Modulation of glutathione synthetic enzymes by acidic fibroblast growth factor

Increasing evidence suggests that glutathione (GSH) synthesis is a regulated process. Documented increases in gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GCS) occur in response to oxidants, in tumors, on plating cells at a low cell density, and with nerve growth factor stimulation, suggesting that GSH synthesis may be related to the cell growth and transformation. Previously, extracellular acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-1) has been demonstrated to cause transformation and aggressive cell growth in murine embryonic fibroblasts. In the present investigation, we sought to determine whether FGF-1, with its growth inducing properties, resulted in the modulation of GSH biosynthetic enzymes, GCS and GSH synthetase. Murine fibroblasts transduced with (hst/KS)FGF-1, a chimeric human FGF-1 gene containing a signal peptide sequence for secretion, displayed elevated gene expression of both heavy and light subunits of GCS. Activity of GSH synthetase was also elevated in these cells compared with control cells. Nonetheless, GSH was decreased in the FGF-1-transduced cells along with high energy phosphates, adenine nucleotides, NADH, and the redox poise. However, GSSG was not elevated in these cells. Fibroblasts stably expressing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Tat, which induces intrinsic FGF-1 secretion, resulted in similar changes in GCS, GS, and GSH. The results suggest that although increases in the enzymes of GSH synthesis are a common response to growth factors, an increase in GSH content per se is not required for altered cell growth.     

Age-associated decline in gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase gene expression in rats

Although glutathione (GSH) concentration has been reported to diminish with age, the mechanism underlying such age-associated decline in the GSH content is not well understood. In this study, we compared the gene expression of both subunits of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GCS), the rate-limiting enzyme in de novo GSH synthesis, in young, adult, and old Fisher 344 rats. It was found that GCS activity was significantly decreased with increased age in liver, kidney, lung, and red blood cells (RBC). Parallel with the decreased enzyme activity, the protein and mRNA contents of both GCS subunits also changed inversely with age in liver, kidney, and lung, implying a decreased GCS gene expression during aging. Such a reduced GCS gene expression was accompanied by a decline in total GSH content without any change in cysteine concentration. Furthermore, the decreased GCS gene expression in old rats was not associated with a decline in the plasma insulin or cortisol level. This study showed, for the first time, that the expression of both GCS subunit genes was decreased in some organs of old rats, which would result in a reduced rate of GSH biosynthesis. Such decline in GSH synthetic capacity may underlie the observed decrease in GSH content during aging.     

The biosynthesis of ascorbate protects isolated rat hepatocytes from cumene hydroperoxide-mediated oxidative stress

Most animals synthesize ascorbate. It is an essential enzymatic cofactor for the synthesis of a variety of biological molecules and also a powerful antioxidant. There is, however, little direct evidence supporting an antioxidant role for endogenously produced ascorbate. Recently, we demonstrated that incubation of rat hepatocytes with 1-bromoheptane or phorone simultaneously depleted glutathione (GSH) and triggered rapid ascorbate synthesis. The present study investigates the hypothesis that endogenous ascorbate synthesis can confer protection against oxidative stress. Rat and guinea pig hepatocytes were depleted of GSH with 1-bromoheptane and subsequently treated with the oxidative stressor cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) in the presence or absence of the ascorbate synthesis inhibitor sorbinil. In rat hepatocytes, ascorbate content increased linearly (from 15.1 to 35.8 nmol/10(6) cells) over a 105-min incubation. Prior depletion of GSH increased CHP-induced cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, lipid peroxidation, and cell death in rat and guinea pig hepatocytes. Inhibiting ascorbate synthesis, however, further elevated ROS production (2-fold), lipid peroxidation (1.5-fold), and cell death (2-fold) in rat hepatocytes only. This is the first time that endogenous ascorbate synthesis has been shown to decrease cellular susceptibility to oxidative stress. Protection by endogenously produced ascorbate may therefore need to be addressed when extrapolating data to humans from experiments using rodents capable of synthesizing ascorbate.     

HIV-1 viral envelope glycoprotein gp120 produces oxidative stress and regulates the functional expression of multidrug resistance protein-1 (Mrp1) in glial cells

Brain human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection is associated with oxidative stress, which may lead to HIV-1 encephalitis, a chronic neurodegenerative condition. In vitro , oxidative stress can be induced in glial cells by exposure to HIV-1 envelope protein glycoprotein (gp120). Multidrug resistance proteins (Mrps) are known to efflux endogenous substrates (i.e. GSH and GSSG) involved in cellular defense against oxidative stress. Altered GSH/GSSG export may contribute to oxidative damage during HIV-1 encephalitis. At present, it is unknown if gp120 exposure can alter the functional expression of Mrp isoforms. Heat-shock protein 70, inducible nitric oxide synthase, intracellular GSSG, 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein fluorescence, and extracellular nitrite were increased in primary cultures of rat astrocytes triggered with gp120, suggesting an oxidative stress response. RT-PCR and immunoblot analysis demonstrated increased Mrp1 mRNA (2.3-fold) and protein (2.2-fold), respectively, in gp120 treated astrocytes while Mrp4 mRNA or protein expression was not changed. Cellular retention of 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein, an established Mrp substrate, was reduced (twofold) in gp120-treated astrocytes, suggesting increased Mrp-mediated transport. In addition, GSH and GSSG export were enhanced in gp120-triggered cells. These data suggest that gp120 can up-regulate Mrp1, but not Mrp4, functional expression in cultured astrocytes. Our observation of increased GSH/GSSG efflux in response to gp120 treatment implies that Mrp isoforms may be involved in regulating the oxidative stress response in glial cells.     

Nicardipine normalizes elevated levels of antioxidant activity in response to xanthine oxidase-induced oxidative stress in hypertensive rat heart

It has been reported that the production of oxygen radicals mediated by xanthine oxidase (XO) is stimulated in hypertensive cardiovascular endothelium, suggesting involvement of oxidative stress in pathogenesis of hypertension. In this study we estimated the effect of nicardipine, a calcium blocker, on the oxidative stress and antioxidant activities in left ventricles from spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and stroke-prone SHR (SHRSP). The activity of XO increased 3.5-fold in SHR and 6.2-fold in SHRSP compared to that in normal controls (WKY). Interestingly, the levels of glutathione (GSH) and the activity of its synthesizing enzyme (γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase, γ-GCS) elevated concomitantly in SHR and SHRSP: the level of GSH increased 1.2-fold in SHR and 1.3-fold in SHRSP. The activity of γ-GCS was elevated 1.5-fold in SHR and 2.4-fold in SHRSP, accompanying an increase in the expression of its mRNA. Treatment of these rats with nicardipine, for 4 weeks improved blood pressure, from 176 ± 10 to 140 ± 8 mmHg in SHR, and from 201 ± 11 to 167 ± 5 mmHg in SHRSP, respectively, and decreased wet weight of heart, levels of GSH, and the activities of XO and γ-GCS. Nicardipine reduced the expression of γ-GCS mRNA. Collectively, these results suggest that reactive oxygen species produced by XO in hypertensive rat heart cause induction of the expression of γ-GCS and nicardipine plays a role in reducing the oxidative stress in hypertensive heart.     

Oxidative Stimulation of Glutathione Synthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana Suspension Cultures

A system based on Arabidopsis thaliana suspension cultures was established for the analysis of glutathione (GSH) synthesis in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Mild oxidative stress was induced by use of the catalase inhibitor, aminotriazole, and its development was monitored by measurement of the oxidative inactivation of aconitase. Addition of 2 mM aminotriazole resulted in a 25% decrease in activity of aconitase over 4 h. During the subsequent 10 h, no further decrease in aconitase activity was measured despite a sustained inhibition of catalase. In combination with our failure to detect significant increases in the level of lipid peroxidation, another marker indicative of oxidative injury, these data suggest that although hydrogen peroxide initially leaked into the cytosol, its accumulation was limited by a cytosolic catalase-independent mechanism. A 4-fold increase in the level of GSH, which was almost exclusively in the reduced form, was observed under the same treatment. To determine to what extent this increase in reduced GSH played a role in limiting the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in the cytosol, we inhibited GSH synthesis with buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), a specific inhibitor of [gamma]-glutamylcysteine synthetase. No significant oxidative injury was detected as a result of treatment with 50 [mu]M BSO alone, and furthermore, this treatment had no effect on cell viability, However, addition of 2 mM aminotriazole to cells preincubated with 50 [mu]M BSO for 15 h led to a rapid loss of aconitase activity (75% in 4 h), and significant accumulation of products of lipid peroxidation. Within 72 h, cell viability was lost completely. After removal of BSO from the growth medium, GSH levels recovered to normal over a period of 20 h. Addition of 2 mM aminotriazole to cells at different time points during this recovery period demonstrated a strong correlation between the level of reduced GSH and the degree of protection against oxidative injury. These data strongly suggest that the induction of GSH synthesis by an oxidative stimulus plays a crucial role in determining the susceptibility of cells to oxidative stress.     

Glyceryl trinitrate,a nitric oxide donor,abrogates ferric nitrilotriacetate-induced oxidative stress and renal damage

Ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA), a common water pollutant and a known renal carcinogen, acts through the generation of oxidative stress and hyperproliferative response. In the present study, we show that the nitric oxide (NO) generated by the administration of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) affords protection against Fe-NTA-induced oxidative stress and proliferative response. Administration of Fe-NTA resulted in a significant (P<0.001) depletion of renal glutathione (GSH) content with concomitant increase in lipid peroxidation and elevated tissue damage marker release in serum. Parallel to these changes, Fe-NTA also caused down-regulation of GSH metabolizing enzymes including glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione-S-transferase and several fold induction in ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and rate of DNA synthesis. Subsequent exogenous administration of GTN at doses of 3 and 6mg/kg body weight resulted in significant (P<0.001) recovery of GSH metabolizing enzymes and amelioration of tissue GSH content, in a dose-dependent manner. GTN administration also inhibited malondialdehyde (MDA) formation, induction of ODC activity, enhanced rate of DNA synthesis, and pathological deterioration in a dose-dependent fashion. Further, administration of NO inhibitor, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), exacerbated Fe-NTA-induced oxidative tissue injury, hyperproliferative response, and pathological damage. Overall, the study suggests that NO administration subsequent to Fe-NTA affords protection against ROS-mediated damage induced by Fe-NTA.     

Decreased Glutathione Results in Calcium-Mediated Cell Death in PC12

Neuronal damage in certain cellular populations in the brain has been linked to oxidative stress accompanied by an elevation in intracellular calcium. Many questions remain about how such oxidative stress occurs and how it affects calcium homeostasis. Glutathione (GSH) is a major regulator of cellular redox status in the brain, and lowered GSH levels have been associated with dopaminergic cell loss in Parkinson’s disease (PD). We found that transfection of antisense oligomers directed against glutamylcysteine synthetase (GCS), the rate-limiting enzyme in GSH synthesis, into PC12 cells resulted in decreased GSH and increased levels of ROS. Decreased GSH levels also correlated with an increase in intracellular calcium levels. Data from this study suggest that dopaminergic neurons are very sensitive to decreases in the internal oxidant buffering capacity of the cell caused by reductions in GSH levels, and that alterations in this parameter can result in disruption of calcium homeostasis and cell death. These results may be of particular significance for therapeutic treatment of PD, as those dopaminergic neurons that are spared in this disorder appear to contain the calcium binding protein, calbindin.     

Glutathione changes occurring after S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase inhibition

Freshly isolated rat hepatocytes, which metabolize methionine through the cystathionine pathway, and cultured L5178Y cells, which do not, were compared for their response to the inhibition of S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) hydrolase (EC 3.3.1.1). When cells were incubated in Fischer's medium lacking cystine but containing 0.67 mM methionine and 10% serum, the addition of periodate-oxidized adenosine (POA), an inhibitor of SAH hydrolase, increased the level of SAH approximately 4-fold in L5178Y cells (5 mM POA) and 30-fold in hepatocytes (1 mM POA). POA treatment also decreased the amount of intracellular glutathione (GSH) in hepatocytes by 6-fold, and in L5178Y cells by 3-fold. Incubation of hepatocytes with adenosine plus homocysteine, 2-chloroadenosine, or 2',3'-acyclic adenosine increased intracellular SAH and also lowered GSH levels. Neither GSH oxidation nor efflux of GSH or GSH conjugates appeared to account for the GSH loss. Intracellular GSH, covalently bound to proteins as mixed disulfides, increased when hepatocytes were incubated with POA, but the increase was insufficient to account for the total GSH loss. In hepatocytes with prelabeled [35S]GSH, POA caused the cellular GSH content to decrease while the specific activity of [35S]GSH remained constant, suggesting that inhibitor treatments that caused elevated SAH levels may have increased the degradation of GSH while GSH synthesis was inhibited.     

Inducers of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase and their effects on glutathione synthetase expression

Synthesis of GSH occurs via two enzymatic steps, the first is catalyzed by gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GCS) and the second is catalyzed by GSH synthetase (GS). A heavy (HS) and light subunit (LS) make up GCS; regulation of both subunits have been well characterized, whereas regulation of GS is largely unknown. In this study, we examined the effects of treatments known to influence the gene expression of GCS subunits on GS expression. Insulin and hydrocortisone treatment of rat hepatocytes or ethanol-feeding of rats for 9 weeks, which increased the expression of GCS-HS only, had no influence on GS expression. However, two-thirds partial hepatectomy in rats which increased the expression of GCS-HS only, also increased GS expression. Treatment of hepatocytes or rats with diethyl maleate, buthionine sulfoximine, tert-butylhydroquinone, or thioacetamide, which increased the expression of both GCS subunits, increased the expression of GS. The GSH synthesis capacity increased 50-100% by treatments that increased only the GCS-HS expression, whereas it increased 161-200% by treatments that increased both GCS-HS and GS expression. Thioacetamide treatment of Chang cells increased cell GSH and GS expression by 50%, but had minimal influence on GCS subunits. Thus, GS induction can further increase the cell's GSH synthetic capacity and in some cells may be as important as GCS in determining the rate of GSH synthesis.     

Oxidation affects the regulation of hepatic lipid synthesis by chylomicron remnants

The effects of native and oxidized chylomicron remnants on lipid synthesis in normal and oxidatively stressed liver cells were investigated using MET murine hepatocytes (MMH cells), a nontransformed mouse hepatocyte cell line that maintains a highly differentiated hepatic phenotype in culture. Lipid synthesis was determined by measuring the incorporation of [(3)H]oleate into cholesteryl ester, triacylglycerol, and phospholipid by the cells. The formation of cholesteryl ester and phospholipid was decreased by chylomicron remnants in a dose-dependent manner, while triacylglycerol synthesis was increased. Exposure of MMH cells to mild oxidative stress by incubation with CuSO(4) (2.5 microM) for 24 h led to significantly increased incorporation of [(3)H]oleate into triacylglycerol and phospholipid, but not cholesteryl ester, in the absence of chylomicron remnants. In the presence of the lipoproteins, however, similar effects to those found in untreated cells were observed. Oxidatively modified chylomicron remnants prepared by incubation with CuSO(4) (10 microM, 18 h, 37 degrees C) did not influence cholesteryl ester or phospholipid synthesis in MMH cells, but had a similar effect to that found with native remnants on triacylglycerol synthesis. These findings show that hepatic lipid metabolism is altered by exposure to mild oxidative stress and by lipids from the diet delivered to the liver in chylomicron remnants, and these effects may play a role in the development of atherosclerosis.     

Cysteine regulates expression of cysteine dioxygenase and gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase in cultured rat hepatocytes

Rat hepatocytes cultured for 3 days in basal medium expressed low levels of cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) and high levels of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GCS). When the medium was supplemented with 2 mmol/l methionine or cysteine, CDO activity and CDO protein increased by >10-fold and CDO mRNA increased by 1.5- or 3.2-fold. In contrast, GCS activity decreased to 51 or 29% of basal, GCS heavy subunit (GCS-HS) protein decreased to 89 or 58% of basal, and GCS mRNA decreased to 79 or 37% of basal for methionine or cysteine supplementation, respectively. Supplementation with cysteine consistently yielded responses of greater magnitude than did supplementation with an equimolar amount of methionine. Addition of propargylglycine to inhibit cystathionine gamma-lyase activity and, hence, cysteine formation from methionine prevented the effects of methionine, but not those of cysteine, on CDO and GCS expression. Addition of buthionine sulfoximine to inhibit GCS, and thus block glutathione synthesis from cysteine, did not alter the ability of methionine or cysteine to increase CDO. GSH concentration was not correlated with changes in either CDO or GCS-HS expression. The effectiveness of cysteine was equivalent to or greater than that of its precursors (S-adenosylmethionine, cystathionine, homocysteine) or metabolites (taurine, sulfate). Taken together, these results suggest that cysteine itself is an important cellular signal for upregulation of CDO and downregulation of GCS.     

Coordinated upregulation of a series of endogenous antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes as a novel strategy for protecting renal tubular cells from oxidative and electrophilic stress

In view of the crucial involvement of oxidative and electrophilic stress in various kidney disorders, this study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that pharmacologically-mediated coordinated upregulation of endogenous renal antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes is an effective strategy for renal protection. Notably, studies on the pharmacological inducibility of a series of antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes in renal tubular cells are lacking. Here we reported that incubation of normal rat kidney (NRK-52E) proximal tubular cells with low micromolar concentrations (10-50 microM) of the cruciferous nutraceutical, 1,2-dithiole-3-thione (D3T), led to a significant concentration-dependent induction of a wide spectrum of antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes, including catalase (CAT), reduced form of glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), and heme oxygenase (HO). We further observed that D3T treatment also increased the protein and mRNA expression for CAT, gamma-glutamylcysteine ligase, GR, GST-A, GST-M, NQO1, and HO-1. Incubation of the renal tubular cells with H(2)O(2), SIN-1-derived peroxynitrite, or 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal led to concentration-dependent decreases in cell viability. Pretreatment of the renal tubular cells with 10-50 microM D3T afforded remarkable protection against the nephrocytotoxicity elicited by the above oxidative and electrophilic species. The D3T-mediated cytoprotection showed a concentration-dependent relationship. Taken together, this study for the first time comprehensively characterized the inducibility by a unique nutraceutical of a wide spectrum of antioxidative and phase 2 defenses in renal tubular cells at the levels of enzyme activity as well as protein and mRNA expression, and demonstrated that such a coordinated upregulation of cellular defenses led to remarkable protection of renal tubular cell from oxidative and electrophilic stress. Because of the crucial role of oxidative and electrophilic stress in inflammatory injury, D3T-mediated coordinated induction of endogenous antioxidative and phase 2 defenses may also serve as an important anti-inflammatory mechanism in kidneys.     

Ontogenic changes in metabolism and transport of glutathione in the rat

Changes in the level of glutathione (GSH), the turnover rate, and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity were examined in newborn, weanling, and adult male Wistar rats, the objective being to elucidate the mechanisms which control the hepatic GSH level during maturation as well as under conditions of different degrees of protein ingestion. The hepatic GGT activity in the newborn rats was high at birth, decreased within a few days to 1 to 2% of the initial level, and remained unchanged thereafter, when these rats were fed a normal diet after 3 weeks of age. In contrast, the hepatic GSH level increased 3-4-fold while total GGT activity in the kidney increased 6-8-fold. When weanling rats were fed a low protein diet (containing 10% soy protein) for 3 weeks, the hepatic GSH level decreased markedly while the GGT activity increased 5-6-fold. The turnover rate of hepatic GSH also increased, as determined by the use of buthionine sulfoximine, a specific inhibitor of GSH synthesis; a value of 2.1 h was obtained in comparison with 3.5 h for that of rats fed the normal laboratory chow (CRF-1). On the other hand, feeding adult rats on the low protein diet resulted in a marked decrease in hepatic GSH level with no effect on either hepatic or renal GGT activity. These results together with other observations may suggest that GSH translocated out of liver cells in the newborn rats is degraded mainly by these cells, while the tripeptide secreted by hepatocytes of adult rats is metabolized predominantly in extrahepatic tissues, such as the kidney.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)