Reaction of ozone with phospholipid vesicles and human erythrocyte ghosts

Mechanisms of the acute effects of inhaled ozone in humans

Ambient air ozone (O3) is generated photochemically from oxides of nitrogen and volatile hydrocarbons. Inhaled O3 causes remarkably reversible acute lung function changes and inflammation. Approximately 80% of inhaled O3 is deposited on the airways. O3 reacts rapidly with CC double bonds in hydrophobic airway and alveolar surfactant-associated phospholipids and cholesterol. Resultant primary ozonides further react to generate bioactive hydrophilic products that also initiate lipid peroxidation leading to eicosanoids and isoprostanes of varying electrophilicity. Airway surface liquid ascorbate and urate also scavenge O3. Thus, inhaled O3 may not interact directly with epithelial cells. Acute O3-induced lung function changes are dominated by involuntary inhibition of inspiration (rather than bronchoconstriction), mediated by stimulation of intraepithelial nociceptive vagal C-fibers via activation of transient receptor potential (TRP) A1 cation channels by electrophile (e.g., 4-oxo-nonenal) adduction of TRPA1 thiolates enhanced by PGE2-stimulated sensitization. Acute O3-induced neutrophilic airways inflammation develops more slowly than the lung function changes. Surface macrophages and epithelial cells are involved in the activation of epithelial NFkB and generation of proinflammatory mediators such as IL-6, IL-8, TNFa, IL-1b, ICAM-1, E-selectin and PGE2. O3-induced partial depolymerization of hyaluronic acid and the release of peroxiredoxin-1 activate macrophage TLR4 while oxidative epithelial cell release of EGFR ligands such as TGFa or EGFR transactivation by activated Src may also be involved. The ability of lipid ozonation to generate potent electrophiles also provides pathways for Nrf2 activation and inhibition of canonical NFkB activation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Air Pollution, edited by Wenjun Ding, Andrew J. Ghio and Weidong Wu.

Hypochlorous acid as a precursor of free radicals in living systems

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is produced in the human body by the family of mammalian heme peroxidases, mainly by myeloperoxidase, which is secreted by neutrophils and monocytes at sites of inflammation. This review discusses the reactions that occur between HOCl and the major classes of biologically important molecules (amino acids, proteins, nucleotides, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids, and inorganic substances) to form free radicals. The generation of such free radical intermediates by HOCl and other reactive halogen species is accompanied by the development of halogenative stress, which causes a number of socially important diseases, such as cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, infectious, and other diseases usually associated with inflammatory response and characterized by the appearance of biomarkers of myeloperoxidase and halogenative stress. Investigations aimed at elucidating the mechanisms regulating the activity of enzyme systems that are responsible for the production of reactive halogen species are a crucial step in opening possibilities for control of the development of the body's inflammatory response.

Mechanisms of radical formation from reactions of ozone with target molecules in the lung

Ozone is known to cause radicals to be formed in biological systems: for example, it initiates lipid peroxidation and vitamin E protects in vitro model systems, cells, and animals against the effects of ozone. Ozone is not itself a radical, and we have asked: With what molecules does ozone react in the lung and how are radicals produced? Ozone reacts by two quite different mechanisms to produce radicals; one involves an ozone-olefin reaction and the other a reaction with electron donors such as glutathione (GSH). The first mechanism splits an R radical out of an olefin with the structure R-CH = CH2. The R then reacts with dioxygen to become a peroxyl radical (ROO), and both carbon- and oxygen-centered radicals can be detected by the electron spin resonance spin trap method. From the effects of temperature, metal chelators, and water, it is concluded that ozone reacts by the Criegee ozonation pathway to give the classical 1,2,3-trioxolane, which then undergoes O--O bond homolysis to form a diradical. This diradical then either undergoes beta-scission to split out the R radical or forms the more usual carbonyl oxide and a carbonyl compound. (See Figure 3 in the text). The low yield of Criegee ozonide that is generally obtained probably is due in part to the reactions forming radicals from the 1,2,3-trioxolane that compete with production of the Criegee ozonide. The second mechanism for radical production involves the reaction of ozone with electron donors. If the electron donor is, for example, GSH or its ion (GS-), this reaction produces the thiyl radical GS. and 0.3-. The ozone radical anion then reacts with a proton to form the hydroxyl radical and dioxygen: O3.- + H+-->HO. and O2. Using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide, the spin adduct of the hydroxyl radical is detected. Similar reactions are observed with catechol.

Ozonolysis products of membrane fatty acids activate eicosanoid metabolism in human airway epithelial cells

When inhaled, ozone reacts at the airway luminal surface with unsaturated fatty acids contained in the extracellular fluid and plasma membrane to form an aldehyde and hydroxyhydroperoxide. The resulting hydroxyhydroperoxide degrades in aqueous systems to yield a second aldehyde and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Previously, we demonstrated that ozone can augment eicosanoid metabolism in bovine airway epithelial cells. To examine structure-activity relationships of ozone-fatty acid degradation products on eicosanoid metabolism in human airway epithelial cells, 3-, 6-, and 9-carbon saturated aldehydes and hydroxyhydroperoxides were synthesized and purified. Eicosanoid metabolism was evaluated by determination of total 3H-activity release from confluent cells previously incubated with [3H]arachidonic acid and by identification of specific metabolites with high performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay. The major metabolites detected were prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F2 alpha, and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid. The 9-carbon aldehyde, nonanal, in contrast to 3- or 6-carbon aldehydes, stimulated release at concentrations > or = 100 microM, suggesting that the stimulatory effect increases with increasing chain length. When tested under identical conditions, the 3-, 6-, and 9-carbon hydroxyhydroperoxides were more potent than the corresponding aldehydes. Again, a greater effect was noted when the chain length was increased. One possible explanation for the increased potency of the hydroxyhydroperoxides over the aldehydes could be due to degradation of the hydroxyhydroperoxide into H2O2 and aldehyde. We consider this an unlikely explanation because responses varied with chain length (although each hydroxyhydroperoxide would produce an equivalent amount of H2O2) and because exposure to H2O2 alone or H2O2 plus hexanal produced a response dissimilar to 1-hydroxy-1-hexanehydroperoxide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of ozone on metabolic activities of rat hepatocytes and mouse peritoneal macrophage

Peritoneal macrophage from mice and isolated hepatocytes from rats were exposed to ozone. Ozone dosages were expressed as 0-5 nmol/10(6) cells. Measurements were made of viability, glucose transport, glutathione, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, Mg-ATPase, Na/K-ATPase, and lipid synthesis. The most sensitive parameter was glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in the peritoneal macrophage. In hepatocytes both lipid synthesis and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase were sensitive to ozone. Effects on viability, glucose transport, Mg-ATPase, and Na/K-ATPase were small to negligible in both cell types.

Production of the Criegee ozonide during the ozonation of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine liposomes

It is likely that Criegee ozonides are formed in small amounts in the lungs of animals breathing ozone-containing air. This makes these compounds potential candidates to act as secondary toxins which relay the toxic effects of ozone deeper into lung tissue than ozone itself could penetrate. Therefore, we have determined the yields of Criegee ozonides from unsaturated lipids in liposomal systems as a model of the types of yields of Criegee ozonides that might be expected both in the lung lining fluid layer and in biological membranes. Ozonation of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine liposomes produced both cis- and trans-Criegee ozonides. These ozonides have been isolated by solid phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography of the ozonized lipid, and the products have been identified by two-dimensional 1H nuclear magnetic resonance. The combined yield of the cis- and trans-Criegee ozonides is 10.7 +/- 2.8% (avg. +/- SD, n = 7) with small unilamellar liposomes and 10.6 +/- 2.7% (n = 3) with large multilamellar liposomes. We had previously reported (Chem. Res. Toxicol. 5, 505-511, 1992) that ozonation of methyl oleate in sodium dodecylsulfate micelles also produces an 11% yield of the Criegee ozonides. Thus, ozonation in a variety of models gives about 11% of the Criegee ozonide, suggesting that these products also would be formed in small but significant amounts in the lungs of animals breathing polluted air. Further research on the pharmacokinetics and possible toxicity of the Criegee ozonides of fatty acids is suggested.

Ozonation of lysozyme in the presence of oleate in reverse micelles of sodium di-2-ethylhexylsulfosuccinate

Ozone is shown to react with lysozyme in reverse micelles formed by 0.1 M sodium di-2-ethylhexylsulfosuccinate and 1.2-3 M water (pH 7.4) in isooctane solvent. The reaction of ozone is assessed by the oxidation of tryptophan residues in the protein to N-formylkynurenine. Cosolubilization of oleate in lysozyme-containing reverse micellar solutions at concentrations of 0.5-10 mM results in a progressive inhibition (19% to 82%) of the oxidation of tryptophan residues with a concentration for 50% inhibition around 2 mM. At this concentration of oleate, the magnitude of inhibition is independent of the micelle size and concentration, the overall interfacial area of reverse micelles, and the amount of ozone employed. These findings are discussed in terms of competitive reactions of ozone with unsaturated fatty acids and proteins in the lung lining fluid and in biological membranes.

Reaction of ozone with glycophorin in solution and in lipid vesicles

Glycophorin from human red blood cells was exposed to ozone in aqueous solution. Amino acid analysis of glycophorin exposed to a 10-fold molar excess of ozone showed that the only residue affected was methionine. Both methionine residues of the protein were oxidized to methionine sulfoxide. Exposure of the oxidized protein to cyanogen bromide caused no cleavage of the polypeptide chain. Glycophorin was incorporated into unilamellar lipid vesicles made from phosphatidylcholine. The protein containing vesicles were exposed to ozone in a 10-fold molar excess to the glycophorin. Gas chromatography of the methyl esters showed negligible change in the fatty acid composition. Amino acid analysis of the ozone-treated protein showed the oxidation of only one methionine residue per polypeptide chain to methionine sulfoxide. Ghosts of human erythrocytes were exposed to ozone. Cyanogen bromide treatment of the oxidized glycophorin yielded fragments showing that the only methionine residue oxidized by ozone was residue 8. These results indicate that in this membrane model (a) amino acid is more susceptible to ozone than is the lipid, and (b) amino acids external to the membrane are more susceptible than those in the polypeptide chain spanning the membrane.

How far does ozone penetrate into the pulmonary air/tissue boundary before it reacts?

A simple method is suggested for calculating the time it takes ozone to traverse a biological region, such as a bilayer or a cell, and comparing this time to the halflife of ozone within that region. For a bilayer the calculations suggest that most of the ozone reacts within a bilayer, but a fraction may exit unreacted. For the lung lining fluid layer (LLFL), the calculations show that ozone cannot cross this layer without reacting where the LLFL is thicker than about 0.1 microns. However, since the LLFL varies from 20 to 0.1 microns in thickness with patchy areas in the lower airways that are virtually uncovered, some ozone could reach underlying cells, particularly in the lower airways. For cells (such as alveolar type I epithelial cells), the calculations show that ozone reacts within the cell too rapidly to pass through and exit unreacted from the other side. These calculations have implications for ozone toxicity. In vivo, the toxicity of ozone is suggested to result from the effects of a cascade of products that are produced in the reactions of ozone with primary target molecules that lie close to the air/tissue boundary. These products, which have a lower reactivity and longer lifetime than ozone itself, can transmit the effects of ozone beyond the air/tissue interface. The variation in thickness of the LLFL may modulate the species causing damage to the cells below it. In the lower airways, where the LLFL is thin and patchy, more cellular damage may be caused by ozone itself; in the upper airways where the LLFL is thicker, secondary products (such as aldehydes and hydrogen peroxide) may cause most of the damage. In vitro studies must be designed in an attempt to model the lung physiology. For example, if cells in culture are studied, and if the cells are exposed to ozone while under a supporting medium solution that contains ozone-reactive substances, then the cells may be damaged by products that are formed in the reactions of ozone with the cell medium rather than by ozone itself.

Morphologic injury and lipid peroxidation in monolayer cultures of rabbit tracheal epithelium exposed in vitro to ozone

Numerous reports have documented airway epithelial damage and lipid peroxidation in the lungs of animals exposed to ozone. However, the response of isolated tracheal epithelial (TE) cells to ozone has not been extensively studied. To assess ozone-induced injury in cultured TE cells, an in vitro exposure system was developed in which cells were maintained at gas-fluid interface analogous to in vivo conditions. Confluent monolayer cultures of rabbit TE cells were exposed for 30 min to atmospheres of 5% CO2/air containing 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, or 8 ppm ozone. Morphologic injury was assessed by phase-contrast microscopy and by determination of TE cell number and viability (trypan blue dye exclusion) pre- and postexposure, and the lipid peroxide content of TE cells was measured as thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reactive substances. Exposure to 5% CO2/air alone did not affect monolayer morphology, cell number of viability. Cultures exposed to 0.05 or 0.1 ppm ozone demonstrated no consistent light microscopic changes, whereas exposure to 0.5 ppm and higher ozone concentrations caused distortion of monolayer morphology, cytoplasmic vacuolization, and decreased viability. Exposure to 0.5 or 1 ppm resulted primarily in cytoplasmic vacuolization while exposure to 2, 4, 6, or 8 ppm induced more pronounced cellular injury associated with cell necrosis (viability post 8 ppm ozone 75.0 +/- 7.0%, vs. 95.9 +/- 2.6% for 5% CO2/air controls). Ozone exposure also caused changes in cell shape, which on occasion resulted in loss of cell-to-cell contact. Increased production of TBA-reactive substances was detected in TE cells following ozone exposure, including exposure to 0.05 and 0.1 ppm. The morphologic changes induced by in vitro ozone exposure in the cultured TE cells were similar to those described in the tracheal epithelium of ozone-exposed animals and occurred independent of recruited inflammatory cells or extravasated circulating mediators.

Cellular, biochemical and functional effects of ozone: new research and perspectives on ozone health effects

Ozone, a toxic component of photochemical oxidant air pollution, has been the focus of considerable research efforts for several decades. In spite of this large body of work, questions remain as to the potential risks to human health represented by chronic low-level exposure to ozone. Newer studies in animals have provided fundamental information on the range of biochemical, functional and morphologic responses to ozone exposure. While the response to ozone exposure is extremely complex, some generalities have emerged which may aid attempts to apply the results of these studies to decisions regarding the protection of human health.

Pulmonary metabolism of reactive oxygen species

Preexposure of rats to sublethal levels of hyperoxia or ozone reduces morbidity and mortality when the animals are subsequently exposed to lethal levels of either oxidant stress. Lung homogenates and isolated type II pneumocytes from rats exposed to these oxidant stresses demonstrate enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities. Antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase are responsible for the detoxification of partially reduced oxygen species, superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, to less reactive states. Potential pulmonary cellular loci of partially reduced oxygen include mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase, endoplasmic reticulum-derived NADPH cytochrome c reductase, and cytosolic xanthine oxido reductase. Thus partially reduced oxygen species are hypothesized to mediate hyperoxia and ozone-induced pulmonary damage. This damage may be attenuated by enhanced intracellular antioxidant enzyme activities. Pharmacologic augmentation of pulmonary antioxidant enzymes may be accomplished via intratracheal or intravascular delivery of liposomes containing antioxidant enzymes. Rats pretreated with liposomes containing both superoxide dismutase and catalase, when subsequently exposed to lethal levels of hyperoxia, demonstrate enhanced survival compared with control animals or with animals treated with control liposomes or native antioxidant enzymes. Finally, knowledge obtained from in vitro investigations optimizing liposomal delivery to specific pulmonary cell types may further aid in reducing in vivo pulmonary damage to hyperoxia and ozone.

Induction and inactivation of catalase and superoxide dismutase of Escherichia coli by ozone

Oxyradicals have been implicated in ozone (O3) toxicity and in other oxidant stress. In this study, we investigated the effects of O3 on the biosynthesis of the antioxidant enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase in Escherichia coli to determine their role in the defense against ozone toxicity. Inhibition of growth and loss of viability were observed in cultures exposed to ozone. Results also showed an increase in the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase in cultures exposed to ozone, which was shown to be due to true induction rather than activation of preexisting apoproteins. Cessation of O3 exposure resulted in 30 min of continual high rate of catalase biosynthesis followed by a gradual decrease in the level of the enzyme approaching that of control cultures. This decrease was attributed to a concomitant cessation of de novo enzyme synthesis and dilution of preexisting enzyme by cellular growth. Ozonation of cell-free extracts showed that superoxide dismutase and catalase are subject to oxidative inactivation by ozone. In vivo induction of these enzymes may represent an adaptive response evolved to protect cells against ozone toxicity.

Ozone effects on inhibitors of human neutrophil proteinases

The effects of ozone on human alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (A-1-PI), alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (A-1-Achy), bronchial leukocyte proteinase inhibitor (BLPI), and Eglin C were studied using in vitro exposures in phosphate-buffered solutions. Following ozone exposure, inhibitory activities against human neutrophil elastase (HNE) and/or cathepsin G (Cat G) were measured. Exposure of A-1-PI to 50 mol O3/mol protein resulted in a complete loss of HNE inhibitory activity, whereas A-1-Achy lost only 50% of its Cat G inhibitory activity and remained half active even after exposure to 250 mol of O3. At 40 mol O3/mol protein, BLPI lost 79% of its activity against HNE and 87% of its Cat G inhibitory activity. Eglin C, a leech-derived inhibitor, lost 81% of its HNE inhibitory activity and 92% of its ability to inhibit Cat G when exposed to 40 mol O3/mol. Amino acid analyses of ozone-exposed inhibitors showed destruction of Trp, Met, Tyr, and His with as little as 10 mol O3/mol protein, and higher levels of O3 resulted in more extensive oxidation of susceptible residues. The variable ozone susceptibility of the different amino acid residues in the four proteins indicated that oxidation was a function of protein structure, as well as the inherent susceptibility of particular amino acids. Exposure of A-1-PI and BLPI in the presence of the antioxidants, Trolox C (water soluble vitamin E) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C), showed that antioxidant vitamins may protect proteins from oxidative inactivation by ozone. Methionine-specific modification of BLPI reduced its HNE and Cat G inhibitory activities. Two moles of N-chlorosuccinimide per mole of BLPI methionine caused an 80% reduction in activity against Cat G, but only a 40% reduction in HNE inhibitory activity.

Host cell reactivation capacity of different strains of E. coli B resistant or sensitive to ozone

Host cell reactivation capacity for ozonated or irradiated phage was determined for different strains of E. coli either more sensitive or resistant to ozone than the wild type strain. The results suggest that the ozr gene product could be involved in the same repair pathway for ozone-induced lesions on DNA as the polA gene. The possible involvement of a specific endonuclease for these lesions is also considered.

Ozone-induced formation of O,O'-dityrosine cross-linked in proteins

Treatment of spectrin, insulin, glucagon and ribonuclease with ozone results in covalent cross-linking of these proteins. This cross-linking is not reversed by treatment with dithiothreitol and thus can not be ascribed to -S-S- bond formation. A concomitant O,O'-dityrosine formation is observed by spectrofluorometric analysis of the protein and by amino acid analysis and thin-layer chromatography of hydrolyzed protein samples. It is highly probable that the observed protein cross-linking should be attributed to interpeptide O,O'-dityrosine bonds. Several authors have shown before that oxidation of proteins with horseradish peroxidase and H2O2 also leads to O,O'-dityrosine formation. Peroxidase-induced O,O'-dityrosine formation in galactose oxidase (d-galactose:oxygen 6-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.3.9) causes a strong increase of enzyme activity. In accordance with these observations ozone treatment of galactose oxidase also leads to O,O'-dityrosine formation with a concomitant 8-fold increase of enzyme activity.

Fatty acid secretion and metabolism in 'activated' rabbit alveolar macrophages

The lipid content of bronchoalveolar lavages collected from both control rabbits and rabbits undergoing a pulmonary inflammatory response induced by intravenous injection of complete Freund's adjuvant was examined. A maximum of 4 x 10(8) alveolar macrophages could be recovered from the lavage of injected rabbits, a 10-fold greater number of cells than could be obtained from control rabbits. Increased amounts of unsaturated free fatty acids were present in the lavage lipids of injected rabbits, and no change in the amount and degree of saturation of lavaged phosphatidylcholine occurred. Alveolar macrophages recovered from injected rabbits contained 25 to 40% less lipid per cell, as measured by total fatty acid composition. Free fatty acids are released from phospholipids of adjuvant-induced alveolar macrophages incubated in vitro following lavage. Concentrations of N-formylmethionyl-phenylalanine similar to those which stimulate macrophage chemotaxis and bactericidal activity enhance this fatty acid release. Alveolar macrophages incorporate both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids with similar efficiency, primarily into phospholipids and triacylglycerols. Thus, activation of alveolar macrophages which results in a relative increase in internal phospholipase activity with concomitant large losses in cellular phospholipid results not only in liberation of chemokinetic fatty acids but also in considerable loss of membrane components.

Effects of semicarbazide on oxidative processes in human red blood cell membranes

Semicarbazide can interfere with oxidative processes in the red blood cell membrane via different modes of action. Treatment of human red blood cell membranes with O3, results, among other effects, in cross-linking of membrane proteins and inhibition of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. Semicarbazide inhibits these effects by acting as an O3 scavenger. The effect of semicarbazide as an O3 scavenger is complicated by the fact that ozonolysis of semicarbazide yields a product that causes inhibition of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase inhibition can also be provoked by incubation of membrane suspensions with O3-treated phospholipids. Semicarbazide prevented this effect by interaction with an inhibitory O3-phospholipid reaction product. Protoporphyrin-induced photodynamic cross-linking of membrane proteins is chemically distinct from O3-induced cross-linking. Photodynamic cross-linking is also inhibited by semicarbazide, in this case via reaction with a histidine photooxidation product.