Hydroperoxide Metabolism: An Overview. In: Sies H, Wendel A, editors. Functions of Glutathione in Liver and Kidney. Berlin: Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 1978. pp. 95-106. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-67132-6_12]

Purification of Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase isoenzymes from fish liver: appearance of new isoforms as a consequence of pollution

Liver cell-free extracts of fish (Mugil sp.) from polluted environments show new Cu,Zn-SOD isoenzymes when analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or isoelectrofocusing followed by in situ staining for SOD activity. The most active isoenzymes, with pI 6.1 and 5.1, were present both in control and problem samples while the isoenzymes of intermediate pI value showed significant differences. Fish from control areas showed three intermediate isoenzymes with pI 5.7, 5.5 and 5.4 (the last one quite faint) while polluted animals showed three bands of pI 5.9, 5.45 and 5.35, this last very intense. To further characterize their utility as biomarkers, Cu,Zn-SOD isoenzymes from polluted fish livers were purified to homogeneity. Five superoxide dismutase peaks were purified, named thereafter I (pI 6.1) to V (pI 5.1) respectively. Isoenzymes I and V displayed the highest specific activity. Upon incubation with moderate H2O2 concentrations, pure isoenzyme I yielded more acidic bands with pI 5.5, 5.45 and 5.35, this last being predominant. The pure isoenzyme V generated only a new band of pI 5.0. Concomitant with oxidation, the activity of peaks I and V was lost in a H2O2 concentration-dependent manner. The pattern of the new acidic bands generated upon the oxidixing treatment of isoenzyme I closely resembles that observed in crude extracts from polluted animals.

Effects of dietary supplementation with vitamin E, riboflavin and selenium on central nervous system oxygen toxicity

We attempted to modify the resistance of rats to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO)-induced central nervous system (CNS) toxicity, by increasing the tissue antioxidant potential through dietary factors. Groups of rats were fed excesses of vitamin E (VIT E) alone or in combinations with riboflavin (RIB), selenium (Se) or both, for 30 days. A control group was maintained on an unsupplemented diet. On the 23rd day animals to be exposed were implanted with chronic electrodes for electrocorticographic (ECoG) recording. Later, each group was divided into two subgroups, of which one was exposed to 4.5 atmospheres absolute (ATA) of 100% oxygen (O2) for 30 min., hereafter referred to as "exposed", noting the time of appearance of first electrical discharge (FED) in their ECoG. The remaining subgroups were left unexposed. Forty-eight hours later, all animals were sacrificed and some of their tissues were analyzed for glutathione (GSH). The GSH level in the liver, brain, lungs and blood of all experimental subgroups were significantly higher than in the control unexposed counterparts. Combinations of RIB and/or Se with VIT E failed to show a greater increase in GSH over VIT E alone. This increase was, however, not accompanied by a meaningful delay in the appearance of FED. Forty-eight hours post-exposure, the brain GSH levels of all exposed subgroups were still lower than the respective pre-exposure levels. Yet, in the treated exposed subgroups the GSH levels observed 48 hr after exposure were already higher than in the untreated unexposed controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of diethyl maleate (DEM), a glutathione depletor, on prostaglandin synthesis in the isolated perfused spleen of rabbits

To investigate the role of glutathione (GSH) on prostaglandin (PG) synthesis, isolated rabbit spleens were perfused with Tyrode's solution with or without the addition of diethyl maleate (DEM) in concentrations up to 1 mM. In the absence of DEM, PG synthesis was stimulated by the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 (20 nmole) or arachidonate (0.4 mumole). Prostaglandin (PG) E2 was a major product, accounting for 60-70% of the total cyclooxygenase products. Small amounts of PGF2 alpha, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, PGD2 and thromboxane (Tx) B2 were also produced. When DEM was added to the perfusion medium, GSH content decreased dose-dependently with increasing DEM concentration. Lactate dehydrogenase activity was not detected in the venous effluent, indicating that DEM depleted intrasplenic GSH without causing any lysis of cellular membranes. A23187-induced production of PGs and of Tx was decreased with increasing concentrations of DEM up to 0.5 mM, whereas at 1.0 mM DEM, these products showed a tendency to increase as compared with levels at 0.5 mM DEM. However, this increase was only significant for TxB2, which returned to levels obtained in the absence of DEM. DEM 1 mM did not cause cell lysis, but it appears to perturb the cell membrane to a degree similar to that which occurs with stimulation of phospholipase A2. The small but significant increase of TxB2 with 1.0 mM DEM could be a result of decreased PGE2 isomerase activity. Perfusion with arachidonate gave virtually identical results: 1.0 mM DEM attenuated the production of all prostanoids except for TxB2 as compared with untreated controls. These results suggest that GSH contributes to the regulation and/or maintenance of PGs synthesis.

Sulfur-containing amino acids that increase renal glutathione protect the kidney against papillary necrosis induced by 2-bromoethylamine

Papillary necrosis was observed in the kidneys of rats, 72 h after receiving a single injection of bromoethylamine (BEA). This effect was associated with renal glutathione (GSH) depletion 1 h after the administration of BEA. Stimulation of renal GSH synthesis by pretreatment of the animals either with glutamine + glycine + cystine or N-acetyl-L-cysteine was attempted. Low doses of these precursors administered previously to BEA, respectively, decreased or abolished the GSH depletion. Nevertheless, both pretreatments failed to modify the magnitude of renal papillary necrosis. High doses of these precursors did not modify the BEA-induced GSH depletion, but they significantly increased GSH levels 24 h after BEA administration. At this time, although a smaller intensity of renal papillary necrosis was observed with the amino acid mixture pretreatment, N-acetyl-L-cysteine pretreated rats showed no papillary necrosis. It is suggested that the observed protective effects against BEA-induced renal papillary injury may be ascribed in some measure, to a mechanism independent of GSH.

Toxic properties of the mushroom Cortinarius orellanus (Fries). II. Impairment of renal function in rats

Oral administration of the toxic mushroom Cortinarius orellanus (Fr.) to male Sprague Dawley rats caused serious impairment of renal function. The signs observed were similar to those produced in humans who ingest this fungus. Administration of 2.0 g dried Cortinarius orellanus per kg body weight led to acute renal dysfunction within 48 h. The pattern of impairment included reduced glomerular filtration rate, decreased renal absorption of water, sodium and potassium, and proteinuria and glucosuria. The nephrotoxic effect was further characterized by decreased activities of the brush border enzymes alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase in urine, despite a remarkable increase in protein excretion of predominantly tubular origin. These findings were substantiated by morphologic changes, which could be detected as early as 12 h after dosing. Morphologically discernible signs of renal tubular damage start with deformation of the proximal tubular brush border region. Within 48 h after toxin ingestion, prenecrotic and necrotic cells could be found in all nephron segments contained in the renal cortex. The most prominent changes were a vesiculation of the apical cell pole and a swelling of the smooth surfaced endoplasmic reticulum and of mitochondria. The latter was accompanied by a loss in matrix material and a massive fragmentation of mitochondrial cristae membranes. Detectable quantities of the toxic principle of the mushroom, orellanine, were excreted only within the first 24 h after dosing. No impairment of liver function was detected.

Hypoperfusion-induced acute renal failure in the rat: an evaluation of oxidant tissue injury

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been reported to be critical cellular mediators of experimental ischemic acute renal failure (ARF). This conclusion is based on observations that in the renal artery occlusion (RAO) model of ARF, antioxidant drugs confer protection and that renal malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, an index of lipid peroxidation, rise in the postischemic period. Human ischemic ARF is most often due to hypoperfusion, not to total blood flow interruption. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine whether ROS also mediate hypoperfusion-induced renal injury. Renal hypoperfusion was induced in rats by suprarenal partial aortic ligation, lowering renal perfusion pressure to 20-25 mm Hg for 45 minutes. Renal MDA concentrations were measured 15 minutes after ligation release. Renal function and morphology were assessed 24 hours after hypoperfusion in control rats and in rats pretreated with antioxidant agents (allopurinol, superoxide dismutase, dimethyl-thiourea, glutathione, and catalase), a majority of which have been shown to lessen RAO-induced ARF. Hypoperfusion caused no rise in renal MDA concentrations (p = 0.54). Control ARF rats developed significant azotemia (blood urea nitrogen 119 +/- 6 mg/dl; creatinine 3.3 +/- 0.37 mg/dl) and widespread tubular necrosis by 24 hours after surgery. None of the antioxidants, administered singly or in combination, lessened the ischemic damage. Therefore, renal MDA concentrations do not rise in hypoperfusion ARF, and antioxidants do not confer protection. This indicates that previous evidence for ROS as mediators of ischemic renal injury is restricted to the RAO model of ARF, which does not closely simulate most human ischemic renal injury.

Glutathione redox status of control and cadmium oxide-exposed rat lungs during oxidant stress

Activities of enzymes responsible for the maintenance of reduced glutathione (GSH) levels have been shown in a previous study to be increased in rat lungs following a 3-h exposure to cadmium oxide aerosols at 5.0 mg/m3. In this study, the ability of the lung to maintain levels of GSH during challenge with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBuOOH) was evaluated in isolated perfused lungs from control and cadmium oxide-exposed rats. Changes in glutathione redox status were indicated by measurements of nonprotein sulfhydryls (NPSH), total glutathione (1/2 GSH + GSSG), and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) in liquid nitrogen freeze-clamped lungs after 3-min infusions with 0-0.6 mM tBuOOH. In control and cadmium oxide-exposed lungs, levels of 1/2 GSH + GSSG remained constant over the range of 0-0.6 mM tBuOOH, indicating that no loss of glutathione from the system had occurred. In experiments with control lungs, levels of NPSH fell from 8.04 +/- 0.22 to 3.09 +/- 0.40 mumol/g dry weight when tBuOOH concentrations were increased from 0 to 0.6 mM (n = 20-23). In cadmium oxide-exposed lungs, NPSH levels also decreased proportionally to increases in GSSG. However, at concentrations of 0.075 and 0.15 mM tBuOOH, significantly smaller decreases in NPSH levels were observed in cadmium oxide-exposed lungs compared with controls. This protection against the GSH-depleting effects of tBuOOH might be explained by increased tissue levels of GSH-related enzymes.

Modulation of epithelial cell proliferation in culture by dissolved oxygen

Modulation of epithelial cell proliferation by the dissolved oxygen concentration (PO2) of the growth medium was assessed with primary human foreskin epithelium and a continuous monkey kidney epithelial cell line (LLC-MK2). Direct measurement of the growth medium PO2 provides the first quantitative evaluation of epithelial cell proliferation as a function of PO2. Sustained proliferation of LLC-MK2 cells occurs in serum-free medium equilibrated with a gas phase containing 18% or 30% O2 v/v. Mid-logarithmic phase cultures rapidly consume dissolved oxygen; this results in a 60-70 mm Hg decline in PO2, and leads to a stable growth medium PO2 between 70 and 100 mm Hg, well above anoxic values. In contrast, if culture medium is equilibrated with a gass phase containing 0% or 1% O2 v/v to yield a growth medium PO2 - approximately 20-40 mm Hg, proliferation of LLC-MK2 and primary foreskin epithelial cells is retarded, and LLC-MK2 cells use little dissolved oxygen. Gentle, continuous rocking to prevent diffusion gradient formation enhances proliferation slightly at the higher PO2, but neither periodic fluid renewals nor continued rocking stimulates cells retarded by a lowered oxygen concentration to resume proliferation. The data collectively demonstrate that epithelial cell proliferation requires a PO2 greater than 40 mm Hg, and threshold requirements are probably closer to 70 mm Hg. Glycolysis continues at a PO2 insufficient for proliferation, but more lactic acid accumulates in actively proliferating cultures than in cultures equilibrated with 0% oxygen. We conclude that epithelial cells in vitro both consume more oxygen and require a higher PO2 for continued proliferation, and that the oxygen requirement for epithelial cell proliferation exceeds that of a comparable population of fibroblasts for which low oxygen may enhance survival and proliferation.

The hepatic glutathione content in liver diseases

We measured the total glutathione content in 38 liver biopsies from patients undergoing diagnostic liver biopsy to study whether liver diseases result in decreased glutathione content making the liver more sensitive to different toxic damages. The glutathione concentrations ranged from 20.2 to 41.0 mumol/g hepatic protein in six biopsies without light microscopic pathological changes (mean +/- SD = 26.9 = +/- 8.1). The mean concentrations +/- SD in patients with toxic hepatitis (n = 3), viral hepatitis (n = 4), chronic active hepatitis (n = 4), cirrhosis (n = 14) and steatosis (n = 7) were 62.5 +/- 27.2, 47.4 +/- 25.9, 38.3 +/- 17.0, 29.1 +/- 15.7 and 21.0 +/- 9.6, respectively. The hepatic glutathione content is not decreased in patients with moderate hepatic impairment.

The role of peroxidation during chronic and acute exposure to ethanol as determined by pentane expiration in the rat

Weanling rats were fed one of 3 diets containing 0, 11 or 200 international units (IU) dl-alpha-tocopherol acetate/kg diet for 4 weeks. Following this period, the drinking water was replaced with an 18% solution of ethanol (v/v). An isocaloric D-glucose solution was substituted for the drinking water of a control group of rats fed the vitamin-E-deficient diet for 4 weeks. The 4 treatment groups were maintained on the diet and drinking regimen for 20 weeks. Basal levels of expired pentane were determined at weeks 0, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. Chronic ethanol consumption did not influence basal pentane production during the 9-week treatment. Basal levels of expired pentane were affected by dietary vitamin E. Rats supplemented with vitamin E had basal pentane levels less than one-half of the level of rats fed a vitamin-E-deficient diet (p less than 0.001). After 14 weeks of treatment, the 2 groups of rats fed a vitamin-E-deficient diet were administrated p.o. an acute dose of 6 g of ethanol/kg body wt. Pentane expired above basal levels during the following 4-hr period correlated with the amount of hepatic triglycerides determined at the conclusion of the experiment. The etiology of ethanol toxicity is a complex and multifactorial system made up of many biological variables that influence lipid peroxidation. The appropriate choices of experimental designs and methods are important in examining the role of lipid peroxidation.

Biotransformation of nitrosobenzene, phenylhydroxylamine, and aniline in the isolated perfused rat liver

1. Haemoglobin-free single-pass perfusion of isolated rat liver with [14C]aniline, [14C]phenylhydroxylamine, and [14C]nitrosobenzene was carried out. 2. Perfusion with aniline revealed apparent enzyme kinetics for 4-aminophenol formation with Km = 144 microM, Vmax = 51 nmol/min per g liver wet; for 2-aminophenol Km = 144 microM, Vmax = 16 nmol/min per g; for acetanilide Km = 33 microM, Vmax = 25 nmol/min per g. Formation of phenylhydroxylamine and nitrosobenzene was observed at a rate of 1.5 nmol/min per g provided that these metabolites had been trapped within red cells. 3. Perfusion with phenylhydroxylamine displayed a metabolic pattern similar to aniline with apparent phenylhydroxylamine reduction kinetics of Km = 260 microM and Vmax = 600 nmol/min per g. In addition an acid-labile phenylhydroxylamine glucuronide was formed. 4. Perfusion with nitrosobenzene showed very rapid reduction to phenylhydroxylamine and to the metabolites observed with phenylhydroxylamine. In postmicrosomal supernatant, enzymic reduction of nitrobenzene by NADH and NADPH showed Km = 12 microM nitrosobenzene and Vmax = 5000 nmol/min per g. 5. Three per cent of nitrosobenzene was irreversibly bound to liver proteins. After 20 min perfusion with nitrosobenzene, 0.95 mumol of liver glutathione was lost per 10 mumol nitrosobenzene infused; 0.16 mumol of glutathione was released with effusate and bile, 0.46 mumol of glutathionesulphinanilide was produced, the rest, 0.33 mumol, may have formed mixed disulphides.

Enhancement of the primary antibody response by 2-mercaptoethanol is mediated by its action on glutathione in the serum

2-Mercaptoethanol (2-ME) is widely used in rodent lymphoid cell cultures as an enhancer of multiple cellular functions. We have confirmed that the action of 2-ME must be on a serum component(s), rather than a direct action on the cells. The serum component(s) is contained within the dialyzable fraction of fetal calf serum (FCS) since: (a) dialysis of FCS diminished the ability of FCS to support an antibody response even in the presence of 2-ME; and (b) FCS dialysate, pulsed with 2-ME, restored the ability of dialyzed FCS to support an antibody response. Diminution of the reduced glutathione content of FCS by heating reduced the capacity of FCS to support an antibody response, whereas addition of 2-ME-pulsed glutathione restored the supportive capacity of heated FCS. Conversely, oxidized glutathione inhibited the antibody response in the absence of 2-ME, but that inhibition was not seen in the presence of 2-ME. We have concluded that reduced glutathione is an essential component in FCS in order for 2-ME to produce its enhancing effect. The most plausible explanation for the enhancement of antibody responses, in vitro, by 2-ME, is the concomitant reversal of the inhibitory effect of oxidized glutathione and the increased availability of reduced glutathione which can scavenge oxygen-derived radicals, thus protecting macrophages and lymphocytes from the deleterious effects of oxygen-derived free radicals.