The effect of ionizing radiation on amino acid transport systems in thymocytes

Surfactant sealing of membranes permeabilized by ionizing radiation

Acute tissue injury and subsequent inflammation, including tissue edema and erythema, can be caused by sufficiently high levels of exposure to gamma radiation. The mechanism of this tissue injury is related to the generation of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) which chemically alter biological molecules and cell physiology. Cell membrane lipids are vulnerable to ROI-mediated lipid peroxidation that then leads to many of the acute tissue effects. We hypothesize that increased cell membrane permeability leading to osmotic swelling and vascular transudation is one of these effects. Thus we used adult postmitotic rhabdomyocytes in culture and microscopic fluorescence techniques to quantify radiation-induced changes in cell membrane permeability. Based on time-resolved dye flux measurements, a characteristic lag time of 34 +/- 3 min was determined between exposure to 160 Gy of gamma radiation and the decrease in membrane permeability. Administration of 0.1 mM nonionic surfactant Poloxamer 188 added to the cell medium after irradiation completely inhibited the dye loss over the time course of 2 h. Thus a reproducible model was developed for studying the mechanism of acute radiation injury and the efficacy of membrane-sealing agents. As only supportive measures now exist for treating the acute, nonlethal injuries from high-dose radiation exposure, agents that can restore cell membrane function after radiation damage may offer an important tool for therapy.

Oxidative cell membrane alteration. Evidence for surfactant-mediated sealing

Exposure to very intense ionizing irradiation produces acute tissue sequelae including inflammation, pain, and swelling that often results in tissue fibrosis and/or necrosis. Acute tissue necrosis occurs in hours when sufficiently rapid damage to membrane lipids and proteins leads to altered membrane structure, disrupting the vital electrochemical diffusion barrier necessary for cell survival. This damage mechanism is thought to underlie the interphase death of lethally irradiated postmitotic cells such as neurons, but it has also been implicated in the rapid cell death of lymphocytes and acute vascular changes due to capillary epithelium dysfunction. It is not known whether sealing of radiation-permeabilized cell membranes will prolong survival of lethally irradiated cells or perhaps lead to repair of damaged nucleic acids. The purpose of this study is to begin to address the first question.

Radiation-induced increase in the release of amino acids by isolated, perfused skeletal muscle

Local exposure of the hindquarter of the rat to 15 Gy of gamma-radiation resulted, 4-6 h after irradiation, in an increased release of amino acids by the isolated, perfused hindquarter preparation, 70 per cent of which is skeletal muscle. This increase in release involves not only alanine and glutamine which are synthesized to a large extent de novo in muscle, but also those amino acids which are not metabolized by muscle and, therefore, released in proportion to their occurrence in muscle proteins. Because metabolic parameters and content of energy-rich phosphate compounds in muscle remain unchanged, it is unlikely that general cellular damage is the underlying cause of the radiation-induced increase in amino acid release. The findings strongly favour the hypothesis that the increased availability of amino acids results from enhanced protein breakdown in skeletal muscle which has its onset shortly after irradiation. This radiation-induced disturbance in protein metabolism might be one of the pathogenetic factors in the aetiology of radiation myopathy.

Membrane effects of ionizing radiation and hyperthermia

Results of numerous studies demonstrate that membranes are important sites of cell damage by both ionizing radiation and hyperthermia. Modification of membrane properties (mainly lipid fluidity) affects the cellular responses to radiation and hyperthermia but former concepts that membrane rigidification sensitizes cells to radiation while membrane fluidization potentiates hyperthermic damage have now been seriously challenged. It seems that the effects of membrane fluidity on cell responses to hyperthermia and radiation are due to an indirect influence on functional membrane proteins. The major role of lipid peroxidation in radiation damage to membranes has also been questioned. The existing evidence makes it unlikely that the interaction between radiation and hyperthermia is determined by the action of both agents on the same membrane components.

Radiation-induced inhibition of thymidine incorporation in vivo as a measure of the initial slope and RBEn/gamma

Radiation damage can be measured by decreased incorporation of 3H-TdR. The early effect of total body irradiation of mice, with doses up to 300-400 rad, of gamma rays of neutrons, on thymidine-3H incorporation into the DNA of murine proliferating normal and tumor cells are described. Total body irradiation with single doses up to 300 rad resulted in a steep dose-dependent depression of 3H-TdR incorporation into the DNA of the jejunal crypt, testis, spleen, fibrosarcoma (FSa), and FSa metastasis cells. The dose required to depress 3H-TdR incorporation values to 37% of control level (D37/thymidine) after gamma-irradiation was calculated to be 405, 443, 72, 303, and 531 rad, for jejunal crypt, testis, spleen, FSa metastasis, and FSa tumor cells, respectively. The depression progressed during the first 3 hours after irradiation. After neutron irradiation, the D37/thymidine was calculated to be 81, 140, 35, and 155 rad for jejunal crypt, testis, spleen, and FSa metastasis cells, respectively. The RBEn/gamma derived from these results were 5.00, 3.16, 2.06, and 1.95 for jejunal crypt, testis, spleen, and FSa metastasis cells, respectively. These results of D37/thymidine after gamma-irradiation and the RBEn/gamma correlate well with the 1Do for the initial slope of the survival curve and RBEn/gamma published in the literature for C3H/Kam mice using the same gamma and neutron beams. These findings show that cell survival after small doses of irradiation correlate with the effect of irradiation on the actively proliferating cells at the time of irradiation.

Effect of gamma-radiation on the structure and function of yeast membrane

A decrease in the influx of several amino acids was observed following gamma-irradiation. At low dose (2.5 Gy), which does not affect cell survival, a stimulation in the uptake was visible; moreover, sulphydryl loss and lipid peroxidation were also evident. With further increase in the dose of radiation, a parallel increment in the loss of sulphydryl groups and production of malonaldehyde was observed. Radioprotectors like L-cysteine and dithiothreitol were shown to shield the radiation-induced loss of sulphydryl and damage to transport and survival. Reduced glutathione, on the other hand, exhibited protection at the level of sulphydryl damage only. N-ethylmaleimide, a well known hypoxic cell radiosensitizer, enhanced the radiosensitivity with respect to survival; it, however, had no effect on amino acid transport. Oxygen enhancement of radiation damage to transport and cell survival and the radioprotection by sodium formate under these circumstances, and more so by anoxia, were demonstrated. The results indicate that the manifestation of damage to membrane structure and function precedes any observable loss of survival.

Radiation effects on erythrocyte membrane structure studied by the intrinsic fluorescence

The changes in the intrinsic fluorescence, primarily from tryptophan residues, of sheep erythrocyte membranes following X-irradiation (0--4000 R) were investigated. The experiments showed that there was (1) a decrease in the intensity of fluorescence with increasing dose of X-rays, (2) a small shift of fluorescence emission to longer wavelengths, (3) a decrease in the fluorescence polarization, and that (4) treatment of membranes with a perturbing solvent, 2-chloroethanol, can eliminate the effects of X-rays. The amount of tryptophan in the membranes was not altered after X-irradiation. It was also shown that sulphydryl reagents, N-ethylmaleimide and 2,2'-dithiodipyridine, induced similar fluorescence changes. From these results it was concluded that the fluorescence changes could result from a change in the environment surrounding tryptophan residues, from being relatively non-polar to being more polar, implying that conformational changes of membrane proteins are brought about by low doses of X-rays.

Modification of rat thymocyte membrane properties by hyperthermia and ionizing radiation

Thymocytes are one the most widely used cell models for the study of radiation-induced interphase death. This cell-type was chosen for the study of hyperthermic and radiation effects on two membrane-related processes implicated in the interphase death of cells: Na+-dependent 2-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) transport and cyclic 3'-5' adenosine monophsophate formation. The response of AIB transport to heat is dose-dependent, but the biphasic thermal response curve (AIB uptake versus time) differs fom the sigmoidal radiation response curve. Heating thymocytes for 20-30 min at 43 degrees C stimulates AIB uptake. Additional heating at 43 degrees C, however, markedly reduces AIB uptake. Despite the immediate stimulating effect of heat (30 min at 43 degrees C), the thymocyte has already developed irrepairable impairments, as demonstrated by the fractionated heating experiments. The heat-induced impairment of AIB uptake is mainly on the Na+-dependent component of neutral amino-acid transport, affecting primarily the maximal rate of uptake, i.e. Vmax. Additional evidence for heat-induced plasma membrane damage is the alteration in cAMP levels. Heating thymocytes for 30 min or longer at 43 degrees C causes a massive rise in cAMP level within the cell. This differs from thymocytes exposed to radiation where no rise in cAMP is observed.

Involvement of membrane sulfhydryls in the activation and maintenance of nutrient transport in chick embryo fibroblasts

At 5 microgram/ml, insulin stimulates hexose, A-system amino acid, and nucleoside transport by serum-starved chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF). This stimulation, although variable, is comparable to that induced by 4% serum. The sulfhydryl oxidants diamide (1-20 micrometer). hydrogen peroxide (500 micrometer), and methylene blue (50 micrometer) mimic the effect of insulin in CEF. PCMB-S,1 a sulfhydryl-reacting compound which penetrates the membrane slowly, has a complex effect on nutrient transport in serum- and glucose-starved CEF. Hexose uptake is inhibited by 0.1-1 mM PCMB-S in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, whereas A-system amino acid transport is inhibited maximally within 10 min of incubation and approaches control rates after 60 min. A differential sensitivity of CEF transport systems is also seen in cells exposed to membrane-impermeant glutathione-maleimide I, designated GS-Mal. At 2 mM GS-Mal reduces the rate of hexose uptake 80-100% in serum- and glucose-starved CEF; in contrast A-system amino acid uptake is unaffected. D-glucose, but not -L-glucose or cytochalasin B, protects against GS-Mal inhibition. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that sulfhydryl groups are involved in nutrient transport and that those sulfhydryls associated with the hexose transport system and essential for its function are located near the exofacial surface of the membrane in CEF.

Altered surface topology and membrane functions of rat thymocytes eluted from nylon wool columns

(1) Following incubation of thymocytes with nylon wool at 37 degrees C, the eluted cells showed an increase in the number of microvilli per cell and a concominant elongation of the microvilli (0.22 mum versus 1.15 mum. (2) Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cylic AMP) levels were lowered by 30-50% in nylon wool-treated thymocytes. (3) Nylon wool-treated cells showed an impaired Na+-dependent amino acid transport system (2-aminoisobutyrate) whereas the Na+-independent amino acid transport system (1-aminocyclopentane-1-carboxylate) was unaffected.

Involvement of sulfhydryl groups in the action of the insulin and radiation on thymocyte Na+-dependent amino acid transport

1,p-Chloromercuribenzene sulfonate concentrations less than 10(-5) M stimulate the uptake by thymocytes of 2-aminoisobutyrate, a non-metabolized amino acid. At concentrations greater than 10(-5) M of this reagent, transport is impaired and cell viability is effected. In contrast, 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoate) between 10(-4) and 10(-6) M produces only stimulation of 2-aminoisobutyrate uptake after treating for 10 min. 2. Treatment of thymocytes with 10(-4)M 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoate) reveals at least three categories of reactive SH groups. Titration of the most rapidly reacting category, 4 - 10(7)-7 - 10(7)/cell, activates 2-aminoisobutyrate transport to the same extent as does p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonate. Cells treated with 10(-6) M insulin showed a 30-50% reduction in the number of sulfhydryl groups that could be titrated with 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoate). In thymocytes treated with 10(-6) M p-chloro(203Hg)mercuribenzene sulfonate, addition of 10(-6) or 10(-9) M insulin before treatment with the sulhydryl reagent again reduces the number of titrable SH groups by 20%. 3. Insulin (10(-10)-10(-6) M) also stimulates 2-aminoisobutyrate uptake, but the effects of insulin and SH blocker are not additive. 4. Insulin, but not p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonate, prevents the impairment of 2-aminoisobutyrate transport caused by gamma-irradiation. Treatment of cells with p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonate prior to irradiation increases the radiation impairment of 2-aminoisobutyrate transport. 5. gamma-irradiation reduces the number of 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoate) reactive sulfhydryl residues by 37%. 6. A model for the action of insulin and irradiation on 2-aminoisobutyrate transport is presented.

The structure and thermotropism of thymocyte plasma membranes as revealed by laser-raman spectroscopy

1. Plasma membranes from rabbit thymocytes have been analyzed by laser-Raman spectroscopy over the 800-3000 cm-1 region and the spectra compared with those of endoplasmic reticulum, as well as relevant liposome systems. 2. Evaluation of the Amide I and Amide III regions indicates that thymocyte plasma membranes, but not endoplasmic reticulum, contain appreciable beta-structure peptide. This conclusion is supported by infrared spectroscopy. 3. Evaluation of the 2890 cm-1: 2850 cm-1 intensity ratio of plasma membranes as a function of temperature, using an integration technique, demonstrates a thermotropic lipid transition centered near 23 degrees C. This transition is less sharp than one observed with egg lecithin in this temperature range. 4. The significance of the thermotropic transition is evaluated in view of the lack of thermotropic lipid-protein segregation detectable by freeze-fracture electron microscopy (Wunderlich, F., Wallach, D.F.H., Speth, V. and Fischer, H. (1973) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 373, 34-43).