Antidepressants inhibit human acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activity

Magnesium deficiency in experimental animals leads to inflammation, exacerbated immune stress response and a decrease of specific immune response. It also results in a significant increase in free radical species and subsequent tissue injury. An accelerated thymus involution was observed in Mg-deficient rats in relation to enhanced apoptosis and enhanced susceptibility to oxidative stress. To examine the stress-inducing effects of low Mg status on thymocytes, cDNA arrays were used to evaluate changes in gene expression in weaning rats submitted to Mg deficiency of short duration (2 days). Several genes exhibited changes in their expression caused by Mg deficiency before any perceptible modification in cell integrity and functions. The up-regulated genes included cytochrome c oxidase, glutathione transferase, CuZn superoxide dismutase, genes associated with the stress response (HSP70 and HSP84) and a gene involved in DNA synthesis and repair (GADD45). The down-regulated genes included Na/P cotransporter 1. These findings are consistent with altered cell growth, modifications of ion fluxes and oxidative stress described during Mg deficiency. The observation of induction of genes involved in protection and repair in cells from Mg-deficient animals provides additional evidence of the role of oxidative stress in the pathobiology of this deficiency.     

Competition between Li+ and Mg2+ in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells: a fluorescence and 31P NMR study.

Because Mg2+ and Li+ ions have similar chemical properties, we have hypothesized that Li+/Mg2+ competition for Mg2+ binding sites is the molecular basis for the therapeutic action of lithium in manic-depressive illness. By fluorescence spectroscopy with furaptra-loaded cells, the free intracellular Mg2+ concentration within the intact neuroblastoma cells was found to increase from 0. 39 +/- 0.04 mM to 0.60 +/- 0.04 mM during a 40-min Li+ incubation in which the total intracellular Li+ concentration increased from 0 to 5.5 mM. Our fluorescence microscopy observations of Li+-free and Li+-loaded cells also indicate an increase in free Mg2+ concentration upon Li+ incubation. By 31P NMR, the free intracellular Mg2+ concentrations for Li+-free cells was 0.35 +/- 0. 03 mM and 0.80 +/- 0.04 mM for Li+-loaded cells (final total intracellular Li+ concentration of 16 mM). If a Li+/Mg2+ competition mechanism is present in neuroblastoma cells, an increase in the total intracellular Li+ concentration is expected to result in an increase in the free intracellular Mg2+ concentration, because Li+ displaces Mg2+ from its binding sites within the nerve cell. The fluorescence spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and 31P NMR spectroscopy studies presented here have shown this to be the case.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance evidence that cellular oxygen toxicity is caused by the generation of superoxide and hydroxyl free radicals

Cells require molecular oxygen for the generation of energy through mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation; however, high concentrations of oxygen are toxic and can cause cell death. A number of different mechanisms have been proposed to cause cellular oxygen toxicity. One hypothesis is that reactive oxygen free radicals may be generated; however free radical generation in hyperoxic cells has never been directly measured and the mechanism of this radical generation is unknown. In order to determine if cellular oxygen toxicity is free radical mediated, we applied electron paramagnetic resonance, EPR, spectroscopy using the spin trap 5,5'-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide, DMPO, to measure free radical generation in hyperoxic pulmonary endothelial cells. Cells in air did not give rise to any detectable signal. However, cells exposed to 100% O2 for 30 min exhibited a prominent signal of trapped hydroxyl radical, DMPO-OH, while cell free buffer did not give rise to any detectable radical generation. This cellular radical generation was demonstrated to be derived from the superoxide radical since the observed signal was totally quenched by superoxide dismutase, but not by equal concentrations of the denatured enzyme. It was confirmed that the hydroxyl radical was generated since in the presence of ethanol the CH3 CH(OH) radical was formed. Loss of cell viability as measured by uptake of trypan blue dye was observed paralleling the measured free radical generation. Thus, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals are generated in hyperoxic pulmonary endothelial cells and this appears to be an important mechanism of cellular oxygen toxicity.     

Chronic magnesium deficiency decreases tolerance to hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in mouse heart

AimsMagnesium (Mg) deficiency has been reported to be associated with the development of the metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, and sudden death. We examined the influence of chronic Mg deficiency on cardiac tolerance to hypoxia/reoxygenation injury.Main methodsMice were fed an Mg-deficient diet for 4 weeks, and then their hearts were excised for Langendorff perfusion experiments. The levels of total Mg in the blood and heart were quantified by atomic absorption spectrometry.Key findingsIn Mg-deficient mice, the Mg concentration in whole blood was markedly decreased; however, that in the heart remained unchanged. When the hearts of control mice were exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation, removal of extracellular Mg from a normal Krebs solution containing 1.2 mM Mg resulted in a significant decrease in the recovery of the tension-rate product (TRP) upon reoxygenation. In Mg-deficient mice, the recovery of TRP in the heart was reduced significantly in the absence of extracellular Mg compared to that in controls. The addition of Mg to the perfusate did not improve TRP recovery. During hypoxia/reoxygenation, cardiac damage evaluated by myocardial aspartate amino trasferase (AST) release was greater in hearts of Mg-deficient mice than in that of control mice.SignificanceThese results indicate that chronic Mg deficiency causes severe hypomagnesemia and a decrease in cardiac tolerance to hypoxia, without changing the intracellular Mg content. The decreased tolerance to hypoxia was not affected by the presence or absence of extracellular Mg, suggesting that some intracellular metabolic abnormalities develop in the cardiac myocytes of Mg-deficient mice.     

蝉虫草菌丝体胞内和胞外多糖抗肝细胞氧化损伤比较研究

蝉虫草（蝉花）作为我国传统的中药材,是一种药食两用的虫生真菌,因含有丰富的活性物质而具有广泛的医疗保健价值。本研究以自由基清除率为指标分析蝉虫草胞内和胞外多糖的化学抗氧化活性,再以H₂O₂诱导的人肝LO2细胞氧化损伤为模型,进而分析比较二者对肝细胞氧化应激损伤的改善作用。结果表明,在化学抗氧化能力比较上,蝉虫草菌丝体胞外多糖有效清除?OH自由基、ABTS自由基和DPPH自由基的EC₅₀值分别为1.06mg/mL、0.96mg/mL和0.63mg/mL,而胞内多糖的EC₅₀值分别为3.71mg/mL、2.83mg/mL和1.70mg/mL,表明蝉虫草胞外多糖的化学抗氧化能力更强;在改善细胞氧化应激损伤比较上,与模型组对比,二者均能随着浓度递增而显著地提高细胞存活率,但胞外多糖比胞内多糖更强,当多糖浓度为5mg/mL时,胞外多糖细胞存活率达到92.36%,胞内多糖只达到82.07%;在调节细胞抗氧化酶清除ROS的机制上,与模型组对比,胞外多糖分别上调SOD酶活力2.51倍和CAT酶活力2.91倍,极显著地降低了细胞ROS水平（P<0.01）来改善细胞的氧化应激损伤作用。相应地,胞内多糖只上调了1.85倍和2.33倍,显著性地清除了ROS（P<0.05）,表明蝉虫草菌丝体胞外多糖具有更显著的抗肝细胞氧化损伤作用。本研究结果显示蝉虫草菌丝体胞外和胞内多糖均具有良好的抗肝氧化损伤活性,且胞外多糖比胞内多糖活性更好,为蝉虫草菌丝体多糖在保肝产品中的开发和应用提供了科学依据。     

Magnesium Deficiency Enhances Hydrogen Peroxide Production and Oxidative Damage in Chick Embryo Hepatocyte In Vitro

Magnesium deficiency and oxidative stress have been identified as correlative factors in many diseases. The origin of free radicals correlated with oxidative damage resulting from Mg-deficiency is unclear at the cellular level. To investigate whether hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is associated in the oxidative stress induced by Mg-deficiency, the effect of Mg²⁺ deficiency (0, 0.4, 0.7 mM) on the metabolism of H₂O₂ was investigated in cultured chick embryo hepatocytes. After being cultured in the media with various concentrations of Mg²⁺ for 1, 2, 4, 6 and 10 days, parameters of H₂O₂ production, catalase activity, lipid peroxidation, intracellular total Mg and cell viability were analyzed. Results demonstrated that long-term incubation of chick embryo hepatocyte in extracellular Mg²⁺-deprivative and Mg²⁺-deficient (0.4 mM) states significantly enhanced the production of H₂O₂ (approximately twofold, respectively) and lipid peroxidation in the cell cultures, while decreasing the cell viability. Additionally, the reversing action of Mg²⁺ re-added to 1.0 mM and the partial reversing action of dimethylthiourea suggested that (i) [Mg²⁺]_e deficiency induced the increase of H₂O₂ production, (ii) [Mg²⁺]_e deficiency decreased catalase activity in chick embryo hepatocyte in vitro, subsequently causing oxidative stress and cell peroxidative damage.     

Enhanced tumor necrosis factor-α production following endotoxin challenge in rats is an early event during magnesium deficiency

Magnesium (Mg) plays an essential role in fundamental cellular reactions and the importance of the immuno-inflammatory processes in the pathology of Mg deficiency has been recently reconsidered. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of different stages of Mg deficiency on endotoxin response and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) production. Weaning male Wistar rats were pair fed either a Mg-deficient or a control diet. At day 7, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced no lethal effects in control rats but resulted in 70% mortality in Mg-deficient rats within 3 h. The vulnerability of Mg-deficient rats to LPS was associated with higher TNFα plasma values. Mg-deficient animals that received magnesium supplementation before endotoxin challenge had significantly increased survival. At day 2, control and Mg-deficient rats were also subjected to endotoxin challenge with or without magnesium pre-treatment. A significant increase in TNFα plasma level was observed in Mg-deficient rats compared to rats fed the control diet. Mg-deficient rats that received magnesium replacement therapy before endotoxin challenge had significantly lower TNFα plasma values than those receiving saline before endotoxin. Thus, the results of this experiment suggest that the activated or primed state of immune cells is an early event occurring in Mg deficiency.     

Role of oxidative stress in vinorelbine-induced vascular endothelial cell injury

Vinorelbine (VNR), a vinca alkaloid anticancer drug, often causes vascular injury such as venous irritation, vascular pain, phlebitis, and necrotizing vasculitis. The purpose of this study was to identify the mechanisms that mediate the cell injury induced by VNR in porcine aorta endothelial cells (PAECs). PAECs were exposed to VNR for 10 min followed by further incubation in serum-free medium without VNR. The exposure to VNR (0.3–30 μM) decreased the cell viability concentration and time dependently. The incidence of apoptotic cells significantly increased at 12 h after transient exposure to VNR. At the same time, VNR increased the activity of caspases. Interestingly, VNR rapidly depleted intracellular glutathione (GSH) and increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Moreover, VNR depolarized the mitochondrial membrane potential and decreased cellular ATP levels. These VNR-induced cell abnormalities were almost completely inhibited by GSH and N-acetylcysteine. On the other hand, l-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine, a specific inhibitor of GSH synthesis, aggravated the VNR-induced loss of cell viability. These results clearly demonstrate that VNR induces oxidative stress by depleting intracellular GSH and increasing ROS production in PAECs, and oxidative stress plays an important role in the VNR-induced cell injury.     

Depressed antioxidant defense in rat heart in experimental magnesium deficiency implications for the pathogenesis of myocardial lesions

Magnesium (Mg) deficiency has been shown to produce myocardial lesions in different experimental models. Based on several lines of evidence, it has been proposed that oxidative injury to the cardiac muscle may explain the pathobiology of such lesions. In pursuance of this postulation, the present study examined the effect of dietary deficiency of Mg on the activity of the antioxidant enzymes, Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, in rat heart. This article reports a significant lowering of the activity of both these enzymes in the cardiac tissue in Mg-deficient rats. Since depressed antioxidant defense in the heart may enhance myocardial susceptibility to oxidative injury, the observation is of possible relevance to the pathogenesis of cardiac lesions in Mg deficiency.     

Glutathione metabolism of human vascular endothelial cells under peroxidative stress

Glutathione (GSH) plays an important role in the cellular defense against (per-)oxidative stress. The capacity of this cellular defense system may be related to the oxygen tension, cells are normally subjected to in vivo; therefore, we studied the de novo synthesis of glutathione, and the redox turnover under peroxidative stress, in human umbilical vein and artery endothelial cells (HUVEC, HUAEC) and human skin fibroblasts. De novo synthesis in these cell types was studied in vitro by measuring the time course of intracellular GSH recovery after depletion with diamide. For fibroblasts, the initial rate of de novo synthesis after GSH depletion was twice that of the endothelial cell strains. In the endothelial cells (HUVEC, HUAEC) the original intracellular GSH level is reached within 40 min. while in the same time span, the GSH level in fibroblasts returned to 75% of control level. The activity of the hexose monophosphate shunt (HMS) was determined under oxidative stress as a measure for the coupled redox turnover of intracellular GSH. Under control conditions the HMS in endothelial cells was twice as high as in fibroblasts. Cumene hydroperoxide (40 microM) induced a three-fold increase in HMS in both HUVEC and HUAEC, while fibroblasts exhibited an increase of 83%. During the same peroxidative stress, the intracellular GSH concentration of HUVEC, HUAEC and fibroblasts stayed at control level. So with respect to GSH metabolism there were no differences between the two endothelial cell strains. In comparison with the endothelial cells, the fibroblasts were less susceptible toward oxidative stress.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Dietary magnesium intake influences circulating pro-inflammatory neuropeptide levels and loss of myocardial tolerance to postischemic stress

Severe dietary Mg restriction (Mg(9), 9% of recommended daily allowance [RDA], plasma Mg = 0.25 mM) induces a pro-inflammatory neurogenic response in rats (substance P [SP]), and the associated increases in oxidative stress in vivo and cardiac susceptibility to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury were previously shown to be attenuated by SP receptor blockade and antioxidant treatment. The present study assessed if less severe dietary Mg restriction modulates the extent of both the neurogenic/oxidative responses in vivo and I/R injury in vitro. Male Sprague-Dawley rats maintained on Mg(40) (40% RDA, plasma Mg = 0.6 mM) or Mg(100) (100% RDA, plasma Mg = 0.8 mM) diets were assessed for plasma SP levels (CHEM-ELISA) during the first 3 weeks and were compared with the Mg(9) group; red blood cell (RBC) glutathione and plasma malondialdehyde levels were compared at 3 weeks in Mg(9), Mg(20) (plasma Mg = 0.4 mM), Mg(40), and Mg(100) rats; and 40-min global ischemia/30-min reperfusion hearts from 7-week-old Mg(20), Mg(40), and Mg(100) rats were compared with respect to functional recovery (cardiac work, and diastolic, systolic, and developed pressures), tissue LDH release, and free radical production (ESR spectroscopy and alpha-phenyl-N-tert butylnitrone [PBN; 3 mM] spin trapping). The Mg(40) diet induced smaller elevations in plasma SP (50% lower) compared with Mg(9), but with a nearly identical time course. RBC glutathione and plasma malondialdehyde levels revealed a direct relationship between the severity of oxidative stress and hypomagnesemia. The dominant lipid free radical species detected in all I/R groups was the alkoxyl radical (PBN/alkoxyl: alpha(H) = 1.93 G, alpha(N) = 13.63 G); however, Mg(40) and Mg(20) hearts exhibited 2.7- and 3.9-fold higher alkoxyl levels, 40% and 65% greater LDH release, and lower functional recovery (Mg(20) < Mg(40)) compared with Mg(100). Our data suggest that varying dietary Mg intake directly influences the magnitude of the neurogenic/oxidative responses in vivo and the resultant myocardial tolerance to I/R stress.     

In the neuronal cell line SH-SY5Y, oxidative stress-induced free radical overproduction causes cell death without any participation of intracellular Ca(2+) increase

Adding the membrane-permeant oxidant tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BOOH) to the incubation medium, in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells, induced a marked and progressive concentration-dependent (300, 500 and 1000 microM) increase of free radical production, as evaluated by the fluorescent probe 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) and of the intracellular Ca(2+) ion concentrations [Ca(2+)](i). The removal of extracellular Ca(2+) ions did not prevent t-BOOH-induced [Ca(2+)](i) elevation, whereas the intracellular Ca(2+) ion chelator 1,2-bis(o-aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N, N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) (10 microM) was shown to be effective. Both t-BOOH-induced free radical formation and the [Ca(2+)](i) increase were completely prevented by the peroxyl scavenger alpha-tocopherol (50 microM). t-BOOH induced a time-dependent SH-SY5Y cell injury, monitored by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay (approximately 25% at 1 h, 50% at 3 h, 80% at 5 h) and by fluorescein diacetate (FDA)-propidium iodide (PI) fluorescent staining. The entity of t-BOOH-induced cell damage was the same both in the absence and in the presence of the intracellular Ca(2+) ion chelator BAPTA. By contrast, the peroxyl scavenger alpha-tocopherol (50 microM) completely prevented cell injury due to oxidative stress. Finally, superoxide dismutase (SOD) (500 ng/ml) caused a 30% reduction of t-BOOH-induced 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein (DCF) fluorescence, whereas it did not modify the extent of cell injury produced by the oxidant. Collectively, the results of the present study demonstrated that in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells, the rise of [Ca(2+)](i) which occurs during oxidative stress is not involved in cell injury. Therefore, oxidative stress-induced cell death may be exclusively attributed to free radical overproduction.     

Direct cytochemical localization of catalytic subunits dissociated from cAMP-dependent protein kinase in Reuber H-35 hepatoma cells. II. Temporal and spatial kinetics

The activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase has been found to be the predominant mode by which cyclic AMP (cAMP) leads to alterations of a large variety of cellular functions. The activation of the kinase results in the release of the catalytic subunit which as the free enzyme possesses phosphotransferase activity for a variety of specific protein substrates. Using a sensitive and specific cytofluorometric technique we monitored the appearance of free catalytic subunit in Reuber H35 hepatoma cells in culture after incubation with N6-1'-O- dibutyryl-cyclic AMP (DBcAMP), 8-bromoadenosine-3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-BrcAMP), and glucagon. The cytochemical method employs the heat-stable inhibitor of the free catalytic subunit which has been conjugated to fluorescein isothiocyanate (F:PKI) and was validated as described in the companion paper (Fletcher and Byus. 1982. J. Cell Biol. 93:719-726). Here we studied the temporal and spatial kinetics of the free catalytic subunit following activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase by increasing concentrations of DBcAMP,8-BrcAMP, and glucagon. Under similar conditions protein kinase activation was also assessed biochemically in H35 cell supernatants by assaying the protein kinase activity ratio. Incubation of the hepatoma cells with DBcAMP (0.1 mM) led to an increase in the activity ratio from 0.2 in control cultures to a value of nearly 1.0 within a 1- to 2-h period. During this same period using the F:PKI probe, a significant increase in cytoplasmic and nucleolar fluorescence indicative of the release of the free catalytic subunit was coincidentally observed. In contrast to the rapid appearance of catalytic subunit in the cytoplasm and nucleolus of the cell within 5-15 min of the addition of DBcAMP, discernible nucleoplasmic fluorescence did not occur until after 1 h. H35 cell cultures incubated with 8-BrcAMP (0.01-1.0 mM) exhibited a more rapid activation of the protein kinase measured cytochemically compared to the cells treated with DBcAMP. Cultures incubated with 8-BrcAMP had significantly increased cytoplasmic and nucleolar fluorescence compared to unstimulated cells within 1 min of the addition of the analogue and reached a maximal level within 15 min. By employing a microspectrophotometer a distinct dose-dependent increase in cellular fluorescence (i.e., free catalytic subunit) was observed as the concentration of 8-BrcAMP was increased from 0.01 to 1.0 mM at 1, 5, 15, and 60 min following stimulation. The addition of glucagon (10(-6) M) to the culture also led to the activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase as determined by an increase in the activity ratio. This increase was paralleled throughout the incubation period by a marked elevation in cytoplasmic and nucleolar fluorescence. The results reported herein suggest that both cyclic nucleotide analogues and a polypeptide hormone lead to the activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in similar intracellular compartments in Reuber H35 hepatoma cells...     

Antioxidant enzyme inhibitors enhance nitric oxide-induced cell death in U937 cells

Nitric oxide (NO), a radical species produced by many types of cells, is known to play a critical role in many regulatory processes, yet it may also participate in collateral reactions at higher concentrations, leading to cellular oxidative damage. The protective role of antioxidant enzymes against NO-induced oxidative damage in U937 cells was investigated in control and cells pre-treated with diethyldithiocarbamic acid, aminotriazole, and oxlalomalate, specific inhibitors of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and NADP(+)-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase, respectively. Upon exposure to 1 mM S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), the nitric oxide donor, to U937 cells, the viability was lower and the protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation and oxidative DNA damage reflected by an increase in 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, were higher in inhibitor-treated cells as compared to control cells. We also observed the significant increase in the endogenous production of reactive oxygen species, as measured by the oxidation of 2'7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescin as well as the significant decrease in the intracellular GSH level in inhibitor-treated U937 cells upon exposure to NO. Upon exposure to 0.2 mM SNAP, which induced apoptotic cell death, a clear inverse relationship was observed between the control and inhibitor-treated U937 cells in their susceptibility to apoptosis. These results suggest that antioxidant enzymes play an important role in cellular defense against NO-induced cell death including necrosis and apoptosis.     

Effect of hypoxia upon intracellular calcium concentration of human endothelial cells.

Ischemia is a situation occurring in several diseases including myocardial infarction and organ transplantation in which oxygenated blood supply is impaired. Ischemia leads to many cellular and tissue modifications, the most important one being cell death. Several explanations have been proposed to account for these modifications and cell death; among them is calcium overload. However, the influence of calcium concentration on the alteration of endothelial cell functions or viability during ischemia are still unknown. We developed here an in vitro model where human endothelial cell monolayers were submitted to hypoxia with or without reoxygenation and variation in calcium concentration was followed using a specific intracellular probe Fura 2. We observed a significant increase of [Ca2+]i during 2 h hypoxia reaching values similar to those observed during agonist stimulation of endothelial cells but far lower than values toxic for the cells. This increase was constant during the hypoxic incubation and was due mainly to an influx of extracellular calcium. Viability was also followed during hypoxia and using calcium channel blockers, we could show that there was no correlation between viability and the rise in calcium concentration. During the reoxygenation period, [Ca2+]i decreased to reach the normal value of resting cells after 45 min, suggesting that cells were still able to recover their calcium homeostasis. The use of a ketone body (beta-hydroxybutyrate) indicated that an energy deficiency was responsible for the hypoxia-induced increase in [Ca2+]i. We actually observed a 43% decrease in ATP concentration after 2 h hypoxia. This decrease was already significant after 30 min which thus precedes the changes in [Ca2+]i. These results show that during hypoxia, energy deficiency led to an increase in [Ca2+]i which is, however, too low to account for the loss of viability but which is within the range of concentrations observed during stimulation of endothelial cells. We propose that such increased intracellular calcium concentrations could play a role in the synthesis of mediators leading to the development of local inflammation.     

Beneficial effect of intracellular free high-mannose oligosaccharides on cryopreservation of mammalian cells and proteins

The cryoprotective effect of intracellular free high-mannose oligosaccharides (HMOS) on mammalian cells and proteins was examined by monitoring PC-12 cell viability and assaying protein kinase C (PKC)-epsilon activity. 1-Deoxymannojirimycin, an inhibitor of alpha-mannosidase, to cause an increase in intracellular free HMOS, significantly rescued PC-12 cells with 2-h freezing insult at -15 degrees C in a concentration (1-50mM)- and pretreatment time (48-72h)-dependent manner, as compared with unpretreated cells; full rescue from freezing injury was obtained with 1-deoxymannojirimycin at more than 25mM for 48-h pretreatment and more than 3mM for 72- and 96-h pretreatment. For PC-12 cells pretreated with 1-deoxymannojirimycin at 1mM for 72h, thawed cell viability after more than 8-w cryopreservation at -80 degrees C in 10% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide was much higher than that for cells without pretreatment. PKC-epsilon activity was well preserved after 16-h cryopreservation at -20 degrees C in the presence of mannose 9-N-acetylglucosamine 2 (Man9-GlcNAc2) (1 mM), an HMOS, while the activity was reduced to 15% without Man9-GlcNAc2. Collectively, the results of the present study suggest that intracellular free HMOS is a key molecule to protect mammalian cells and proteins from freezing injury; in other words, HMOS could be a new target for cryopreservation of mammalian cells and proteins.     

Activation of p38 MAPK by oxidative stress underlying epirubicin-induced vascular endothelial cell injury

Epirubicin, an anthracycline antitumor drug, often causes vascular injury such as vascular pain, phlebitis, and necrotizing vasculitis. However, an effective prevention for the epirubicin-induced vascular injury has not been established. The purpose of this study is to identify the mechanisms of cell injury induced by epirubicin in porcine aorta endothelial cells (PAECs). PAECs were exposed to epirubicin for 10 min followed by further incubation without epirubicin. The exposure to epirubicin (3-30 μM) decreased the cell viability concentration and time dependently. Epirubicin increased the activity of caspase-3/7, apoptotic cells, and intracellular lipid peroxide levels, and also induced depolarization of mitochondrial membranes. These intracellular events were reversed by glutathione (GSH) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), while epirubicin rather increased intracellular GSH slightly and L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine, a specific inhibitor of GSH synthesis, had no effect on the epirubicin-induced cell injury. The epirubicin-induced cell injury and increase of caspase-3/7 activity were also attenuated by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors, SB203580 and PD169316. Moreover, epirubicin significantly enhanced the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, and these effects were attenuated by GSH and NAC. In contrast, a c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor SP600125, an extracellular signal-regulated kinase inhibitor PD98059, and a p53 inhibitor pifithrin α did not affect the epirubicin-induced cell injury and increase of caspase-3/7 activity. These results indicate that an activation of p38 MAPK by oxidative stress is involved in the epirubicin-induced endothelial cell injury.