Cocoa procyanidins protect PC12 cells from hydrogen-peroxide-induced apoptosis by inhibiting activation of p38 MAPK and JNK

Oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species has been strongly associated with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we investigated the possible protective effects of a cocoa procyanidin fraction (CPF) and procyanidin B2 (epicatechin-(4β-8)-epicatechin) – a major polyphenol in cocoa – against apoptosis of PC12 rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). CPF (1 and 5 μg/ml) and procyanidin B2 (1 and 5 μM) reduced PC12 cell death caused by H₂O₂, as determined by MTT and trypan blue exclusion assays. CPF and procyanidin B2 attenuated the H₂O₂-induced fragmentation of nucleus and DNA in PC12 cells. Western blot data demonstrated that H₂O₂ induced cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP), downregulated Bcl-X_L and Bcl-2 in PC12 cells. Pretreatment with CPF or procyanidin B2 before H₂O₂ treatment diminished PARP cleavage and increased Bcl-X_L and Bcl-2 expression compared with those only treated with H₂O₂. Activation of caspase-3 by H₂O₂ was inhibited by pretreatment with CPF or procyanidin B2. Furthermore, H₂O₂-induced rapid and significant phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and both of these effects were attenuated by CPF or procyanidin B2 treatment. These results suggest that the protective effects of CPF and procyanidin B2 against H₂O₂-induced apoptosis involve inhibiting the downregulation of Bcl-X_L and Bcl-2 expression through blocking the activation of JNK and p38 MAPK.     

Turning point in apoptosis/necrosis induced by hydrogen peroxide

The turning point between apoptosis and necrosis induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) have been investigated using human T-lymphoma Jurkat cells. Cells treated with 50 μM H₂O₂ exhibited caspase-9 and caspase-3 activation, finally leading to apoptotic cell death. Treatment with 500 μM H₂O₂ did not exhibit caspase activation and changed the mode of death to necrosis. On the other hand, the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria was observed under both conditions. Treatment with 500 μM H₂O₂, but not with 50 μM H₂O₂, caused a marked decrease in the intracellular ATP level; this is essential for apoptosome formation. H₂O₂-reducing enzymes such as cellular glutathione peroxidase (cGPx) and catalase, which are important for the activation of caspases, were active under the 500 μM H₂O₂ condition. Prevention of intracellular ATP loss, which did not influence cytochrome c release, significantly activated caspases, changing the mode of cell death from necrosis to apoptosis. These results suggest that ATP-dependent apoptosome formation determines whether H₂O₂-induced cell death is due to apoptosis or necrosis.     

Oxidant-sensitive protein phosphorylation in endothelial cells

Reactive oxygen is an important regulator of vascular cell biology; however, the mechanisms involved in transducing signals from oxidants in endothelial cells are poorly defined. Because protein phosphorylation is a major mechanism for signal ransduction, cultured aortic endothelial cells were exposed to nonlethal concentrations of H₂O₂ to examine oxidant-sensitive changes in phosphorylation state. Addition of H₂O₂ increases the phosphorylation of the heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) within 2 min. This response is maximal by 20 min and remains constant for more than 45 min. Levels of intrcellular free Ca²⁺ in endothelial cells did not change following addition of 100 μM H₂O₂, nor did the ability of the cells to respond to bradykinin. H₂O₂-induced phosphorylations were either not affected or were slightly increased in cells pretreated with PKC inhibitors (H-8, staurosporin, or calphostin c). Two-dimensional analysis of phosphoproteins from homogenates of ³²P-labeled cells revealed that phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) did not cause the same degree of HSP27 phosphorylation as H₂O₂. Simultaneous addition of 10 ηM PMA and 50 μM H₂O₂ decreased the oxidant-stimulated phoshorylation of the most acidic HSP27 isoform. These data suggest that signal transduction for H₂O₂-sensitive endothelial cell responses are not only independent of PKC, but may also be suppressed by the action of the kinase.     

Protective effect of Ecklonia cava enzymatic extracts on hydrogen peroxide-induced cell damage

In this study, Ecklonia cava was enzymatically hydrolyzed to prepare water-soluble extracts, using five carbohydrases (Viscozyme, Celluclast, AMG, Termamyl, and Ultaraflo) and five proteases (Protamex, Kojizyme, Neutase, Flavourzyme, and Alcalase), and the potential antioxidant activity of each was assessed. The Celluclast and Viscozyme extracts of E. cava evidenced good hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) scavenging activities (73.25% and 72.92%, respectively) as compared to those of other enzymatic extracts. Therefore, the Celluclast enzymatic extract was selected for use in further experiments, and separated into four different molecular weight fractions (<1, 1–10, 10–30 and >30 kDa). Among these fractions, the >30 kDa fraction manifested the most profound H₂O₂ scavenging activity, with a measured IC₅₀ of 13 μg/ml. The >30 kDa fraction also strongly enhanced cell viability against H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage, and evidenced relatively good lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity in a Chinese hamster lung fibroblast (V79-4) cell line. This fraction also effected a reduction in the proportion of cells undergoing H₂O₂-induced apoptosis, as was demonstrated by a decreased quantity of sub-G₁ hypodiploid cells and decreased apoptotic body formation on the flow cytometry assay. These results clearly indicate that the >30 kDa fraction of E. cava possesses good antioxidant activity against H₂O₂ mediated cell damage in vitro.     

Involvement of protein kinase C delta in the alteration of mitochondrial mass in human cells under oxidative stress

Alteration of mitochondrial mass of human 143B osteosarcoma cells upon exposure to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was investigated. We found that mitochondrial mass and the intracellular level of H₂O₂ were increased by exogenous H₂O₂, which was accompanied with up-regulation of functional PKCδ. To investigate the role of PKCδ in H₂O₂-induced increase of mitochondrial mass, we treated 143B cells with PKCδ activator, bistratene A, and PKCδ inhibitor, rottlerin, respectively. The results show that bistratene A caused an increase of mitochondrial mass and that the H₂O₂-induced increase of mitochondrial mass was completely suppressed by rottlerin. Furthermore, we found that activation of PKCδ by bistratene A increased the intracellular levels of H₂O₂ and MnSOD protein expression. By contrast, suppression of PKCδ by rottlerin decreased the intracellular levels of H₂O₂ and MnSOD protein expression. Moreover, we noted that MnSOD expression was highly correlated with the expression of p53, which was controlled by PKCδ. Finally, we demonstrated that PKCδ was overexpressed in skin fibroblasts of patients with MERRF syndrome. Taken together, we conclude that PKCδ is involved in the regulation of mitochondrial mass and intracellular H₂O₂ in human cells and may play a key role in the overproliferation of mitochondria in the affected tissues of patients with mitochondrial diseases such as MERRF syndrome.     

Application of confocal laser scanning microscopy to detect oxidative stress in human colon cells

Introduction Excess of intracellular reactive oxygen species in relation to antioxidative systems results in an oxidative environment which may modulate gene expression or damage cellular molecules. These events are expected to greatly contribute to processes of carcinogenesis. Only few studies are available on the oxidative/reductive conditions in the colon, an important tumour target tissue. It was the objective of this work to further develop methods to assess intracellular oxidative stress within human colon cells as a tool to study such associations in nutritional toxicology.

Methods We have measured H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in different colon cell lines, in freshly isolated human colon crypts, and, for comparative purposes, in NIH3T3 mouse embryo fibroblasts. Detection was performed by loading the cells with the fluorigenic peroxide-sensitive dye 6-carboxy-2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (diacetoxymethyl ester), followed by in vitro treatment with H₂O₂ and fluorescence detection with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Using the microgel electrophoresis (“Comet”) Assay, we also examined HT29 stem and clone 19A cells and freshly isolated primary colon cells for their relative sensitivity toward H₂O₂-induced DNA damage and for steady-state levels of endogenous oxidative DNA damage.

Results A dose-response relationship was found for the H₂O₂-induced dye decomposition in NIH3T3 cells (7.8-125 μM H₂O₂) whereas no effect occurred in the human colon tumour cell lines HT29 stem and HT29 clone 19A (62-1000 μM H₂O₂). Fluorescence was significantly increased at 62 μM H₂O₂ in the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line Caco-2. In isolated human colon crypts, the lower crypt cells (targets of colon cancer) were more sensitive towards H₂O₂ than the more differentiated upper crypt cells. In contrast to the CLSM results, oxidative DNA damage was detected in both cell lines using the Comet Assay. Endogenous oxidative DNA damage was highest in HT29 clone 19A, followed by the primary colon cells and HT29 stem cells.

Conclusions Oxidative stress in colon cells leads to damage of macromolecules which is sensitively detected in the Comet Assay. The lacking response of the CLSM-approach in colon tumour cells is probably due to intrinsic modes of protective activities of these cells. In general, however, the CLSM method is a sensitive technique to detect very low concentrations of H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in NIH3T3 cells. Moreover, by using colon crypts it provides the unique possibility of assessing cell specific levels of oxidative stress in explanted human tissues. Our results demonstrate that the actual target cells of colon cancer induction are indeed susceptible to the oxidative activity of H₂O₂.     

Effect of oxygen transfer rate on β-carotene production from synthetic medium by Blakeslea trispora in shake flask culture

The effect of oxygen transfer rate (OTR) on β-carotene production by Blakelsea trispora in shake flask culture was investigated. The results indicated that the concentration of β-carotene (704.1 mg/l) was the highest in culture grown at maximum OTR of 20.5 mmol/(l h). In this case, the percentage of zygospores was over 50.0% of the biomass dry weight. On the other hand, OTR level higher than 20.5 mmol/(l h) was found to be detrimental to cell growth and pigment formation. To elucidate the effect of oxidative stress on β-carotene synthesis, the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide during fermentation under different OTRs was determined. A linear response of β-carotene synthesis to the level of H₂O₂ was observed, indicating that β-carotene synthesis is stimulated by H₂O₂. However, there was an optimal concentration of H₂O₂ (2400 μM) in enhancing β-carotene synthesis. At a higher concentration of H₂O₂, β-carotene decreased significantly due to its toxicity.     

Oxidative stress-induced apoptosis prevented by trolox

The ability of oxidative stress to induce apoptosis (programmed cell death), and the effect of Trolox, a water soluble vitamin E analog, on this induction were studied in vitro in mouse thymocytes. Cells were exposed to oxidative stress by treating them with 0.5–10 μM hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) for 10 min, in phosphate-buffered saline supplemented with 0.1 mM ferrous sulfate. Cells were resuspended in RPMI 1640 medium with 10% serum and incubated at 37°C under 5% CO₂ in air. Electron microscopic studies revealed morphological changes characteritic of apoptosis in H₂O₂-treated fragmented the DNA in a manner typical of apoptotic cells, producing a ladder pattern of 200 base pair increments upon agarose gel electrophoresis. The percentage of DNA fragmentation (determined fluorometrically) increased with increasing doses of H₂O₂ and postexposure incubation times. Pre- or posttreatment of cells with Trolox reduced H₂O₂-induced DNA fragmentation to control levels and below. The results indicate that oxidative stress induces apoptosis in thymocytes, and this induction can be prevented by Trolox, a powerful inhibitor of membrane damage.     

Role of thiocyanate, bromide and hypobromous acid in hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis

We have previously reported that H₂O₂-induced apoptosis in HL-60 human leukemia cells takes place in the presence of chloride, requires myeloperoxidase (MPO), and occurs through oxidative reactions involving hypochlorous acid and chloramines. We now report that when chloride is replaced by the pseudohalide thiocyanate, there is little or no H₂O₂-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, thiocyanate inhibits H₂O₂-induced apoptosis when chloride is present at physiological concentrations, and this occurs at thiocyanate concentrations that are present in human serum and saliva. In contrast, bromide can substitute for chloride in H₂O₂-induced apoptosis, but results in a lower percent of the cells induced into apoptosis. Hypobromous acid is likely a short-lived intermediate in this H₂O₂/MPO/bromide apoptosis, and reagent hypobromous acid and bromamines induce apoptosis in HL-60 cells. We conclude that the physiologic concentrations of thiocyanate found in human plasma could modulate the cytototoxicity of H₂O₂ and its resulting highly toxic MPO-generated hypochlorous acid by competing with chloride for MPO. Furthermore, the oxidative products of the reaction of thiocyanate with MPO are relatively innocuous for human leukemic cells in culture. In contrast, bromide can support H₂O₂/MPO/halide apoptosis, but is less potent than chloride and it has no effect in the presence of physiological levels of chloride.     

Mechanisms of H2O2-induced oxidative stress in endothelial cells

Hydrogen peroxide, produced by inflammatory and vascular cells, induces oxidative stress that may contribute to endothelial dysfunction. In smooth muscle cells, H₂O₂ induces production of O₂⁻ by activating NADPH oxidase. However, the mechanisms whereby H₂O₂ induces oxidative stress in endothelial cells are poorly understood. We examined the effects of H₂O₂ on O₂⁻ levels on porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAEC). Treatment with 60 μmol/L H₂O₂ markedly increased intracellular O₂⁻ levels (determined by conversion of dihydroethidium to hydroxyethidium) and produced cytotoxicity (determined by propidium iodide staining) in PAEC. Overexpression of human manganese superoxide dismutase in PAEC reduced O₂⁻ levels and attenuated cytotoxicity resulting from treatment with H₂O₂. L-NAME, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and apocynin, an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, reduced O₂⁻ levels in PAEC treated with H₂O₂, suggesting that both NOS and NADPH oxidase contribute to H₂O₂-induced O₂⁻ in PAEC. Inhibition of NADPH oxidase using apocynin and NOS rescue with L-sepiapterin together reduced O₂⁻ levels in PAEC treated with H₂O₂ to control levels. This suggests interaction-distinct NOS and NADPH oxidase pathways to superoxide. We conclude that H₂O₂ produces oxidative stress in endothelial cells by increasing intracellular O₂⁻ levels through NOS and NADPH oxidase. These findings suggest a complex interaction between H₂O₂ and oxidant-generating enzymes that may contribute to endothelial dysfunction.     

p38 MAPK and Ca2+ contribute to hydrogen peroxide-induced increase of permeability in vascular endothelial cells but ERK does not

To examine the involvement of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and extra-cellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in the oxidative stress-induced increase of permeability in endothelial cells, the effects of a p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) and ERK inhibitor (PD90859) on the H₂O₂-induced increase of permeability in bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (BPAEC) were investigated using a two-compartment system partitioned by a semi-permeable filter. H₂O₂ at 1 mM caused an increase of the permeation rate of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled dextran 40 through BPAEC monolayers. SB203580 inhibited the H₂O₂-induced increase of permeability but PD98059 did not, though activation (phosphorylation) of both p38 MAPK and ERK was observed in H₂O₂-treated cells in Western blot analysis. An H₂O₂-induced increase of the intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) was also observed and an intracellular Ca²⁺ chelator (BAPTA-AM) significantly inhibited the H₂O₂-induced increase of permeability. However, it showed no inhibitory effects on the H₂O₂-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and ERK. The H₂O₂-induced increase of [Ca²⁺]_i was not influenced by SB203580 and PD98059. These results indicate that the activation of p38 MAPK and the increase of [Ca²⁺]_i are essential for the H₂O₂-induced increase of endothelial permeability and that ERK is not.     

Influence of chelators and iron ions on the production and degradation of H2O2 by beta-amyloid-copper complexes

β-Amyloid peptide (Aβ) 1–42, involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, binds copper ions to form Aβ · Cu_n complexes that are able to generate H₂O₂ in the presence of a reductant and O₂. The production of H₂O₂ can be stopped with chelators. More reactive than H₂O₂ itself, hydroxyl radicals HO (generated when a reduced redox active metal complex interacts with H₂O₂) are also probably involved in the oxidative stress that creates brain damage during the disease. We report in the present work a method to monitor the effect of chelating agents on the production of hydrogen peroxide by metallo-amyloid peptides. The addition of H₂O₂ associated to a pre-incubation step between ascorbate and Aβ · Cu_n allows to study the formation of H₂O₂ but also, at the same time, its transformation by the copper complexes. Aβ · Cu_n peptides produce but do not efficiently degrade H₂O₂. The reported analytic method, associated to precipitation experiments of copper-containing amyloid peptides, allows to study the inhibition of H₂O₂ production by chelators. The action of a ligand such as EDTA is probably due to the removal of the copper ions from Aβ · Cu_n, whereas bidentate ligands such as 8-hydroxyquinolines probably act via the formation of ternary complexes with Aβ · Cu_n. The redox activity of these bidentate ligands can be modulated by the incorporation or the modification of substituents on the quinoline heterocycle.     

Enhancement of radiation-induced apoptosis by 6-formylpterin

Radiation-induced apoptosis and its possible enhancement in the presence of 6-formylpterin (6-FP), a metabolite of folic acid, were examined in human myelomonocytic lymphoma U937 cells. When cells were treated with 6-FP at a nontoxic concentration of 300 μM, and then exposed to X-rays at a dose of 10 Gy, significant enhancement of radiation-induced apoptosis as determined by nuclear morphological change, phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization and DNA fragmentation were observed. Flow cytometry for the detection of intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) revealed that 6-FP increased the formation of intracellular H₂O₂, which further increased when the cells were irradiated. Decrease of mitochondria trans-membrane potential (MMP), release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, and activation of caspase-3 were enhanced after the combined treatment. Remarkable activation of protein kinase C δ (PKC δ) and its translocation from cytosol to mitochondria were detected in combined treatment. Increase of intracellular Ca₂₊ concentrations ([Ca₂₊]i) was also observed, however, neither calpain I nor calpain II could inhibit the apoptosis. In addition, c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase ( JNK) activation was not enhanced in the combined treatment. A protein involved in a caspase-independent apoptosis pathway, apoptosis inducing factor (AIF), remained unchanged even 3 h after treatment. These results indicate that intracellular H₂O₂ generated by 6-FP enhances radiation-induced apoptosis via the mitochondria-mediated caspase-dependent pathway, with the active involvement of PKC δ.     

Lethality of hydrogen peroxide in wild type and superoxide dismutase mutants of Escherichia coli. (A hypothesis on the mechanism of H2O2-induced inactivation of Escherichia coli)

The toxicity of H₂O₂ in Escherichia coli wild type and superoxide dismutase mutants was investigated under different experimental conditions. Cells were either grown aerobically, and then treated in M9 salts or K medium, or grown anoxically, and then treated in K medium. Results have demonstrated that the wild type and superoxide dismutase mutants display a markedly different sensitivity to both modes of lethality produced by H₂O₂ (i.e. mode one killing, which is produced by concentrations of H₂O₂ lower than 5 mM, and mode two killing which results from the insult generated by concentrations of H₂O₂ higher than 10 mM). Although the data obtained do not clarify the molecular basis of H₂O₂ toxicity and/or do not explain the specific function of superoxide ions in H₂O₂-induced bacterial inactivation, they certainly demonstrate that the latter species plays a key role in both modes of H₂O₂ lethality. A mechanism of H₂O₂ toxicity in E. coli is proposed, involving the action of a hypothetical enzyme which should work as an O₂^-• generating system. This enzyme should be active at low concentrations of H₂O₂ (<5 mM) and high concentrations of the oxidant (>5 mM) should inactivate the same enzyme. Superoxide ions would then be produced and result in mode one lethality. The resistance at intermediate H₂O₂ concentrations may be dependent on the inactivation of such enzyme with no superoxide ions being produced at levels of H₂O₂ in the range 5–10 mM. Mode two killing could be produced by the hydroxyl radical in concert with superoxide ions, chemically produced via the reaction of high concentrations of H₂O₂ (>10 mM) with hydroxyl radicals. The rate of hydroxyl radical production may be increased by the higher availability of Fe²⁺ since superoxide ions may also reduce trivalent iron to the divalent form.     

Caspases are reversibly inactivated by hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is known to both induce and inhibit apoptosis, however the mechanisms are unclear. We found that H₂O₂ inhibited the activity of recombinant caspase-3 and caspase-8, half-inhibition occurring at about 17 μM H₂O₂. This inhibition was both prevented and reversed by dithiothreitol while glutathione had little protective effect. 100–200 μM H₂O₂ added to macrophages after induction of caspase activation by nitric oxide or serum withdrawal substantially inhibited caspase activity. Activation of H₂O₂-producing NADPH oxidase in macrophages also caused catalase-sensitive inactivation of cellular caspases. The data suggest that the activity of caspases in cells can be directly but reversibly inhibited by H₂O₂.     

Ascorbate and H2O2 induced oxidative DNA damage in Jurkat cells

The effect of vitamin C (ascorbate) on oxidative DNA damage was examined by first incubating cells with dehydroascorbate, which boosts the intracellular concentration of ascorbate, and then exposing cells to H₂O₂. Oxidative DNA damage was estimated by the analysis of 5-hydroxy-2′-deoxycytidine (oh⁵dCyd) and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (oxo⁸dGuo). The presence of a high concentration of ascorbate (30 mM), compared to the absence of ascorbate in cells, when exposed to H₂O₂ (200 μM), resulted in a remarkable sensitization of oh⁵dCyd from 2.7 ± 0.6 to 40.8 ± 6.1 lesions /10⁶ dCyd (15-fold). In contrast, the level of oxo⁸dGuo increased from 8.4 ± 0.4 to 12.1 ± 0.5 lesions/10⁶ dGuo (50%). The formation of oh⁵dCyd was also observed at lower concentrations of intracellular ascorbate and exogenous H₂O₂. Additional studies showed that replacement of H₂O₂ with tert-butyl hydroperoxide completely abolished damage, and that preincubation with iron and desferroxamine increased and decreased this damage, respectively. The latter studies suggest that a Fenton reaction is involved in the mechanism of damage. In conclusion, we report a novel model system in which ascorbate sensitizes H₂O₂-induced oxidative DNA damage in cells, leading to elevated levels of oh⁵dCyd and oxo⁸dGuo, with a strong bias toward the formation of oh⁵dCyd.     

Singlet oxygen-induced attenuation of growth factor signaling: possible role of ceramides

Singlet oxygen, an electronically excited form of molecular oxygen, is a primary mediator of the activation of stress-activated protein kinases elicited by ultraviolet A (UVA; 320-400 nm). Here, the effects of singlet oxygen (₁O₂) on the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and Akt/protein kinase B pathways were analyzed in human dermal fibroblasts. While basal ERK 1/2 phosphorylation was lowered in cells exposed to either ₁O₂, UVA or photodynamic treatment, Akt was moderately activated by photochemically generated ₁O₂ in a phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-dependent fashion, resulting in the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3). The activation of ERK 1/2 and Akt as induced by stimulation with epidermal growth factor (EGF) or platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) was inhibited by ₁O₂ generated intracellularly upon photoexcitation of rose Bengal (RB). Photodynamic therapy (PDT)-induced apoptosis is known to be associated with increased formation of ceramides. Likewise, both ₁O₂ and UVA induced ceramide generation in human skin fibroblasts. The attenuation of EGF- and PDGF-induced activation of ERK 1/2 and Akt by ₁O₂ was mimicked by stimulation of fibroblasts with the cell-permeable C₂-ceramide. Interestingly, EGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGF receptor was strongly attenuated by ₁O₂ but unimpaired by C₂-ceramide, implying that, although ceramide formation may mediate the above attenuation of ERK and Akt phosphorylation induced by ₁O₂, mechanisms beyond ceramide formation exist that mediate impairment of growth factor signaling by singlet oxygen. In summary, these data point to a novel mechanism of ₁O₂ toxicity: the known ₁O₂-induced activation of proapoptotic kinases such as JNK and p38 is paralleled by the prevention of activation of growth factor receptor-dependent signaling and of anti-apoptotic kinases, thus shifting the balance towards apoptosis.     

Hydrogen Peroxide Modification of Human Oxyhemoglobin

The effect of H₂O₂ on the primary structure of OxyHb was studied. Upon treatment of Oxy Hb with H₂O₂ ([Heme]/[H₂O₂] =I), tryptophan and methionine residues of the /-chain were modified. Treatment of ApoHb with H₂O₂ resulted in the modification of histidine and methionine residues in both globin chains. Tryptophan residues were unaffected. Modification of methionine residues in both the β-chain of OxyHb and ApoHb probably results from the direct oxidation of mcthionine by H₂O₂. The modification of histidine residues in ApoHb may be mediated by a metal-catalyzed oxidation system comprised of H₂O₂ and histidine-bound iron. The H₂O₂-mediated modification of tryptophan in the OxyHb β-chain. however, requires the heme moiety.     

Trimetazidine protects low-density lipoproteins from oxidation and cultured cells exposed to H(2)O(2) from DNA damage

Trimetazidine is a well-established anti-ischemic drug, which has been used for long time in the treatment of pathological conditions related with the generation of reactive oxygen species. However, although extensively studied, its molecular mode of action remains largely unknown. In the present study, the ability of trimetazidine to protect low-density lipoproteins (LDL) from oxidation and cultured cells from H₂O₂-induced DNA damage was investigated. Trimetazidine, tested at concentrations 0.02 to 2.20 mM, was shown to offer significant protection to LDL exposed to three different oxidizing systems, namely copper, Fe/ascorbate, and met-myoglobin/H₂O₂. The oxidizability of LDL was estimated by measuring, (i) the lag period, (ii) the maximal rate of conjugated diene formation, (iii) the total amount of conjugated dienes formed, (iv) the electrophoretic migration of LDL protein in agarose gels (REM), and (v) the inactivation of the enzyme PAF-acetylhydrolase present in LDL. In addition, the presence of trimetazidine decreased considerably the DNA damage in H₂O₂-exposed Jurkat cells in culture. H₂O₂ was continuously generated by the action of glucose oxidase at a rate of 11.8 ± 1.5 μM per min (60 ng enzyme per 100 μl), and DNA damage was assessed by the single cell gel electrophoresis assay (also called comet assay). The protection offered by trimetazidine in this system (about 30% at best) was transient, indicating modification of this agent during its action. These results indicate that trimetazidine can modulate the action of oxidizing agents in different systems. Although its mode of action is not clarified, the possibility that it acts as a lipid barrier permeable transition metal chelator is considered.