Alterations of the glutathione-redox balance induced by metals in CHO-K1 cells

The effects of cadmium (Cd(2+)), mercury (Hg(2+)), lead (Pb(2+)), copper (Cu(2+)) and nickel (Ni(2+)) on the glutathione (GSH)-redox cycle were assessed in CHO-K1 by the neutral red uptake inhibition (NR) assay (NR(6.25), NR(12.5) and NR(25)). Mercury proved to be the most and lead the least toxic of the metals tested. The effects on GSH content and intracellular specific activities of enzymes involved in the GSH-redox balance were measured after a 24-h exposure. Total GSH content increased significantly in cultures exposed to the lowest metal concentration assayed (NR(6.25)), but fell to below control values when exposed to concentrations equivalent to NR(25). Oxidised glutathione content dropped significantly at NR(6.25), while somewhat higher values were obtained for cultures exposed to higher doses. Glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) activities were 1.2-, 1.5-, 1.6-, 2.0- and 2.5-fold higher than untreated controls for cadmium, copper, mercury, nickel and lead, respectively, at concentrations equivalent to NR(6.25). Gpx activity declined at metal concentrations equivalent to NR(12.5) and NR(25). Glutathione reductase activity remained almost unchanged except at low doses of mercury, nickel and lead. Glutathione-S-transferase activity decreased at rising metal concentrations. The results suggest that a homeostatic defence mechanism was activated when cells were exposed to doses equivalent to NR(6.25) while the ability of the cells to respond weakened as the dose increased. A close relationship was also observed between metal cytotoxicity, total GSH content and the dissociation energy of the sulphur-metal bonds. These facts confirm the involvement of antioxidant defence mechanisms in the toxic action of these ions.     

Involvement of redox events in caspase activation in zinc-depleted airway epithelial cells

Airway epithelial cells (AEC) contain both pro- and anti-apoptotic factors but little is known about mechanisms regulating apoptosis of these cells. In this study we have examined the localization of pro-caspase-3 and Zn(2+), a cellular regulator of pro-caspase-3, in primary sheep and human AEC. Zn(2+) was concentrated in both cytoplasmic vesicles and ciliary basal bodies, in the vicinity of both pro-caspase-3 and the antioxidant Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD). Depletion of intracellular Zn(2+) in sheep AEC, using the membrane permeant Zn(2+) chelator TPEN, increased lipid peroxidation in the apical cell membranes (as assessed by immunofluorescence with anti-hydroxynonenal) as well as increasing activated pro-caspase-3 and apoptosis. There were smaller increases in caspase-2 and -6 but not other caspases. Activation of caspase-3 in TPEN-treated AEC was inhibited strongly by N-acetylcysteine and partially by vitamin C and vitamin E. These findings suggest that cytoplasmic pro-caspase-3 is positioned near the lumenal surface of AEC where it is under the influence of Zn(2+) and other anti-oxidants.     

Hemodynamic effects of metalloporphyrin catalytic antioxidants: structure-activity relationships and species specificity

Superoxide plays a role in blood pressure regulation in certain vascular diseases, however, its involvement in regulating basal blood pressure is uncertain. Vascular superoxide concentrations are limited by extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD), which is highly expressed in the vasculature of most animal species. Metalloporphyrins are low molecular weight, synthetic, redox-active, catalytic antioxidants that act as SOD mimetics. We evaluated the effects of metalloporphyrins on blood pressure in different animal species. The metalloporphyrin AEOL10113 (5–10 μg/kg iv), but not native or polyethylene glycol-CuZnSOD, caused a dose-dependent reduction in blood pressure in anesthetized rats. AEOL10113 had no effect on blood pressure in mice (wild-type or EC-SOD knockouts), guinea pigs, dogs, or baboons at doses up to 5 mg/kg iv Structure-activity studies indicated that metalloporphyrins with high SOD activity were more effective in lowering rat blood pressure than low-activity analogs. The blood pressure effect of AEOL10113 was not attributable to the release of manganese, nor was it affected by inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase (L-NAME) and guanylate cyclase (ODQ, 8-bromo-cGMP, and methylene blue) or nitric oxide scavengers (HbA_o). Chlorpheniramine attenuated the effect, suggesting that the blood pressure response in rats is related to histamine release rather than the protection of nitric oxide.     

Cyclodiene organochlorine insecticide-induced alterations in the sulfur-redox cycle in CHO-K1 cells

The effect of the cyclodiene organochlorine pesticides aldrin, dieldrin and endosulfan was assessed on CHO-K1 cultures at fractions of their lethal doses, determined by the neutral red (NRI) incorporation assay (NRI_6.25, NRI_12.5 and NRI₂₅). Glutathione peroxidase, reductase and S-transferase, and total and oxidised glutathione were evaluated along the standard growth curve of the cultures. After a 24-h incubation with each insecticide, glutathione peroxidase incurred a large increase, while glutathione reductase and S-transferase activities were slightly higher than untreated controls. Unlike oxidised glutathione, the content of total glutathione declined significantly after exposure to cyclodiene insecticides. Changes in cell membrane integrity were assessed by the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay and lipid peroxidation for a wide range of pesticide concentrations. Membrane leakage and peroxide production were significantly enhanced at concentrations of aldrin and as low as 12.5 μg/ml, whereas dieldrin and endosulfan increased membrane fragility at much higher concentrations.     

酵母SOD形成的生理学研究

对筛选出的一株ＳＯＤ高产菌株Ｙ－２１６形成ＳＯＤ的生理条件作了初步研究。结果表明：碳源、氮源、碳氮配比和金属离子等营养条件及培养温度、时间和通气量等培养条件,均对该菌株生物量与ＳＯＤ含量有较大的影响。同时通过对几种酵母的测定,发现酵母菌对氧的抗性越大其ＳＯＤ含量也就越高。     

低pH,铝和钙离子对菌根菌赭丝膜伞的毒性和超氧化物歧化酶的影响

应用急性毒性生物测试方法 ,研究了低 pH和铝离子对菌根菌赭丝膜伞 (Corti nariusrussus)的毒性效应 .试验表明 ,在pH为 6.8、5.5和 4.3,铝离子在低 pH( 4 .3)时对菌根菌毒性最强 ,96hEC50 为 5.0 5mg·L- 1 ,菌根生长受到明显的抑制 ;低 pH和铝离子能诱导菌根菌体内SOD ,与对照组相比 ,菌根菌体内SOD活性明显升高 ;加入钙离子后 ,SOD活性下降 ,并随Ca的投加浓度增加 ,SOD活性逐渐降低 ,表明在低 pH条件下 ,钙离子和铝离子对菌根的影响具有拮抗作用 .     

活性氧在外源乙烯诱导内源乙烯产生过程中的作用

外源乙烯在一定的条件下明显抑制了超氧化物歧化酶（SOD)和过氧化氢酶（CAT）的活性,提高了超氧化物阴离子自由基和过氧化氢（H2O2）的产率,从而有效地诱导了内源乙烯产生的增加;外源和H2O2对乙烯产生的促进作用及外源活性氧清除剂对乙烯产生的抑制作用也为此提供了证明。乙烯对植物生理过程的调节机制之一就是通过影响活性氧清除酶活性,从而调节各种活性氧在体内的平衡。