Kinetics of lipid peroxidation in isolated surviving rat livers

The kinetics of accumulation of lipid peroxidation products (hydroperoxides as primary products and malonic dialdehyde and "fluorescent pigments" as secondary ones) was investigated in an isolated non-perfused and preliminarily perfused liver during aerobic incubation. In the course of surviving there takes place an intensive accumulation of primary, secondary and final products of lipid peroxidation whose kinetics is of an extreme character. The rate of this process in a non-perfused liver is considerably higher than in a preliminarily perfused liver.     

Stability of lipid oxidation products in the rat liver and pathways of their utilization

The ability of liver homogenates to utilize various lipid peroxidation products was studied. Conjugated dienes and TBA-reactive products of unsaturated fatty acid phospholipids and triglycerides were found to be more stable that the corresponding lipid hydroperoxides. It was shown that decomposition of lipid hydroperoxides in liver homogenates is due to their reduction to corresponding oxycompounds without activation of free radical reactions. The ability of lipid hydroperoxides to be reduced in liver homogenates is determined by their chemical structure and decreases in the following order: polyunsaturated fatty acids--phospholipids--triglycerides--cholesterol esters.     

Cholesterol hydroperoxides inhibit calmodulin and suppress atherogenesis in rabbits

A mixture of cholesterol autoxidation products, prepared from an aged sample of cholesterol by recrystallization from methanol, inhibits calmodulin irreversibly in a Ca2+-dependent reaction. Inhibitory activity is lost after treatment with NaBH4, NaCNBH3, or NaI, from which we conclude that calmodulin inhibition is due to one or more cholesterol hydroperoxides. Partially purified cholesterol hydroperoxides, with or without cholesterol, were fed to young adult white rabbits. Cholesterol in the diet caused extensive atheroma formation in the aortas, but the addition of cholesterol hydroperoxides markedly reduced lesion formation. A cholesterol hydroperoxide preparation that was reduced by treatment with NaI was not effective in preventing atheroma formation. Cholesterol hydroperoxides did not lower cholesterol concentrations in blood plasma, liver, or heart.     

Morpho-functional state of biomembranes after treatment with alkyl derivatives of 2,4-dinitrophenol

The morphofunctional state of the rat liver biomembranes is studied under conditions of the peroral effect of alkyl dinitrophenols: dinitroorthocresole and secondary 2,4-dinitro-6-butylphenol. It is established that free radicals and products of peroxide lipid oxidation (diene conjugates, hydroperoxides, final products reacting with 2-thiobarbituric acid) are very important for realization of the membrane-tropic action of the above compounds. Possible mechanisms of development of the membrane-damaging action of these xenobiotics and their effect on the state of the mitochondrial respiratory chain are discussed. The membrane-tropic effect of alkyl dinitrophenols is confirmed by the results of electron-microscopic studies.     

The Isolation and Characterization of N-Methyltyramine,Tyramine and Hordenine from Sawa Millet Seeds

Some differences between linoleic acid hydroperoxides (LAHPO) and their secondary products in their function in cell damage were determined. E. coli cells were incubated with the autooxidized products of linoleic acid-l-¹⁴C; hydroperoxides and their secondary products. At 0 hr the secondary products showed a higher tendency to adhere to the cell surface, compared with LAHPO. The distribution of radioactivity in the precipitate and the soluble fractions showed that a major portion of the radioactivity incorporated was contained in the soluble fraction in the case of LAHPO, while in the case of the secondary products the radioactivity was contained mostly in the precipitate fraction. A positive relationship between a lowering of the inhibitory effect and a decrease in the incorporation was observed in the case of LAHPO when antioxidants were added to the reaction system. No such effect was observed with the secondary products.

These results may show that the inhibition of growth by LAHPO is due to a radical-type reaction accompanied by the penetration of LAHPO into the cell sap, while the inhibition of growth by the secondary products may be due to a different type of reaction which includes non-specific adsorption to the cell surface.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of phospholipid peroxidation products of rat liver after carbon tetrachloride administration

A method to detect and determine phospholipid peroxidation products in a biological system was developed using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography and normal-phase HPLC. Reversed-phase HPLC could separate phosphatidylcholine (PC) hydroperoxides and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) hydroperoxides of rat liver from the respective phospholipids. A linear relationship was observed between these hydroperoxides and their peak areas on the chromatogram. In the experiment with rats administered CCl4, reversed-phase HPLC gave prominent, large peaks attributable to the peroxidation of phospholipids, and the peroxide level of the liver phospholipids was tentatively determined. Normal-phase HPLC analysis confirmed that both PC and PE in the liver phospholipids were peroxidized after CCl4 treatment. Neither the thiobarbituric acid value of the liver homogenate nor the fatty acid composition of the liver phospholipid fraction showed any significant difference between CCl4-treated and control rats. It is concluded that normal-phase HPLC and reversed-phase HPLC can complement each other to serve as a direct and sensitive method for the determination of lipid peroxide levels in a biological source. However, it was difficult to distinguish phospholipid hydroperoxides from their hydroxy derivatives.     

Oxidative stress: damage to intact cells and organs

Oxidative cell damage can be monitored by detection of (a) photoemission of singlet molecular oxygen formed from radical interactions (so-called low-chemical chemiluminescence), (b) end products of lipid peroxidation, such as ethane, and (c) glutathione disulphide release. These methods, preferably used in a complementary fashion, provide insight into the pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance in the intact cell or organ. Recent work from this laboratory on the metabolism of hydroperoxides and aldehydes as well as on redox cycling of the quinone menadione is presented. The comparison of GSSG transport systems in liver and heart reveals a limitation of capacity in the latter, thus making GSSG export potentially critical in the heart. As part of an inter-organ feedback system between extrahepatic tissues and liver, the newly described hormone stimulation of GSH release from liver is also presented.     

Target enzymes on hepatic dysfunction caused by dietary products of lipid peroxidation

Dietary products of lipid peroxidation cause hepatic dysfunction due to decreases in the activities of some hepatic enzymes and to depletion of CoA. An idea about the decreases and depletion is that the enzymes and CoA could be injured directly by the incorporated products in the liver. Their inactivations in vitro were then examined using a reasonable amount of peroxidation products. The hepatic cytosol, microsomes, and mitochondria were incubated with 10, 15, and 20 micrograms/mg protein of peroxidation products, respectively, and changes in the enzymatic activities were monitored. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, mitochondrial NAD-dependent aldehyde dehydrogenase, glucokinase, and glyceradehyde phosphate dehydrogenase were inactivated, and the CoA level was decreased, but the other hepatic enzymes were not. Although glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase was most sensitive to peroxidation products in vitro, the decrease in activity was not detected by the oral dose of secondary products. On the other hand, among the components of peroxidation products, hydroperoxides and polymers are not incorporated in the liver, but decomposed products of low molecular weight are incorporated. Glucokinase among the above enzymes was not inactivated by the low-molecular-weight products. It was therefore concluded that glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, mitochondrial NAD-dependent aldehyde dehydrogenase, and CoA were targets of the direct attack by incorporated components of peroxidation products in the liver.     

Effects of Peroxidation Products of Linoleic Acid on Tryptophan–nicotinamide Metabolism in Rats

The flavin and pyridine nucleotide coenzymes are involved in the detoxication of autoxidation products of lipids. In tryptophan-nicotinamide metabolism, kynurenine 3-hydroxylase and N¹-methylnicotinamide (MNA) oxidase contain FAD as a coenzyme. So, the effects of dietary autoxidation products of linoleic acid on the metabolism of tryptophan-nicotinamide were investigated using rats. The administration of linoleic acid hydroperoxides or secondary products reduced the urinary excretion of xanthurenic acid, nicotinamide and its metabolites such as MNA, N¹-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide (2-Py), and N¹-methyl-4-pyridone-3-carboxamide (4-Py) as compared with the group administered saline or linoleic acid. Among the enzyme activities involved in the tryptophan-nicotinamide metabolism, the activity of NAD⁺ synthetase was decreased by the administration of linoleic acid hydroperoxides or secondary products. The activities of tryptophan oxygenase and 4-Py-forming MNA oxidase were also decreased by the administration of secondary products. These results indicate that the conversion of tryptophan to nicotinamide would be lower in the groups administered the hydroperoxides and secondary products than in saline and linoleic acid groups.     

Selective microdetermination of lipid hydroperoxides

A sensitive and selective assay for lipid hydroperoxides was developed based upon the activation by hydroperoxides of the cyclooxygenase activity of prostaglandin H synthase. The assay measures hydroperoxides directly by their stimulatory action on the cyclooxygenase and thus differs from the methods used currently which rely on the measurement of secondary products to estimate the amount of hydroperoxide. The present assay of enzymatic response was approximately linear in the range 10 to 150 pmol of added lipid hydroperoxide. This sensitivity for lipid peroxides is about 50-fold greater than that of the thiobarbiturate assay with fluorescence detection. When applied to samples of human plasma, the enzymatic assay indicated that the concentration of lipid hydroperoxides in normal subjects is 0.5 microM, more than 50-fold lower than estimated by the thiobarbiturate assay (30-50 microM). Nevertheless, the circulating concentration of 0.5 microM lipid hydroperoxide approaches that reported to have deleterious effects upon vascular prostacyclin synthase.     

Analysis of radiation injuries of DNA from liver and transplanted tumors in vitro

A comparative study of some radiation effects on DNAs from mouse liver, Ehrlich ascites tumor and hepatoma 22A was made after X-irradiation of the 0.02% aerated solutions in 0.1 M NaCl. The electrophoretic and spectrophotometric methods were used to measure the radiation-chemical yields of single- and double-strand breaks, DNA secondary structure defects, a malonaldehyde analogue and pyrimidine hydroperoxides. DNA from tumors was found to be more affected by radiation than DNA from normal liver: this may be due to a higher degree of base damage (the yield of hydroperoxides) and to transformation of original secondary structure defects into single-strand breaks at low irradiation doses.     

Radiation-induced peroxidation of small unilamellar vesicles of phosphatidylcholine generated by sonication

The present study was aimed at determining the peroxidation of model membranes constituted of liposomes of 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PLPC) submitted to hydroxyl free radicals (generated by gamma-radiolysis) attack. Liposomes of PLPC were prepared using the sonication technique, and dynamic light-scattering (DLS) measurements allowed characterization of the liposomal dispersions. Irradiation damages in sonication-generated liposomes were assessed by monitoring several oxidation products, such as conjugated dienes (by means of UV--visible spectrophotometry) and hydroperoxides (using reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) associated with chemiluminescence detection). It has been shown that three different families of hydroperoxides are formed: the first one (at low radiation doses) results from HO. attack on the linoleyl chain of PLPC, giving phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxides possessing a conjugated dienic structure; the two others (at high radiation doses) are obtained by the secondary HO. attack on the primary hydroperoxide family. The quantification of these products associated with the comparison of their radiation-dose-dependent formation has provided valuable information concerning the mechanisms of their formation. Analysis by HPLC -- mass spectrometry has confirmed the presence of hydroperoxides and underlined various other products, like chain-shortened fragments and oxygenated derivatives of polyunsaturated sn-2 fatty acyl chain residues. Structural assignment proposals of some oxidation products have been proposed.     

Comparison of the Effects of Orally Administered Linoleic Acid,and Its Hydroperoxides and Secondary Autoxidation Products on Hepatic Lipid Metabolism in Rats

Linoleic acid, and its hydroperoxides and secondary autoxidation products were orally administered to rats (400 mg/rat). Their effects on hepatic lipid metabolism were examined. Linoleic acid reduced the activities of de novo synthesis of fatty acids and acetyl-CoA carboxylase. It decreased the CoASH level and caused the accumulation of long-chain acyl-CoA. Hydroperoxides changed the compositions of unsaturated fatty acids in the hepatic lipids and lowered the content of neutral lipids. Secondary products stimulated carnitine palmitoyltransferase and decreased the content of neutral lipids. They reduced the activities of de novo synthesis of fatty acids and acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and the levels of CoASH and acetyl-CoA. Thus, the effect of secondary products was apparently different from those of linoleic acid and its hydroperoxides.     

Final products of lipid peroxidation in various liver diseases of alcoholic etiology

The content of lipid peroxidation products in the plasma of patients with various forms of alcohol-induced liver disorders was investigated. Plasma levels of lipid hydroperoxides in this group of patients were found to be the same as in healthy controls. Plasma content of fluorescent products of lipid oxidation was significantly elevated in patients suffering from acute alcoholic hepatitis and active alcoholic liver cirrhosis, and especially in patients with edematoascitic syndrome. The dynamics of fluorescent product plasma level reduction significantly correlated with the improvement of clinical status in the treatment of abstinent patients.     

Preferential formation of the hydroperoxide of linoleic acid in choline glycerophospholipids in human erythrocytes membrane during peroxidation with an azo initiator

The formation of phospholipid hydroperoxides was monitored in human red blood cell (RBC) membranes that had been peroxidized with an azo initiator. Peroxidation of RBC membranes caused a profound decrease in the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids and concomitantly hydroperoxides, as primary products of peroxidation, appeared in the phospholipids. Hydroperoxides were predominantly generated in choline glycerophospholipid (CGP), while the extent of formation of ethanolamine glycerophospholipid (EGP) hydroperoxides was low and their presence was transient. Hydroxy and hydroperoxy moieties in CGP were identified as 9-hydroxy and 13-hydroxy octadecanoic acid, derived from linoleic acid, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis. No consistent generation of hydroperoxide from arachidonic acid was evident in CGP. The CGP-hydroperoxide accounted for approximately 76% of linoleic acid consumed during peroxidation of RBC membranes. The prominent generation of phospholipid hydroperoxides was observed in the linoleic acid-rich membranes from rabbit RBC, indicating that the level of linoleic acid in phospholipids determins, in part, the extent of formation of phospholipid hydroperoxides. Aldehydic phospholipids, as secondary products of peroxidation, were detected in oxidized membranes. EGP was the most prominent aldehydic phospholipid, while negligible amounts of aldehydic CGP were formed. This study indicates that the process of oxidation of individual phospholipids clearly differs among phospholipids and depends on the structure of each.     

Combined effect of alcohol and cigarette smoke on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in rats

The effect of long-term administration of alcohol and cigarette smoke independently and both in combination on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) was studied in liver, kidney, heart and lungs of albino rats. The levels of peroxidation products viz., malondialdehyde, hydroperoxides and conjugated dienes were increased in all the tissues of alcohol administered and smoke-exposed rats. Activities of SOD and CAT were decreased in alcohol-treated and alcohol and smoke combination groups, but increased in smoke-exposed group. Activities of GPx and GST have shown an increase, while concentration of reduced glutathione was found decreased in all the three groups.     

The influence of chromium chloride consumption on lipid peroxidation and activity of the antioxidant defense in rat tissues

The effect of food supplementation with chromium (CrCl₃ · 6H₂O) on intensity of peroxide processes and activity of antioxidant enzymes has been investigated in some rat tissues. Food supplementation with 200 μg/kg CrCl₃ · 6H₂O for 30 days resulted in the increase of tissue chromium. The tissue chromium content of chromium-treated rats decreased in the following order: spleen, heart, kidney, lung, brain, liver, skeletal muscles. All organs and tissues (except skeletal muscles) of chromium-treated rats were characterized by decreased content of lipid peroxidation (LPO) products: hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). The maximal reduction in LPO products was observed in spleen, kidney, liver, and lung. Treatment with chromium also caused an increase in the activity of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and calatase in all tissues and organs studied. In the brain and kidney an increase in the content of reduced glutathione was observed. Superoxide dismutase activity was higher in myocardium and skeletal muscles, basically equal in lung and liver, while in other organs (brain, kidney, spleen) of experimental animals it was lower than in control animals. Results of this study suggest that chromium exhibits tissue/organ-specific regulatory effects on enzymes of the antioxidant defense     

Degradation Process of Autoxidized Methyl Linoleate

Methyl linoleate (ML) and methyl linoleate hydroperoxides (MLHPO) were degradated by incubating under an aerobic condition at 37°C for a week. Identification of secondary degradation products (SP) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that the high proportions of hexanal, methyl octanoate and 8-formyl methyl octanoate (8-FMO) were found in degradated ML or MLHPO. In degradation of MLHPO, the decrease of peroxide value (POV) was slower than that of conjugated diene. In the earlier stage, POV was scarcely decreased, but in the later stage, MLHPO disappeared and another secondary hydroperoxides were produced. ML decreased linearly during 4-day incubation and the amount reached to 10% of the original one. The formation of 8-FMO was delayed to the increase of POV. Degradation process of autoxidized ML was discussed with the changes of POV, UV absorption and the amount of 8-FMO, and a formation mechanism of some SP was proposed.     

Lipid peroxidation: mechanisms, inhibition, and biological effects

In the last 50 years, lipid peroxidation has been the subject of extensive studies from the viewpoints of mechanisms, dynamics, product analysis, involvement in diseases, inhibition, and biological signaling. Lipids are oxidized by three distinct mechanisms; enzymatic oxidation, non-enzymatic, free radical-mediated oxidation, and non-enzymatic, non-radical oxidation. Each oxidation mechanism yields specific products. The oxidation of linoleates and cholesterol is discussed in some detail. The relative susceptibilities of lipids to oxidation depend on the reaction milieu as well as their inherent structure. Lipid hydroperoxides are formed as the major primary products, however they are substrates for various enzymes and they also undergo various secondary reactions. Phospholipid hydroperoxides, for example, are reduced to the corresponding hydroxides by selenoproteins in vivo. Various kinds of antioxidants with different functions inhibit lipid peroxidation and the deleterious effects caused by the lipid peroxidation products. Furthermore, the biological role of lipid peroxidation products has recently received a great deal of attention, but its physiological significance must be demonstrated in future studies.     

Dietary fiber and lipid peroxidation: effect of dietary fiber on levels of lipids and lipid peroxides in high fat diet.

Effect of feeding coconut and blackgram fiber isolated as neutral detergent fiber (NDF) on the levels of lipids and lipid peroxides was studied in rats given a high fat diet. Concentration of cholesterol, free falty acid and phospholipids showed significant decrease in the serum, liver aorta and intestine of coconut and blackgram fiber groups. Concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and conjugated dienes was significantly decreased in liver and intestine of both fiber groups, while hydroperoxides showed significant increase in liver and heart of both the fiber groups. SOD and catalase activity was found to be increased in liver, intestine, heart proximal colon and distal colon of both the fiber groups. Serum ceruloplasmin levels showed a slight increase in animals fed coconut and blackgram fiber groups. Glutathione levels in liver, intestine proximal colon, distal colon and heart also showed a significant decrease in the animals of both the fiber groups.