Role of H2O2 in RET/PTC1 chromosomal rearrangement produced by ionizing radiation in human thyroid cells

Effects of ionizing radiation on biological molecules--mechanisms of damage and emerging methods of detection

SIGNIFICANCE

The detrimental effects of ionizing radiation (IR) involve a highly orchestrated series of events that are amplified by endogenous signaling and culminating in oxidative damage to DNA, lipids, proteins, and many metabolites. Despite the global impact of IR, the molecular mechanisms underlying tissue damage reveal that many biomolecules are chemoselectively modified by IR.

RECENT ADVANCES

The development of high-throughput "omics" technologies for mapping DNA and protein modifications have revolutionized the study of IR effects on biological systems. Studies in cells, tissues, and biological fluids are used to identify molecular features or biomarkers of IR exposure and response and the molecular mechanisms that regulate their expression or synthesis.

CRITICAL ISSUES

In this review, chemical mechanisms are described for IR-induced modifications of biomolecules along with methods for their detection. Included with the detection methods are crucial experimental considerations and caveats for their use. Additional factors critical to the cellular response to radiation, including alterations in protein expression, metabolomics, and epigenetic factors, are also discussed.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Throughout the review, the synergy of combined "omics" technologies such as genomics and epigenomics, proteomics, and metabolomics is highlighted. These are anticipated to lead to new hypotheses to understand IR effects on biological systems and improve IR-based therapies.

Roles of DUOX-mediated hydrogen peroxide in metabolism, host defense, and signaling

SIGNIFICANCE

Among the NADPH oxidases, the dual oxidases, DUOX1 and DUOX2, constitute a distinct subfamily initially called thyroid oxidases, based on their high level of expression in thyroid tissue. Genetic alterations causing inherited hypothyroidism clearly demonstrate their physiological implication in thyroid hormonogenesis. However, a growing list of biological functions triggered by DUOX-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) in highly differentiated mucosae have recently emerged.

RECENT ADVANCES

A role of DUOX enzymes as ROS providers for lactoperoxidase-mediated killing of invading pathogens has been well established and a role in bacteria chemorepulsion has been proposed. Control of DUOX expression and activity by inflammatory molecules and immune receptor activation consolidates their contributions to innate immune defense of mucosal surfaces. Recent studies conducted in ancestral organisms have identified effectors of DUOX redox signaling involved in wound healing including epithelium regeneration and leukocyte recruitment. Moreover, local generation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by DUOX has also been suggested to constitute a positive feedback loop to promote receptor signaling activation.

CRITICAL ISSUES

A correct balance between H2O2 generation and detoxification mechanisms must be properly maintained to avoid oxidative damages. Overexpression of DUOX genes has been associated with an increasing number of chronic inflammatory diseases. Furthermore, H2O2-mediated DNA damage supports a mutagenic function promoting tumor development.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Despite the high sequence similarity shared between DUOX1 and DUOX2, the two isoforms present distinct regulations, tissue expression and catalytic functions. The phenotypic characterization of novel DUOX/DUOXA invalidated animal models will be very useful for defining their medical importance in pathological conditions.

Sexual dimorphism and thyroid dysfunction: a matter of oxidative stress?

Thyroid diseases, such as autoimmune disease and benign and malignant nodules, are more prevalent in women than in men, but the mechanisms involved in this sex difference is still poorly defined. H₂O₂ is produced at high levels in the thyroid gland and regulates parameters such as cell proliferation, migration, survival, and death; an imbalance in the cellular oxidant-antioxidant system in the thyroid may contribute to the greater incidence of thyroid disease among women. Recently, we demonstrated the existence of a sexual dimorphism in the thyrocyte redox balance, characterized by higher H₂O₂ production, due to higher NOX4 and Poldip2 expression, and weakened enzymatic antioxidant defense in the thyroid of adult female rats compared with male rats. In addition, 17β-estradiol administration increased NOX4 mRNA expression and H₂O₂ production in thyroid PCCL3 cells. In this review, we discuss the possible involvement of oxidative stress in estrogen-related thyroid pathophysiology. Our current hypothesis suggests that a redox imbalance elicited by estrogen could be involved in the sex differences found in the prevalence of thyroid dysfunctions.

DUOX2 and DUOXA2 form the predominant enzyme system capable of producing the reactive oxygen species H2O2 in active ulcerative colitis and are modulated by 5-aminosalicylic acid

BACKGROUND

NADPH oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species, such as H2O2, are part of the intestinal innate immune system but may drive carcinogenesis through DNA damage. We sought to identify the predominant enzyme system capable of producing H2O2 in active ulcerative colitis and assess whether it is affected by 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA).

METHODS

We studied human mucosal biopsies by expression arrays, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for NADPH oxidase family members, in situ hybridization (DUOX2 and DUOXA2) and immunofluorescence for DUOX, 8-OHdG (DNA damage), and γH2AX (DNA damage response) and sought effects of 5-ASA on ex vivo cultured biopsies and cultured rectal cancer cells.

RESULTS

DUOX2 with maturation partner DUOXA2 forms the predominant system for H2O2 production in human colon and is upregulated in active colitis. DUOX2 in situ is exclusively epithelial, varies between and within individual crypts, and increases near inflammation. 8-OHdG and γH2AX were observed in damaged crypt epithelium. 5-ASA upregulated DUOX2 and DUOXA2 levels in the setting of active versus quiescent disease and altered DUOX2 expression in cultured biopsies. Ingenuity pathway analysis confirmed that inflammation status and 5-ASA increase expression of DUOX2 and DUOXA2. An epithelial cell model confirmed that cultured cancer cells expressed DUOX protein and produced H2O2 in response to hypoxia and 5-ASA exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

Both DUOX2 and DUOXA2 expression are involved specifically in inflammation and are regulated on a crypt-by-crypt basis in ulcerative colitis tissues. Synergy between inflammation, hypoxia, and 5-ASA to increase H2O2 production could explain how 5-ASA supports innate defense, although potentially increasing the burden of DNA damage.

Central role of RET in thyroid cancer

RET (rearranged during transfection) is a receptor tyrosine kinase involved in the development of neural crest derived cell lineages, kidney, and male germ cells. Different human cancers, including papillary and medullary thyroid carcinomas, lung adenocarcinomas, and myeloproliferative disorders display gain-of-function mutations in RET. Accordingly, RET protein has become a promising molecular target for cancer treatment.

Comparative analysis of the thyrocytes and T cells: responses to H2O2 and radiation reveals an H2O2-induced antioxidant transcriptional program in thyrocytes

CONTEXT

Radiation is an established cause of thyroid cancer, and growing evidence supports a role for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in spontaneous thyroid carcinogenesis. Little is known about the molecular programs activated by these agents in thyrocytes.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to compare the responses of thyrocytes and T cells to H2O2 and radiation.

METHODS

We profiled the DNA damage and cell death induced by γ-radiation (0.1-5 Gy) and H2O2 (0.0025-0.3 mM) in primary human thyrocytes and T cells. We next prepared thyroid and T-cell primary cultures from 8 donors operated for noncancerous thyroid pathological conditions and profiled their genome-wide transcriptional response 4 hours after (1) exposure to 1-Gy radiation, (2) treatment with H2O2 and (3) no treatment. Two H2O2 concentrations were investigated, calibrated in each cell type to elicit levels of single- and double-strand breaks equivalent to 1-Gy γ-radiation.

RESULTS

Although thyrocytes and T cells had comparable radiation responses, 3- to 10-fold more H2O2 was needed to induce detectable DNA damage in thyrocytes. At H2O2 and radiation doses inducing double-strand breaks, cell death occurred after 24 hours in T cells but not in thyrocytes. The transcriptional responses of thyrocytes and T cells to radiation were similar, involving DNA repair and cell death genes. In addition to this transcriptional program, H2O2 also up-regulated antioxidant genes in thyrocytes, including glutathione peroxidases and heme oxygenase at the double-strand breaks-inducing concentration. In contrast, a transcriptional storm involving thousands of genes was raised in T cells. Finally, we showed that inhibiting glutathione peroxidases activity increased the DNA damaging effect of H2O2 in thyrocytes.

CONCLUSION

We propose that high H2O2 production in thyrocytes is matched with specific transcriptionally regulated antioxidant protection.

Role of the NADPH Oxidases DUOX and NOX4 in Thyroid Oxidative Stress

Somatic mutations are present at high levels in the rat thyroid gland, indicating that the thyrocyte is under oxidative stress, a state in which cellular oxidant levels are high. The most important class of free radicals, or reactive metabolites, is reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide anion (O2 (-)), hydroxyl radical (OH) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The main source of ROS in every cell type seems to be mitochondrial respiration; however, recent data support the idea that NADPH:O(2) oxidoreductase flavoproteins or simply NADPH oxidases (NOX) are enzymes specialized in controlled ROS generation at the subcellular level. Several decades ago, high concentrations of H2O2 were detected at the apical surface of thyrocytes, where thyroid hormone biosynthesis takes place. Only in the last decade has the enzymatic source of H2O2 involved in thyroid hormone biosynthesis been well characterized. The cloning of two thyroid genes encoding NADPH oxidases dual oxidases 1 and 2 (DUOX1 and DUOX2) revealed that DUOX2 mutations lead to hereditary hypothyroidism in humans. Recent reports have also described the presence of NOX4 in the thyroid gland and have suggested a pathophysiological role of this member of the NOX family. In the present review, we describe the participation of NADPH oxidases not only in thyroid physiology but also in gland pathophysiology, particularly the involvement of these enzymes in the regulation of thyroid oxidative stress.

Recent insights into the cell biology of thyroid angiofollicular units

In thyrocytes, cell polarity is of crucial importance for proper thyroid function. Many intrinsic mechanisms of self-regulation control how the key players involved in thyroid hormone (TH) biosynthesis interact in apical microvilli, so that hazardous biochemical processes may occur without detriment to the cell. In some pathological conditions, this enzymatic complex is disrupted, with some components abnormally activated into the cytoplasm, which can lead to further morphological and functional breakdown. When iodine intake is altered, autoregulatory mechanisms outside the thyrocytes are activated. They involve adjacent capillaries that, together with thyrocytes, form the angiofollicular units (AFUs) that can be considered as the functional and morphological units of the thyroid. In response to iodine shortage, a rapid expansion of the microvasculature occurs, which, in addition to nutrients and oxygen, optimizes iodide supply. These changes are triggered by angiogenic signals released from thyrocytes via a reactive oxygen species/hypoxia-inducible factor/vascular endothelial growth factor pathway. When intra- and extrathyrocyte autoregulation fails, other forms of adaptation arise, such as euthyroid goiters. From onset, goiters are morphologically and functionally heterogeneous due to the polyclonal nature of the cells, with nodules distributed around areas of quiescent AFUs containing globules of compact thyroglobulin (Tg) and surrounded by a hypotrophic microvasculature. Upon TSH stimulation, quiescent AFUs are activated with Tg globules undergoing fragmentation into soluble Tg, proteins involved in TH biosynthesis being expressed and the local microvascular network extending. Over time and depending on physiological needs, AFUs may undergo repetitive phases of high, moderate, or low cell and tissue activity, which may ultimately culminate in multinodular goiters.

Thyroid hydrogen peroxide production is enhanced by the Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-13, through increased expression of the dual oxidase 2 and its maturation factor DUOXA2

The dual oxidases (DUOX) 1 and 2 constitute the major components of the thyroid H(2)O(2)-generating system required for thyroid hormone synthesis. With their maturation factor, DUOXA1 or DUOXA2, they share the same bidirectional promoter allowing coexpression of DUOX/DUOXA in the same tissue. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating their transcription in the human thyroid gland are not well characterized yet. Inflammatory molecules associated with autoimmune thyroid diseases have been shown to repress the thyroid function by down-regulating the expression of the major thyroid differentiation markers. These findings led us to investigate the effects of the main cytokines involved in Hashimoto thyroiditis (IFN-γ) and Graves' diseases (IL-4/IL-13) on the transcriptional regulation of DUOX and their corresponding DUOXA genes in thyroid cells. Human thyrocytes exposed to the Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 showed up-regulation of DUOX2 and DUOXA2 genes but not DUOX1/DUOXA1. The DUOX2/DUOXA2 induction was rapid and associated with a significant increase of calcium-stimulated extracellular H(2)O(2) generation. IFN-γ treatment inhibited DUOX gene expression and repressed the Th2 cytokine-dependent DUOX2/DUOXA2 expression. In another DUOX-expressing model, the human intestinal Caco-2 cell line, expression of DUOX2 and DUOXA2 mRNA was also positively modulated by IL-4 and IL-13. Analysis of the IL-4 signaling pathway revealed that the JAK1-STAT6 cascade activated by the IL-4 type 2 receptor is required for DUOX2/DUOXA2 induction. The present data open new perspectives for a better understanding of the pathophysiology of thyroid autoimmune diseases considering DUOX2-mediated oxidative damages.

[Nuclear-power-plant accidents: thyroid cancer incidence and radiation-related health effects from the Chernobyl accident]

Following the Chernobyl accident, enormous amounts of radioisotopes were released in the atmosphere and have contaminated surrounding populations in the absence of rapid protective countermeasures. The highest radiation doses were delivered to the thyroid gland, and the only direct consequence of radiation exposure observed among contaminated population is the increased incidence of thyroid cancers among subjects who were children in 1986 and who lived at that time in Belarus, Ukraine or Russia.

Thyroid Cancer: Role of RET and Beyond

Specific thyroid cancer histotypes, such as papillary and medullary thyroid carcinoma, display genetic rearrangements or point mutations of the RET gene, resulting in its oncogenic conversion. The molecular mechanisms mediating RET rearrangement with other genes and the role of partner genes in tumorigenesis have been described. In addition, the RET protein has become a molecular target for medullary thyroid carcinoma treatment.

RET/PTC Translocations and Clinico-Pathological Features in Human Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Thyroid carcinoma is the most frequent endocrine cancer accounting for 5-10% of thyroid nodules. Papillary histotype (PTC) is the most prevalent form accounting for 80% of all thyroid carcinoma. Although much is known about its epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical, and biological behavior, the only documented risk factor for PTC is the ionizing radiation exposure. Rearrangements of the Rearranged during Transfection (RET) proto-oncogene are found in PTC and have been shown to play a pathogenic role. The first RET rearrangement, named RET/PTC, was discovered in 1987. This rearrangement constitutively activates the transcription of the RET tyrosine-kinase domain in follicular cell, thus triggering the signaling along the MAPK pathway and an uncontrolled proliferation. Up to now, 13 different types of RET/PTC rearrangements have been reported but the two most common are RET/PTC1 and RET/PTC3. Ionizing radiations are responsible for the generation of RET/PTC rearrangements, as supported by in vitro studies and by the evidence that RET/PTC, and particularly RET/PTC3, are highly prevalent in radiation induced PTC. However, many thyroid tumors without any history of radiation exposure harbor similar RET rearrangements. The overall prevalence of RET/PTC rearrangements varies from 20 to 70% of PTCs and they are more frequent in childhood than in adulthood thyroid cancer. Controversial data have been reported on the relationship between RET/PTC rearrangements and the PTC prognosis. RET/PTC3 is usually associated with a more aggressive phenotype and in particular with a greater tumor size, the solid variant, and a more advanced stage at diagnosis which are all poor prognostic factors. In contrast, RET/PTC1 rearrangement does not correlate with any clinical-pathological characteristics of PTC. Moreover, the RET protein and mRNA expression level did not show any correlation with the outcome of patients with PTC and no correlation between RET/PTC rearrangements and the expression level of the thyroid differentiation genes was observed. Recently, a diagnostic role of RET/PTC rearrangements has been proposed. It can be searched for in the mRNA extracted from cytological sample especially in case with indeterminate cytology. However, both the fact that it can be present in a not negligible percentage of benign cases and the technical challenge in extracting mRNA from cytological material makes this procedure not applicable at routine level, at least for the moment.

Genomic instability induced by ionizing radiation in human hepatocytes

The aim of this study was to characterize genomic instability induced by ionizing radiation (IR) in human hepatocytes as reflected by alterations in cloning efficiency, micronucleus (MN) frequency, and apoptosis. The human normal liver 7702 cell line (HL7702) was subjected to initial irradiation of (60)Co-γ ray at doses of 0 (control group), 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 Gy in each group. Progeny of surviving cells from a second irradiation at dose of 2 Gy were cultured for 15 passages until they were transferred. The cloning efficiency, MN frequency, and apoptotic rate were measured after the initial irradiation, and repeated at passage 15 before and after the second irradiation. The initial irradiation resulted in a dose-dependent decline in cloning efficiency and an increase in MN frequency and apoptotic rate. At passage 15 in progeny of initially irradiated cells, cloning efficiency, MN frequency returned to control levels while apoptotic rate rose. After the second irradiation, cloning efficiency fell while a rise in MN frequency and apoptosis occurred. Our results show that the second irradiation may further enhance cell progeny injury induced by initial irradiation, such that genomic instability that may be difficult to detect after one irradiation is more apparent with subsequent irradiation.

The accumulation of un-repairable DNA damage in laminopathy progeria fibroblasts is caused by ROS generation and is prevented by treatment with N-acetyl cysteine

Fibroblasts from patients with the severe laminopathy diseases, restrictive dermopathy (RD) and Hutchinson Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS), are characterized by poor growth in culture, the presence of abnormally shaped nuclei and the accumulation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB). Here we show that the accumulation of DSB and poor growth of the fibroblasts but not the presence of abnormally shaped nuclei are caused by elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and greater sensitivity to oxidative stress. Basal levels of ROS and sensitivity to H(2)O(2) were compared in fibroblasts from normal, RD and HGPS individuals using fluorescence activated cell sorting-based assays. Basal levels of ROS and stimulated levels of ROS were both 5-fold higher in the progeria fibroblasts. Elevated levels of ROS were correlated with lower proliferation indices but not with the presence of abnormally shaped nuclei. DSB induced by etoposide were repaired efficiently in normal, RD and HGPS fibroblasts. In contrast, DSB induced by ROS were repaired efficiently in normal fibroblasts, but in RD and HGPS fibroblasts many ROS-induced DSB were un-repairable. The accumulation of ROS-induced DSB appeared to cause the poor growth of RD and HGPS fibroblasts, since culture in the presence of the ROS scavenger N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) reduced the basal levels of DSB, eliminated un-repairable ROS-induced DSB and greatly improved population-doubling times. Our findings suggest that un-repaired ROS-induced DSB contribute significantly to the RD and HGPS phenotypes and that inclusion of NAC in a combinatorial therapy might prove beneficial to HGPS patients.

Functional consequences of dual oxidase-thyroperoxidase interaction at the plasma membrane

CONTEXT

Thyroperoxidase (TPO) and dual oxidase (DUOX) are present at the apical membrane of thyrocytes, where TPO catalyzes thyroid hormone biosynthesis in the presence of H2O2 produced by DUOX. Both enzymes are colocalized and associated, but the consequences of this interaction remain obscure.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the functional consequences of TPO-DUOX interaction at the plasma membrane.

DESIGN

The functional consequences of DUOX-TPO interaction were studied by measuring extracellular H2O2 concentration and TPO activity in a heterologous system. For this purpose, HEK293 cells were transiently transfected with a combination of human TPO with human DUOX1 or DUOX2 in the presence of their respective maturation factors, DUOXA1 or DUOXA2. The effect of human DUOX2 mutants in which cysteine residues in the N-terminal domain were replaced by glycines was also analyzed.

RESULTS

We observed that production of H2O2 decreases both TPO and DUOX activities. We show that TPO presents a catalase-like effect that protects DUOX from inhibition by H2O2. This catalase-like effect depends on the association between both enzymes, which probably occurs through the DUOX peroxidase-like domain because this effect was not observed with human DUOX2 mutants.

CONCLUSION

The DUOX-TPO association at the plasma membrane is relevant for normal enzyme properties. Normally, TPO consumes H2O2 produced by DUOX, decreasing the availability of this substance at the apical membrane of thyrocytes and, in turn, probably decreasing the oxidative damage of macromolecules.