Mechanism of action of aminothiol radioprotectors

Induction of sister-chromatid exchanges in Chinese hamster ovary cells by thiol and hydrazine compoudns

Cysteine, cysteamine and glutathione all induce sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells when applied to cell cultures at concentrations between 10(-4) and 10(-2) M. Acute exposure of cells th thiol compound for a period of 2--3 h resulted in a unique dose--response relationship in each instance. This consisted of two peak SCE frequencies, one at either extreme of the concentration range. Each peak corresponded to a 2--3-fold increase over the spontaneous level. A chronic exposure of 24 h, in contrast, resulted in a dose--response relationship consisting of a single peak SCE frequency (representing a 4--5-fold increase over the spontaneous level) at a concentration of approx. 4 x 10(-4) M. The effect of Cu2+ ions included in the medium at a concentration of 10(-5) M was to increase the toxicity and, at some concentrations, the SCE levels occurring after either acute or chronic exposure to thiols. Hydrazine and its derivatives, dimethylhydrazine and isonicotinic acid hydrazide (isoniazid), as well as hydrogen peroxide, also induce SCEs in CHO cells. A 2--3-fold increase over the spontaneous level was observed, depending upon the particular treatment protocol applied. SCE yields after 3 h treatment with dimethylhydrazine and isoniazid were increased if Mn2+, but not Cu2+, was included in the tissue culture medium at a concentration of 10(-5) M. SCE yields after a 24-h treatment with dimethylhydrazine in which Mn2+ was present in, and absent from, the medium were similar. Catalase was observed to reduce the SCE levels resulting from treatment with hydrogen peroxide, dimethylhydrazine and isoniazid. The effect of catalase upon SCEs induced by dimethylhydrazine and isoniazid in the presence of Mn2+ was more evident than when Mn2+ was not included in the culture medium. The significance of these results with respect to the possible active chemical species produced and the mutagenic/carcinogenic risk associated with thiol and hydraizine compounds is discussed.

Synthesis and antimalarial activity of heterocyclic alkyl disulfides, thiosulfates, and dithio acid derivatives

Based on the antimalarial activity in mice of bis(4-rho-acetamidobenzenesulfonamidophenyl) disulfide, a series of N-heterocyclic alkyl disulfides and thiosulfates was synthesized and screened for antimalarial activity. Several related dithio acid dianions and S- blocked derivatives were also screened to provide an indication of the possible role that thiol anions might play in malaria chemotherapy. Activity was limited by toxicity with these compounds, and none of those tested, with the exception of bis(4-rho-acetamidobenzenesulfonamidophenyl) disulfide, showed curative activity in either a mouse or chick test.

Cysteamine: differential x-ray protective effect on Chinese hamster cells during the cell cycle

Cysteamine present during x-irradiation protects synchronized Chinese hamster cells in culture against lethal damage at all stages of the cell cycle. The effect is greatest for cells irradiated at sensitive stages such as G(1) and least for resistant cells; for example, late S (dose-modifying factors 4.2 and 2.7, respectively). The effect of 50 millimolar cysteamine is to render almost invariant the normally variant x-ray age response for lethality. This suggests that there are two components of x-ray damage, only one of which is age dependent, and it is against this component that cysteamine protects the cell. Cystamine, however, has no protective effect upon these cells at any stage of the cell cycle.