Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibition prevents both apoptotic-like delayed neuronal death and necrosis after H(2)O(2) injury

Toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, superoxide, and the hydroxyl radical are generated in a variety of neuropathological conditions and cause significant DNA damage. We determined the effects of 3-aminobenzamide (AB), an inhibitor of the DNA repair enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), on cell death in differentiated PC12 cells, a model of sympathetic neurons, after H(2) O(2) injury. Exposure to 0.5 mm H(2) O(2) resulted in a significant decrease in intracellular NAD(H), NADP(H), and ATP levels. This injury resulted in the death of 90% of the cells with significant necrosis early (2 h) after injury and increased apoptosis (12-24 h after injury), as measured by PS exposure and the presence of cytoplasmic oligonucleosomal fragments. Treatment with 2.5 mm AB restored pyridine nucleotide and ATP levels and ameliorated cell death (65% versus 90%) by decreasing the extent of both necrosis and apoptosis. Interestingly, we observed that H(2) O(2) -induced injury caused a delayed cell death exhibiting features of apoptosis but in which caspase-3 like activity was absent. Moreover, pretreatment with AB restored caspase-3-like activity. Our results suggest that apoptosis and necrosis are both triggered by PARP overactivation, and that maintenance of cellular energy levels after injury by inhibiting PARP shifts cell death from necrosis to apoptosis.     

Delayed Cell Death Signaling in Traumatized Central Nervous System: Hypoxia

There are two different ways for cells to die: necrosis and apoptosis. Cell death has traditionally been described as necrotic or apoptotic based on morphological criteria. There are controversy about the respective roles of apoptosis and necrosis in cell death resulting from trauma to the central nervous system (CNS). An evaluation of work published since 1997 in which electron microscopy was applied to ascertain the role of apoptosis and necrosis in: spinal cord injury, stroke, and hypoxia/ischemia (H/I) showed evidence for necrosis and apoptosis based on DNA degradation, presence of histones in cytoplasm, and morphological evidence in spinal cord. In the aftermath of stroke, many of the biochemical markers for apoptosis were present but the morphological determinations suggested that necrosis is the major source of post-traumatic cell death. This was not the case in H/I where both biochemical assays and the morphological studies gave more consistent results in a manner similar to the spinal cord injury studies. After H/I, major factors affecting cell death outcomes are DNA damage and repair processes, expression of bcl-like gene products and inflammation-triggered cytokine production.     

Methionine oxidation by peroxymonocarbonate, a reactive oxygen species formed from CO2/bicarbonate and hydrogen peroxide

Kinetic and thermodynamic evidence is reported for the role of the peroxymonocarbonate ion, HCO4-, as a reactive oxygen species in biology. Peroxymonocarbonate results from the equilibrium reaction of hydrogen peroxide with bicarbonate via the perhydration of CO2. The kinetic parameters for HCO4- oxidation of free methionine have been obtained (k1 = 0.48 +/- 0.08 M(-1)s(-1) by a spectrophotometric initial rate method). At the physiological concentration of bicarbonate in blood ( approximately 25 mM), it is estimated that peroxymonocarbonate formed in equilibrium with hydrogen peroxide will oxidize methionine approximately 2-fold more rapidly than plasma H2O2 itself. As an example of methionine oxidation in proteins, the bicarbonate-catalyzed hydrogen peroxide oxidation of alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha1-PI) has been investigated via its inhibitory effect on porcine pancreatic elastase activity. The second-order rate constant for HCO4- oxidation of alpha1-PI (0.36 +/- 0.06 M(-1)s(-1)) is comparable to that of free methionine, suggesting that methionine oxidation is occurring. Further evidence for methionine oxidation, specifically involving Met358 and Met351 of the alpha1-PI reactive center loop, has been obtained through amino acid analyses and mass spectroscopic analyses of proteolytic digests of the oxidized alpha1-PI. These results strongly suggest that HCO4- should be considered a reactive oxygen species in aerobic metabolism.     

Bicarbonate-catalyzed hydrogen peroxide oxidation of cysteine and related thiols

The effect of bicarbonate on the rates of the H₂O₂ oxidation of cysteine, gluthathione, and N-acetylcysteine to the corresponding disulfides was investigated. The relative oxidation rates at pH 8 for the different thiols are inversely related to the pK_a values of the thiol groups, and the reactive nucleophiles are identified as the thiolate anions or their kinetic equivalents. The second-order rate constants at 25 °C for the reaction of the thiolate anions with hydrogen peroxide are 17 ± 2 M⁻¹ s⁻¹ for all three substrates. In the presence of bicarbonate (>25 mM), the observed rate of thiolate oxidation is increased by a factor of two or more, and the catalysis is proposed to be associated with the formation of peroxymonocarbonate from the equilibrium reaction of hydrogen peroxide with bicarbonate (via CO₂). The calculated second-order rate constants for the direct reaction of the three thiolate anions with peroxymonocarbonate fall within the range of 900-2000 M⁻¹ s⁻¹. Further oxidation of disulfides by peroxymonocarbonate results in the formation of thiosulfonate and sulfonate products. These results strongly suggest that peroxymonocarbonate should be considered as a reactive oxygen species in aerobic metabolism with relevance in thiol oxidations.     

Nerve Growth Factor Receptors in Human Neuroblastoma Cells

Receptors for the nerve growth factor protein (NGFR) present in the human neuroblastoma cell line LAN-1 were characterized. LAN-1 cells display high-affinity (type I, with KD value of 5.9 X 10(-11) M) and low-affinity (type II, with KD value of 9.2 X 10(-9) M) binding to NGF. NGFR were fractionated by preparative isoelectric focusing in a granulated gel (PEGG). High-affinity binding was found in the 5.9-6.2 pH region of the PEGG, and low-affinity binding in the 4.6-4.8 and 8.8-9.3 pH ranges. After further analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) we observed both 92.5- and 200-kDa molecular species associated with NGF binding activity. The 200-kDa protein was found in fractions displaying high-affinity NGF binding and the 92.5-kDa protein in fractions displaying low-affinity NGF binding. Equilibrium binding analysis of NGF in PEGG fractions confirmed the presence of two specific saturable binding sites with KD values similar to those observed for whole dissociated cells. When NGFR II activity from the acidic region of the PEGG chromatogram was incubated with NGFR II from the basic region of the PEGG chromatogram, there was no change in NGF binding or in the number of apparent NGF receptors. However, incubation of these same fractions with a fraction having only NGFR I showed an apparent increase in high-affinity NGF binding and a decrease in low-affinity NGF binding. Immunoprecipitation of this "mixed" fraction and analysis on SDS-PAGE under reduced and nonreduced conditions showed 200-kDa and 92.5-kDa proteins under nonreduced conditions and a 92.5-kDa protein under reduced conditions. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that there are two distinct NGF receptors in NGF-responsive cells. The interconvertibility of low- and high-affinity receptors and the possible existence of a modulator type protein or of "silent" type receptors are also in agreement with our findings.     

Implementation and Evaluation of an Integrated Program for Rodent Control in a Shantytown of Buenos Aires City, Argentina

The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of an integrated program for the control of rodents in a shantytown of Buenos Aires City, Argentina. This program was developed in one year. During the preparation phase, an environmental survey of public spaces and dwellings was conducted in the test area to identify factors favoring the presence of rodents and to determine strategies and management measures to be implemented in the execution phase. Rodent abundance was monitored in the following four periods: (1) during the preparation phase, (2) during the execution phase, (3) immediately after the execution phase, and (4) 90 days after the end of the execution phase. According to the results of the preparation phase, we combined three different strategies to reduce rodent abundance in both dwellings and public spaces of the experimental area: rodenticide application, environmental sanitation in public spaces, and sanitary education. In this area the proportion of dwellings and public spaces with signs of rodent activity decreased significantly from the beginning of the trial to immediately after the end of the execution phase. There was a significant increase in rodent activity 90 days after the execution phase. This work reveals that although rodent infestation can be reduced in urban shantytowns, a long-term policy for sanitation improvement and sanitary education is required to keep rodent populations at safe levels for the community.