the presence of NADPH and persisted after removal of curcumin. By using mass spectrometry and blotting analysis, we proved that this irreversible inhibition by curcumin was caused by alkylation of both residues in the catalytically active site (Cys(496)/Sec(497)) of the enzyme. However, the curcumin-modified enzyme showed a strongly induced NADPH oxidase activity to produce reactive oxygen species. Inhibition of TrxR by curcumin added to cultured HeLa cells was also observed with an IC(50) of around 15 microM. Modification of TrxR by curcumin provides a possible mechanistic explanation for its cancer preventive activity, shifting the enzyme from an antioxidant to a prooxidant.     

Overexpression of enzymatically active human cytosolic and mitochondrial thioredoxin reductase in HEK-293 cells. Effect on cell growth and differentiation

The mammalian thioredoxin reductases (TrxR) are selenoproteins containing a catalytically active selenocysteine residue (Sec) and are important enzymes in cellular redox control. The cotranslational incorporation of Sec, necessary for activity, is governed by a stem-loop structure in the 3'-untranslated region of the mRNA and demands adequate selenium availability. The complicated translation machinery required for Sec incorporation is a major obstacle in isolating mammalian cell lines stably overexpressing selenoproteins. In this work we report on the development and characterization of stably transfected human embryonic kidney 293 cells that overexpress enzymatically active selenocysteine-containing cytosolic TrxR1 or mitochondrial TrxR2. We demonstrate that the overexpression of selenium-containing TrxR1 results in lower expression and activity of the endogenous selenoprotein glutathione peroxidase and that the activity of overexpressed TrxRs, rather than the protein amount, can be increased by selenium supplementation in the cell growth media. We also found that the TrxR-overexpressing cells grew slower over a wide range of selenium concentrations, which was an effect apparently not related to increased apoptosis nor to fatally altered intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species. Most surprisingly, the TrxR1- or TrxR2-overexpressing cells also induced novel expression of the epithelial markers CK18, CK-Cam5.2, and BerEP4, suggestive of a stimulation of cellular differentiation.     

Effects of heterologous expression of thioredoxin reductase on the level of reactive oxygen species in COS-7 cells

Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), a component of the redox control system involving thioredoxin (Trx), is implicated in defense against oxidative stress, control of cell growth and proliferation, and regulation of apoptosis. In the present study a stable transfectant was made by introducing the vector pcDNA3.0 harboring the fission yeast TrxR gene into COS-7 African green monkey kidney fibroblast cells. The exogenous TrxR gene led to an increase in TrxR activity of up to 3.2-fold but did not affect glutathione (GSH) content, or glutaredoxin and caspase-3 activities. Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), but not those of nitric oxide (NO), were reduced. Conversely, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobezene (CDNB), an irreversible inhibitor of mammalian TrxR, enhanced ROS levels in the COS-7 cells. After treatment with hydrogen peroxide, the level of intracellular ROS was lower in the transfectants than in the vector control cells. These results confirm that TrxR is a crucial determinant of the level of cellular ROS during oxidative stress as well as in the normal state.