Differential cytoprotection by glycine against oxidant damage to proximal tubule cells

Tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP) injured freshly isolated proximal tubules in an Fe-dependent fashion that was ameliorated by a lipophilic antioxidant, diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPPD), but was only minimally affected by glycine. Menadione-induced injury was Fe-independent and was unaffected by DPPD, but was strongly blocked by glycine. Fe was highly toxic when intracellular loading was facilitated by concomitant treatment with hydroxyquinoline (HQ). This toxicity was blocked by DPPD or chelating the Fe, but not by glycine. All of the lesions were characterized by severe depletion of glutathione and other soluble thiols. Menadione induced large increases in protein associated with the Triton-insoluble cytoskeleton and decreases in protein thiol content, consistent with extensive cross linking, but did not increase thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). tBHP and HQ + Fe had either no effect or only moderate, delayed effects on cytoskeletal proteins, but induced substantial increases of TBARS. Glycine did not the alter changes in cytoskeletal proteins, thiols, or TBARS produced by any of the agents. Protection against tBHP toxicity by deferoxamine and DPPD was accompanied by substantial suppression of TBARS accumulation. Superimposition of hypoxia during tBHP exposure reduced TBARS accumulation and restored cytoprotective activity to glycine. Thus, in contrast to its consistently strong cytoprotection against a number of other insults, glycine is only variably cytoprotective against oxidant lesions in freshly isolated proximal tubules. Extensive oxidative crosslinking of proteins is compatible with maintenance of glycine cytoprotection against lethal membrane damage. Fe-induced injury to proximal tubules associated with lipid peroxidation as manifested by TBARS formation is a relatively glycine-insensitive insult.

Chemical Determinants of antimalarial activity of reversed siderophores

Reversed siderophores (RSFs) are artificial hydroxamate-based iron chelators designed after the natural siderophore ferrichrome. The modular molecular design of RSF derivatives allowed the synthesis of various congeners with controlled iron-binding capacities and partition coefficients. These two physicochemical properties were assessed by a novel fluorescent method and were found to be the major determinants of RSF permeation across erythrocyte membranes and scavenging of compartmentalized iron. The partition coefficient apparently conferred upon RSFs two major features: (i) the ability to rapidly access iron pools of in vitro-grown Plasmodium falciparum at all developmental stages and to mobilize intracellular iron and transfer it to the medium and (ii) the ability to suppress parasite growth at all developmental stages. These features of RSFs were assessed by quantitative determination of the structure-activity relationships of the biological activities and partition coefficients spanning a wide range of values. The most effective RSF containing the aromatic group of phenylalanine (RSFm2phe) showed 50% inhibitory concentration of 0.60 +/- 0.03 nmol/ml in a 48-h test and a 2-h onset of inhibition of ring development at 5 nmol/ml. The lipophilic compound RSFm2phe and the lipophilic and esterase-cleavable compound RSFm2pee inhibited parasite growth at all developmental stages whether inhibition was assessed in a continuous mode or after discontinuing drug administration. The antimalarial effects of RSFm2phe and cleavable RSFm2pee were potentiated in the presence of desferrioxamine (DFO) at concentrations at which DFO alone had no effect on parasite growth. These studies provide experimental evidence indicating that the effective and persistent antimalarial actions of RSFs are associated with drug access to infected cells and scavenging of iron from intracellular parasites. Moreover, the optimal antimalarial actions of RSFs are apparently also determined by improved accessibility to critical iron pools or by specific interactions with critical parasite targets.

Tryptophan hydroxylase: cloning and expression of the rat brain enzyme in mammalian cells

A cDNA encoding full-length tryptophan hydroxylase was produced by reverse transcriptase-PCR from rat brain mRNA and expressed transiently in a human fibroblast cell line. Catalytic activity was low unless transfected cells were grown in the presence of FeSO4. Recombinant tryptophan hydroxylase was found almost exclusively within the soluble compartment of the cell and was dependent on tryptophan and tetrahydrobiopterin for activity. The catalytic activity of recombinant tryptophan hydroxylase was stimulated > 25-fold by Fe(II) and to a somewhat lesser extent by the polyanions heparin and phosphatidylserine. The enzyme was inhibited by desferrioxamine and dopamine, both of which complex iron. When extracts from transfected cells were subjected to sucrose gradient centrifugation and analytical gel filtration, the recombinant enzyme behaved the same as the native enzyme from brain. A monoclonal antibody against phenylalanine hydroxylase that cross-reacts with brain tryptophan hydroxylase was capable of immunoprecipitating the recombinant hydroxylase from solution. These data indicate that recombinant tryptophan hydroxylase expressed in mammalian cells is assembled into tetramers of approximately 220,000 daltons. Its catalytic and physical properties appear to be very similar to those of the native enzyme from brain.

In vitro activities of novel catecholate siderophores against Plasmodium falciparum

The activities of novel iron chelators, alone and in combination with chloroquine, quinine, or artemether, were evaluated in vitro against susceptible and resistant clones of Plasmodium falciparum with a semimicroassay system. N4-nonyl,N1,N8-bis(2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl) spermidine hydrobromide (compound 7) demonstrated the highest level of activity: 170 nM against a chloroquine-susceptible clone and 1 microM against a chloroquine-resistant clone (50% inhibitory concentrations). Compounds 6, 8, and 10 showed antimalarial activity with 50% inhibitory concentrations of about 1 microM. Compound 7 had no effect on the activities of chloroquine, quinine, and artemether against either clone, and compound 8 did not enhance the schizontocidal action of either chloroquine or quinine against the chloroquine-resistant clone. The incubation of compound 7 with FeCI3 suppressed or decreased the in vitro antimalarial activity of compound 7, while no effect was observed with incubation of compound 7 with CuSO4 and ZnSO4. These results suggest that iron deprivation may be the main mechanism of action of compound 7 against the malarial parasites. Chelator compounds 7 and 8 primarily affected trophozoite stages, probably by influencing the activity of ribonucleotide reductase, and thus inhibiting DNA synthesis.

Low glutathione and high iron govern the susceptibility of oligodendroglial precursors to oxidative stress

We have previously shown, using qualitative approaches, that oligodendroglial precursors are more readily damaged by free radicals than are astrocytes. In the present investigation we quantified the oxidative stress experienced by the cells using oxidation of dichlorofluorescin diacetate to dichlorofluorescein as a measure of oxidative stress; furthermore, we have delineated the physiological bases of the difference in susceptibility to oxidative stress found between oligodendroglial precursors and astrocytes. We demonstrate that (a) oligodendroglial precursors under normal culture conditions are under six times as much oxidative stress as astrocytes, (b) oxidative stress experienced by oligodendroglial precursors increases sixfold when exposed to 140 mW/m2 of blue light, whereas astrocytic oxidative stress only doubles, (c) astrocytes have a three times higher concentration of GSH than oligodendroglial precursors, (d) oligodendroglial precursors have > 20 times higher iron content than do astrocytes, and (e) oxidative stress in oligodendroglial precursors can be prevented either by chelating intracellular free iron or by raising intracellular GSH levels to astrocytic values. We conclude that GSH plays a central role in preventing free radical-mediated damage in glia.

Myoglobin inhibits proliferation of cultured human proximal tubular (HK-2) cells

Following nephrotoxic injury, renal repair is dependent on tubular regeneration. In the case of myoglobinuric acute renal failure (ARF), persistence of myoglobin within tubular cells, or sublethal injury sustained at the height of exposure to it, might retard this process. To test this hypothesis, a human proximal tubular cell line (HK-2) was cultured for 24 hours in the absence or presence of clinically relevant myoglobin concentrations (0.5, 1, 2, 4 mg/ml). Immediately following myoglobin removal, lethal cell injury (vital dye uptake), lipid peroxidation, and DNA damage (alkaline unwinding assay) were assessed. The extent of cell proliferation was estimated over the next four days by a tetrazolium based (MTT) assay and by determining total intracellular LDH. Myoglobin's effects on protein and DNA synthesis were also assessed (35S-methionine and bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, respectively). Myoglobin induced dose-dependent lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde generation) and cell death (up to 80% vital dye uptake with the 4 mg/ml challenge). Although 1 mg/ml myoglobin caused no cell death, it induced nearly complete growth arrest. This lasted for approximately three days following myoglobin removal from the media. Neither of two control proteins (albumin; lysozyme) nor a second nephrotoxin (gentamicin; 1 mg/ml) reproduced this effect. The 1 mg/ml myoglobin challenge caused an 80 to 90% depression in protein and DNA synthesis. It also induced significant DNA damage, as assessed by the alkaline unwinding assay (P < 0.01). Iron chelation therapy (deferoxamine) mitigated myoglobin-induced cell killing. However, its addition following myoglobin loading worsened HK-2 outgrowth by exerting a direct anti-proliferative effect. These results indicate that: (1) sublethal myoglobin toxicity can induce transient proximal tubular cell growth arrest, potentially slowing recovery from ARF; (2) this effect correlates with, and could result from, heme-induced DNA damage and a blockade in DNA/protein synthesis; and (3) deferoxamine can inhibit proximal tubular cell proliferation. This possibility needs to be considered in designing clinical trials with DFO for myohemoglobinuric ARF.

Hydroxyl radical production during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion in cats

We previously showed that generation of reactive oxygen species during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion stimulates cardiac sympathetic afferent nerve endings. We hypothesized that, in this feline model of brief ischemia and reperfusion, HO. is produced during ischemia and the rate and concentration of production of HO.during reperfusion is dependent on the duration of myocardial ischemia. Therefore, we evaluated the time dependency of production of HO. during reperfusion after 2, 5, and 10 min of reversible occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery to induce ischemia in cats (n = 10). Blood samples collected from the coronary vein at 0.25, 1, 2, and 4 min after 2 min of ischemia revealed net cumulative rate of production of p-, m-, and o-tyrosine of 99 +/- 31, 10 +/- 5.1, and 0.8 +/- 0.2 nmol.min-1.g-1, respectively. After 5 min of ischemia, net cumulative rates of production of p-, m-, and o-tyrosine during reperfusion were 177 +/- 63, 74 +/- 26, and 1.6 +/- 0.8 nmol.min-1.g-1, respectively, whereas after 10 min of ischemia production rates were 153 +/- 42, 78 +/- 29, and 2.1 +/- 0.5 nmol.min-1.g-1, respectively. The highest rate of production of tyrosines was observed immediately after ischemia, perhaps indicating a washout of HO.-derived products that had accumulated in the myocardium during ischemia. To evaluate production of HO. during ischemia, deoxygenated saline (PO2 10 +/- 0.9 mmHg) containing phenylalanine was perfused into the ischemic coronary vascular bed through a cannula placed in the LAD (n = 16). Perfusate was collected from the coronary vein during the 10 min of ischemia. Net production of HO. during ischemia, measured by the production of p-, m-, and o-tyrosine, was 82 +/- 11, 6.6 +/- 0.4, and 1.7 +/- 0.3 nmol.min-1.g-1, respectively. Pretreatment with deferoxamine (10 mg/kg, n = 7) or dimethylthiourea (10 mg/kg, n = 6) decreased net production of HO. during ischemia and reperfusion. These results demonstrate that HO. is produced during brief ischemia and reperfusion, with the greatest amount being produced immediately after ischemia. Additionally, we show that the duration of brief ischemia determines the rate of production of HO. during reperfusion.

Mimosine blocks cell cycle progression by chelating iron in asynchronous human breast cancer cells

Mimosine is a toxic nonprotein amino acid that is a major constituent of the tropical legumes Leucaena and Mimosa. Mimosine has been shown to cause acute and chronic toxicosis in livestock fed from forage containing these plants. Recently, mimosine has been demonstrated to reversibly block cell cycle progression in mammalian cells in culture. In this study, we compared the effects of mimosine to desferrioxamine (DFO), a well-characterized iron chelator, and found that both chemicals similarly altered cell cycle progression in MDA-MB-453 human breast cancer cells. Mimosine (400 microM) and DFO (150 microM) both reduced DNA synthesis by greater than 90% of control within 4 hr of treatment, and suppressed total proline-directed protein kinase activity to less than 10% of control after 16 hr treatment. These effects were antagonized by the addition of iron as ferrous sulfate (250 microM), which is bound to transferrin and imported into the cell via transferrin receptor endocytosis, or as hemin (100 microM), which passes through the cell membrane and releases iron into the cytosol. After 24 hr treatment with the chelators, a large portion of the available transferrin receptors moved to the cell surface, indicating that the cells were iron-starved. Our data demonstrate that mimosine, through iron chelation, blocks cell cycle progression in MDA-MB-453 human breast cancer cells.

Assessment of the role of the glutathione and pentose phosphate pathways in the protection of primary cerebrocortical cultures from oxidative stress

Reactive oxygen species have been implicated in neuronal injury associated with various neuropathological disorders. However, little is known regarding the relationship between antioxidant enzyme capacity and resultant toxicity. The antioxidant pathways of primary cerebrocortical cultures were directly examined using a novel technique that measures pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) activity, which is enzymatically coupled to glutathione peroxidase (GPx) detoxification of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). PPP activity was quantified from data obtained by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of released labeled lactate following metabolic degradation of [1,6-(13)C2, 6,6-(2)H2] glucose by cerebrocortical cultures. The antioxidant capacity of these cultures was systematically evaluated using H2O2, and the resultant toxicity was quantified by lactate dehydrogenase release. Exposure of primary mixed and purified astrocytic cultures to H2O2 caused stimulation of PPP activity in a concentration-dependent fashion from 0.25 to 22.2% and from 6.9 to 66.7% of glucose metabolized to lactate through the PPP, respectively. In the mixed cultures, chelation of iron before H2O2 exposure was protective and resulted in a correlation between PPP saturation and toxicity. Conversely, addition of iron, inhibition of GPx, or depletion of glutathione decreased H2O2-induced PPP stimulation and increased toxicity. These results implicate the Fenton reaction, reflect the pivotal role of GPx in H2O2 detoxification, and contribute to our understanding of the etiological role of free radicals in neuropathological conditions.

Acquisition of iron by the non-siderophore-producing Pseudomonas fragi

The iron requirement, siderophore production and iron uptake mechanisms of the type strain Pseudomonas fragi ATCC 4973 and five P. fragi isolates from meat were analysed. The strains exhibited a high sensitivity to iron starvation: their growth was strongly inhibited in medium supplemented with the iron chelator ethylenediamine di(hydroxyphenylacetic acid) or in medium treated with 8-hydroxyquinoline to remove contaminating iron. No siderophores were detectable in the growth supernatants of iron-starved cells. Cross-feeding experiments in iron-depleted medium showed, however, that the bacterial growth could be strongly stimulated by siderophores of foreign origin including desferriferrioxamine B, enterobactin and some pyoverdines. Moreover, all the strains were capable of efficiently using the iron sources present in their natural environment, i.e., transferrin, lactoferrin and haemoglobin. Iron starvation led to the specific production of supplementary outer-membrane proteins of apparent molecular mass ranging from 80 to 88 kDa. Furthermore, growth in the presence of exogenous siderophores resulted, in some strains, in the induction of siderophore-mediated iron uptake systems. For one strain the concomitant synthesis of an iron-regulated, siderophore-inducible outer-membrane protein was observed.

Deferoxamine improves spatial memory performance following experimental brain injury in rats

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes impairments of both motor and spatial memory performances. Research is only beginning to reveal the biochemical mechanism(s) underlying these deficits. It has been postulated that reactive oxygen species such as the superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, as well as the peroxynitrite anion, are generated by injury and may play a critical role in the observed memory deficits. The highly reactive hydroxyl radical, which is thought to contribute to neuronal toxicity, can be generated by an iron-catalyzed reaction. The source of this iron (or iron-bound proteins) could be a compromise of the blood-brain barrier, which can occur following TBI. In this report, we investigate the ability of deferoxamine, a scavenger of free iron, the hydroxyl radical and the peroxynitrite anion, to facilitate behavioral recovery following a controlled cortical impact of rats. Intraperitoneal administration of this drug prior to the injury did not affect the rate of recovery from motor deficits in comparison to vehicle (saline)-injected animals. However, deferoxamine-treated animals showed significant improvement in spatial memory performance in a Morris water maze task. Volumetric analysis of cortical tissue loss showed no significant differences between vehicle- and drug-injected animals. Similarly, histological examination of the hippocampus did not reveal any gross differences between the two groups. These results indicate that deferoxamine improves spatial memory performance, possibly through protection from neuronal dysfunction.

Purification, spectroscopic analysis and biological activity of the macrocyclic dihydroxamate siderophore alcaligin produced by Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella bronchiseptica

Hydroxamate siderophores of virulent Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella bronchiseptica strains were purified using a simple large-scale isolation procedure, and identified by various spectroscopic techniques as the macrocyclic dihydroxamate siderophore trivially known as alcaligin, 1,8(S),11,18(S)- tetrahydroxy-1,6,11,16-tetraazacycloeicosane-2,5,12,15-tetrone+ ++, which was previously isolated from the taxonomically-related bacterial species Alcaligenes denitrificans subsp. xylosoxydans. Alcaligin purified from iron-depleted cultures of B. pertussis and B. bronchiseptica exhibited specific growth-promoting activity under iron-restricted conditions for Bordetella indicator strains, and ere active in [55Fe]ferric alcaligin transport assays. Evidence suggests that several C2-symmetric conformations of alcaligin exist simultaneously in both methanolic and aqueous solution.

Siderophore-mediated iron acquisition mechanisms in Vibrio vulnificus biotype 2

Vibrio vulnificus biotype 2 is a primary pathogen for eels and, as has recently been suggested, an opportunistic pathogen for humans. In this study we have investigated the ability of V. vulnificus biotype 2 to obtain iron by siderophore-mediated mechanisms and evaluated the importance of free iron in vibriosis. The virulence degree for eels was dependent on iron availability from host fluids, as was revealed by a reduction in the 50% lethal dose for iron-overloaded eels. This biotype produced both phenolate- and hydroxamate-type siderophores of an unknown nature and two new outer membrane proteins of around 84 and 72 kDa in response to iron starvation. No alterations in lipopolysaccharide patterns were detected in response to iron stress. Finally, our data suggest that V. vulnificus biotype 2 uses the hydroxamate-type siderophore for removal of iron from transferrin rather than relying on a receptor for this iron-binding protein.

Antimicrobial activity of Pseudomonas spp. against food poisoning bacteria and moulds

The present study demonstrates the siderophore production of two strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens and two of Ps. chlororaphis. The antimicrobial activities of these strains were studied against Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Fusarium culmorum, F. oxysporum and Aspergillus niger. Despite equal siderophore activities with various Pseudomonas spp. as measured by the chrome azurol S assay, the study shows how siderophore activity does not correlate with the antibacterial activity against food pathogens or with the antimould activity against pathogenic moulds. Furthermore, the results illustrate how siderophores are able to act both as growth inhibitors and stimulators.

Growth of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is promoted by exogenous hydroxamate and catechol siderophores

Siderophores bind ferric ions and are involved in receptor-specific iron transport into bacteria. Six types of siderophores were tested against strains representing the 12 different serotypes of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. Ferrichrome and bis-catechol-based siderophores showed strong growth-promoting activities for A. pleuropneumoniae in a disk diffusion assay. Most strains of A. pleuropneumoniae tested were able to use ferrichrome (21 of 22 or 95%), ferrichrome A (20 of 22 or 90%), and lysine-based bis-catechol (20 of 22 or 90%), while growth of 36% (8 of 22) was promoted by a synthetic hydroxamate, N5-acetyl-N5-hydroxy-L-ornithine tripeptide. A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 (strain FMV 87-682) and serotype 5 (strain 2245) exhibited a distinct yellow halo around colonies on Chrome Azurol S agar plates, suggesting that both strains can produce an iron chelator (siderophore) in response to iron stress. The siderophore was found to be neither a phenolate nor a hydroxamate by the chemical tests of Arnow and Csaky, respectively. This is the first report demonstrating the production of an iron chelator and the use of exogenous siderophores by A. pleuropneumoniae. A spermidine-based bis-catechol siderophore conjugated to a carbacephalosporin was shown to inhibit growth of A. pleuropneumoniae. A siderophore-antibiotic-resistant strain was isolated and shown to have lost the ability to use ferrichrome, synthetic hydroxamate, or catechol-based siderophores when grown under conditions of iron restriction. This observation indicated that a common iron uptake pathway, or a common intermediate, for hydroxamate- and catechol-based siderophores may exist in A. pleuropneumoniae.

Role of 'catalytic' iron in an animal model of minimal change nephrotic syndrome

Treatment of minimal change disease, like most glomerulonephritides, is empirical because underlying mechanisms that cause glomerular injury are not known. We examined a pathogenic role of 'catalytic' iron in a model of minimal change nephrotic syndrome induced by injection of puromycin aminonucleoside (7.5 mg/100 g body wt) to rats. Although there was no significant change in non-heme iron content in glomeruli, the bleomycin-detectable iron (capable of catalyzing free radical reactions) was markedly increased in glomeruli from nephrotic rats when compared to control. In contrast, despite a marked and significant increase in the non-heme iron content in tubules, there was no significant change in the bleomycin-detectable iron in tubules from nephrotic rats. In a separate in vivo study, the iron chelator, deferoxamine, prevented the increase in the bleomycin-detectable iron in glomeruli and provided complete protection against proteinuria. Taken together, our data suggest an important pathogenetic role for glomerular catalytic iron in the puromycin aminonucleoside-induced minimal change nephrotic syndrome.

Isoenzyme-specific regulation of genes involved in energy metabolism by hypoxia: similarities with the regulation of erythropoietin

Recent studies have indicated that regulatory mechanisms underlying the oxygen-dependent expression of the haematopoietic growth factor erythropoietin are widely operative in non-erythropoietin-producing cells and are involved in the regulation of other genes. An important characteristic of this system is that the inducible response to hypoxia is mimicked by exposure to particular transition metals such as cobaltous ions, and by iron chelation. We have investigated the extent of operation of this system in the regulation of a range of genes concerned with energy metabolism. The effects of hypoxia (1% oxygen), cobaltous ions and desferrioxamine on gene expression in tissue-culture cells was studied using RNase protection assays. Hypoxia induced the expression of glucose transporters in an isoform-specific manner; GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 were induced by hypoxia, whereas expression of GLUT-2 was decreased. Isoenzyme-specific regulation by hypoxia was also observed for genes encoding phosphofructokinase, aldolase and lactate dehydrogenase. For all of these genes, responses to cobaltous ions and desferrioxamine correlated in both direction and magnitude with the response to hypoxia. In contrast, a reduction in mitochondrial transcripts was observed in hypoxia, but these changes were not mimicked by either cobaltous ions or desferrioxamine. These findings indicate that similarities with erythropoietin regulation extend to the oxygen-dependent regulation of genes encoding glucose transporters and glycolytic enzymes but not to the regulation of mitochondrial transcripts, and they show that in glucose metabolism regulation by this system is isoenzyme- or isoform-specific.

Aluminium-induced bone disease in uremic rats: effect of deferoxamine

We have previously established a rat model of chronic uremia, which is suitable to investigate the effect of various treatment modalities on renal osteodystrophy [1]. After four months subsequent to 5/6 nephrectomy, some animals were treated by gavage for 9 weeks with tap water (controls), or with aluminium (Al-citrate) 3 x 25 mg/week/kg b.wt +/- subsequent deferoxamine (DFO) 3 x 50 mg/week/kg b.wt. for 4 weeks. At termination of the study, serum clinical chemistry, femoral chemical composition and mechanical properties, calvarial parathyroid hormone (PTH)-elicited adenylate cyclase (AC) and phospholipase C (PLC) activities, cross-sectional femoral area, as well as bone histomorphometry, were analyzed. Animals given Al displayed moderately enhanced serum Al and bone Al accumulation, however, DFO-treatment did not fully alleviate bone Al retainment. A small increase in serum PTH was seen in all animals rendered uremic. Furthermore, a marked fall in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) below normal controls was observed in Al +/- DFO-treated animals compared with uremic controls. The uremic condition led to reduced femoral ratios of hydroxyproline (HYP) over Ca(2+) and phosphate (P(i)), while Al-intoxication alone enhanced femoral Hyp contents above values seen for normal controls. The protracted ureamia caused a deterioration of long bone resilience and brittleness, however, Al +/- DFO-treatment seemed to normalize the latter. Contrastingly, Al +/- DFO-gavage enhanced time to fracture. Uremic rats intoxicated with Al showed a complete loss of calvarial PTH-sensitive AC and PLC activities. DFO-treatment normalized PTH-elicited PLC, while PTH-susceptible AC remained super-normal. Al apparently exerts a long term down-regulation of both PTH-sensitive signaling systems as evidenced by studies of rat UMR 106 osteosarcoma cells in culture. The uremic condition enhanced endosteal bone resorption as shown by femoral shaft dimension analysis, while Al +/- DFO-treatment insignificantly reversed the condition. Finally, histomorphometrical analyses showed that DFO-administration tended to normalize aberrant trabecular bone volume, while rectifying both bone resorption and degree of mineralization. In conclusion, we assert that Al-intoxication hampers both processes (i.e. formation and resorption) of bone turnover, and that DFO-treatment to a certain extent prevents the uremia- and Al-induced bone disease in rats.

The promotion of iron-induced generation of reactive oxygen species in nerve tissue by aluminum

Aluminum is suspected to play a role in several neurological disorders. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) lead to oxidative stress, which is thought to be a possible mechanism for neurological damage. Interactions between aluminum and iron, a known promoter of prooxidant events, were studied in cerebral tissues using a fluorescent probe to measure rates of generation of ROS. Al2(SO4)3 alone failed to stimulate ROS production over a wide range of concentrations (50-1000 microM). The aluminum-deferrioxamine chelate in the absence of iron could also not potentiate ROS formation. However, Al2(SO4)3 potentiated FeSO4-induced ROS, with a maximal effect at 10 microM Fe and 500 microM Al. Kaolin, a hydrated aluminum silicate, did not potentiate iron-induced ROS formation. Ferritin had a minor stimulatory effect on ROS generation, but this was not potentiated by the concurrent presence of Al2(SO4)3. Transferrin had no effect on basal rates of ROS generation, but when Al2(SO4)3 was also present, ROS production was enhanced. It is concluded that: 1. There is a potentiation of iron-induced ROS by aluminum salts; 2. Free or complexed aluminum alone is not a key producer of ROS; and 3. High rates of ROS production are unlikely to be owing to the displacement by aluminum iron from its biologically sequestered locations.

Synthesis and in vitro antibacterial activity of spermidine-based mixed catechol- and hydroxamate-containing siderophore--vancomycin conjugates

The first antibiotic conjugates of vancomycin (1) and siderophore analogues containing spermidine-based catechol ligands (conjugate 11) as well as mixed catechol and hydroxamate ligands (conjugate 13) are described. The design of the conjugates was based on the earlier observation that conjugation of siderophore components to beta-lactam antibiotics induced active iron transport-mediated drug delivery. The novel conjugates (11 and 13) were synthesized by selective acylation of the primary amino group of 1. Preliminary biological studies indicated that siderophore modified vancomycins lost some activity (4- to 16-fold) against Gram-positive bacteria relative to vancomycin itself, and were generally similar to vancomycin in activity against Gram-negative bacteria under iron-sufficient conditions. However, under iron-depleted conditions which mimic human serum, conjugate 11 displayed enhanced antibacterial activity against an antibiotic hypersensitive strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Iron metabolism and oxidative stress during acute and chronic phases of experimental inflammation: effect of iron-dextran and deferoxamine

Iron overload induces a rise in lipid peroxidation, but there are no data on the effects of iron administered in vivo on the production of free radicals by inflammatory cells. Further, there is lack of agreement about the benefits of deferoxamine (Dfx) in the treatment of anemia and oxidative stress during inflammation and chronic diseases. In this study, iron-dextran (Fe-dextran) or Dfx was administered subcutaneously during the acute and chronic phases of carrageenan-induced granuloma. Several parameters related to iron metabolism, inflammatory cell activity, and lipid peroxidation were measured in liver, plasma, and the inflammatory exudate. Treatment with Fe-dextran increased iron content in plasma and in stores, increased production of superoxide anion (O2-) by inflammatory cells and lipid peroxidation, and also altered the inflammatory process. Dfx mobilized iron from stores without modifying essential parameters related to anemia or to the level of lipid peroxidation induced by inflammation. We conclude that treatment with Fe-dextran had a beneficial effect on recovery from the anemia of inflammation. Nevertheless, the high levels of loosely-bound iron found after Fe-dextran treatment in plasma and in exudate contribute to the increase in oxidative stress. Dfx treatment had no effect on anemia or on lipid peroxidation.

Nitric oxide potentiates hydrogen peroxide-induced killing of Escherichia coli

Previously, we reported that nitric oxide (NO) provides significant protection to mammalian cells from the cytotoxic effects of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Murine neutrophils and activated macrophages, however, produce NO, H2O2, and other reactive oxygen species to kill microorganisms, which suggests a paradox. In this study, we treated bacteria (Escherichia coli) with NO and H2O2 for 30 min and found that exposure to NO resulted in minimal toxicity, but greatly potentiated (up to 1,000-fold) H2O2-mediated killing, as evaluated by a clonogenic assay. The combination of NO/H2O2 induced DNA double strand breaks in the bacterial genome, as shown by field-inverted gel electrophoresis, and this increased DNA damage may correlate with cell killing. NO was also shown to alter cellular respiration and decrease the concentration of the antioxidant glutathione to a residual level of 15-20% in bacterial cells. The iron chelator desferrioxamine did not stop the action of NO on respiration and glutathione decrease, yet it prevented the NO/H2O2 synergistic cytotoxicity, implicating metal ions as critical participants in the NO/H2O2 cytocidal mechanism. Our results suggest a possible mechanism of modulation of H2O2-mediated toxicity, and we propose a new key role in the antimicrobial macrophagic response for NO.

Studies of hypoxemic/reoxygenation injury: without aortic clamping. IV. Role of the iron-catalyzed pathway: deferoxamine

This study tests the hypothesis that an iron chelator, deferoxamine, can reduce oxygen-mediated myocardial injury and avoid myocardial dysfunction after cardiopulmonary bypass by its action on the iron-catalyzed Haber-Weiss pathway. Twenty-one immature 2- to 3-week-old piglets were placed on cardiopulmonary bypass for 120 minutes, and five piglets served as biochemical controls without cardiopulmonary bypass. Five piglets underwent cardiopulmonary bypass without hypoxemia (cardiopulmonary bypass control). Sixteen others became hypoxemic while undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass for 60 minutes by lowering oxygen tension to about 25 mm Hg, followed by reoxygenation at oxygen tension about 400 mm Hg for 60 minutes. Oxygen delivery was maintained during hypoxemia by increasing cardiopulmonary bypass flow and hematocrit level. In seven piglets deferoxamine (50 mg/kg total dose) was given both intravenously just before reoxygenation and by a bolus injection (5 mg/kg) into the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit; nine others were not treated (no therapy). Myocardial function after cardiopulmonary bypass was evaluated form end-systolic elastance (conductance catheter) and Starling curve analysis. Myocardial conjugated diene production and creatine kinase leakage were assessed as biochemical markers of injury, and antioxidant reserve capacity was determined by measuring malondialdehyde in postcardiopulmonary bypass myocardium incubated in the oxidant, t-butylhydroperoxide. Cardiopulmonary bypass without hypoxemia caused no oxidant or functional damage. Conversely, reoxygenation (no therapy) raised myocardial conjugated diene levels and creatine kinase production (conjugated diene: 3.5 +/- 0.7 absorbance 233 nm/min/100 g, creatine kinase: 8.5 +/- 1.5 U/min/100 g; p < 0.05 versus cardiopulmonary bypass control), reduced antioxidant reserve capacity (malondialdehyde: 1115 +/- 60 nmol/g protein at 4 mmol/L t-butylhydroperoxide; p < 0.05 versus control), and produced severe post-bypass dysfunction (end-systolic elastance recovered only 39% +/- 7%, p < 0.05 versus cardiopulmonary bypass control). Deferoxamine avoided conjugated diene production and creatine kinase release and retained normal antioxidant reserve, and functional recovery was complete (95% +/- 11%, p < 0.05 versus no treatment). These findings show that iron-catalyzed oxidants may contribute to a reoxygenation injury and imply that deferoxamine may be used to surgical advantage.

Antiarrhythmic effects of ceruloplasmin during reperfusion in the ischemic isolated rat heart

The ability of ceruloplasmin, an important serum antioxidant, to reduce the vulnerability of the isolated rat heart to reperfusion arrhythmias has been investigated. Bovine plasma ceruloplasmin was purified by chromatography on aminoethyl-agarose. Isolated rat hearts were submitted to 15 min of regional ischemia and 10 min of reperfusion. The dose-effect relationship and the role of ceruloplasmin conformational integrity in cardioprotection were established by treatment of ischemic hearts with ceruloplasmin at various concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 microM) and at different degrees of conformational integrity (A610/A280 = 0.02, 0.04, and 0.06), 5 min before reperfusion. Deferoxamine (20-500 microM) was used as a positive control. As negative controls we used chemically inactivated ceruloplasmin (1 microM), heat-denatured ceruloplasmin (1 microM), and albumin (1-4 microM). In the control group during the first 5 min of reperfusion, the incidence of total ventricular fibrillation was 100% and of irreversible ventricular fibrillation was 83%. The incidence of reversible and irreversible ventricular fibrillation was significantly decreased in the ceruloplasmin-treated groups in both a dose and molecular integrity dependent manner. Ceruloplasmin had no effect on the incidence of ventricular tachycardia. Deferoxamine reduced the incidence of ventricular fibrillation to the same degree as ceruloplasmin but at concentrations much higher than those of ceruloplasmin. Chemically inactivated ceruloplasmin, heat-denatured ceruloplasmin, and albumin had no protective effects on reperfusion-induced arrhythmias.

Iron chelation decreases NF-kappa B and HIV type 1 activation due to oxidative stress

An important aspect of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection is the regulation of its expression by nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) through redox-controlled signal transduction pathways. In this study, we demonstrate that iron chelation by deferoxamine (DFO) protects against the cytotoxic and reactivating effects of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). These protective effects were observed both in lymphocytic (ACH-2) and promonocytic (U1) cells latently infected by HIV-1. Concomitantly, NF-kappa B activation by H2O2, when followed by gel retardation assay, was decreased in the DFO-treated U1 and ACH-2 cells. This latter DFO-mediated effect was specific, as DFO did not clearly affect AP-1 DNA-binding activity when studied after H2O2-induced stress. More importantly, DFO protected against the H2O2-induced activation of HIV-1 as evidenced by reverse transcriptase activity in the supernatant. DFO also protected against PMA-induced NF-kappa B activation as well as TNF-alpha-induced HIV-1 activation. Furthermore, DFO attenuated the p24 response in PBMC infected with HIV-1 and stimulated with IL-2. These different effects of DFO were obtained at DFO concentrations lower than 5 microM. Other chemically unrelated iron chelators also provided protection against cytotoxicity, NF-kappa B activation, and HIV-1 activation in U1 cells challenged with H2O2.

Novel 21-aminosteroidlike compounds prevent iron-induced free radical-mediated injury to vascular endothelial cells

Free radicals appear to play a major role in the reperfusion injury of the myocardium. Iron chelators and antioxidants can prevent the reperfusion injury. The cellular source of free radicals during reperfusion is not clearly established. However, an important source may be the endothelial cells (EC). The protective effect of iron chelators and antioxidants on reperfusion injury of the myocardium may be partially mediated by their effect on vascular EC, which may attenuate the formation of hydroxyl radicals. We examined the protective effect of deferoxamine and antioxidants on iron-dependent free radical-mediated damage to EC and membrane lipid peroxidation and compared it with those of a new class of compounds (21-aminosteroids: U-74389F, U-74500A, U-78517F) which have both antioxidant and iron chelating properties. We examined viability of the EC and membrane lipid peroxidation using primary aortic EC. First, the effect of increasing iron concentration (0-3.8 microM) (added as ferric ammonium citrate) was characterized. We then examined the effect of deferoxamine (1-10 microM), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT 1-10 mM), probucol (0.5-5.0 mM), allopurinol (1-1,000 microM), U-74389F (2-20 microM), U-74500A (1-5 microM), and U-78517F (0.1-1.0 microM) on reversing the effect of iron. With increasing iron concentration, there was a significant decrease in the viability of dog aortic or bovine pulmonary arterial EC as compared with NIH 3T3 or human fibroblasts. Equally, there was also a significant increase in lipid peroxidation of the cellular membranes. There were significant differences between the compounds with respect to their ability to maintain the viability of EC and prevent membrane lipid peroxidation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hypoxia-induced vascular endothelial growth factor expression in normal rat astrocyte cultures

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an endothelial cell-specific mitogen, which also enhances vascular permeability. Because this angiogenic factor has been suggested to play a role in brain tumor biology, we have begun to investigate the regulation of VEGF expression in cultures of rat type I astrocytes. In this report, we have focused on the influence of hypoxia on VEGF expression. Under standard in vitro conditions (21% O2) VEGF expression in astrocytes in barely detectable by northern analysis. However, after exposure to 0.2% O2 for as little as 3 h VEGF mRNA levels are markedly increased reaching a maximum by approximately 8 h of exposure. Treatment of astrocytes with CoCl2 or desferrioxamine results in a similar induction of VEGF, suggesting that the oxygen sensor regulating VEGF expression in astrocytes is a heme-containing molecule. Although acute treatment with TPA (6 h) induces VEGF expression, chronic exposure to TPA (24 h) to deplete PKC activity does not reduce the hypoxia-induced VEGF expression. These data indicate that VEGF induction in astrocytes can proceed through PKC-dependent and -independent pathways. Furthermore, chronic exposure to TPA or treatment with herbimycin A results in the enhancement of the hypoxia-mediated increase in VEGF mRNA levels. These results suggest that PKC and herbimycin-sensitive tyrosine kinase may serve as negative regulators of the hypoxia-activated signal transduction pathway that leads to the induction of VEGF expression. However, treatment of astrocytes with the nonspecific kinase inhibitors H7 and H8 reduced the level of VEGF induction by hypoxia, indicating that some type of kinase activity is required in this signaling pathway.

Role of hydroxyl radical in the stimulation of arachidonic acid release caused by H2O2 in pulmonary smooth muscle cells: protective effect of anion channel blocker

We sought to investigate role of hydroxyl radical (OH.) in H2O2 caused stimulation of arachidonic acid (AA) release from rabbit pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells, and to ascertain protective effect of the anion channel blocker DIDS in this phenomenon. Exposure of the smooth muscle cells to the oxidant H2O2 (1mM) stimulates iron release and enhances AA liberation from the cells. Pretreatment of the cells with either deferoxamine (DFO) or dimethyl thiourea (DMTU) markedly reduces AA release and prevents OH. production without causing any appreciable reduction of iron release caused by H2O2. Simultaneous treatment of either DFO or DMTU with H2O2 significantly reduces AA release, and also prevents OH. production without causing any significant reduction of iron release. In contrast, addition of either DFO or DMTU even 2 min after exposure of the cells to H2O2 does not cause any significant reduction of AA release, OH. production and iron release. Pretreatment of the cells with DIDS markedly reduces AA release caused by H2O2 without producing any discernible reduction of iron release, and OH. production.

Identification of alcaligin as the siderophore produced by Bordetella pertussis and B. bronchiseptica

The siderophores produced by iron-starved Bordetella pertussis and B. bronchiseptica were purified and were found to be identical. Using mass spectrometry and proton nuclear magnetic resonance, we determined that the siderophore produced by these organisms was identical to alcaligin, a siderophore produced by Alcaligenes denitrificans.

Differing sensitivity of non-hematopoietic human tumors to synergistic anti-transferrin receptor monoclonal antibodies and deferoxamine in vitro

We tested non-hematopoietic human tumors for in vitro sensitivity to either a pair of synergistic IgG antitransferrin (Tf) receptor monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), deferoxamine (DFO) or the combination thereof. With an equimolar mixture of the two MAbs (A27.15, E2.3), two prostate tumors showed similar degrees of maximal growth inhibition (PC-3: 35%, DU 145: 38%), two breast tumors showed more variability (MDA-MB-231: 26%, SK-BR-3: 52%) and two neuroblastomas showed the most variability (SK-N-SH: 4%, SK-N-MC: 76%). When the MAbs were applied together with DFO, the D50 for DFO was reduced for all tumors (PC-3: 2.5x, DU 145: 3.7x; MDA-MB-231: 2.9x, SK-BR-3: 1.9x, and SK-N-SH: 2.6x, SK-N-MC: 7.0x). Sensitivity to MAbs was more closely correlated with the relative decrease in Tf receptor density resulting from antibody exposure than with initial receptor density. The degree of reduction of D50 for DFO resulting from the joint application with the MAbs was, however, most closely related to the growth rate of the tumors. Since some non-hematopoietic tumors exhibit sensitivity to the effects of a synergistic pair of IgG anti-Tf receptor MAbs and DFO, it appears that further preclinical studies with such tumors, especially those with higher Tf densities, would be of interest.

urbs1, a gene regulating siderophore biosynthesis in Ustilago maydis, encodes a protein similar to the erythroid transcription factor GATA-1

Ustilago maydis secretes ferrichrome-type siderophores, ferric-ion-binding compounds, in response to iron starvation. TA2701, a non-enterobactin-producing, non-ferrichrome-utilizing mutant of Salmonella typhimurium LT-2, was employed as a biological indicator in a novel screening method to isolate three N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced U. maydis mutants defective in the regulation of ferrichrome-type siderophore biosynthesis. These mutants displayed a constitutive phenotype; they produced siderophores in the presence of iron concentrations that would typically repress siderophore synthesis in wild-type strains. A 4.8-kb fragment of U. maydis genomic DNA capable of restoring normal regulation of siderophore biosynthesis in the constitutive mutants was identified. This segment of DNA contains an intronless open reading frame that specifies a protein of 950 amino acids containing two finger motifs similar to those found in the erythroid transcription factor GATA-1. Disruption of this open reading frame in a wild-type strain gave rise to cells that produced siderophores constitutively. Genetic studies indicated that the disruption mutation was allelic to the chemically induced mutations, confirming that the structural gene for a regulator rather than a suppressor gene had been cloned. Northern (RNA) analysis of the gene revealed a 4.2-kb transcript that is expressed constitutively at low levels in wild-type cells. The data support the hypothesis that this gene, which we designate urbs1 (Ustilago regulator of biosynthesis of siderophores), acts directly or indirectly to repress biosynthesis of siderophores in U. maydis.

Iron chelation suppresses mononuclear cell activation, modifies lymphocyte migration patterns, and prolongs rat cardiac allograft survival in rats

Iron influences host immunity, in part by affecting the function and migration patterns of T cell subpopulations. Removal of iron stores from the body by chelation decreases proliferation and differentiation of T cells, as shown in models of autoimmunity and pancreatic islet transplantation. We have examined the influence of iron chelation on rejection of vascularized heart allografts in rats. Two protocols were investigated: "treated" recipients received desferrithiocin (30 mg/kg/day) orally for 10 days beginning the day of transplantation; "pretreated" hosts received a similar dose of the drug for 10 days before engraftment. Graft survival increased from about 7 days in untreated animals to 14-16 days in both treatment groups (P < 0.001). Histological and immunoperoxidase studies of allografts at day 7 showed that iron chelation resulted in only a mild reduction in cell infiltration, but in a marked decrease in graft edema and interstitial hemorrhage and essentially complete suppression of mononuclear cell activation and cytokine production. Chelation therapy was also found to inhibit profoundly cytokine (TNF-alpha) production in rats treated with LPS, consistent with the effects observed in situ in the allografts. In vitro studies showed that pretreatment significantly inhibited the mixed lymphocyte reaction. Chelation also influenced migration of T lymphocyte subsets: treatment stimulated migration of CD4+ lymphocytes to peripheral lymph nodes; pretreatment strikingly and selectively increased CD8+ cell migration into parathymic lymph nodes draining the graft, with the opposite effect on nondraining node groups. We conclude that treatment with iron-chelating agents has several effects on host alloresponsiveness in a rat heart graft model secondary to inhibition of immune activation; these include prolongation of graft survival, inhibition of the mixed lymphocyte reaction (pretreatment), marked depression of cytokine production, and alteration in recirculation patterns of lymphocyte subpopulations.

Alpha-keto acids are novel siderophores in the genera Proteus, Providencia, and Morganella and are produced by amino acid deaminases

Growth promotion and iron transport studies revealed that certain alpha-keto acids generated by amino acid deaminases, by enterobacteria of the Proteus-Providencia-Morganella group (of the tribe Proteeae), show significant siderophore activity. Their iron-binding properties were confirmed by the chrome azurol S assay and UV spectra. These compounds form ligand-to-metal charge transfer bands in the range of 400 to 500 nm. Additional absorption bands of the enolized ligands at 500 to 700 nm are responsible for color formation. Siderophore activity was most pronounced with alpha-keto acids possessing an aromatic or heteroaromatic side chain, like phenylpyruvic acid and indolylpyruvic acid, resulting from deamination of phenylalanine and tryptophan, respectively. In addition, alpha-keto acids possessing longer nonpolar side chains, like alpha-ketoisocaproic acid or alpha-ketoisovaleric acid and even alpha-ketoadipic acid, also showed siderophore activity which was absent or negligible with smaller alpha-keto acids or those possessing polar functional groups, like pyruvic acid, alpha-ketobutyric acid, or alpha-ketoglutaric acid. The fact that deaminase-negative enterobacteria, like Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp., could not utilize alpha-keto acids supports the view that specific iron-carboxylate transport systems have evolved in members of the tribe Proteeae and are designed to recognize ferric complexes of both alpha-hydroxy acids and alpha-keto acids, of which the latter can easily be generated by L-amino acid deaminases in an amino acid-rich medium. Exogenous siderophores, like ferric hydroxamates (ferrichromes) and ferric polycarboxylates (rhizoferrin and citrate), were also utilized by members of the tribe Proteeae.

Structures of two polyamine-containing catecholate siderophores from Vibrio fluvialis

From low-iron cultures of Vibrio fluvialis AQ 0012, two new compounds with siderophore activity were purified by XAD-7 adsorption followed by preparative TLC. Norspermidine and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid were identified as constituents common to both compounds by GC-MS analyses of their acid hydrolytic products. In addition, L-threonine was identified in the hydrolysate of one compound, named fluvibactin. Based on high magnetic NMR analyses, the structure of fluvibactin was established as N4-[2-(2,3-dihydroxy-phenyl)-trans-5-methyl-2-oxazoline-4-yl]carboxy-N1, N7- bis-(2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl)-norspermidine, and that of the other compound as N1,N7-bis-(2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl)-norspermidine. The structures were supported by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. Both of the purified compounds restored growth inhibition of the producer strain and V. cholerae Non-O1 induced by ethylenediamine di-(o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid), a potent synthetic chelating agent of ferric iron.

Ability of Pseudomonas pseudomallei malleobactin to acquire transferrin-bound, lactoferrin-bound, and cell-derived iron

The ability of malleobactin to mobilize iron from transferrin and lactoferrin was examined in an equilibrium dialysis assay in the absence of bacteria. Malleobactin was capable of removing iron from both transferrin and lactoferrin at pH values of 7.4, 6.0, and 5.0. However, the levels of iron mobilization were greater for transferrin than for lactoferrin at all the pH values used in the assay. The ability of Pseudomonas pseudomallei to acquire iron from 30% iron-saturated transferrin and K562 human erythroleukemic cells was compared in parallel cultures as described previously (J. H. Brock, P. H. Williams, J. Liceaga, and K. G. Woldridge, Infect. Immun. 59:3185-3190, 1991). P. pseudomallei U7 tended to acquire iron from transferrin. In contrast, P. aeruginosa PAO and P. cepacia Pc275C acquired iron from both sources. P. cepacia H1721, which does not produce detectable siderophores, but can utilize malleobactin, pyochelin, and azurechelin as iron sources, was used in a similar experiment. Addition of malleobactin resulted in iron uptake only from transferrin, whereas pyochelin and azurechelin promoted iron uptake from both sources. When the siderophores were incubated with K562 cells alone, malleobactin was less efficient at removing iron from cells than pyochelin and azurechelin. It was also determined that malleobactin was less effective in binding to or entering cells than pyochelin and azurechelin. These results suggest that malleobactin can acquire iron more effectively from host proteins than from cellular sources. Pyochelin and azurechelin can acquire cell-derived iron in addition to iron bound to host proteins.

Siderophore-specific induction of iron uptake in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa has two siderophore-based high-affinity iron-uptake systems utilizing pyoverdin and pyochelin. Using strain IA1, a mutant deficient in production of both siderophores, we have shown that addition of purified siderophore to the growth medium induces expression of specific iron-regulated outer-membrane proteins and increases 55Fe-siderophore transport. Addition of pyoverdin from the parent strain PAO1 or from a clinical strain 0:12 induced expression of an 85 kDa IROMP and increased the rate of 55Fe-pyoverdin transport. Transport rates for 55Fe-PAO1 pyoverdin increased from 1.27 to 3.57 pmol Fe min-1 per 10(9) cells. Addition of purified pyochelin induced expression of a 75 kDa IROMP accompanied with increased 55Fe-pyochelin uptake without affecting 55Fe-pyoverdin transport. 55Fe-pyochelin transport increased from 0.3 to 10.6 pmol min-1 per 10(9) cells. Addition of pyoverdin from the parent strain or a chromatographically distinct pyoverdin caused increased reactivity with an anti-85 kDa mAb in Western blotting, indicating that the same receptor is being induced. These results suggest that P. aeruginosa can respond specifically to the presence of siderophore and moreover that not only can the pyoverdin receptor transport its cognate ferri-pyoverdin but also different ferri-pyoverdins, albeit at a reduced rate.

Modes of action and inhibitory activities of new siderophore-beta-lactam conjugates that use specific iron uptake pathways for entry into bacteria

We describe here the mechanism of inhibition of two new siderophore-beta-lactam conjugates against Escherichia coli X580. One conjugate is a spermidine-based catechol siderophore-carbacephalosporin (JAM-2-263), and the other is an N5-acetyl-N5-hydroxy-L-ornithine tripeptide hydroxamate siderophore-carbacephalosporin (EKD-3-88). In an agar diffusion test, both conjugates produced large inhibitory zones against strain X580. Resistant strains (i.e., JAMR and EKDR) could be isolated after exposure of X580 to the conjugates JAM-2-263 and EKD-3-88, respectively. No cross-resistance was observed in these individual isolates. JAMR and EKDR were studied further to elucidate the mechanism of inhibition of each conjugated drug. The affinities of JAM-2-263 and EKD-3-88 for penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) of isolated inner membranes were determined by a competition assay with 125I-penicillin V. JAM-2-263 targeted primarily PBPs 1A/B and 5/6, while EKD-3-88 targeted PBPs 1A/B and 3. Strains X580, JAMR, and EKDR showed similar PBP affinities for the conjugates. However, marked changes were observed in the iron-regulated outer membrane proteins of resistant isolates grown on agar plates depleted of iron. EKDR lost the expression of FhuA (78 kDa) and its sensitivity to phages T1 and T5, whereas JAMR lost the expression of Cir (74 kDa) and its sensitivity to colicin Ia. These results revealed the requirement of FhuA and Cir for the inhibitory activities of EKD-3-88 and JAM-2-263, respectively. In an antibiotic diffusion assay, ferrichrome (1 microM) strongly antagonized the activities of both conjugates against X580 and JAMR, including the residual activity of JAM-2-263 against JAMR. However, the susceptibility of strain EKDR lacking the ferrichrome receptor (FhuA-) to the two conjugates remained the same in the presence of ferrichrome. The antagonistic effect of ferrichrome on the activity of JAM-2-263 may also indicate a role for FhuA in the activity of this beta-lactam conjugate. A FhuA- Cir- double mutant confirmed this hypothesis, since it showed a higher level of resistance to JAM-2-263. To reproduce iron-restricted in vivo growth conditions, we grew X580 and EKDR cells in diffusion chambers implanted in the peritoneal cavities of rats. Strain EKDR showed impaired growth in such a cultivation system. This is the first report of beta-lactam drug transport into E. coli cells that involves the FhuA outer membrane protein.

Effect of pseudobactin 358 production by Pseudomonas putida WCS358 on suppression of fusarium wilt of carnations by nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum Fo47

Nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum Fo47b10 combined with Pseudomonas putida WCS358 efficiently suppressed fusarium wilt of carnations grown in soilless culture. This suppression was significantly higher than that obtained by inoculation of either antagonistic microorganism alone. The increased suppression obtained by Fo47b10 combined with WCS358 only occurred when Fo47b10 was introduced at a density high enough (at least 10 times higher than that of the pathogen) to be efficient on its own. P. putida WCS358 had no effect on disease severity when inoculated on its own but significantly improved the control achieved with nonpathogenic F. oxysporum Fo47b10. In contrast, a siderophore-negative mutant of WCS358 had no effect on disease severity even in the presence of Fo47b10. Since the densities of both bacterial strains at the root level were similar, the difference between the wild-type WCS358 and the siderophore-negative mutant with regard to the control of fusarium wilt was related to the production of pseudobactin 358. The production of pseudobactin 358 appeared to be responsible for the increased suppression by Fo47b10 combined with WCS358 relative to that with Fo47b10 alone.