Vanadium-induced apoptosis and pulmonary inflammation in mice: Role of reactive oxygen species

Pulmonary exposure to metals and metal-containing compounds is associated with pulmonary inflammation, cell death, and tissue injury. The present study uses a mouse model to investigate vanadium-induced apoptosis and lung inflammation, and the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in this process. Aspiration of the pentavalent form of vanadium, V (V), caused a rapid influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes into the pulmonary airspace with a peak inflammatory response at 6 h post-exposure and resolution by 72 h. During this period, the number of apoptotic lung cells which were predominantly neutrophils increased considerably with a peak response at 24 h accompanied by no or minimum necrosis. After 24 h when the V (V)-induced inflammation was in the resolution phase, an increased influx of macrophages and engulfment of apoptotic bodies by these phagocytes was observed, supporting the role of macrophages in apoptotic cell clearance and resolution of V (V)-induced lung inflammation. Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies using lavaged alveolar macrophages showed the formation of ROS, including O(2)(*-), H(2)O(2), and (*)OH radicals which were confirmed by inhibition with free radical scavengers. The mechanism of ROS generation induced by V (V) involved the activation of an NADPH oxidase complex and the mitochondrial electron transport chain. The ROS scavenger, catalase (H(2)O(2) scavenger), effectively inhibited both lung cell apoptosis and the inflammatory response, whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD) (O(2)(*-) scavenger) and the metal chelator, deferoxamine (inhibitor of (*)OH generation by Fenton-like reactions) had lesser effects. These results indicate that multiple oxidative species are involved in V (V)-induced lung inflammation and apoptosis, and that H(2)O(2) plays a major role in this process.     

Mitochondrial function is required for hydrogen peroxide-induced growth factor receptor transactivation and downstream signaling

The transactivation of growth factor receptors is an early event in H(2)O(2)-induced signaling, although proximal targets in this process remain unclear. We found that inhibition of flavin- or heme-containing proteins eliminated H(2)O(2)-induced transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor and stimulation of its downstream targets, JNK and Akt. Inhibition of mitochondrial function with rotenone, antimycin A, KCN, carbonylcyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone, or oligomycin reproduced this effect, as did generation of mitochondrial DNA-deficient (pseudo-rho(0)) cells. Mitochondrial function had no role in JNK activation in response to UV irradiation or tumor necrosis factor-alpha. The impact of mitochondrial function on H(2)O(2)-induced growth factor transactivation was ubiquitous and applied to both the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-2 receptor and the platelet-derived growth factor-beta receptor in endothelium and fibroblasts, respectively. In contrast, ligand-induced growth factor activation was unrelated to mitochondrial function. Growth factor receptor transactivation and its downstream signaling in response to H(2)O(2) appeared to involve redox-sensitive mitochondrial events as they were abrogated by a mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants but not their nontargeted counterparts. Functionally, we found that mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants inhibited H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis and cell death but had no effect with UV irradiation. These data establish a novel role for the mitochondrion as a proximal target specific to H(2)O(2)-induced signaling and growth factor transactivation.     

Transactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor by insulin-like growth factor 1 requires basal hydrogen peroxide

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) plays an important role in prostate cancer development. Recent studies suggest that IGF-1 has mitogenic action through epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). However, the mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrated in prostate cancer DU145 cells that IGF-1 induced EGFR transactivation, leading to ERK activation. Matrix metalloproteinase-mediated shedding of heparin-binding EGF is involved in this process. Antioxidants and catalase inhibited IGF-1-stimulated EGFR phosphorylation, indicating that H(2)O(2) is required for EGFR activation. However, exogenous H(2)O(2) did not activate EGFR or IGF-1R in DU145 cells. IGF-1 did not induced production of H(2)O(2) in DU145 cells. Our results suggest that transactivation of EGFR by IGF-1 requires basal intracellular H(2)O(2) in DU145 cells.     

Differential role of hydrogen peroxide in UV-induced signal transduction

The present study investigated the differential requirement of ROS in UV-induced activation of these pathways. Exposure of the mouse epidermal C141 cells to UV radiation led to generation of ROS as measured by electron spin resonance (ESR) and by H2O2 and O2. fluorescence staining assay. Treatment of cells with UV radiation or H2O2 also markedly activated Erks, JNKs, p38 kinase and led to increases in phosphorylation of Akt and p70(S6k) in mouse epidermal JB6 cells. The scavenging of UV-generated H2O2 by N-acety-L-cyteine (NAC, a general antioxidant) or catalase (a specific H2O2 inhibitor) inhibited UV-induced activation of JNKs, p38 kinase, Akt and p70(S6k), while it did not show any inhibitory effects on Erks activation. Further, pretreatment of cells with sodium formate (an .OH radical scavenger) or superoxide dismutase (O2-. radical scavenger) did not inhibit any of these pathways. These results demonstrate that H2O2 generation is required for UV-induced phosphorylation of Akt and p70(S6k), and involved in activation of JNKs and p38 kinase, but not Erks.     

Cyclosporin A promotes growth and invasiveness in vitro of human first-trimester trophoblast cells via MAPK3/MAPK1-mediated AP1 and Ca2+/calcineurin/NFAT signaling pathways

Cyclosporin A (CsA) has provided the pharmacologic foundation for organ transplantation as a calcineurin inhibitor blocking T-cell activation. We have demonstrated that CsA promoted trophoblast viability/proliferation and invasion in vitro. In the present study, we further investigated the intracellular signalling pathways involved in enhancing cell viability/proliferation and invasiveness of the human trophoblast induced by CsA. We showed that blocking mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3)/MAPK1 signaling by U0126 attenuated CsA-increased cell viability and invasiveness of trophoblasts. Cyclosprin A inhibited ionomycin-stimulated nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) transactivation in JAR cells and reversed the ionomycin-inhibited trophoblast invasiveness. However, either activating calcineurin by ionomycin, resulting in NFAT transactivation, or inhibiting NFAT using an NFAT inhibitor had no effect on trophoblast cell viability/proliferation and apoptosis in vitro. Hence, the CsA-induced promotion of trophoblast growth and invasion occurred by overlapping but independent pathways. The MAPK3/MAPK1 pathway was essential for both trophoblast growth and invasion, whereas the Ca(2+)/calcineurin/NFAT pathway was only involved in the CsA-promoted trophoblast invasiveness. Finally, potential cross-talk between MAPK3/MAPK1 and Ca(2+)/calcineurin/NFAT and its relationship to activator protein 1 activation was investigated. Our findings explored possible signal transduction pathways modulated by CsA, which may lead to the expansion of the clinical applications of this drug.     

N-acetylcysteine inhibits angiotensin ii-mediated activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and epidermal growth factor receptor

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is known to stimulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor transactivation to mediate growth-promoting signals such as extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). However, how ROS and EGF receptor interact to orchestrate these signals in VSMCs remains unclear. Here we found that an antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine, inhibited ERK activation and EGF receptor tyrosine phosphorylation induced by Ang II. Moreover, H(2)O(2) stimulates EGF receptor tyrosine phosphorylation and EGF receptor inhibitors attenuated H(2)O(2)-induced ERK activation. These data indicate that ROS mediate Ang II-induced EGF receptor transactivation, a critical mechanism for ERK-dependent growth in VSMCs.