Effects of hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorite on membrane potential of mitochondria in situ in rat heart cells

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hypochlorite (HOCl) cause a variety of cellular dysfunctions. In this study we examined the effects of these agents on the electrical potential gradient across the inner membrane of mitochondria in situ in isolated rat heart myocytes. Myocytes were prepared by collagenase digestion and incubated in the presence of H2O2 or HOCl. Transmembrane electrical gradients were measured by distribution of [3H]triphenylmethylphosphonium+, a lipophilic cation. The particulate fraction was separated from the cytosolic compartment first by permeabilization using digitonin, followed by rapid centrifugal sedimentation through a bromododecane layer. We found that the mitochondrial membrane potential (161 +/- 7 mV, negative inside) was relatively well maintained under oxidant stress, i.e., the potential was decreased only at high concentrations of HOCl and H2O2 and gradually with time. The membrane potential of isolated rat heart mitochondria was affected similarly by H2O2 and HOCl in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. High concentrations of oxidants also reduced the cellular ATP level but did not significantly change the matrix volume. When the extra-mitochondrial free calcium concentration was increased in permeabilized myocytes, the transmembrane potential was decreased proportionally, and this decrease was potentiated further by H2O2. These results support the view that heart mitochondria are equipped with well-developed defense mechanisms against oxidants, but the action of H2O2 on the transmembrane electrical gradient is exacerbated by an increase in cytosolic calcium.

The production of an amine-modified derivative of 5-aminosalicylic acid by activated neutrophils. Roles for myeloperoxidase and chloride ions

Following incubation with activated neutrophils, two metabolites of 5-aminosalicyclic acid (5-ASA) were identified by HPLC. These two metabolites accounted for approximately 60% and 20% of the original 5-ASA. The formation of the major metabolite was prevented by pre-incubation with the peroxidase inhibitor, azide, and reduced by the omission of chloride ions from the incubation medium, or the presence of catalase. A similar product was generated by sodium hypochlorite or myeloperoxidase/H2O2, mass spectroscopical analysis being consistent with it being 5-nitroso-salicylate. Our finding suggests that the efficacy of 5-ASA results from its ability to react with and so scavenge hypochlorite ions. The amount of amine-modified 5-ASA in the faecal stream may thus provide an indicator for hypochlorite production in the bowel.

Hypochlorous acid induced activation of human neutrophil and gingival crevicular fluid collagenase can be inhibited by ascorbate

Interstitial collagenase either obtained from human neutrophils by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) induced degranulation or isolated from human gingival crevicular fluid was found to be activated by addition of an oxidative agent, hypochlorous acid (HOCl). Collagenase released by PMA stimulated neutrophils was completely in latent form but underwent partial autoactivation during 16 h incubation at 22 degrees C in the presence of soy bean trypsin inhibitor. The partial autoactivation was potentiated to complete activation of released collagenase after addition of exogenous HOCl. Ascorbate prevented this activation of neutrophil collagenase. Isolated human gingival crevicular fluid collagenase represented an apparent Mr of 70 kD in completely latent form, whereas 70/54 kD enzyme species were detected for partially autoactive form of the enzyme. Western blot analysis of gingival crevicular fluid using a polyclonal antibody raised against purified human neutrophil collagenase revealed the same 70/54 kD molecular forms of the enzyme. The latent gingival crevicular fluid collagenase was also activated by HOCl and this activation could be prevented by ascorbate. Activation of the 70 kD latent collagenase by HOCl as well as by other non-proteolytic activators such as an organomercurial compound (phenylmercuric chloride) and a gold(I) compound (gold thioglucose) was not associated with detectable changes in apparent Mr, whereas trypsin activation resulted in fragmentation of 70 kD enzyme to 54 kD species. Our results provide further evidence for the neutrophil origin of gingival crevicular fluid collagenase and suggest that, in addition to proteolytic activation, oxidative and antioxidative agents seem to be able to regulate neutrophil collagenase activity.

Pseudomonas and neutrophil products modify transferrin and lactoferrin to create conditions that favor hydroxyl radical formation

In vivo most extracellular iron is bound to transferrin or lactoferrin in such a way as to be unable to catalyze the formation of hydroxyl radical from superoxide (.O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). At sites of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection bacterial and neutrophil products could possibly modify transferrin and/or lactoferrin forming catalytic iron complexes. To examine this possibility, diferrictransferrin and diferriclactoferrin which had been incubated with pseudomonas elastase, pseudomonas alkaline protease, human neutrophil elastase, trypsin, or the myeloperoxidase product HOCl were added to a hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase .O2-/H2O2 generating system. Hydroxyl radical formation was only detected with pseudomonas elastase treated diferrictransferrin and, to a much lesser extent, diferriclactoferrin. This effect was enhanced by the combination of pseudomonas elastase with other proteases, most prominently neutrophil elastase. Addition of pseudomonas elastase-treated diferrictransferrin to stimulated neutrophils also resulted in hydroxyl radical generation. Incubation of pseudomonas elastase with transferrin which had been selectively iron loaded at either the NH2- or COOH-terminal binding site yielded iron chelates with similar efficacy for hydroxyl radical catalysis. Pseudomonas elastase and HOCl treatment also decreased the ability of apotransferrin to inhibit hydroxyl radical formation by a Fe-NTA supplemented hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase system. However, apotransferrin could be protected from the effects of HOCl if bicarbonate anion was present during the incubation. Apolactoferrin inhibition of hydroxyl radical generation was unaffected by any of the four proteases or HOCl. Alteration of transferrin by enzymes and oxidants present at sites of pseudomonas and other bacterial infections may increase the potential for local hydroxyl radical generation thereby contributing to tissue injury.

Calcium homeostasis in rabbit ventricular myocytes. Disruption by hypochlorous acid and restoration by dithiothreitol

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a toxic oxidant produced by neutrophils at sites of cardiac inflammation. To examine the effect of this oxidant on Ca2+ homeostasis in the heart, isolated rabbit ventricular myocytes were iontophoretically loaded with the Ca2+ indicator fura 2 and superfused with 100 microM HOCl under voltage-clamp conditions. Ca2+ transients and the corresponding Ca2+ currents were elicited by 300-msec depolarizing pulses from -40 to 0 mV. Within 200 seconds after HOCl addition, the amplitude of the Ca2+ transients was reduced from 402 +/- 89 to 82 +/- 29 nM (p less than 0.01) while intracellular free ([Ca2+]i increased from 78 +/- 16 to 265 +/- 48 nM (p less than 0.01). During this time, the amplitude of the slow inward currents increased by 10%, while steady-state holding current remained stable. This sustained steady-state rise in [Ca2+]i occurred even in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ but was virtually abolished by a 20-second preexposure to 10 mM caffeine, suggesting that the major source of this Ca2+ was the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Although washout of HOCl failed to induce recovery, subsequent exposure to the dithiol reducing agent dithiothreitol caused a rapid restoration of both the steady-state [Ca2+]i and Ca2+ transient amplitude. We conclude that 1) HOCl caused a rise of [Ca2+]i by inducing the release of Ca2+ from internal stores and impairing cellular extrusion mechanisms and 2) these effects occur through alteration of protein thiol redox status.

Role of functional groups of human plasma and luminol in scavenging of NaOCl and neutrophil-derived hypochlorous acid

Hypochlorous acid HOCl/OCl- and other oxidants derived from stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes are involved in tissue damage during a number of pathological processes. In order to obtain more detailed information on possible reactions of HOCl/OCl- the effects of both NaOCl and PMN-derived hypochlorous acid on functional groups of amino acid solutions and human plasma are studied. In valine and lysine solutions NaOCl diminishes the number of amino groups in a molar ratio of 1:1 between NaOCl and amino groups. In cysteine and methionine samples the decrease of amino groups starts only after all sulfhydryl or thioether groups are oxidized by NaOCl. If freshly prepared human plasma is treated with increasing amounts of NaOCl all plasma SH groups are oxidized first, then probably the thioether groups and only after this the amino groups are affected. Furthermore, it was found, that the reactivity of luminol against NaOCl is similar to that of amino groups. Increasing amounts of SH groups of components of human plasma are oxidized by incubation with PMA-stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes dependent on the incubation time. Plasma amino groups are not affected under the same experimental conditions. The addition of plasma to FMLP-stimulated PMN in the presence of luminol decreases that part of chemiluminescence caused by extracellularly generated hypochlorous acid. Plasma samples pretreated with NaOCl cause a lower inhibition of light generation in FMLP-stimulated PMN only when more than 4.10(-8) mol NaOCl per mg protein are used to pretreat plasma. It is assumed that in the development of tissue injuries caused by infiltrated PMN the following sequence of damage occurs in accessible tissue regions. First, the sulfhydryl groups are oxidized, then the thioether groups, and only after this amino and other target groups are affected.

Neutrophil collagenase activation: the role of oxidants and cathepsin G

The events leading to neutrophil collagenase activation in vivo were analyzed using phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulated neutrophil supernatant. Under the conditions when this supernatant was incubated with the serine proteinase inhibitor, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), and then treated with the oxidant, hypochlorous acid (HOCl), collagenase was activated. When cathepsin G, a known activator of neutrophil collagenase, was also present, less HOCl was required to activate the latent collagenase. These experiments support the conclusion that activation of neutrophil collagenase occurs in vivo by both an oxidant and an enzymatic mechanism where the effectiveness of oxidants is enhanced by cathepsin G.

Neutrophil-derived oxidants promote leukocyte adherence in postcapillary venules

The objective of this study was to determine whether hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hypochlorous acid (HOCl), and monochloramine (NH2Cl), at concentrations produced by activated neutrophils, promote leukocyte adherence to microvascular endothelium in post-capillary venules. Cat mesenteric venules (30-45 microns diameter) were examined using intravital video microscopy. Red blood cell velocity (VRBC), venular diameter (DV), and the number of adherent leukocytes (NWBC) were measured in postcapillary venules. Venular blood flow and wall shear rate (tau) were calculated from the measured values of VRBC and DV. Different concentrations (0.01-1.0 mM) of H2O2, HOCl, or NH2Cl were superfused on the mesentery. In some experiments, the contributions of the leukocyte adhesive glycoprotein CD11/CD18 and platelet-activating factor (PAF) in the oxidant-induced leukocyte adherence were determined using a CD18-specific antibody (IB4) and a PAF-receptor antagonist (WEB 2086), respectively. The results of our in vivo experiments indicate that H2O2 and NH2Cl, but not HOCl, promote leukocyte adhesion to venular endothelium. Incubation of isolated cat neutrophils with either NH2Cl or H2O2 resulted in activation of CD11/CD18, as assessed by flow cytometry. Although the leukocyte adhesion induced by both H2O2 and NH2Cl was associated with a reduction in venular wall shear rate, corresponding decrements in shear rate induced by partial occlusion of the mesenteric artery did not lead to similar levels of leukocyte adherence. The leukocyte adherence induced by H2O2 and NH2Cl was largely prevented by monoclonal antibody IB4, indicating that both oxidants promote leukocyte adherence via activation of CD11/CD18. The H2O2-induced, CD18-mediated leukocyte adherence appears to be elicited by PAF and by a direct effect of the oxidant on CD11/CD18 expression. The mechanism underlying the NH2Cl-induced leukocyte adherence remain unclear.

Potential of animal myeloperoxidase to protect plants from pathogens

The effect of animal myeloperoxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) on the viability of a plant pathogen was determined. Lethality of hydrogen peroxide to germinating spores of Aspergillus flavus increased 90-fold enzymically. Singlet oxygen was present but hypochlorite accounted for two-thirds of the increase. The results indicate myeloperoxidase could improve microbial resistance in plants, perhaps transgenically.

Effects of hypochlorous acid and chloramines on vascular resistance, cell integrity, and biliary glutathione disulfide in the perfused rat liver: modulation by glutathione

The accumulation of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) may play an important role in liver injury by toxins and ischemia/reperfusion. Upon activation these cells generate hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and long-lived oxidants such as monochloramine (NH2Cl) and taurinechloramine (TauNHCl) which could contribute to organ injury when PMN accumulate in the liver. Therefore, the effects of HOCl, NH2Cl and TauNHCl on hepatic function were investigated in the perfused rat liver. HOCl at a concentration of 2.7 microM resulted in a marked increase in the perfusion pressure and the release of LDH associated with a decrease in bile flow. These effects were abolished by increasing the concentration of extracellular glutathione in the perfusate to physiological levels. NH2Cl (15 microM) and TauNHCl (65 microM) increased the perfusion pressure only slightly, but resulted in significant increases in the biliary excretion of glutathione disulfide, indicating that chloramines are reduced intracellularly by glutathione. The increment in biliary glutathione disulfide depended on the amount of chloramine taken up by the liver. The extraction of NH2Cl averaged 98% compared to 13% for TauNHCl. The present data indicates that intra- and extracellular glutathione plays an important role not only in the detoxification of O2-. and H2O2 generated by activated PMN but also in the protection against the cytotoxic effects of products of myeloperoxidase released by PMN upon activation.

Monochloramine induces contraction of guinea pig gallbladder via two different pathways

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the effect and mechanism of action of the reactive oxygen metabolites monochloramine (NH2Cl), hypochlorous acid (HOCl), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on gallbladder smooth muscle contractility. All oxidants caused concentration-dependent increases in resting tension of gallbladder muscle; the rank order of potencies (half-maximal concentration) was NH2Cl (30 microM) greater than HOCl (70 microM) greater than H2O2 (100 microM). The oxidant concentrations employed are those found to exist in inflamed tissue. Tetrodotoxin (0.5 microM) had no effect on gallbladder muscle contraction caused by the oxidants, suggesting a direct, nonneural action. The maximal response induced by NH2Cl, HOCl, or H2O2 was significantly (P less than 0.05) inhibited by 5 microM indomethacin and 5 microM piroxicam. The calcium channel blocker verapamil partially inhibited the contractile effect of NH2Cl but had no effect on the contraction induced by exogenous cyclooxygenase products. Monochloramine induced significant prostaglandin E2 release from the gallbladder, which was blocked by indomethacin. Furthermore, the effect of NH2Cl on the smooth muscle was blocked by 5-aminosalicylic acid (1 mM). We conclude that reactive oxygen metabolites induce contraction of gallbladder smooth muscle by a direct action. The effect is mediated via cyclooxygenase metabolites and activation of calcium influx.

Alterations in cardiac contractile proteins due to oxygen free radicals

In view of the potential role of free radicals in the genesis of cardiac abnormalities under different pathophysiological conditions and the importance of contractile proteins in determining heart function, this study was undertaken to examine the effects of oxygen free radicals on the rat heart myofibrils. Xanthine plus xanthine oxidase (X + XO) which is known to generate superoxide anions (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), an activated species of oxygen, was found to decrease Ca(2+)-stimulated ATPase activity, increase Mg(2+)-ATPase activity and reduce sulfhydryl (SH) group contents in myofibrils; these effects were completely prevented by superoxide dismutase (SOD) plus catalase (CAT). Both H2O2 and hypochlorous acid (HOCl), an oxidant, produced actions on cardiac myofibrils similar to those observed by X + XO. The effects of H2O2 and HOCl were prevented by CAT and L-methionine, respectively. N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), inhibitors of SH groups, also produced effects similar to those seen with X + XO. Dithiothreitol (DTT), a well known sulfhydryl-reducing agent, prevented the actions of X + XO, H2O2, HOCl, NEM and DTNB. These results suggest that marked changes in myofibrillar ATPase activities by different species of oxygen free radicals may be mediated by the oxidation of SH groups.

Mechanisms of host defense against Candida species. II. Biochemical basis for the killing of Candida by mononuclear phagocytes

We studied the biochemical basis of candidacidal activity by comparing the killing of Candida albicans, a serious pathogen, and Candida parapsilosis, a low-grade pathogen, by human monocytes (Mo) and monocyte-derived macrophages. Mo killed C. parapsilosis significantly better than C. albicans. The two species triggered the respiratory burst and release of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and beta-glucuronidase in Mo to an equivalent extent. In contrast to Mo, macrophages killed both species to an equivalent extent. Mo exhibited a greater candida-stimulated respiratory burst than did monocyte-derived macrophages, and the respiratory burst was required for the killing of both species. C. parapsilosis was killed much more easily than C. albicans by exposure to low concentrations of hypochlorite or monochloramine, MPO-dependent oxidants released by Mo but not macrophages, which lack MPO. With six different Candida strains there was a significant correlation between killing by Mo and susceptibility to hypochlorite (r = 0.926) or monochloramine (r = 0.981) (p less than 0.01 for each). Species differences in resistance to killing by Mo may be related to differences in sensitivity to MPO-derived oxidants, and the ability of C. albicans to resist the effects of these oxidants may be a virulence factor associated with this species.

Neutrophil-derived oxidants modify CCK-OP-stimulated guinea pig gallbladder contraction in vitro

Neutrophil-derived oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hypochlorous acid (HOCl), and monochloramine (NH2Cl) may contribute to gallbladder inflammation in cholecystitis. We examined the influence of oxidants on the biological activity of different agonists and antagonists of gallbladder smooth muscle function. The concentration-response curves for cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-OP) and carbachol were examined before and after incubation of the tissues with NH2Cl (30 microM). The 50% effective concentration of CCK-OP was shifted from 0.5 +/- 0.09 nM (control) to 4 +/- 1.2 nM in the presence of NH2Cl. The effect of carbachol was not affected by NH2Cl. The contractile effect of CCK-OP (3 nM) was abolished by prior exposure to HOCl or NH2Cl. These actions were prevented by 60 microM glutathione. Oxidant-induced degradation of CCK-OP was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography and thin-layer chromatography. NH2Cl also significantly reduced the contractile response to neurokinin A, bradykinin, leukotriene D4, and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate and the relaxant response to isoproterenol. Prior exposure of acetylcholine, histamine, serotonin, prostaglandin E2, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, or calcitonin gene-related peptide to NH2Cl had no effect on their activity. The results indicate that NH2Cl generated during inflammation may decrease the biological activities of different agonists and antagonists of smooth muscle function.

Scavenging effect of 5-aminosalicylic acid on neutrophil-derived oxidants. Possible contribution to the mechanism of action in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory phagocytic leukocytes produce superoxide and hydrogen peroxide and secrete myeloperoxidase (MPO) into the extracellular medium. MPO catalyzes the oxidation of Cl- by H2O2 to yield chlorinated oxidants (e.g. HOCl and NH2Cl), which have been shown to induce pathologic changes in mucosal function. We examined the ability of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), a drug used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), to inhibit oxidation of L-cysteine by NH2Cl, HOCl and H2O2. NH2Cl and HOCl were especially strong oxidants against L-cysteine. 5-ASA prevented L-cysteine oxidation by NH2Cl and HOCl; an interaction associated with the formation of characteristic absorption spectra due to the oxidation of 5-ASA was observed. NH2Cl and HOCl evoked characteristic increases in short-circuit current (Isc), indicative of net electrolyte transport, when added to the serosal side of stripped rat colon mounted in Ussing chambers. Premixing of NH2Cl with 5-ASA 10 min before addition to the tissue markedly reduced the secretory response to NH2Cl. In contrast, 5-ASA immediately reduced the response to HOCl. The reduction in the functional response to NH2Cl and HOCl by 5-ASA may contribute to its mechanism of action in the treatment of the symptoms of IBD.

Oxidative damage to fibronectin. I. The effects of the neutrophil myeloperoxidase system and HOCl

Exposure of purified human plasma fibronectin to the myeloperoxidase-H2O2-Cl- system of neutrophils or to reagent HOCl resulted in extensive changes to its primary and tertiary structures. When 1.14 microM fibronectin was exposed to 50-400 microM HOCl or 50-400 microM H2O2 plus myeloperoxidase and Cl-, there was progressive loss of tryptophan fluorescence and cysteines, and an increase in bityrosine fluorescence and carbonyl content. Analysis by SDS-PAGE indicated extensive crosslinking of the fibronectin, the crosslinks being stable under reducing conditions. The coincident increase of bityrosine fluorescence suggests that crosslinking may be largely due to intermolecular bityrosines rather than disulfides. All changes observed with the myeloperoxidase system were inhibited by azide or methionine, and were dependent upon the presence of chloride, indicating that they are mediated by HOCl. The reaction between HOCl and fibronectin resulted in the formation of long-lived chloramines. Exposure to increasing amounts of oxidant resulted in an increase in the susceptibility of fibronectin to proteolytic attack by purified neutrophil elastase. Analysis by SDS-PAGE showed a different fragmentation pattern for oxidant-treated fibronectin compared with the native protein. This suggests that regions of the molecule which were previously resistant to proteolysis were denatured to create susceptible sites for elastase. This demonstration that fibronectin is extensively modified by the myeloperoxidase system has implications for the mechanism of tissue injury by neutrophils in inflammation, since a loss of functional fibronectin would result in cell detachment and a distortion of normal tissue organization.

The protective effect of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on cells damaged by oxygen radicals is mediated through elevated CGMP-levels, reduction of calcium-inflow and probably G-proteins

ANP increases cellular cGMP content in cultured hepatocytes and decreases Ca2(+)-inflow in a concentration- and time-dependent manner which explains a beneficial effect on hypoxia cell injury (25). Both observations are mimicked by SNP and 8-Br-cGMP and blocked by Ly 83583 indicating a cGMP-mediated mechanism. The protective effect was also inhibited by Pertussis Toxin (PT) without lowering the elevated cGMP-level. But PT in combination with ANP leads to a higher Ca2(+)-inflow. Stimulated Na(+)-inflows are also be lowered by ANP. Here, neither SNP can mimick nor PT can inhibit this effect. Our results now indicate that the beneficial effect by ANP at the cellular level is mediated through cGMP which decreases calcium-inflow. ANP seems to control Ca2(+)-channels direct via a PT-sensitive G-protein and indirect by a cGMP-mediated mechanism and Na(+)-channels cGMP-independent through a PT-insensitive G-protein, thus preventing cells on hypoxia and oxygen radicals.

Inactivation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase by hypochlorous acid

The effects of the phagocyte-derived reactive oxidants hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hypochlorous acid (HOC1) on the activity of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (pADP RP), an enzyme involved in DNA repair, and on the induction and repair of DNA strand breaks in human mononuclear leukocytes (MNL) have been investigated in vitro. Exposure of MNL to reagent H2O2 was accompanied by DNA damage and activation of pADP RP. Addition of reagent HOCl (25 microM) was not associated with DNA strand breaks. However, when combined with 150 microM H2O2, HOCl potentiated H2O2-mediated DNA damage, and compromised the repair process. Furthermore, HOCl caused a dose-related decrease in the activity of pADP RP in both control and H2O2-exposed MNL. Interactions between the phagocyte-derived reactive oxidants H2O2 and HOCl are probably involved in the etiology of inflammation-related cancer.

Role of asbestos and active oxygen species in activation and expression of ornithine decarboxylase in hamster tracheal epithelial cells

Induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) enzyme activity occurs after exposure of hamster tracheal epithelial (HTE) cells to asbestos and the soluble tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. Since active oxygen species are implicated as mediators of asbestos-induced biological responses studies here were designed to examine whether active oxygen species generated by asbestos or oxidants caused increased ODC activity. In confluent HTE cells, significant blockage of chrysotile or crocidolite asbestos-stimulated ODC activity occurred with simultaneous addition of catalase, but not superoxide dismutase, to medium. The addition of xanthine plus xanthine oxidase caused a dose-dependent increase in ODC activity, which was inhibited significantly after addition of catalase or mannitol, indicating that H2O2 was the principal oxidant produced in that reaction. Addition of phenazine methosulfate, a redox reagent used to generate superoxide, resulted in significant elevation of ODC, which was inhibited by addition of superoxide dismutase but not catalase. Hydrogen peroxide added to culture medium also caused a potent increase in ODC activity inhabitable by catalase. Hypochlorous acid caused increases in ODC activity, although the magnitude of this response was less than that observed with other oxidants. Therefore, although all active oxygen species examined triggered ODC, less reduced species (O2- and H2O2) were more proficient than OH or a halogenated oxidant. All oxidants, except HOCl, caused a significant increase in [3H] thymidine incorporation at 24 or 48 h after their addition to HTE cells. In comparative studies, exposure of HTE cells to either asbestos or xanthine plus xanthine oxide increased the level of ODC mRNAs proportionate to oxidant concentration and the extent of enzyme induction. Thus, data indicate that H2O2 plays a major role in asbestos-stimulated ODC induction and proliferation of epithelial cells of the respiratory tract by altering the regulation of a gene critical to proliferation.

Evaluation of the ability of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril to scavenge reactive oxygen species

Captopril, an inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme, has been suggested to have additional cardioprotective action because of its ability to act as an antioxidant. The rates of reaction of captopril with several biologically-relevant reactive oxygen species were determined. Captopril reacts slowly, if at all, with superoxide (rate constant less than 10(3) M-1 s-1) or hydrogen peroxide (rate constant less than M-1 s-1). It does not inhibit peroxidation of lipids stimulated by iron ions and ascorbate or by the myoglobin/H2O2 system. Indeed, mixtures of ferric ion and captopril can stimulate lipid peroxidation. Captopril reacts rapidly with hydroxyl radical (rate constant greater than 10(9) M-1 s-1) but might be unlikely to compete with most biological molecules for OH because of the low concentration of captopril that can be achieved in vivo during therapeutic use. Captopril did not significantly inhibit iron ion-dependent generation of hydroxyl radicals from hydrogen peroxide. By contrast, captopril is a powerful scavenger of hypochlorous acid: it was able to protect alpha 1-antiproteinase (alpha 1 AP) against inactivation by this species and to prevent formation of chloramines from taurine. We suggest that the antioxidant action of captopril in vivo is likely to be limited, and may be restricted to protection against damage by hypochlorous acid derived from the action of neutrophil myeloperoxidase.

The oxidant hypochlorite (OCl-), a product of the myeloperoxidase system, degrades articular cartilage proteoglycan aggregate

The myeloperoxidase-derived oxidant, hypochlorite (OCl-) was shown to be able to degrade proteoglycan aggregate prepared from bovine articular cartilage. Exposure of proteoglycan aggregate to OCl- concentrations less than 10(-4) M resulted in a decrease in the size of the constituent proteoglycan monomers, which were unable to reaggregate with hyaluronate due to the loss of the hyaluronic acid binding region as indicated by immunoblotting using the monoclonal 1-C-6 antibody. Analysis of the [35S]-labeled core proteins by SDS/polyacrylamide electrophoresis and fluorography indicated a decrease in the size of the core protein. These data suggest that concentrations of OCl- below 10(-3) M results in the cleavage of the proteoglycan core protein in or near the hyaluronic acid binding region. The physiological consequences of these data are discussed. Exposure to higher concentrations (greater than 10(-3)) of OCl- caused more extensive degradation of the core protein; however, there was no evidence to suggest that OCl- cleaves glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains.

Induction of arthritis in rats by aqueous suspensions of mycobacteria without the use of oil

We report for the first time the induction of arthritis by an aqueous, rather than an oil, suspension of killed tubercle bacilli. This was accomplished in the highly susceptible dark Agouti strain of rats, by intraperitoneal injection during the healing phase of chemically induced peritonitis. The same procedure (injection after the induction of peritonitis) augmented the incidence of arthritis produced by bovine type II collagen and Freund's complete adjuvant. Enhanced delivery of antigen from the peritoneal cavity to regional lymph nodes in the postinflammatory state was responsible for this increase in the induction of arthritis.

Depolymerization of synovial fluid hyaluronic acid (HA) by the complete myeloperoxidase (MPO) system may involve the formation of a HA-MPO ionic complex

Gel filtration analysis (Sephacryl S-1000) indicated that the Mr of purified equine synovial cell culture 3H-hyaluronic acid (HA) (Mr greater than 1.67 x 10(7) Da) decreased in a concentration dependent manner after exposure to hypochlorite (OCl-). Both high (equine) and medium (human, Mr = 5.5 x 10(5) Da) molecular weight HA were cleaved by the complete myeloperoxidase system (MPO/H2O2/Cl-). Purified human neutrophil myeloperoxidase (MPO) bound tightly to HA-Sepharose and we suggest that this is due to a strong ionic interaction between HA and MPO. The formation of such a complex did not disturb MPO activity. The significance of these results in relation to our previous studies concerning the reduction in viscosity and potential cleavage of HA by the product of the MPO/H2O2/Cl- system is discussed.

Sarcolemmal Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase: inactivation by neutrophil-derived free radicals and oxidants

One of the targets of free radicals and neutrophil-derived oxidants that is known to be generated during ischemic-reperfusion injury of the myocardium is the sarcolemma. We therefore examined the susceptibility of sarcolemmal Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and ouabain binding sites to O2-., H2O2,.OH, HOCl, NH2Cl, and stimulated neutrophils. O2-. generated from xanthine oxidase action on xanthine had no significant effect on Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity. The inhibition of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity and ouabain binding by H2O2 was dependent on concentration and the time of incubation. H2O2 (10 mM) inhibited 80% of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity at 90 min..OH generated by Fenton's reagent (200 microM Fe2+ + 5 mM H2O2) significantly decreased maximum binding of ouabain (43.06 +/- 1.45 to 31.96 +/- 2.37 pmol/mg) and was significantly protected by 5 mM mannitol (P less than 0.05). The dissociation constant of ouabain binding was unaffected by Fenton's reagent or H2O2. In contrast, lower concentrations of HOCl, NH2Cl, or PMA-stimulated human neutrophils (4 X 10(6) cells/ml) had significant inhibitory effects on Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity. We conclude that O-2. per se is not damaging to sarcolemmal Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity. The formation of H2O2 and the more destructive .OH or HOCl and NH2Cl disrupt sarcolemmal function by inhibiting Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity and destroying ouabain binding sites.

Effects of neutrophil-derived oxidants on intestinal permeability, electrolyte transport, and epithelial cell viability

There are several pathophysiologic conditions in which intestinal inflammation is associated with enhanced mucosal permeability, fluid loss, and epithelial cell injury. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)-derived oxidants on ileal mucosal permeability in vivo as well as electrolyte transport and epithelial cell viability in vitro. Using blood-to-lumen clearance of [51Cr]EDTA as a measure of mucosal permeability, we found that luminal perfusion with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hypochlorous acid (HOCl), or monochloramine (NH2Cl) produced a dose-dependent increase in mucosal permeability. Perfusion with 0.1 mM, 0.5 mM, and 1.0 mM oxidant produced a 2 +/- 1, 5 +/- 2, and 11 +/- 5-fold increase in mucosal permeability for H2O2, a 2 +/- 1, 8 +/- 3, and 36 +/- 12-fold increase for HOCl, and a 3 +/- 1, 11 +/- 2, and 30 +/- 7-fold increase for NH2Cl. Taurine monochloramine (TauNHCl) was ineffective in enhancing the blood-to-lumen clearance of [51Cr]EDTA. Furthermore, 0.01 mM and 0.1 mM NH2Cl and H2O2 produced significant increases in short-circuit current across rat ileum in vitro, whereas HOCl and TauNHCl were without effect. Tissue resistance and potential difference were not altered, suggesting that NH2Cl, HOCl, and H2O2 were not cytotoxic under these conditions. Cultured intestinal epithelial cells exposed to NH2Cl and HOCl were injured in a dose-dependent manner in vitro, whereas H2O2 and Tau NHCl were nontoxic. Taken together, our data suggest that PMN-derived oxidants may mediate the enhanced mucosal permeability, electrolyte transport, and epithelial cell injury associated with acute inflammation of the bowel.