The zebrafish--Danio rerio--is a useful model for measuring the effects of small-molecule mitigators of late effects of ionizing irradiation

BACKGROUND/AIM

Use of zebrafish models may decrease the cost of screening new irradiation protectors and mitigators.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) models were tested for screening water-soluble radiation protectors and mitigators. Irradiation of embryos and monitoring survival, and measuring fibrosis of the caudal musculature of adults allowed for testing of acute and late effects, respectively.

RESULTS

Incubation of zebrafish embryos either before or after irradiation in ethyl pyruvate (1 mM) increased survival. Irradiation of adults to 15 to 75 Gy, delivered in single-fraction at 13 Gy/min, showed dose-dependent fibrosis at 30 days, quantitated as physiological decrease in swimming tail movement, and histopathological detection of collagen deposition in the dorsal musculature. Continuous administration of small-molecule radioprotector drugs in the water after irradiation reduced both acute and chronic injuries.

CONCLUSION

The zebrafish is cost-effective for screening new radiation countermeasures.

Oxidized phospholipids as biomarkers of tissue and cell damage with a focus on cardiolipin

Oxidized phospholipid species are important, biologically relevant, lipid signaling molecules that usually exist in low abundance in biological tissues. Along with their inherent stability issues, these oxidized lipids present themselves as a challenge in their detection and identification. Often times, oxidized lipid species can co-chromatograph with non-oxidized species making the detection of the former extremely difficult, even with the use of mass spectrometry. In this study, a normal-phase and reverse-phase two dimensional high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-mass spectrometric system was applied to separate oxidized phospholipids from their non-oxidized counterparts, allowing unambiguous detection in a total lipid extract. We have utilized bovine heart cardiolipin as well as commercially available tetralinoleoyl cardiolipin oxidized with cytochrome c (cyt c) and hydrogen peroxide as well as with lipoxygenase to test the separation power of the system. Our findings indicate that oxidized species of not only cardiolipin, but other phospholipid species, can be effectively separated from their non-oxidized counterparts in this two dimensional system. We utilized three types of biological tissues and oxidative insults, namely rotenone treatment of lymphocytes to induce mitochondrial damage and cell death, pulmonary inhalation exposure to single walled carbon nanotubes, as well as total body irradiation, in order to identify cardiolipin oxidation products, critical to the cell damage/cell death pathways in these tissues following cellular stress/injury. Our results indicate that selective cardiolipin (CL) oxidation is a result of a non-random free radical process. In addition, we assessed the ability of the system to identify CL oxidation products in the brain, a tissue known for its extreme complexity and diversity of CL species. The ability of the two dimensional HPLC-mass spectrometric system to detect and characterize oxidized lipid products will allow new studies to be formulated to probe the answers to biologically important questions with regard to oxidative lipidomics and cellular insult. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Oxidized phospholipids - their properties and interactions with proteins.

Identification of druggable targets for radiation mitigation using a small interfering RNA screening assay

Currently, there is a serious absence of pharmaceutically attractive small molecules that mitigate the lethal effects of an accidental or intentional public exposure to toxic doses of ionizing radiation. Moreover, cellular systems that emulate the radiobiologically relevant cell populations and that are suitable for high-throughput screening have not been established. Therefore, we examined two human pluripotent embryonal carcinoma cell lines for use in an unbiased phenotypic small interfering RNA (siRNA) assay to identify proteins with the potential of being drug targets for the protection of human cell populations against clinically relevant ionizing radiation doses that cause acute radiation syndrome. Of the two human cell lines tested, NCCIT cells had optimal growth characteristics in a 384 well format, exhibited radiation sensitivity (D(0) = 1.3 ± 0.1 Gy and ñ = 2.0 ± 0.6) comparable to the radiosensitivity of stem cell populations associated with human death within 30 days after total-body irradiation. Moreover, they internalized siRNA after 4 Gy irradiation enabling siRNA library screening. Therefore, we used the human NCCIT cell line for the radiation mitigation study with a siRNA library that silenced 5,520 genes known or hypothesized to be potential therapeutic targets. Exploiting computational methodologies, we identified 113 siRNAs with potential radiomitigative properties, which were further refined to 29 siRNAs with phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 1 (p85α) being among the highest confidence candidate gene products. Colony formation assays revealed radiation mitigation when the phosphoinositide-3-kinase inhibitor LY294002 was given after irradiation of 32D cl 3 cells (D(0) = 1.3 ± 0.1 Gy and ñ = 2.3 ± 0.3 for the vehicle control treated cells compared to D(0) = 1.2 ± 0.1 Gy and ñ = 6.0 ± 0.8 for the LY294002 treated cells, P = 0.0004). LY294002 and two other PI3K inhibitors, PI 828 and GSK 1059615, also mitigated radiation-induced apoptosis in NCCIT cells. Treatment of mice with a single intraperitoneal LY294002 dose of 30 mg/kg at 10 min, 4, or 24 h after LD(50/30) whole-body dose of irradiation (9.25 Gy) enhanced survival. This study documents that an unbiased siRNA assay can identify new genes, signaling pathways, and chemotypes as radiation mitigators and implicate the PI3K pathway in the human radiation response.

Abstract 4355: Use of MnSOD tet on transgenic mice as a model for evaluating irradiation protection and mitigation

Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is a mitochondrial enzyme responsible for the dismutation or reduction of superoxide produced by cellular respiration. Absence of MnSOD is lethal two to three days after birth. Following irradiation there is an increase in superoxide production which combined with nitric oxide can result in the formation of the highly reactive radical peroxynitrite. Increased expression of MnSOD in a cell increases survival by the reduction of superoxide produced following irradiation. Decreased MnSOD production has resulted in decreased survival following irradiation. To better understand the role of MnSOD in cellular respiration as well as protecting the cell from irradiation damage, we have developed a MnSOD tet on mouse which has no MnSOD activity. In the absence of doxycycline the homozygous MnSOD tet on mouse does not survive past 2 or 3 days after birth. If doxycycline (2 µg/ml) is added to the water of heterozygous mothers, the MnSOD tet on mice develop normally and are fertile as long as they remain on the doxycycline treated water. Long term bone marrow cultures (LTBMCs) were established from homozygous MnSOD tet on mice, heterozygous tet on mice and control C57BL/6J mice. The cultures from the control mice had more hematopoietic cell activity than the MnSOD tet on cultures. To determine when the MnSOD gene is turned on after addition of doxocycline, bone marrow stromal cell lines were developed from the LTBMCs were incubated in 1 µg doxocycline/ml media for time points up to 24 hr, RNA was extracted and RT-PCR for the MnSOD transgene was performed. By 12 hours there was an increase in MnSOD RNA expression in the MnSOD tet on cells. Removal of the doxycycline resulted in a decrease in MnSOD RNA by 1 hr in the MnSOD tet on cells as well as the heteroxyzous cells. This mouse model will be useful for testing new compounds for radiation protection and mitigation.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4355. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4355

Strategies for discovery of small molecule radiation protectors and radiation mitigators

Mitochondrial targeted radiation damage protectors (delivered prior to irradiation) and mitigators (delivered after irradiation, but before the appearance of symptoms associated with radiation syndrome) have been a recent focus in drug discovery for (1) normal tissue radiation protection during fractionated radiotherapy, and (2) radiation terrorism counter measures. Several categories of such molecules have been discovered: nitroxide-linked hybrid molecules, including GS-nitroxide, GS-nitric oxide synthase inhibitors, p53/mdm2/mdm4 inhibitors, and pharmaceutical agents including inhibitors of the phosphoinositide-3-kinase pathway and the anti-seizure medicine, carbamazepine. Evaluation of potential new radiation dose modifying molecules to protect normal tissue includes: clonogenic radiation survival curves, assays for apoptosis and DNA repair, and irradiation-induced depletion of antioxidant stores. Studies of organ specific radioprotection and in total body irradiation-induced hematopoietic syndrome in the mouse model for protection/mitigation facilitate rational means by which to move candidate small molecule drugs along the drug discovery pipeline into clinical development.

Repopulation of the irradiation damaged lung with bone marrow-derived cells

AIM

The effect of lung irradiation on reduction of lung stem cells and repopulation with bone marrow-derived cells was measured.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Expression of green fluorescent protein positive cells (GFP(+)) in the lungs of thoracic irradiated FVB/NHsd mice (Harlan Sprague Dawley, Indianapolis, IN, USA) was determined. This was compared to the repopulation of bone marrow-derived cells found in the lungs from naphthalene treated male FVB/NHsd mice and gangciclovir (GCV) treated FeVBN GFP(+) male marrow chimeric HSV-TK-CCSP. The level of mRNA for lung stem cell markers clara cell (CCSP), epithelium 1 (FOXJ1) and surfactant protein C (SP-C), and sorted single cells positive for marrow origin epithelial cells (GFP(+)CD45(-)) was measured.

RESULTS

The expression of pulmonary stem cells as determined by PCR was reduced most by GCV, then naphthalene, and least by thoracic irradiation. Irradiation, like GCV, reduced mRNA expression of CCSP, CYP2F2, and FOXJ1, while naphthalene reduced that of CCSP and CYP2F2. Ultrastructural analysis showed GFP(+) pulmonary cells of bone marrow origin, with the highest frequency being found in GCV-treated groups.

CONCLUSION

Bone marrow progenitor cells may not participate in the repopulation of the lung following irradiation.

L-arginine is a radioprotector for hematopoietic progenitor cells

L-arginine is shown to protect hematopoietic progenitor (32D cl 3) cells from death due to exposure to γ radiation ((137)Cs). Some of the other intermediates in the urea cycle, namely ornithine and citrulline, plus urea itself, were not found to have any significant impact on cell survival after irradiation. Intriguingly, supplementation of irradiated cells with L-arginine results in decreased production of peroxynitrite, suggesting that suppression of superoxide generation by nitric oxide synthase in one or more microenvironments is an important factor in the observed radioprotection. The absence of any radioprotective effect of L-arginine in cells at 3% oxygen also confirms the involvement of one or more oxygen-derived species. Knockdown experiments with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) siRNAs in cells and NOS knockout animals confirm that the observed radioprotection is associated with nNOS (NOS-1). L-arginine also ameliorates the transient inhibition of the electron-transport chain complex I that occurs within 30 min of completing the dose (10 Gy) and that appears to be a functional marker for postirradiation mitochondrial oxidant production.

A manganese-porphyrin complex decomposes H(2)O(2), inhibits apoptosis, and acts as a radiation mitigator in vivo

Ionizing radiation triggers mitochondrial overproduction of H(2)O(2) with concomitant induction of intrinsic apoptosis, whereby clearance of H(2)O(2) upon overexpression of mitochondrial catalase increases radioresistance in vitro and in vivo. As an alternative to gene therapy, we tested the potential of Mn((III))-porphyrin complexes to clear mitochondrial H(2)O(2). We report that triphenyl-[(2E)-2-[4-[(1Z,4Z,9Z,15Z)-10,15,20-tris(4-aminophenyl)-21,23-dihydroporphyrin-5-yl]phenyl]iminoethyl]phosphonium-Mn((III)) compartmentalizes preferentially into mitochondria of mouse embryonic cells, reacts with H(2)O(2), impedes γ-ray-induced mitochondrial apoptosis, and increases the survival of mice exposed to whole body irradiation with γ-rays.

Amelioration of radiation esophagitis by orally administered p53/Mdm2/Mdm4 inhibitor (BEB55) or GS-nitroxide

BACKGROUND/AIM

Esophagitis is a significant toxicity of radiation therapy for lung cancer. In this study, reduction of irradiation esophagitis in mice, by orally administered p53/Mdm2/Mdm4 inhibitor, BEB55, or the GS-nitroxide, JP4-039, was evaluated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

BEB55 or JP4-039 in F15 (liposomal) formulation was administered intraesophageally to C57BL/6 mice prior to thoracic irradiation of 29 Gy × 1 or 11.5 Gy × 4 thoracic irradiation. Progenitor cells were sorted from excised esophagus, and nitroxide was quantified, by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Mice with Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL) orthotopic lung tumors were treated with BEB55 or JP4-039 prior to 20 Gy to determine if the drugs would protect the tumor cells from radiation.

RESULTS

Intraesophageal BEB55 and JP4-039 compared to formulation alone increased survival after single fraction (p=0.0209 and 0.0384, respectively) and four fraction thoracic irradiation (p=0.0241 and 0.0388, respectively). JP4-039 was detected in esophagus, liver, bone marrow, and orthotopic Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL) tumor. There was no significant radiation protection of lung tumors by BEB55 or JP4-039 compared to formulation only as assessed by survival (p=0.3021 and 0.3693, respectively). Thus, BEB55 and JP4-039 safely ameliorate radiation esophagitis in mice.

Role of the esophageal vagus neural pathway in ionizing irradiation-induced seizures in nitric oxide synthase-1 homologous recombinant negative NOS1-/- mice

AIM

We sought to define the mechanism of total body irradiation (TBI)-induced seizures in NOS1(-/-) mice and amelioration by intra-esophageal manganese superoxide dismutase-plasmid liposomes (MnSOD-PL).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We evaluated the role of vagus nerve pathways in irradiation-induced seizures using biochemical, physiologic, and histopathologic techniques.

RESULTS

Heterozygous NOS1(+/-) mice demonstrated radioresistance similar to wild-type C57BL/6NHsd mice (p=0.9269). Irradiation-induced lipid peroxidation in fetal brain cultures from NOS1(-/-) or wild-type mice was reduced by MnSOD-PL. Right-sided vagotomy did not alter the TBI radiation response of wild-type or reverse the radiosensitivity of NOS1(-/-) mice. Excised esophagus from irradiated NOS1(-/-) mice demonstrated an increased histopathologic inflammatory response compared to C57BL/6NHsd mice.

CONCLUSION

NOS1(-/-) mice represent a model system for dissecting the developmental abnormalities leading to esophageal-mediated TBI-induced seizures.

Leukocyte-derived extracellular superoxide dismutase does not contribute to airspace EC-SOD after interstitial pulmonary injury

The antioxidant enzyme extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) is abundant in the lung and is known to limit inflammation and fibrosis following numerous pulmonary insults. Previous studies have reported a loss of full-length EC-SOD from the pulmonary parenchyma with accumulation of proteolyzed EC-SOD in the airspace after an interstitial lung injury. However, following airspace only inflammation, EC-SOD accumulates in the airspace without a loss from the interstitium, suggesting this antioxidant may be released from an extrapulmonary source. Because leukocytes are known to express EC-SOD and are prevalent in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) after injury, it was hypothesized that these cells may transport and release EC-SOD into airspaces. To test this hypothesis, C57BL/6 wild-type and EC-SOD knockout mice were irradiated and transplanted with bone marrow from either wild-type mice or EC-SOD knockout mice. Bone marrow chimeric mice were then intratracheally treated with asbestos and killed 3 and 7 days later. At both 3 and 7 days following asbestos injury, mice without pulmonary EC-SOD expression but with EC-SOD in infiltrating and resident leukocytes did not have detectable levels of EC-SOD in the airspaces. In addition, leukocyte-derived EC-SOD did not significantly lessen inflammation or early stage fibrosis that resulted from asbestos injury in the lungs. Although it is not influential in the asbestos-induced interstitial lung injury model, EC-SOD is still known to be present in leukocytes and may play an influential role in attenuating pneumonias and other inflammatory diseases.

A mitochondria-targeted inhibitor of cytochrome c peroxidase mitigates radiation-induced death

The risk of radionuclide release in terrorist acts or exposure of healthy tissue during radiotherapy demand potent radioprotectants/radiomitigators. Ionizing radiation induces cell death by initiating the selective peroxidation of cardiolipin in mitochondria by the peroxidase activity of its complex with cytochrome c leading to release of haemoprotein into the cytosol and commitment to the apoptotic program. Here we design and synthesize mitochondria-targeted triphenylphosphonium-conjugated imidazole-substituted oleic and stearic acids that blocked peroxidase activity of cytochrome c/cardiolipin complex by specifically binding to its haem-iron. We show that both compounds inhibit pro-apoptotic oxidative events, suppress cyt c release, prevent cell death, and protect mice against lethal doses of irradiation. Significant radioprotective/radiomitigative effects of imidazole-substituted oleic acid are observed after pretreatment of mice from 1 h before through 24 h after the irradiation.

The autophagy-inducing drug carbamazepine is a radiation protector and mitigator

PURPOSE

To determine whether Carbamazepine (CBZ) is a radiation protector and/or mitigator.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Murine hematopoietic progenitor 32D cl 3 cells were incubated in 1, 10, or 100 μM CBZ 1 h before or immediately after 0-8 Gy irradiation and assayed for clonogenic survival. Autophagy was assayed by immunoblot for microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3). In vivo radioprotection and mitigation were determined with C57BL/6NTac mice.

RESULTS

CBZ treatment at 1, 10 or 100 μM for 1 h prior to irradiation increased radioresistance (the dose for 37% survival or D(0)) from control 1.5 ± 0.1 Gy to 2.1 ± 0.2 Gy (P = 0.012), 2.3 ± 0.1 Gy (P = 0.010), and 3.6 ± 0.7 Gy (P = 0.003), respectively; after irradiation increased the extrapolation number (ñ) from 1.5 ± 0.3 to 10.1 ± 4.2 (P = 0.011), 5.5 ± 1.7 (P = 0.019), and 3.6 ± 0.8 (P = 0.014), respectively, and increased autophagy. CBZ treated mice 10 min or 24 h before or 10 min or 12 h after 9.25 Gy total body irradiation (TBI) showed increased survival (P = 0.012, 0.011, 0.0002, and 0.017, respectively).

CONCLUSION

CBZ may be a useful radiation protector and mitigator.

GS-nitroxide (JP4-039)-mediated radioprotection of human Fanconi anemia cell lines

Fanconi anemia (FA) is an inherited disorder characterized by defective DNA repair and cellular sensitivity to DNA crosslinking agents. Clinically, FA is associated with high risk for marrow failure, leukemia and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Radiosensitivity in FA patients compromises the use of total-body irradiation for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and radiation therapy for HNSCC. A radioprotector for the surrounding tissue would therefore be very valuable during radiotherapy for HNSCC. Clonogenic radiation survival curves were determined for pre- or postirradiation treatment with the parent nitroxide Tempol or JP4-039 in cells of four FA patient-derived cell lines and two transgene-corrected subclonal lines. FancG(-/-) (PD326) and FancD2(-/-) (PD20F) patient lines were more sensitive to the DNA crosslinking agent mitomycin C (MMC) than their transgene-restored subclonal cell lines (both P < 0.0001). FancD2(-/-) cells were more radiosensitive than the transgene restored subclonal cell line (ñ = 2.0 ± 0.7 and 4.7 ± 2.2, respectively, P = 0.03). In contrast, FancG(-/-) cells were radioresistant relative to the transgene-restored subclonal cell line (ñ = 9.4 ± 1.5 and 2.2 ± 05, respectively, P = 0.001). DNA strand breaks measured by the comet assay correlated with radiosensitivity. Cell lines from a Fanc-C and Fanc-A patients showed radiosensitivity similar to that of Fanc-D2(-/-) cells. A fluorophore-tagged JP4-039 (BODIPY-FL) analog targeted the mitochondria of the cell lines. Preirradiation or postirradiation treatment with JP4-039 at a lower concentration than Tempol significantly increased the radioresistance and stabilized the antioxidant stores of all cell lines. Tempol increased the toxicity of MMC in FancD2(-/-) cells. These data provide support for the potential clinical use of JP4-039 for normal tissue radioprotection during chemoradiotherapy in FA patients.

Two strategies for the development of mitochondrion-targeted small molecule radiation damage mitigators

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation of acute ionizing radiation damage by mitochondrion-targeted small molecules.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We evaluated the ability of nitroxide-linked alkene peptide isostere JP4-039, the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor-linked alkene peptide esostere MCF201-89, and the p53/mdm2/mdm4 protein complex inhibitor BEB55 to mitigate radiation effects by clonogenic survival curves with the murine hematopoietic progenitor cell line 32D cl 3 and the human bone marrow stromal (KM101) and pulmonary epithelial (IB3) cell lines. The p53-dependent mechanism of action was tested with p53(+/+) and p53(-/-) murine bone marrow stromal cell lines. C57BL/6 NHsd female mice were injected i.p. with JP4-039, MCF201-89, or BEB55 individually or in combination, after receiving 9.5 Gy total body irradiation (TBI).

RESULTS

Each drug, JP4-039, MCF201-89, or BEB55, individually or as a mixture of all three compounds increased the survival of 32D cl 3 (p = 0.0021, p = 0.0011, p = 0.0038, and p = 0.0073, respectively) and IB3 cells (p = 0.0193, p = 0.0452, p = 0.0017, and p = 0.0019, respectively) significantly relative to that of control irradiated cells. KM101 cells were protected by individual drugs (p = 0.0007, p = 0.0235, p = 0.0044, respectively). JP4-039 and MCF201-89 increased irradiation survival of both p53(+/+) (p = 0.0396 and p = 0.0071, respectively) and p53(-/-) cells (p = 0.0007 and p = 0.0188, respectively), while BEB55 was ineffective with p53(-/-) cells. Drugs administered individually or as a mixtures of all three after TBI significantly increased mouse survival (p = 0.0234, 0.0009, 0.0052, and 0.0167, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Mitochondrial targeting of small molecule radiation mitigators decreases irradiation-induced cell death in vitro and prolongs survival of lethally irradiated mice.

Testicular recovery after irradiation differs in prepubertal and pubertal non-human primates, and can be enhanced by autologous germ cell transplantation

BACKGROUND

Although infertility is a serious concern in survivors of pediatric cancers, little is known about the influence of the degree of sexual maturation at the time of irradiation on spermatogenic recovery after treatment. Thus, we address this question in a non-human primate model, the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).

METHODS

Two pubertal (testis size 3 and 6.5 ml, no sperm in ejaculate) and four prepubertal (testis size 1 ml, no sperm in ejaculate) macaques were submitted to a single fraction of testicular irradiation (10 Gy). Unilateral autologous transfer of cryopreserved testis cells was performed 2 months after irradiation. Testicular volume, histology and semen parameters were analyzed to assess irradiation effects and testicular recovery.

RESULTS

Irradiation provoked acute testis involution only in the two pubertal monkeys. Subsequently, testis sizes recovered and sperm was present in the ejaculates. Longitudinal outgrowth of seminiferous tubules continued, and, in testes without autologous cell transfer, 4-22% of tubular cross sections showed spermatogenesis 2 years after irradiation. In contrast, the four prepubertal monkeys showed neither a detectable involution as direct response to irradiation, nor a detectable growth of seminiferous tubules later. However, two of these animals showed spermarche 2 years after irradiation, and 8-12% of tubules presented spermatogenesis. One prepubertally irradiated monkey presented fast growth of one testis after cell transfer, and showed spermarche 1 year after irradiation. The infused testis had spermatogenesis in 70% of the tubules. The contralateral testis remained smaller.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that irradiation before puberty has a severe detrimental effect on outgrowth of seminiferous tubules. But, within the seminiferous epithelium, spermatogenetic recovery occurs at a low rate with no detectable relation to the maturity of the epithelium at irradiation. We also show that autologous testis cell transplantation can enhance spermatogenesis, but only in isolated cases.

Radiobiologic effects of GS-nitroxide (JP4-039) on the hematopoietic syndrome

BACKGROUND/AIM

Total-body irradiation (TBI) doses in the range of 2-8 Gy are associated with a drop in peripheral blood counts, decreased bone marrow cellularity, and hematopoietic syndrome. Radiation mitigators must be safe for individuals likely to recover spontaneously.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Female C57BL/6HNsd mice exposed to 9.0 and 9.15 Gy TBI, received intraperitoneal (10 mg/kg) JP4-039, a novel radiation mitigator, 24 hours after irradiation and were followed for hematopoietic recovery.

RESULTS

Irradiated mice showed reduced peripheral blood lymphocytes and neutrophils and bone marrow cellularity at day 5. Serum electrolytes, liver and renal function tests showed no deleterious effect of JP4-039-after irradiation, and no reduction in survival compared to irradiated controls. Marrow recovery measured as cellularity, and hematopoietic colony-forming cells including primitive granulocyte-erythroid-megakaryocyte-monocytes (GEMM), reached pre-irradiation levels by day 30 in JP4-039 treated groups. Mice receiving single or multiple administrations of JP4-039 showed an early return of CFU-GEMM.

CONCLUSION

JP4-039 (GS-Nitroxide) is a safe radiation mitigator in mice warranting studies in larger animals and potentially a Phase I Clinical Trial.

Abstract 2503: Distinct radiosensitivities of human FancG-/- and FancD2-/- cell lines

Background: Fanconi Anemia is an autosomal recessive disorder marked by a dysfunction of DNA repair, an increased sensitivity to DNA crosslinking agents, and some patients poorly tolerating ionizing irradiation. We determined the radiosensitivity of two Fanconi patient cell lines and we determined if the nitroxide radioprotector Tempo or a novel mitochondrial targeted nitroxide JP4-039 could alter their radiosensitivity.

Materials and Methods: Fanconi patient derived fibroblastic cell lines, PD326 and PD20F, and their respective transgene restored cell lines FancG and FancD2 were irradiated to doses ranging from 0 to 8 Gy in the presence or absence of Tempo or JP4-039 (10 µm), plated, and colonies greater than 50 cells were counted eight days later.

Results: The PD20F cell line was more radiosensitive compared to the restored FancD2 cell line (n = 1.6 + 0.2 and 10.7 + 3.1, respectively, p = 0.0423). In contrast the PD326 cell line was more radioresistant than its restored FancG cell line as seen by an increased shoulder on the survival curve (n = 8.1 + 1.4 and 2.2 + 0.3, respectively, p = 0.0174). JP4-039 but not Tempo increased radioresistance in the PD326 (n = 15.7 + 2.5, p = 0.0373), and FancG cell lines (10.2 + 2.1, p = 0.0151).

Conclusions: The human Fanconi Anemia cell line PD326 is radioresistant when compared to its transgene restored FancG cell line, and this radioresistance is increased by treatment with the mitochondrial targeted nitroxide JP4-039. In contrast, PD20F is more radiosensitive when compared to its transgene restored FancD2 cell line. Testing the efficacy of JP4-039 and Tempo on mitigating the effects of mitomycin C treatment is being evaluated.

Supported by 2U19A1068021-06

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2503. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2503

Abstract 2495: The autophagy inducing drug carbamazepine is a radiation protector and mitigator

The role of autophagy in cellular response to radiation is controversial. Some investigators report that induction of autophagy increases radiosensitivity whereas others report that it confers radioresistance. Carbamazepine, traditionally used to treat mood disorders, epilepsy and trigeminal neuralgia, has recently been shown to induce autophagy. We hypothesized that carbamazepine would be radioprotective in vitro and in vivo by upregulating autophagy in cells and tissue after irradiation. In clonogenic assays of murine hematopoietic progenitor cells (32Dcl3), carbamazepine at 1, 10 and 100 uM for 1 hour prior to irradiation (0 – 8 Gy) increased the Do from 1.5 ± 0.1 to 2.1 ± 0.1 (p = 0.011), 2.3 ± 0.1 (p = 0.010), and 3.6 ± 0.7 (p = 0.003), respectively. Carbamazepine after irradiation increased the shoulder (ñ) on the survival curve from 1.4 ± 0.3 to 10.1 ± 4.2 (p = 0.011), 5.5 ± 1.7 (p = 0.018), or 3.6 ± 0.8 (p = 0.014), respectively. C57BL/6NHsd mice with intraperitoneal injection of carbamazepine (20 mg/kg) immediately before or after 9.25 Gy irradiation demonstrated increased survival (p = 0.008 and 0.005, respectively). JC1 stain and TUNEL assay revealed that carbamazepine had no effect on changes in mitochondria potential or apoptosis, respectively, following 5 or 10 Gy. Immunoblot for LC3 in 32Dcl3 cells 24 hours after irradiation revealed a 3.3x (5 Gy) and 6.2x (10 Gy) increase in LC3II/LC3I when cells were incubated in 50 uM carbamazepine. Cells irradiated in the absence of carbamazepine exhibited a 1.3x (5 Gy) and 1.8x (10 Gy) LC3II/LC3I increase, respectively. This data suggest that carbamazepine may be a valuable radiation mitigator by upregulating autophagy in irradiated cells.

Supported by 2U19A1068021-06

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2495. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2495

Abstract 2502: Swallowed small molecule GS-nitroxide, JP-4-039, protects the irradiated esophagus

Irradiation induced esophagitis is a dose limiting factor in the treatment of lung cancer, and limits irradiation dose escalation. Intraesophageal manganese superoxide dismutase plasmid liposomes has been shown to protect against irradiation esophagitis (Tarhini, et.al. Human Gene Therapy, in press). A new small molecule drug recently has shown irradiation protection and mitigation in vitro. The new drug (JP4-039) is a nitroxide attached to a mitochondrial targeting sequence. Drug was delivered to the top of the esophagus and the mouse swallowed the F15 formulation, consisting of soy PC: Tween-80: L-glutamyl dioleylamide (4:1:1 w/w) and 8 mg/ml of JP4-039 in PBS. C57BL/6NHsd mice swallowed 100 µl water followed by 100 µl F15-JP4-039 (0.4 mg/mouse) ten minutes before 28 Gy to the upper body. F15-JP4-039 resulted in a significant increase in survival compared to irradiated controls. F15-JP4-039 produced a 30 day survival of 75% compared to 30% for irradiation control (p = 0.0315). The JP4-039 nitroxide signal, detected by EPR, allowed demonstration that drug was in whole esophagus and in the esophageal stem cells. F15-JP4-039 intraorally treated mice were sacrificed at 10 min, 30 min, 1 hr or 5 hr after swallowing the F15-JP4-039, esophagus removed, single cell suspensions made, frozen, and analyzed by EPR. At 10 min, 2971.3 fmoles of JP4-039/million cells were detected, and still detected out to 5 hours, 1081 fmoles/million cells, after irradiation. Sorted side population cells (SP), enriched for stem cells, and nonside population cells (NSP) isolated by flow cytometer were analyzed at 10 min after swallow, by EPR for JP4-039 uptake. The SP cells had 3666.7 fmoles per million cells and the NSP cells had 73.7 fmoles nitroxide per million cells demonstrating that drug had reached stem cells. Thus, intraesophageal administration of small molecule antioxidant GS-nitroxide reduces murine radiation esophagitis, and may be a valuable translational radiation protector to ameliorate clinical esophagitis in lung cancer patients.

Supported by 2U19A1068021-06 and RO1-CA83876-06

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2502. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2502

Antioxidant-chemoprevention diet ameliorates late effects of total-body irradiation and supplements radioprotection by MnSOD-plasmid liposome administration

Abstract Many acute and chronic effects of ionizing radiation are mediated by reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species, which deplete antioxidant stores, leading to cellular apoptosis, stem cell depletion and accelerated aging. C57BL/6NHsd mice receiving intravenous MnSOD-PL prior to 9.5 Gy total-body irradiation (TBI) show increased survival from the acute hematopoietic syndrome, and males demonstrated improved long-term survival (Epperly et al., Radiat. Res. 170, 437-444, 2008). We evaluated the effect of an antioxidant-chemopreventive diet compared to a regular diet on long-term survival in female mice. Twenty-four hours before the LD(50/30) dose of 9.5 Gy TBI, subgroups of mice were injected intravenously with MnSOD-PL (100 μg plasmid DNA in 100 μl of liposomes). Mice on either diet treated with MnSOD-PL showed decreased death after irradiation compared to irradiated mice on the house diet alone (P = 0.031 for the house diet plus MnSOD-PL or 0.015 for antioxidant diet plus MnSOD-PL). The mice on the antioxidant-chemoprevention diet alone or with MnSOD-PL that survived 30 days after irradiation had a significant increase in survival compared to mice on the regular diet (P = 0.04 or 0.01, respectively). In addition, mice treated with MnSOD-PL only and surviving 30 days after radiation also had increased survival compared to those on the regular diet alone (P = 0.02). Survivors of acute ionizing radiation damage have ameliorated life shortening if they are fed an antioxidant-chemopreventive diet.

Oxidative lipidomics of γ-radiation-induced lung injury: mass spectrometric characterization of cardiolipin and phosphatidylserine peroxidation

Oxidative damage plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of γ-radiation-induced lung injury. Endothelium is a preferred target for early radiation-induced damage and apoptosis. Given the newly discovered role of oxidized phospholipids in apoptotic signaling, we performed oxidative lipidomics analysis of phospholipids in irradiated mouse lungs and cultured mouse lung endothelial cells. C57BL/6NHsd female mice were subjected to total-body irradiation (10 Gy, 15 Gy) and euthanized 24 h thereafter. Mouse lung endothelial cells were analyzed 48 h after γ irradiation (15 Gy). We found that radiation-induced apoptosis in vivo and in vitro was accompanied by non-random oxidation of phospholipids. Cardiolipin and phosphatidylserine were the major oxidized phospholipids, while more abundant phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine) remained non-oxidized. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analysis revealed the formation of cardiolipin and phosphatidylserine oxygenated molecular species in the irradiated lung and cells. Analysis of fatty acids after hydrolysis of cardiolipin and phosphatidylserine by phospholipase A(2) revealed the presence of mono-hydroperoxy and/or mono-hydroxy/mono-epoxy, mono-hydroperoxy/mono-oxo molecular species of linoleic acid. We speculate that cyt c-driven oxidations of cardiolipin and phosphatidylserine associated with the execution of apoptosis in pulmonary endothelial cells are important contributors to endothelium dysfunction in γ-radiation-induced lung injury.

A phase I study of concurrent chemotherapy (paclitaxel and carboplatin) and thoracic radiotherapy with swallowed manganese superoxide dismutase plasmid liposome protection in patients with locally advanced stage III non-small-cell lung cancer

Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is a genetically engineered therapeutic DNA/liposome containing the human MnSOD transgene. Preclinical studies in mouse models have demonstrated that the expression of the human MnSOD transgene confers protection of normal tissues from ionizing irradiation damage. This is a phase I study of MnSOD plasmid liposome (PL) in combination with standard chemoradiation in surgically unresectable stage III non-small-cell lung cancer. Chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel) was given weekly (for 7 weeks), concurrently with radiation. MnSOD PL was swallowed twice a week (total 14 doses), at three dose levels: 0.3, 3, and 30 mg. Dose escalation followed a standard phase I design. Esophagoscopy was done at baseline, day 4, and 6 weeks after radiation with biopsies of the squamous lining cells. DNA was extracted and analyzed by PCR for the detection of the MnSOD transgene DNA. Ten patients with AJCC stage IIIA (three) and IIIB (seven) completed the course of therapy. Five had squamous histology, two adenocarcinoma, one large cell, and two not specified. Patients were treated in three cohorts at three dose levels of MnSOD PL: 0.3 (three patients), 3 (three patients), and 30 mg (four patients). The median dose of radiation was 77.7 Gy (range 63-79.10 Gy). Overall response rate for the standard chemoradiation regimen was 70% (n = 10). There were no dose-limiting toxicities reported in all three dosing tiers. It is concluded that the oral administration of MnSOD PL is feasible and safe. The phase II recommended dose is 30 mg.

The Use of 3,5,4'-Tri-O-acetylresveratrol as a Potential Pro-drug for Resveratrol Protects Mice from γ-Irradiation-Induced Death

Currently, no drugs are available to protect humans from γ-irradiation-induced death. Because reactive oxygen species are produced upon exposure to γ-irradiation and directly responsible for the resulting death, we hypothesized that antioxidants found in foodstuffs may provide a safe and potent means of antioxidant-dependent radioprotection. Here, we describe our studies investigating the radioprotective properties of resveratrol and 3,5,4'-tri-O-acetylresveratrol. Each of these natural antioxidants was found to protect live cells after γ-irradiation. In mice, the use of 3,5,4'-tri-O-acetylresveratrol with Cremophor EL was particularly effective, indicating that this natural antioxidant may be a leading candidate for radioprotective drug development.