Ischemic preconditioning prevents in vivo hyperoxygenation in postischemic myocardium with preservation of mitochondrial oxygen consumption

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) strongly protects against ischemia-reperfusion injury; however, its effect on subsequent myocardial oxygenation is unknown. Therefore, we determine in an in vivo mouse model of regional ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) if IPC attenuates postischemic myocardial hyperoxygenation and decreases formation of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), with preservation of mitochondrial function. The following five groups of mice were studied: sham, control (I/R), ischemic preconditioning (IPC + I/R, 3 cycles of 5 min coronary occlusion/5 min reperfusion) and IPC + I/R N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester treated, and IPC + I/R eNOS knockout mice. I/R and IPC + I/R mice were subjected to 30 min regional ischemia followed by 60 min reperfusion. Myocardial Po(2) and redox state were monitored by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. In the IPC + I/R, but not the I/R group, regional blood flow was increased after reperfusion. Po(2) upon reperfusion increased significantly above preischemic values in I/R but not in IPC + I/R mice. Tissue redox state was measured from the reduction rate of a spin probe, and this rate was 60% higher in IPC than in non-IPC hearts. Activities of NADH dehydrogenase (NADH-DH) and cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) were reduced in I/R mice after 60 min reperfusion but conserved in IPC + I/R mice compared with sham. There were no differences in NADH-DH and CcO expression in I/R and IPC + I/R groups compared with sham. After 60 min reperfusion, strong nitrotyrosine formation was observed in I/R mice, but only weak staining was observed in IPC + I/R mice. Thus IPC markedly attenuates postischemic myocardial hyperoxygenation with less ROS/RNS generation and preservation of mitochondrial O(2) metabolism because of conserved NADH-DH and CcO activities.     

Removal of H₂O₂ and generation of superoxide radical: role of cytochrome c and NADH

In cells, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and peroxisomes are the major sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Cytochrome c (cyt c) is known to participate in mitochondrial electron transport and has antioxidant and peroxidase activities. Under oxidative or nitrative stress, the peroxidase activity of Fe³⁺cyt c is increased. The level of NADH is also increased under pathophysiological conditions such as ischemia and diabetes and a concurrent increase in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) production occurs. Studies were performed to understand the related mechanisms of radical generation and NADH oxidation by Fe³⁺cyt c in the presence of H₂O₂. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping studies using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) were performed with NADH, Fe³⁺cyt c, and H₂O₂ in the presence of methyl-β-cyclodextrin. An EPR spectrum corresponding to the superoxide radical adduct of DMPO encapsulated in methyl-β-cyclodextrin was obtained. This EPR signal was quenched by the addition of the superoxide scavenging enzyme Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1). The amount of superoxide radical adduct formed from the oxidation of NADH by the peroxidase activity of Fe³⁺cyt c increased with NADH and H₂O₂ concentration. From these results, we propose a mechanism in which the peroxidase activity of Fe³⁺cyt c oxidizes NADH to NAD^•, which in turn donates an electron to O₂, resulting in superoxide radical formation. A UV-visible spectroscopic study shows that Fe³⁺cyt c is reduced in the presence of both NADH and H₂O₂. Our results suggest that Fe³⁺cyt c could have a novel role in the deleterious effects of ischemia/reperfusion and diabetes due to increased production of superoxide radical. In addition, Fe³⁺cyt c may play a key role in the mitochondrial “ROS-induced ROS-release” signaling and in mitochondrial and cellular injury/death. The increased oxidation of NADH and generation of superoxide radical by this mechanism may have implications for the regulation of apoptotic cell death, endothelial dysfunction, and neurological diseases. We also propose an alternative electron transfer pathway, which may protect mitochondria and mitochondrial proteins from oxidative damage.     

Genitourinary anomalies in Mowat-Wilson syndrome with deletion/mutation in the zinc finger homeo box 1B gene (ZFHX1B). Report of three Italian cases with hypospadias and review

Hypospadias, when the urethra opens on the ventral side of the penis, is a common malformation seen in about 3 per 1,000 male births. It is a complex disorder associated with genetic and environmental factors and can be part of genetic syndromes. Mowat-Wilson syndrome (MWS) is a multiple congenital anomaly syndrome characterized by a distinct facial phenotype, Hirschsprung disease, microcephaly and mental retardation. It is caused by mutations in the zinc finger homeo box 1B gene, ZFHX1B (SIP1). To date, 68 deletion/mutation-positive cases have been reported. Genitourinary anomalies are common in MWS. Here we report that hypospadias is common in males with this syndrome. In 39 patients where this information was available, hypospadias was present in 46% of patients (18/39). In the 3 Italian male cases reported here, hypospadias was always present. MWS should be considered by endocrinologists in patients with hypospadias associated with developmental delays/mental retardation, in particular in the presence of a distinct facial phenotype.     

Superoxide generation from mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase induces self-inactivation with specific protein radical formation

Mitochondrial superoxide (O(2)(.)) production is an important mediator of oxidative cellular injury. While NADH dehydrogenase (NDH) is a critical site of this O(2)(.) production; its mechanism of O(2)(.) generation is not known. Therefore, the catalytic function of NDH in the mediation of O(2)(.) generation was investigated by EPR spin-trapping. In the presence of NADH, O(2)(.) generation from NDH was observed and was inhibited by diphenyleneiodinium chloride (DPI), indicating involvement of the FMN-binding site of NDH. Addition of FMN increased O(2)(.) production. Destruction of the cysteine ligands of iron-sulfur clusters decreased O(2)(.) generation, suggesting a secondary role of this site. This inhibitory effect was reversed by addition of FMN. However, FMN addition could not reverse the inhibition of NDH by either DPI or heat denaturation, demonstrating involvement of both FMN and its FMN-binding protein moiety in the catalysis of O(2)(.) generation. O(2)(.) production by NDH also induced self-inactivation. Immunospin-trapping with anti-DMPO antibody and subsequent mass spectrometry was used to define the sites of oxidative damage of NDH. A DMPO adduct was detected on the 51-kDa subunit and was O(2)(.)-dependent. Alkylation of the cysteine residues of NDH significantly inhibited NDH-DMPO spin adduct formation, indicating involvement of protein thiyl radicals. LC/MS/MS analysis of a tryptic digest of the 51-kDa polypeptide revealed that cysteine (Cys(206)) and tyrosine (Tyr(177)) were specific sites of NDH-derived protein radical formation. Thus, two domains of the 51-kDa subunit, Gly(200)-Ala-Gly-Ala-Tyr-Ile-Cys(206)-Gly-Glu-Glu-Thr-Ala-Leu-Ile-Glu-Ser-Ile-Glu-Gly-Lys(219) and Ala(176)-Tyr(177)-Glu-Ala-Gly-Leu-Ile-Gly-Lys(184), were demonstrated to be susceptible to oxidative attack, and their oxidative modification results in decreased electron transfer activity.     

Role of Nrf2 signaling in regulation of antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes in cardiac fibroblasts: protection against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species-induced cell injury

Understanding the molecular pathway(s) of antioxidant gene regulation is of crucial importance for developing antioxidant-inducing agents for the intervention of oxidative cardiac disorders. Accordingly, this study was undertaken to determine the role of Nrf2 signaling in the basal expression as well as the chemical inducibility of endogenous antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes in cardiac fibroblasts. The basal expression of a scope of key cellular antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes was significantly lower in cardiac fibroblasts derived from Nrf2-/- mice than those from wild type control. These include catalase, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR), GSH S-transferase (GST), and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1). Incubation of Nrf2+/+ cardiac fibroblasts with 3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione (D3T) led to a significant induction of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, GSH, GR, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), GST, and NQO1. The inducibility of SOD, catalase, GSH, GR, GST, and NQO1, but not GPx by D3T was completely abolished in Nrf2-/- cells. The Nrf2-/- cardiac fibroblasts were much more sensitive to reactive oxygen and nitrogen species-mediated cytotoxicity. Upregulation of antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes by D3T in Nrf2+/+ cardiac fibroblasts resulted in a dramatically increased resistance to the above species-induced cytotoxicity. In contrast, D3T-treatment of the Nrf2-/- cells only provided a slight cytoprotection. Taken together, this study demonstrates for the first time that Nrf2 is critically involved in the regulation of the basal expression and chemical induction of a number of antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes in cardiac fibroblasts, and is an important factor in controlling cardiac cellular susceptibility to reactive oxygen and nitrogen species-induced cytotoxicity.     

Nitrosyl-heme complexes are formed in the ischemic heart: evidence of nitrite-derived nitric oxide formation, storage, and signaling in post-ischemic tissues

In addition to the generation from specific nitric-oxide (NO) synthases, NO formation from nitrite occurs in ischemic tissues, such as the heart. Although NO binding to heme-centers is the basis for NO-mediated signaling as occurs through guanylate cyclase, it is not known if this process is triggered with physiologically relevant periods of sublethal ischemia and if nitrite serves as a critical substrate. Therefore electron paramagnetic resonance studies were performed to measure nitrosylheme formation during the time course of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion and the role of nitrite in this process. Rat hearts were either partially nitrite-depleted by nitrite-free buffer perfusion or nitrite-enriched by preinfusion with 50 microm nitrite. Ischemic hearts loaded with nitrite showed prominent spectra of six-coordinate nitrosyl-heme complexes, primarily NO-myoglobin, that increased as a function of ischemic duration, whereas in nonischemic-controls these signals were not seen. Total nitrosyl-heme concentrations within the heart were 6.6 +/- 0.7 microm after 30 min of ischemia. Nitrite-depleted hearts also gave rise to NO-heme signals during ischemia, but levels were 8-fold lower. Nitrite-mediated NO-heme complex formation during ischemia was associated with activation of guanylate cyclase. Upon reperfusion, the levels of NO-heme complexes decreased 3-fold by the first 15 min but remained elevated for over 45 min. The decrease in NO-heme complex levels was paralleled by the formation of nitrate, suggesting the oxidation of heme-bound NO upon reperfusion. Thus, nitrite-mediated NO-heme formation occurs progressively during ischemia, with these complexes serving as a store of NO with concordant activation of NO signaling pathways.     

Kinetic analysis-based quantitation of free radical generation in EPR spin trapping

Because short-lived reactive oxygen radicals such as superoxide have been implicated in a variety of disease processes, methods to measure their production quantitatively in biological systems are critical for understanding disease pathophysiology. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping is a direct and sensitive technique that has been used to study radical formation in biological systems. Short-lived oxygen free radicals react with the spin trap and produce paramagnetic adducts with much higher stability than that of the free radicals. In many cases, the quantity of the measured adduct is considered to be an adequate measure of the amount of the free radical generated. Although the intensity of the EPR signal reflects the magnitude of free radical generation, the actual quantity of radicals produced may be different due to modulation of the spin adduct kinetics caused by a variety of factors. Because the kinetics of spin trapping in biochemical and cellular systems is a complex process that is altered by the biochemical and cellular environment, it is not always possible to define all of the reactions that occur and the related kinetic parameters of the spin-trapping process. We present a method based on a combination of measured kinetic data for the formation and decay of the spin adduct alone with the parameters that control the kinetics of spin trapping and radical generation. The method is applied to quantitate superoxide trapping with 5-diethoxyphosphoryl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DEPMPO). In principle, this method is broadly applicable to enable spin trapping-based quantitative determination of free radical generation in complex biological systems.     

Heat shock protects cardiac cells from doxorubicin-induced toxicity by activating p38 MAPK and phosphorylation of small heat shock protein 27

Doxorubicin (DOX) and its derivatives are used as chemotherapeutic drugs to treat cancer patients. However, production of DOX-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) by prolonged use of these drugs has been found to cause dilative cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. Thus various preventive modalities have been developed to avoid this side effect. We have found that the DOX-mediated oxidant-induced toxicity in cardiac cells could be minimized by hyperthermia-induced small heat shock protein 27 (HSP27); that is, this protein acts as an endogenous antioxidant against DOX-derived oxidants such as H(2)O(2). Heat shock-induced HSP27 was found to act as an antiapoptotic protein (reducing ROS and Bax-to-Bcl2 ratio) against DOX, and its phosphorylated isoforms stabilized F-actin remodeling in DOX-treated cardiac cells and, hence, attenuated the toxicity. Protein kinase assays and proteomic analyses suggested that higher expression of HSP27 and its phosphorylation are responsible for the protection in heat-shocked cells. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed six isoforms (nonphosphorylated and phosphorylated) of HSP27. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight analyses showed alpha- and beta-isoforms of HSP27, which are phosphorylated by various protein kinases. Ser(15) and Ser(85) phosphorylation of HSP27 by MAPK-assisted protein kinase 2 was found to be the key mechanism in reduction of apoptosis and facilitation of F-actin remodeling. The present study illustrates that hyperthermia protects cells from DOX-induced death through induction and phosphorylation of HSP27 and its antiapoptotic and actin-remodeling activities.