Does lung NAD(P)H:quinone reductase (DT-diaphorase) play an antioxidant enzyme role in protection from hyperoxia?

NAD(P)H:quinone reductase, or DT-diaphorase, has been studied primarily in the liver where it appears to function as an antioxidant-like enzyme in the 2-electron reduction of some quinones to less toxic hydroquinones. This property together with new molecular biology evidence that oxidants such as H2O2 can induce gene transcription of DT-diaphorase provide especially intriguing reasons to examine the possibility that lung DT-diaphorase could have an important antioxidant enzyme role versus pulmonary O2 toxicity during exposure to hyperoxia. We found that similar to the 'classical' lung antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) DT-diaphorase activity increased significantly in the late gestational fetal lung; also its activity was altered in the same way as the antioxidant enzymes by prenatal hormonal treatment. Another similarity is that DT-diaphorase activity was induced in the neonatal animal lung during hyperoxia, but not in the adult animal lung. However, using various drug treatments which markedly increased lung DT-diaphorase activity (e.g., 3-methylcholanthrene, butylated hydroxyanisole, methimazole) we found no improved hyperoxic survival in the treated adult rats. Also, dicumarol treatment, which markedly depressed DT-diaphorase activity, did not diminish the hyperoxic survival rate in an O2-tolerant adult rat model. Thus, we conclude that unlike the classical antioxidant enzymes, increased pulmonary DT-diaphorase activity is probably neither necessary nor sufficient to protect against pulmonary O2 toxicity during hyperoxia.

Effect of xenobiotics on quinone reductase activity in first trimester explants

The placental protective enzyme quinone reductase (QR) has recently been reported to be induced by exposure to mercury, which is a toxic metal in vitro at term. In the present study we have examined the effect of three groups of xenobiotics-carcinogens, chemoprotectors and a natural antioxidant, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) on this enzyme activity in the first trimester placenta in vitro. Incubations with the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene (BP) at 10-50 microM doses increased the enzyme activity at 6 h. At 24 h the effect of 10 microM BP was significant while that of 50 microM BP was not consistent. On the other hand the effect of 50 microM 3-methylcholanthrene at both time points was not significant. Ascorbic acid (5-25 microM) added for 24 h caused a 2- and 4-fold increase in the enzyme activity, respectively (P < 0.005). Exposure to a 25 microM concentration of different classes of chemoprotectors 2(3)-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyl-anisole (BHA), dicoumarol and Sudan I caused a 2.5- to 3.6-fold significant increase in the enzyme activity after 24 h (P < 0.01). Present data suggest that QR activity in the early placenta is responsive to a wide variety of xenobiotics in vitro. Vitamin C in concentrations usually consumed, exerted a potent effect on local QR activity in vitro which may protect pregnant women and their conceptus in an adverse environment.

Regulation of human NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase gene. Role of AP1 binding site contained within human antioxidant response element

Deletion mutagenesis and transfection studies into hepatic (mouse hepatoma (Hepa-1) and human hepatoblastoma (Hep-G2)) and nonhepatic (HeLa) cells indicated that high levels of expression of the human NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase gene in tumor cells and its induction by beta-naphthoflavone and 3-(2)-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole are mediated by human antioxidant response element (hARE) located in the region between -470 and -445. The hARE, when attached to the thymidine kinase promoter and transfected into several mammalian cells, expressed high levels of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene that was inducible by beta-naphthoflavone and 3-(2)-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the hARE revealed the presence of a recognition site for binding to the AP1 protein. Mutation of the AP1 binding site located within the hARE resulted in the loss of expression and induction upon transfection into various cell types. Band shift and competition assays with hARE and nuclear extracts from control and beta-naphthoflavone-treated Hepa-1, Hep-G2 and HeLa cells indicated specific interaction of regulatory protein(s) to the hARE. The supershift assays using antibodies against specific proteins of the AP1 family identified Jun-D and c-Fos as two members in the hARE-protein complex observed in band shift assays.

Enhancement of antioxidant and phase II enzymes by oral feeding of green tea polyphenols in drinking water to SKH-1 hairless mice: possible role in cancer chemoprevention

Following the oral feeding of a polyphenolic fraction isolated from green tea (GTP) in drinking water, an increase in the activities of antioxidant and phase II enzymes in skin, small bowel, liver, and lung of female SKH-1 hairless mice was observed. GTP feeding (0.2%, w/v) to mice for 30 days significantly increased the activities of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and quinone reductase in small bowel, liver, and lungs, and glutathione S-transferase in small bowel and liver. GTP feeding to mice also resulted in considerable enhancement of glutathione reductase activity in liver. In general, the increase in antioxidant and phase II enzyme activities was more pronounced in lung and small bowel as compared to liver and skin. The significance of these results can be implicated in relation to the cancer chemopreventive effects of GTP against the induction of tumors in various target organs.

One-step immunoaffinity purification of complex I subunits from beef heart mitochondria

Polypeptides of beef heart mitochondrial complex I were isolated from 15 mg of solubilized beef heart mitochondria using antibodies immobilized on an agarose chromatography column. The preparation was examined by SDS electrophoresis and Western blotting using affinity-purified antibodies to complex I and compared to beef heart complex I purified according to the conventional method of Hatefi and Rieske. There was a high degree of homology between the two preparations as judged by SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis and by immunoblotting with seven affinity-purified antibodies to various complex I subunits. This method could be applied to the preparation of complex I subunits from small samples such as human muscle biopsy specimens.

A major inducer of anticarcinogenic protective enzymes from broccoli: isolation and elucidation of structure

Consumption of vegetables, especially crucifers, reduces the risk of developing cancer. Although the mechanisms of this protection are unclear, feeding of vegetables induces enzymes of xenobiotic metabolism and thereby accelerates the metabolic disposal of xenobiotics. Induction of phase II detoxication enzymes, such as quinone reductase [NAD(P)H:(quinone-acceptor) oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.99.2] and glutathione S-transferases (EC 2.5.1.18) in rodent tissues affords protection against carcinogens and other toxic electrophiles. To determine whether enzyme induction is responsible for the protective properties of vegetables in humans requires isolation of enzyme inducers from these sources. By monitoring quinone reductase induction in cultured murine hepatoma cells as the biological assay, we have isolated and identified (-)-1-isothiocyanato-(4R)-(methylsulfinyl)butane [CH3-SO-(CH2)4-NCS, sulforaphane] as a major and very potent phase II enzyme inducer in SAGA broccoli (Brassica oleracea italica). Sulforaphane is a monofunctional inducer, like other anticarcinogenic isothiocyanates, and induces phase II enzymes selectively without the induction of aryl hydrocarbon receptor-dependent cytochromes P-450 (phase I enzymes). To elucidate the structural features responsible for the high inducer potency of sulforaphane, we synthesized racemic sulforaphane and analogues differing in the oxidation state of sulfur and the number of methylene groups: CH3-SOm-(CH2)n-NCS, where m = 0, 1, or 2 and n = 3, 4, or 5, and measured their inducer potencies in murine hepatoma cells. Sulforaphane is the most potent inducer, and the presence of oxygen on sulfur enhances potency. Sulforaphane and its sulfide and sulfone analogues induced both quinone reductase and glutathione transferase activities in several mouse tissues. The induction of detoxication enzymes by sulforaphane may be a significant component of the anticarcinogenic action of broccoli.

Rapid detection of inducers of enzymes that protect against carcinogens

Dietary composition is a major determinant of cancer risk in humans and experimental animals. Major and minor components of the diet may enhance or suppress the development of malignancy. Many dietary constituents also modify the metabolism of carcinogens by induction of enzymes involved in xenobiotic metabolism, and this is one well-established mechanism for modulating the risk of cancer. We have developed a simple system for rapid detection and measurement of the induction of enzymes that detoxify carcinogens (phase II enzymes), based on the direct assay of the activity of quinone reductase [NAD(P)H:(quinone-acceptor) oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.99.2] in murine hepatoma cells grown in microtiter plate wells. Survey of extracts of a variety of commonly consumed, organically grown vegetables for quinone reductase inducer activity identified crucifers (and particularly those of the genus Brassica) as singularly rich sources. It is therefore of interest that high consumption of these types of vegetables has been correlated with decreased cancer risk in humans. The assay system also measures toxicity, which was unrelated to inducer potency among the vegetable extracts examined. By use of mutant hepatoma cells (defective in regulation of certain cytochrome P-450 enzymes) selective (monofunctional) inducers of protective phase II enzymes can be distinguished from (bifunctional) inducers that also elevate cytochromes P-450 (phase I enzymes) and thereby pose the risk of carcinogen activation. The assay system therefore permits not only rapid detection of inducers of anticarcinogenic enzymes in the human diet but also elucidation of effects of storage and processing on inducer activities.

Chemical structures critical for the induction of FMN-dependent NADH-quinone reductase in Escherichia coli

An FMN-dependent NADH-quinone reductase is induced in Escherichia coli by growing the cells in the presence of menadione (2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone). Since the properties of induced enzyme are very similar to those of NAD(P)H: (quinone-acceptor) oxidoreductase (EC 1.6.99.2), known as DT-diaphorase, from animal cells, structural requirements of quinone derivatives as an inducer of NADH-quinone reductase in E. coli were examined. Among quinone derivatives examined, it was found that 2-alkyl-1,4-quinone structure with C-3 unsubstituted or substituted with Br is critical as a common inductive signal. Michael reaction acceptors which have been reported to be strong inducers of DT-diaphorase in mouse hepatoma cells were not always effective inducers in E. coli. However, several compounds, such as 2-methylene-4-butyrolactone, methylacrylate and methyl vinyl ketone, showed a slight inductive activity. The efficient inducers of NADH-quinone reductase in E. coli contain 1,4-quinone structure as a part of the inductive signal. These compounds belong to Michael acceptors and are likely to conjugate with thiol compounds such as glutathione.

Nitroreductases and glutathione transferases that act on 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide and their differential induction by butylated hydroxyanisole in mice

These studies concern the initial steps in 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO) metabolism in relation to mechanisms of anticarcinogenesis. Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) administration by a protocol known to inhibit the pulmonary tumorigenicity of 4NQO in A/HeJ mice enhanced hepatic and pulmonary activities for 4NQO metabolism by two major pathways, conjugative detoxification and nitroreductive activation. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis showed approximate doubling of two types of glutathione transferase subunits with 4NQO-conjugating activity in livers of BHA-treated mice. Similar increases were observed in hepatic 4NQO-conjugating activity and in Vmax, while Km for 4NQO was 39 to 43 microM. Pulmonary 4NQO-glutathione transferase activity increased 24 to 29%. DT diaphorase activity toward 4NQO was elevated 3.3-fold in livers and 2.7-fold in lungs of BHA-treated mice. However, the predominant 4NQO reductase of liver and lung was dicumarol resistant, had a strong preference for NADH, and showed little if any response to BHA. This Mr 200,000 enzyme, partially purified from livers of Swiss mice, exhibited the stoichiometry of 2-NADH/4NQO expected for reduction of 4NQO to 4-hydroxyaminoquinoline 1-oxide. Its high affinity for 4NQO (Km, 15 microM) signified a much greater influence on 4NQO metabolism than DT diaphorase (Km, 208 microM). The dicumarol-resistant 4NQO reductase differed from several known cytosolic nitroreductases. The results suggest that protection by BHA may result from alteration of the balance between 4NQO activation and conjugation.

Induction of NAD(P)H:quinone reductase in human peripheral blood lymphocytes

The induction of quinone reductase [QR; NAD(P)H:(quinone acceptor) oxidoreductase; EC 1.6.99.2] in cultured cells and animal tissues of rodents has provided useful information on mechanisms of protection against carcinogens. We have developed a simple and efficient microtiter plate assay for the direct measurement of QR basal activity and inducibility in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (unstimulated, mitogen-stimulated and Epstein-Barr virus-transformed) grown in suspension culture. In these cells, QR was induced by monofunctional (electrophilic) inducers (i.e. 1,2-dithiole-3-thione, dimethyl fumarate, methyl vinyl sulfone) but not by bifunctional inducers (i.e. 1,1'-azonaphthalene, beta-naphthoflavone, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin). QR is a major enzyme of xenobiotic metabolism that carries out obligatory two-electron reductions and thereby protects cells against the toxicity of quinones. It is induced in many tissues coordinately with other enzymes that protect against electrophiles. Since lymphocytes can be sampled easily and repetitively in man, this system may provide a simple short-term marker for assessing the capacity of tissues to detoxify electrophiles, such as quinones, and for measuring the response to inducers.

Human NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) gene structure and induction by dioxin

The human NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) gene, 1850 base pairs (bp) of the 5' flanking region, and 67 bp of the 3' flanking region have been sequenced. The human NQO1 gene is approximately 20 kb in length and has six exons interrupted by five introns. The start site of transcription was determined by primer extension analysis. The first exon is 118 bp in length and codes for two amino acids including the initiating methionine and one G for the first codon of the second exon. The sixth exon is the largest among the exons and is 1833 bp in length. The sequence analysis of the sixth exon revealed the presence of four potential polyadenylation signal sequences (AATAAA) and a single copy of human Alu repetitive sequence. The second intron is the smallest of all the introns (116 bp). Nuclear run-on experiments performed using nuclei isolated from 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) treated and untreated human hepatoblastoma (Hep-G2) cells demonstrated that TCDD treatment increases the rate of transcription of endogenous NQO1 gene by 3-fold.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Induction and inhibition of NAD(P)H: quinone reductase in murine and human skin

The purpose of this study was to characterize the human cutaneous NAD(P)H: quinone reductase (NQR) activity by known inhibitors of different reductases and to compare it with the murine skin and liver NQR activity. This enzyme plays a major role in the defence of cells against oxygen stress because it inhibits the 1-electron reduction of quinones to semiquinones and their subsequent oxidation to quinones termed as quinone redox cycle. It belongs to the aromatic hydrocarbon-responsive (Ah) battery. This gene battery includes Cyp1a1 (cytochrome P-450 IA1), Cyp1a2 (cytochrome P-450 IA2) and Nmo-1 [NAD(P)H: quinone reductase]. In the skin cytochrome P-450 IA1-dependent activity is about 1-5% compared to the corresponding activity in the liver, whereas NQR has the same activity in skin and liver. NQR was determined in the cytoplasm of murine skin, liver, and human keratinocytes using 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol as the substrate. The Ah-receptor binding compounds, such as coal tar constituents, or 3-methylcholanthrene induce cytochrome P-450-dependent activities such as aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase or 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-de-ethylase and NQR, whereas butyl hydroxytoluol, which does not bind to the Ah receptor, induces only NQR. For inhibition studies several known inhibitors of dihydrodiol dehydrogenase, aldo-keto and carbonyl reductase activities were used. There was a similar pattern of inhibition of the basal and induced activity in all tissues investigated. Pyrazole, progesterone and phenobarbital did not inhibit, whereas dicoumarol, rutin and indomethacin inhibited NQR activity in murine skin and liver as well as in human keratinocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Structure elucidation of acid reaction products of indole-3-carbinol: detection in vivo and enzyme induction in vitro

The potency of indole-3-carbinol (I3C) to form condensation products under acidic aqueous conditions was studied. After identifying a known dimer, 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM), we elucidated the structures of two trimers also found in acid reaction mixtures: 5,6,11,12,17,18-hexahydrocyclonona[1,2-b:4,5-b':7,8-b"]tri-indole (CTI), and 2,3-bis[3-indolylmethyl] indole (BII). The formation of these indole oligomers was shown to be pH dependent. The highest amounts of DIM and BII were formed in aqueous solutions having a pH value ranging from 4 to 5. No CTI could be detected at pH values above 4.5. In rats that received an oral dose of I3C we could detect DIM and BII in gastric contents, stomach tissue, small intestine and liver. No CTI could be detected in vivo after oral exposure to I3C. In in vitro experiments, using rat hepatocytes, the cytochrome P-450IA1 apoprotein level, 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation activity (EROD) and DT-diaphorase activity (DTD) were markedly enhanced by DIM and CTI as well as BII.