Regulation of 4-hydroxynonenal-mediated signaling by glutathione S-transferases

Advanced lipid peroxidation end products in oxidative damage to proteins. Potential role in diseases and therapeutic prospects for the inhibitors

Reactive carbonyl compounds (RCCs) formed during lipid peroxidation and sugar glycoxidation, namely Advanced lipid peroxidation end products (ALEs) and Advanced Glycation end products (AGEs), accumulate with ageing and oxidative stress-related diseases, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes or neurodegenerative diseases. RCCs induce the 'carbonyl stress' characterized by the formation of adducts and cross-links on proteins, which progressively leads to impaired protein function and damages in all tissues, and pathological consequences including cell dysfunction, inflammatory response and apoptosis. The prevention of carbonyl stress involves the use of free radical scavengers and antioxidants that prevent the generation of lipid peroxidation products, but are inefficient on pre-formed RCCs. Conversely, carbonyl scavengers prevent carbonyl stress by inhibiting the formation of protein cross-links. While a large variety of AGE inhibitors has been developed, only few carbonyl scavengers have been tested on ALE-mediated effects. This review summarizes the signalling properties of ALEs and ALE-precursors, their role in the pathogenesis of oxidative stress-associated diseases, and the different agents efficient in neutralizing ALEs effects in vitro and in vivo. The generation of drugs sharing both antioxidant and carbonyl scavenger properties represents a new therapeutic challenge in the treatment of carbonyl stress-associated diseases.

Regression of Lung and Colon Cancer Xenografts by Depleting or Inhibiting RLIP76 (Ral-Binding Protein 1)

Ral-binding protein 1 (RALBP1) is a stress-responsive and stress-protective multispecific transporter of glutathione conjugates (GS-E) and xenobiotic toxins. It is frequently overexpressed in malignant cells and plays a prominent antiapoptotic role selectively in cancer cells through its ability to control cellular concentration of proapoptotic oxidized lipid byproducts. In the absence of chemotherapy, depletion or inhibition of RALBP1 causes regression of syngeneic mouse B16 melanoma. Because RALBP1 transports anthracycline and Vinca alkaloid drugs, as well as GS-E, and because it confers resistance to these drugs, we proposed that depletion or inhibition of RALBP1 should cause regression of human solid tumors that overexpress RALBP1 and augment chemotherapy efficacy. Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) H358 and H520 and colon SW480 cell lines were used. Cytotoxic synergy between anti-RALBP1 immunoglobulin G (IgG), cis-diammine-dichloroplatinum (II) [CDDP], and vinorelbine was examined in cell culture and xenografts of NSCLC cells. Effects of RALBP1 depletion by antisense were examined in xenografts of NSCLC H358, NSCLC H520, and colon SW480 cells. RALBP1 depletion by phosphorothioate antisense was confirmed and was associated with rapid, complete, and sustained remissions in established s.c. human lung and colon xenografts. RALBP1 inhibition by anti-RALBP1 IgG was equally as effective as antisense and enhanced CDDP-vinorelbine in lung cancer xenografts. These studies show that RALBP1 is a transporter that serves as a key effector function in cancer cell survival and is a valid target for cancer therapy, and confirm that inhibitory modulation of RALBP1 transport activity at the cell surface is sufficient for antitumor effects.

Trapping of 4-hydroxynonenal by glutathione efficiently prevents formation of DNA adducts in human cells

4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), one of the main breakdown products of lipid peroxides, has been shown to react with DNA yielding a 1,N2-propano adduct to 2'-deoxyguanosine. However, HNE may also react with a wide range of biomolecules before reaching the nucleus. Glutathione (GSH), the most abundant cellular thiol-containing peptide, is likely to be a major cytosolic target for HNE because of its high reactivity and its implication in the detoxification of this aldehyde. In order to estimate the proportion of HNE actually reaching DNA in human THP1 monocytes, we designed an experimental protocol aimed at quantifying DNA adducts and HNE-GSH in the same sample of cells exposed to extracellularly added HNE. Reverse-phase HPLC associated with tandem mass spectrometry detection was used as the analytical tool. It was first observed that, once produced, the HNE-GSH conjugate was very efficiently excreted from the cells into the culture medium. More strikingly, we determined that the amount of HNE-GSH conjugate produced was 4 orders of magnitude higher than that of DNA adduct. These results emphasize the major role played by glutathione in the protection of DNA against electrophilic species.

Nrf2 Gene Transfer Induces Antioxidant Enzymes and Suppresses Smooth Muscle Cell Growth In Vitro and Reduces Oxidative Stress in Rabbit Aorta In Vivo

Background— Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a major role in vascular inflammation and pathophysiology of many vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and injury-induced neointima formation after balloon angioplasty. Nuclear factor E2–related factor-2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor orchestrating antioxidant and cytoprotective responses on oxidative and electrophilic stress, and it has been shown to have antiinflammatory effects in vascular cells in vitro. We therefore postulated that Nrf2 gene transfer would have salutary effects on vascular inflammation after angioplasty.

Methods and Results— Transduction of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) with Nrf2-expressing adenovirus increased the expression of several antioxidant enzymes including heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) compared with β-galactosidase (AdLacZ)-transduced controls. Moreover, Nrf2 gene transfer also inhibited vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, and the effect was partially reversed by the HO inhibitor Sn(IV) protoporphyrin. In vivo, adenoviral gene transfer effectively reduced oxidative stress determined by antibody staining against oxidized epitopes of LDL, as well as inhibited vascular inflammation assessed by the macrophage cell count and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) staining. However, the antiproliferative effects of Nrf2 in vivo were counterbalanced with diminished apoptosis in neointimal VSMCs, resulting in no change in neointimal hyperplasia.

Conclusions— Nrf2 gene transfer or Nrf2-inducing drugs may have therapeutic applications in vascular diseases in which inflammation and oxidative stress play a role. However, the contrasting growth inhibitory and antiapoptotic effects of Nrf2 need to be considered in pathological conditions in which SMC proliferation plays a critical role.

Glutamate release from activated microglia requires the oxidative burst and lipid peroxidation

When activated by proinflammatory stimuli, microglia release substantial levels of glutamate, and mounting evidence suggests this contributes to neuronal damage during neuroinflammation. Prior studies indicated a role for the Xc exchange system, an amino acid transporter that antiports glutamate for cystine. Because cystine is used for synthesis of glutathione (GSH) synthesis, we hypothesized that glutamate release is an indirect consequence of GSH depletion by the respiratory burst, which produces superoxide from NADPH oxidase. Microglial glutamate release triggered by lipopolysaccharide was blocked by diphenylene iodonium chloride and apocynin, inhibitors of NADPH oxidase. This glutamate release was also blocked by vitamin E and elicited by lipid peroxidation products 4-hydroxynonenal and acrolein, suggesting that lipid peroxidation makes crucial demands on GSH. Although NADPH oxidase inhibitors also suppressed nitrite accumulation, vitamin E did not; moreover, glutamate release was largely unaffected by nitric oxide donors, inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase, or changes in gene expression. These findings indicate that a considerable degree of the neurodegenerative consequences of neuroinflammation may result from conversion of oxidative stress to excitotoxic stress. This phenomenon entails a biochemical chain of events initiated by a programmed oxidative stress and resultant mass-action amino acid transport. Indeed, some of the neuroprotective effects of antioxidants may be due to interference with these events rather than direct protection against neuronal oxidation.

Submicromolar concentrations of 4-hydroxynonenal induce glutamate cysteine ligase expression in HBE1 cells

4-Hydroxynonenal (HNE), a major electrophilic product of lipid peroxidation, is regarded as both a marker of oxidative stress and a mediator of oxidative damage. At subtoxic concentrations, however, this compound has been shown to be a signalling molecule that can induce the expression of various antioxidant/detoxification enzymes, including glutamate-cysteine ligase (GCL), the rate-limiting enzyme in the de novo synthesis of glutathione. GCL consists of a catalytic (GCLC) and modulatory (GCLM) subunit, which are encoded by separate genes. Here, we investigated the effect of submicromolar concentrations of HNE on the expression of the GCL genes and the transcription factors involved. We demonstrated that submicromolar concentrations of HNE (as little as 0.3 muM) could increase the expression of both GCLC and GCLM. We also found that the induction of GCL expression was abrogated by siRNA for Nrf2. Our data suggest that a submicromolar concentration of HNE, as found in human plasma under physiological conditions, can induce GCL transcription in cultured cells implying that 'basal' expression of GCL is under regulation by lipid peroxidation that occurs under physiological conditions. Moreover, this induction is mediated through the EpRE-Nrf2 signalling pathway thought to be predominantly active only during stress.

Linking stress-signaling, glutathione metabolism, signaling pathways and xenobiotic transporters

Multi-specific drug-transport mechanisms are intricately involved in mediating a pleiotropic drug-resistance in cancer cells by mediating drug-accumulation defects in cells in which they are over-expressed. The existence and over-expression in drug-resistant neoplasms of transporter proteins belonging to ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family indicate that these myriad transporters contribute to the multidrug-resistance phenomena by removing or sequestering of toxins and metabolites. Another prominent mechanism of multispecific drug-resistance involves glutathione and glutathione linked enzymes, particularly those of the mercapturic acid pathway, which are involved in metabolism and excretion of both endogenous and exogenous electrophilic toxins. A key step in the mercapturic acid pathway, efflux of the glutathione-electrophile conjugate has recently been shown to be catalyzed largely by the stress-responsive protein RLIP76, a splice variant peptide endowed by the human gene RALBP1. The known involvement of RLIP76 in membrane signaling pathways and endocytosis has resulted in a new paradigm for transport and metabolism related drug-resistance in which RLIP76 plays a central role. Our recent studies demonstrating a key anti-apoptotic and stress-responsive role of RLIP76, and the demonstration of dramatic response in malignancies to RLIP76 depletion indicate that targeting this mercapturic acid pathway transporter may be a highly effective and multifaceted antineoplastic strategy.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for 4-hydroxynonenal-histidine conjugates

Highly reactive aldehyde 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) is the final product of lipid peroxidation, known as a second messenger of free radicals and a signaling molecule. It forms protein conjugates involved in pathology of various diseases. To determine cellular HNE-protein conjugates we developed indirect ELISA based on well-known, monoclonal antibody against HNE-histidine (HNE-His) adducts. The method was calibrated using HNE-albumin conjugates as standards (R(2) = 0.999) and validated on human osteosarcoma cell cultures (HOS). The ELISA showed good sensitivity (8.1 pmol HNE-His/mg of protein), precision ( +/- 8% intra-assay and +/- 12% inter-assay) and spiking recovery ( +/- 9%). The assay revealed 60-fold increase of cellular HNE-His adducts upon copper-induced lipid peroxidation of HOS. The ELISA matched HNE-immunocytochemistry of HNE-treated HOS cells and quantified the increase of cellular HNE-His conjugates in parallel to the decrease of free HNE in culture medium. The ELISA was developed as ELISA Stress for severe lipid peroxidation and ELISA Fine for studies on HNE physiology.

Intervention strategies to inhibit protein carbonylation by lipoxidation-derived reactive carbonyls

Protein carbonylation induced by reactive carbonyl species (RCS) generated by peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids plays a significant role in the etiology and/or progression of several human diseases, such as cardiovascular (e.g., atherosclerosis, long-term complications of diabetes) and neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and cerebral ischemia). Most of the biological effects of intermediate RCS, mainly alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes, di-aldehydes, and keto-aldehydes, are due to their capacity to react with the nucleophilic sites of proteins, forming advanced lipoxidation end-products (ALEs). Because of the emerging deleterious role of RCS/protein adducts in several human diseases, different potential therapeutic strategies have been developed in the last few years. This review sheds focus on fundamental studies on lipid-derived RCS generation, their biological effects, and their reactivity with proteins, with particular emphasis to 4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal (HNE)-, acrolein (ACR)-, malondialdehyde (MDA)-, and glyoxal (GO)-modified proteins. It also discusses the recently developed pharmacological approaches for the management of chronic diseases in which oxidative stress and RCS formation are massively involved. Inhibition of ALE formation, based on carbonyl-sequestering agents, seems to be the most promising pharmacological tool and is reviewed in detail.

Mechanisms of cell death in oxidative stress

Reactive oxygen or nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) generated endogenously or in response to environmental stress have long been implicated in tissue injury in the context of a variety of disease states. ROS/RNS can cause cell death by nonphysiological (necrotic) or regulated pathways (apoptotic). The mechanisms by which ROS/RNS cause or regulate apoptosis typically include receptor activation, caspase activation, Bcl-2 family proteins, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Various protein kinase activities, including mitogen-activated protein kinases, protein kinases-B/C, inhibitor-of-I-kappaB kinases, and their corresponding phosphatases modulate the apoptotic program depending on cellular context. Recently, lipid-derived mediators have emerged as potential intermediates in the apoptosis pathway triggered by oxidants. Cell death mechanisms have been studied across a broad spectrum of models of oxidative stress, including H2O2, nitric oxide and derivatives, endotoxin-induced inflammation, photodynamic therapy, ultraviolet-A and ionizing radiations, and cigarette smoke. Additionally ROS generated in the lung and other organs as the result of high oxygen therapy or ischemia/reperfusion can stimulate cell death pathways associated with tissue damage. Cells have evolved numerous survival pathways to counter proapoptotic stimuli, which include activation of stress-related protein responses. Among these, the heme oxygenase-1/carbon monoxide system has emerged as a major intracellular antiapoptotic mechanism.

Ammonia triggers the promotion of oxidative stress in the aquatic macrophyte Myriophyllum mattogrossense

The effect of increased ammonia content on sub-acute biochemical responses was assessed in the rooted submersed aquatic macrophyte Myriophyllum mattogrossense (common name: "Brazil Milfoil" or "Matogrosso Milfoil"), in a seven day aquarium experiment. The pH and temperature were monitored in order to determine the proportions of both ionized (NH4+) and un-ionized (NH3) forms of ammonia. Specific activities of several enzymes such as catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione S-transferase (GST's) were measured as well as the content of the soluble antioxidant glutathione and lipid peroxidation were determined as these parameters are considered as indicators of cell-level disorder. The results showed that ammonia is able to generate oxidative stress, expressed through an elevated GSH content and the enhancement of CAT, POD, GPx and GST's activities in treatments with elevated ammonia content. As the toxic mechanism of ammonia is a complex phenomenon, this work adds an additional point of view to explain in parts the oxidative stress generating effect of ammonia promoting oxidative stress. Additionally the different modes of action proposed by other research groups are discussed, thus trying to combine the various points of view.

Active defense under oxidative stress. The antioxidant responsive element

This review considers the mechanisms and factors that stimulate transcription of genes regulated by the antioxidant responsive element (ARE). The latter is important for cell defense under conditions of oxidative stress and also for detoxification of electrophilic xenobiotics. There are differences in regulation of intracellular homeostasis involving Nrf2-mediated activation of ARE and other redox-sensitive factors (NF-kappaB and AP-1).

Menadione stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains deficient in the glutathione transferases

Using S. cerevisiae as a eukaryotic cell model we have analyzed the involvement of both glutathione transferase isoforms, Gtt1 and Gtt2, in constitutive resistance and adaptive response to menadione, a quinone which can exert its toxicity as redox cycling and/or electrophiles. The detoxification properties, of these enzymes, have also been analyzed by the appearance of S-conjugates in the media. Direct exposure to menadione (20 mM/60 min) showed to be lethal for cells deficient on both Gtt1 and Gtt2 isoforms. However, after pre-treatment with a low menadione concentration, cells deficient in Gtt2 displayed reduced ability to acquire tolerance when compared with the control and the Gtt1 deficient strains. Analyzing the toxic effects of menadione we observed that the gtt2 mutant showed no reduction in lipid peroxidation levels. Moreover, measuring the levels of intracellular oxidation during menadione stress we have shown that the increase of this oxidative stress parameter was due to the capacity menadione possesses in generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and that both GSH and Gtt2 isoform were required to enhance ROS production. Furthermore, the efflux of the menadione-GSH conjugate, which is related with detoxification of xenobiotic pathways, was not detected in the gtt2 mutant. Taken together, these results suggest that acquisition of tolerance against stress generated by menadione and the process of detoxification through S-conjugates are dependent upon Gtt2 activity. This assessment was corroborated by the increase of GTT2 expression, and not of GTT1, after menadione treatment.

Therapeutic resistance in lung cancer

Despite considerable progress over the last 25 years in the systemic therapy of lung cancer, intrinsic and acquired resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and radiation remains a vexing problem. The number of mechanisms of therapeutic resistance in lung cancer has expanded considerably over the past three decades, and the crucial role of stress resistance pathways is increasingly recognised as a cause of intrinsic and acquired chemo- and radiotherapy resistance. This paper reviews recent evidence for stress defence proteins, particularly RALBP1/RLIP76, in mediating intrinsic and acquired chemotherapy and radiation resistance in human lung cancer.

Glutathione-S-transferase expression in the brain: possible role in ethanol preference and longevity

Identification of genes that are differentially expressed in rats bidirectionally selected for alcohol preference might reveal biological mechanisms underlying alcoholism or related phenotypes. Microarray analysis from medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), a key brain region for drug reward, indicated increased expression of glutathione-S-transferases of the alpha (Gsta4) and mu (Gstm1-5) classes in ethanol-preferring AA rats compared with nonpreferring ANA rats. Real-time RT polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis demonstrated approximately 2-fold higher Gsta4 transcript levels in several brain regions of ethanol-naive AA compared with ANA rats. Differences in mRNA levels were accompanied by differential levels of GSTA4 protein. We identified a novel haplotype variant in the rat Gsta4 gene, defined here as var3. Allele frequencies of var3 were markedly different between AA and ANA rats, 52% and 100%, respectively. Gsta4 expression was strongly correlated with the gene dose of var3, with approximately 60% of the variance in expression accounted for by genotype at this locus. The contribution of glutathione S-transferase expression to the ethanol-preferring phenotype is presently unclear. It could, however, underlie observed differences in life span between AA and ANA lines, prompting a utility of this animal model in aging research.

Redox regulation of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-mediated endothelial barrier dysfunction by focal adhesion, adherens, and tight junction proteins

4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE), one of the major biologically active aldehydes formed during inflammation and oxidative stress, has been implicated in a number of cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders. 4-HNE has been shown to increase vascular endothelial permeability; however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Hence, in the current study, we tested our hypothesis that 4-HNE-induced changes in cellular thiol redox status may contribute to modulation of cell signaling pathways that lead to endothelial barrier dysfunction. Exposure of bovine lung microvascular endothelial cells (BLMVECs) to 4-HNE induced reactive oxygen species generation, depleted intracellular glutathione, and altered cell-cell adhesion as measured by transendothelial electrical resistance. Pretreatment of BLM-VECs with thiol protectants, N-acetylcysteine and mercaptopropionyl glycine, attenuated 4-HNE-induced decrease in transendothelial electrical resistance, reactive oxygen species generation, Michael protein adduct formation, protein tyrosine phosphorylation, activation of ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK, and actin cytoskeletal rearrangement. Treatment of BLMVECs with 4-HNE resulted in the redistribution of FAK, paxillin, VE-cadherin, beta-catenin, and ZO-1, and intercellular gap formation. Western blot analyses confirmed the formation of 4-HNE-derived Michael adducts with the focal adhesion and adherens junction proteins. Also, 4-HNE decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK without affecting total cellular FAK contents, suggesting the modification of integrins, which are natural FAK receptors. 4-HNE caused a decrease in the surface integrin in a time-dependent manner without altering total alpha5 and beta3 integrins. These results, for the first time, revealed that 4-HNE in redox-dependent fashion affected endothelial cell permeability by modulating cell-cell adhesion through focal adhesion, adherens, and tight junction proteins as well as integrin signal transduction that may lead dramatic alteration in endothelial cell barrier dysfunction during heart infarction, brain stroke, and lung diseases.

Oxidative activation of antioxidant defence

Living cells maintain a delicate balance between oxidizing and reducing species, and many disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer's disease have been associated with a disturbed intracellular 'redox equilibrium'. The past few years have witnessed accelerated research into how natural redox responses and antioxidant defence systems are activated and how they restore a healthy redox balance. To function properly, many of these processes rely on a powerful sulfur redox chemistry, which is best exemplified by the complex, newly emerging cysteine-based redox regulation of the glutathione and thioredoxin pathways. Other redox systems based on oxidatively activated amino acid side chains in proteins are also becoming increasingly important, but are still barely understood or explored.

Increased brain levels of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal glutathione conjugates in severe Alzheimer's disease

In the last decade an important role for the progression of neuronal cell death in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been ascribed to oxidative stress. trans-4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal, a product of lipid peroxidation, forms conjugates with a variety of nucleophilic groups such as thiols or amino moieties. Here we report for the first time the quantitation of glutathione conjugates of trans-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNEGSH) in the human postmortem brain using the specific and very sensitive method of electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (ESI-MS-MS). Levels of HNEGSH conjugates calculated as the sum of three chromatographically separated diastereomers were determined in hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, substantia innominata, frontal and temporal cortex, as well as cerebellum from patients with AD and controls matched for age, gender, postmortem delay and storage time. Neither age, nor postmortem delay, nor storage time did correlate with levels of HNEGSH conjugates which ranged between 1 and 500 pmol/g fresh weight in the brain areas examined. The brain specimen from patients with clinically and neuropathologically probable AD diagnosed according to criteria of the consortium to establish a registry for AD (CERAD) show increased levels of HNEGSH in the temporal and frontal cortex, as well as in the substantia innominata. Classification of disease severity according to Braak and Braak, which takes into consideration the amount of neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic plaques, revealed highest levels of HNEGSH in the substantia innominata and the hippocampus, two brain regions known to be preferentially affected in AD. These results substantiate the link between conjugates of glutathione with a product of lipid peroxidation and Alzheimer's disease and justify further studies to evaluate the role of HNE metabolites as potential biomarkers for disease progression in AD.

Aldose reductase prevents aldehyde toxicity in cultured human lens epithelial cells

Aldehydes are widespread environmental and industrial compounds, which cause cytotoxicity, tissue damage, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity leading to various disease conditions such as cardiovascular, bronchial, and visual complications. We have shown earlier that aldose reductase (AR) besides reducing glucose to sorbitol, efficiently reduces various toxic lipid-derived aldehydes, generated under oxidative stress, with K(m) in the physiological range. We have identified the role of AR in the prevention of various lipid aldehyde-induced cytotoxic signals leading to apoptosis in human lens epithelial cells (HLEC). HLEC were cultured without or with AR inhibitors followed by addition of various saturated and unsaturated lipid aldehydes with a carbon chain length varying from C3 to C10. The cell viability was assessed by cell counts and MTT assay, and apoptosis was measured by evaluating nucleosomal degradation and caspase-3 activation using specific ELISA kits. Although all the aldehydes caused apoptosis of HLEC, the unsaturated aldehydes were more toxic than saturated aldehydes. Inhibition of AR by sorbinil potentiated while the over-expression of AR prevented the apoptosis induced by various lipid aldehydes. AR over-expression also prevented the lipid aldehyde-induced activation of caspase-3, MAPK, JNK and the expression of Bcl-2 family of proteins in HLEC. The results indicate that the lipid aldehydes generated under oxidative stress are cytotoxic to HLEC leading to apoptosis and that the reduction of lipid aldehydes by AR would prevent it.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain expressing a plant fatty acid desaturase produces polyunsaturated fatty acids and is susceptible to oxidative stress induced by lipid peroxidation

Although oxygen is essential for aerobic organisms, it also forms potentially harmful reactive oxygen species. For its simplicity, easy manipulation, and cultivation conditions, yeast is used as an attractive model in oxidative stress research. However, lack of polyunsaturated fatty acids in yeast membranes makes yeast unsuitable for research in the field of lipid peroxidation. Therefore, we have constructed a yeast strain expressing a Delta12 desaturase gene from the tropical rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis. This yeast strain expresses the heterologous desaturase in an active form and, consequently, produces Delta9/Delta12 polyunsaturated fatty acids under inducing conditions. The functional expression of the heterologous desaturase did not affect cellular morphology or growth, indicating no general adverse effect on cellular physiology. However, the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids changed the yeast's sensitivity to oxidative stress induced by addition of paraquat, tert-butylhydroperoxide, and hydrogen peroxide. This difference in sensitivity to the latter was followed by the formation of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, one of the end products of linoleic fatty acid peroxidation, which is known to play a role in cell growth control and signaling. Here we show that this yeast strain conditionally expressing the Delta12 desaturase gene provides a novel and well-defined eukaryotic model in lipid peroxidation research. Its potential to investigate the molecular basis of responses to oxidative stress, in particular the involvement of reactive aldehydes derived from fatty acid peroxidation, especially 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, will be addressed.

Lifespan extension in hypomorphic daf-2 mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans is partially mediated by glutathione transferase CeGSTP2-2

Electrophilic stress caused by lipid peroxidation products such as 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and/or related compounds may contribute to aging. The major mode of 4-HNE metabolism involves glutathione conjugation catalyzed by specialized glutathione transferases. We have previously shown that glutathione transferase CeGSTP2-2, the product of the Caenorhabditis elegans gst-10 gene, has the ability to conjugate 4-HNE, and that its overexpression extends lifespan of C. elegans. We now demonstrate that the expression level of CeGSTP2-2 correlates highly with lifespan in a series of hypomorphic daf-2 mutants of C. elegans. The overexpression of CeGSTP2-2 in daf-2 is abrogated in daf-16; daf-2 mutants, indicating that expression of the gst-10 gene is modulated by insulin-like growth factor signaling. To determine whether the relationship between CeGSTP2-2 and lifespan is causal, we used RNAi to knock down CeGSTP2-2. Treatment with gst-10-specific dsRNA decreased CeGSTP2-2 protein in wild-type N2 and in daf-2 strains to an approximately equal level. The ability to conjugate 4-HNE was similarly decreased by RNAi, suggesting that the increment of that activity in daf-2 over N2 is due largely to the overexpression of CeGSTP2-2. RNAi-mediated knock-down of CeGSTP2-2 led to an increased susceptibility to 4-HNE, paraquat, and heat shock, and to a shortening of lifespan by 13% in both N2 and daf-2 strains. These results indicate that CeGSTP2-2 significantly contributes to the maintenance of the soma, and that this function is augmented in daf-2 mutants concordantly with other longevity assurance genes, probably via insulin-like growth factor signaling.

Identification of the insulin signaling cascade in the regulation of alpha-class glutathione S-transferase expression in primary cultured rat hepatocytes

We reported previously that insulin elevated alpha-class glutathione S-transferase (GSTs) protein levels in primary cultured rat hepatocytes (Kim et al., 2003b). In contrast, glucagon down-regulated alpha- and pi-class GST expression, and mechanistic research implicated cAMP and protein kinase A in this process (Kim et al., 2003b). The present study examines the signaling pathways involved in the regulation of alpha-class GST in response to insulin in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. Protein levels of GSTA1/2 and GSTA3/5 and activity of GST toward 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD) were increased in an insulin concentration-dependent manner. Treatment of cells with the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002 [2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one] or rapamycin, an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin and ribosomal p70 S6 kinase (p70S6K) phosphorylation, or with an adenovirus containing green fluorescent protein and a dominant-negative and kinase-dead Akt, effectively inhibited the insulin-mediated increase in alpha-class GST expression and GST activity toward NBD. In contrast, PD98059 (2'-amino-3'-methoxyflavone), an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase, SP600125 (1,9-pyrazoloanthrone), an inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinase, SB203580 [4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-methylsulfinylphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)1H-imadazole], an inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, or bisindolylmaleimide, a broad spectrum inhibitor of protein kinase C, did not inhibit the insulin-mediated increase in alpha-class GST protein levels in hepatocytes. These results show that PI3K/Akt/p70S6K signaling is active in the insulin-mediated up-regulation of the antioxidant defense system and that low insulin levels, as encountered in diabetes, potentially increase the susceptibility of hepatocytes to xenobiotic-mediated and/or oxidative stress-mediated damage.

Induction of endothelial cell apoptosis by lipid hydroperoxide-derived bifunctional electrophiles

Endothelial dysfunction is considered to be the earliest event in atherogenesis. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis play critical roles in its progression and onset. Lipid peroxidation, which occurs during oxidative stress, results in the formation of lipid hydroperoxide-derived bifunctional electrophiles such as 4-hydroxy-2(E)-nonenal that induce apoptosis. In this study, recently identified lipid hydroperoxide-derived bifunctional electrophiles 4-oxo-2(E)-nonenal (ONE; 5-30 microm) and 4,5-epoxy-2(E)-decenal (EDE; 10-20 microM) were shown to cause a dose- and time-dependent apoptosis in EA.hy 926 endothelial cells. This was manifest by morphological changes, caspase-3 activation, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Bifunctional electrophiles caused cytochrome c release from mitochondria into the cytosol, implicating a mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis in the endothelial cells. The novel carboxylate-containing lipid hydroperoxide-derived bifunctional electrophile 9,12-dioxo-10(E)-dodecenoic acid was inactive because it could not translocate across the plasma membrane. However, its less polar methyl ester derivative (2-10 microM) was the most potent inducer of apoptosis of any bifunctional electrophile that has been tested. An acute decrease in intracellular glutathione (GSH) preceded the onset of apoptosis in bifunctional electrophile-treated cells. The ability of ONE and EDE to deplete GSH was directly correlated with their predicted reactivity toward nucleophilic amino acids. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry methodology was developed in order to examine the intracellular and extracellular concentrations of bifunctional electrophile-derived GSH adducts. Relative intracellular/extracellular ratios of the GSH adducts were identical with the rank order of potency for inducing caspase 3 activation. This suggests that there may be a role for the bifunctional electrophile-derived GSH adducts in the apoptotic response. N-Acetylcysteine rescued bifunctional electrophile-treated cells from apoptosis, whereas the GSH biosynthesis inhibitor d,l-buthionine-(R,S)-sulfoximine sensitized the cells to apoptosis. These data suggest that lipid hydroperoxide-derived bifunctional electrophiles may play an important role in cardiovascular pathology through their ability to induce endothelial cell apoptosis.

4-Hydroxynonenal induces adaptive response and enhances PC12 cell tolerance primarily through induction of thioredoxin reductase 1 via activation of Nrf2

4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) is one of the major end products of lipid peroxidation. It has been widely accepted that 4-HNE can induce oxidative stress, implicating into extensive stress-related diseases. In the present study, however, 4-HNE was found to exert adaptive cytoprotective effect at low concentrations, which was primarily through induction of thioredoxin reductase 1 (TR1) via transcriptional activation of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Pretreatment with 4-HNE at sublethal concentrations significantly protected PC12 cells against the subsequent oxidative cell death induced by H2O2 and 6-hydroxydopamine. The cellular antioxidative glutathione system did not show any considerable changes, whereas the TR1 activity as well as the mRNA level was significantly elevated by the 4-HNE treatment. Cells treated with TR1 small interfering RNA exhibited less resistance to oxidative stress, and the adaptive response was completely abolished. The Nrf2 was transcriptionally activated by 4-HNE. Cells treated with Nrf2-small interfering RNA exerted lower constitutive levels of TR1 and exhibited less resistance to oxidative stress, and the 4-HNE-induced TR1 expression and subsequent adaptive response were again abolished in such cells. Treatment with 4-HNE at the adaptive concentration induced transient activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 and Akt/protein kinase B. Pharmacological inhibition of both these kinase pathways effectively attenuated 4-HNE-induced TR1 expression and subsequent adaptive protection. The above findings, taken together, suggest that stimulation with 4-HNE at sublethal concentrations induces adaptive response and enhances cell tolerance, primarily through induction of TR1 via transcriptional activation of Nrf2 signaling pathway, thereby protecting cells against the forthcoming oxidative stress.

Activation of C-Jun N-terminal kinase is required for glutathione transferase A4 induction during oxidative stress, not during cell proliferation, in mouse hepatocytes

Expression of the mouse glutathione transferase Alpha 4 (mGSTA4) has been studied during hepatocyte isolation and in cultured hepatocytes. Transient mGSTA4 induction during liver disruption correlated to strong oxidative stress and induction of the Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway. Similarly, tumor necrosis factor alpha induced both JNK phosphorylation and mGSTA4 expression while specific JNK inhibitor JNKI1 prevented these two events and JNK activator anisomycin strongly induced mGSTA4 expression. We also found that endogenous JNK and mGSTA4 co-immunoprecipitate. A second mGSTA4 induction occurred 2 days after cell seeding concomitantly to DNA replication and was prevented by treatment with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitor U0126. Our data demonstrate that mGSTA4 is strongly increased during oxidative stress possibly via JNK pathway and during proliferation via MEK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway, and suggest that mGSTA4 might be an endogenous regulator of JNK activity by direct binding.

Antioxidant and biotransformation enzymes in Myriophyllum quitense as biomarkers of heavy metal exposure and eutrophication in Suquía River basin (Córdoba, Argentina)

We report the evaluation of changes in water quality, increasing pollution level, of a section of Suquía River basin (Córdoba, Argentina) by using Myriophyllum quitense as bioindicator in addition to the measurement of chemical parameters, combined with chemometrics (ANOVA, Cluster and Discriminant Analysis). Myriophyllum quitense was collected upstream from Córdoba city at an unpolluted site of Suquía River basin. After collection plants were transplanted to different sites with different pollution levels. Subsequent to transplantation plants were weekly collected from the original site as well as from transplantation stations. Water quality was evaluated throughout the transplantation experiment, while the use of this macrophyte as bioindicator was verified through the activation of its antioxidant defenses and biotransformation system. Myriophyllum quitense reacts to the pollution stress increasing the activity of glutathione-S-transferases (CDNB and Fluorodifen), glutathione reductase (GR) and peroxidase (POD). Elevated enzyme activities agreed to different pollution levels, especially inorganic nitrogen loads combined with elevated lead and aluminum concentrations, all of them originated by anthropogenic activities, thus presenting Myriophyllum quitense as a good biomonitor for assessment of water quality in this polluted aquatic ecosystem.

Depletion of 4-hydroxynonenal in hGSTA4-transfected HLE B-3 cells results in profound changes in gene expression

Previously, we have shown that overexpression of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE)-detoxifying enzyme glutathione S-transferase A4-4 (hGSTA4-4) in human lens epithelial cells (HLE B-3) leads to pro-carcinogenic phenotypic transformation of these cells [R. Sharma, et al. Eur. J. Biochem. 271 (2004) 1960-1701]. We now demonstrate that hGSTA4-transfection also causes a profound change in the expression of genes involved in cell adhesion, cell cycle control, proliferation, cell growth, and apoptosis, which is consistent with phenotypic changes of the transformed cells. The expression of p53, p21, p16, fibronectin 1, laminin gamma1, connexin 43, Fas, integrin alpha6, TGFalpha, and c-jun was down-regulated, while the expression of protein kinase C beta II (PKCbetaII), c-myc, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), and TGFbeta was up-regulated in transfected cells. These results demonstrate that HNE serves as a crucial signaling molecule and, by modulating the expression of genes, can influence cellular functions.

Depletion of RLIP76 sensitizes lung cancer cells to doxorubicin

Ral-interacting protein (RLIP76) (RALBP1) is an anti-apoptotic non-ABC glutathione (GSH)-conjugate transporter involved in receptor-ligand endocytosis, as well as in multispecific drug transport and resistance. Partial inhibition of RLIP76 using antibodies in the absence of chemotherapy drug causes apoptosis in multiple small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines and in the presence of doxorubicin (DOX), marked synergy is observed. These findings indicated that RLIP76 should be a good target for cancer cell killing; its down-regulation would promote apoptosis through both drug-dependent and drug-independent effects. To examine the effect of complete and specific RLIP76 depletion on apoptosis, we tested the effects of RLIP76 siRNA in a number of lung cancer cell lines. Growth inhibition and apoptosis was observed in all cases upon RLIP76 depletion. Consistent with these findings, augmenting cellular RLIP76 through transfection or liposomal protein delivery conferred resistance to apoptosis mediated by either DOX or 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE). Taken together, our results show that RLIP76 is rational and promising new target for lung cancer therapy.

Differential roles of 3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione-induced glutathione, glutathione S-transferase and aldose reductase in protecting against 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal toxicity in cultured cardiomyocytes

4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiac disorders. While conjugation with glutathione (GSH) catalyzed by GSH S-transferase (GST) has been suggested to be a major detoxification mechanism for HNE in target cells, whether chemically upregulated cellular GSH and GST afford protection against HNE toxicity in cardiac cells has not been investigated. In addition, the differential roles of chemically induced GSH and GST as well as other cellular factors in detoxifying HNE in cardiomyocytes are unclear. In this study, we have characterized the induction of GSH and GST by 3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione (D3T) and the protective effects of the D3T-elevated cellular defenses on HNE-mediated toxicity in rat H9C2 cardiomyocytes. Treatment of cardiomyocytes with D3T resulted in a significant induction of both GSH and GST as well as the mRNA expression of gamma-glutamylcysteine ligase catalytic subunit and GSTA. Both GSH and GST remained elevated for at least 72 h after removal of D3T from the culture media. Treatment of cells with HNE led to a significant decrease in cell viability and an increased formation of HNE-protein adducts. Pretreatment of cells with D3T dramatically protected against HNE-mediated cytotoxicity and protein-adduct formation. HNE treatment caused a significant decrease in cellular GSH level, which preceded the loss of cell viability. Either depletion of cellular GSH by buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) or inhibition of GST by sulfasalazine markedly sensitized the cells to HNE toxicity. Co-treatment of cardiomyocytes with BSO was found to completely block the D3T-mediated GSH elevation, which however failed to reverse the cytoprotective effects of D3T, suggesting that other cellular factor(s) might be involved in D3T cytotprotection. In this regard, D3T was shown to induce cellular aldose reductase (AR). Surprisingly, inhibition of AR by sorbinil failed to potentiate HNE toxicity in cardiomyocytes. In contrast, sorbinil dramatically augmented HNE cytotoxicity in cells with GSH depletion induced by BSO. Similarly, in BSO-treated cells, D3T cytoprotection was also largely reversed by sorbinil, indicating that AR played a significant role in detoxifying HNE only under the condition of GSH depletion in cardiomyocytes. Taken together, this study demonstrates that D3T can induce GSH, GST, and AR in cardiomyocytes, and that the above cellular factors appear to play differential roles in detoxification of HNE in cardiomyocytes.

Regulation of 4‐Hydroxynonenal Mediated Signaling By Glutathione S‐Transferases

4-Hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal (HNE) was initially considered to be merely a toxic end product of lipid peroxidation that contributed to oxidative stress-related pathogenesis. However, in recent years its physiological role as an important "signaling molecule" has been established. HNE can modulate various signaling pathways in a concentration-dependent manner. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are major determinants of the intracellular concentration of HNE, because these enzymes account for the metabolism of most cellular HNE through its conjugation to glutathione. Evidence is emerging that GSTs are involved in the regulation of the HNE-mediated signaling processes. Against the backdrop of our current understanding on the formation, metabolism, and role of HNE in signaling processes, the physiological role of GSTs in regulation of HNE-mediated signaling processes is critically evaluated in this chapter. Available evidence strongly suggests that besides their well-established pharmacological role of detoxifying xenobiotics, GSTs also play an important physiological role in the regulation of cellular signaling processes.