The application of 5,5' dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoic acid to the determination of the acid-soluble disulphide content of blood

Expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor by osteoblastic cells: protection against cadmium toxicity

Exposition to cadmium (Cd) has been linked to bone metabolism alterations and occurrence of osteoporosis. Despite its known renal toxicity which indirectly disrupts bone metabolism through impairment of vitamin D synthesis, increasing evidence argues for the direct action of Cd on bone-forming osteoblasts. Indeed, accumulation of Cd in osteoblasts and metal-induced cell death has been documented but little is known about the intracellular mechanisms of protection against this stress. In this work, we investigated the protection afforded by thiol-containing proteins against Cd cytotoxicity in MC3T3 osteoblastic cells. Viability of MC3T3 cells was reduced by Cd in a concentration-dependent manner with a LC(50) of 7.6±1.1μM. Depletion of glutathione by l-buthionine sulphoximine (BSO) increased cell sensitivity to Cd cytotoxicity, suggesting the involvement of thiol-containing peptides as a mechanism of protection. Accordingly, Cd was shown to promote progressive depletion of reduced thiol content and to stimulate the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Interestingly, low non cytotoxic concentrations of Cd increased the gene expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), also a thiol-containing protein. Inhibition of the transcription factor NFκB prevented Cd-dependent upregulation of MIF expression and consequently, increased Cd cytotoxicity in osteoblasts. Moreover, MIF deficient mouse osteoblasts were more sensitive to Cd cytotoxicity than the corresponding control cells. By gel-filtration chromatography, we demonstrated that MIF acts as a thiol-containing protein and thereby promotes Cd complexation. In accordance with its binding ability, addition of recombinant MIF to the culture medium reduced Cd cytotoxicity. Overall, upregulation of MIF expression by Cd may protect against the cytotoxicity of this metal in the osteoblasts.

Characterization of basolateral-to-apical transepithelial transport of cadmium in intestinal TC7 cell monolayers

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal with an extremely long half-life in humans. The intestinal absorption of Cd has been extensively studied but the role the intestinal epithelium may play in metal excretion has never been considered. The basolateral (BL)-to-apical (AP) transepithelial transport of Cd was characterized in TC7 human intestinal cells. Both AP and BL uptakes varied with days in culture, and BL uptake was twofold higher compared to AP in differentiated cultures. A 50% increase in the BL uptake of 0.5 μM (109)Cd was observed at pH 8.5 in a chloride but not nitrate medium, suggesting the involvement of a pH-sensitive mechanism of transport for chloro-complexes. Fe and Zn inhibited the BL uptake of Cd whereas complexation by albumin had no effect, but the stimulatory effect of pH 8.5 was lost in the presence of albumin. The BL uptake of [(3)H]-MPP(+) and (109)Cd were both inhibited by decynium22 without reciprocal inhibition. MRP2 and MDR1 mRNA levels increased as a function of days in culture. A 25 and 20% decrease in the cellular AP efflux of Cd was observed in the presence of verapamil and probenecid, respectively. In cells treated with BSO, which lowered by 26% the total cellular thiol content, the inhibitory effect of verapamil increased, whereas that of probenecid decreased. These results reveal the existence of a decynium22-sensitive mechanism of transport for Cd at the BL membrane, and suggest the involvement of MDR1 and MRP2 in cellular Cd efflux at the AP membrane. It is conceivable that the intestinal epithelium may contribute to Cd blood excretion.

Continuous monitoring of arylesterase in human serum

Arylesterase (EC 3.1.1.2) activity in serum was specifically measured using thiophenyl acetate in a mechanized assay at 37 degrees C with 4-bromophenylboronic acid as inhibitor of cholinesterase and hexacyanoferrate-III as indicator. The systematic development of a routine method, apparent limitations of thiophenyl compounds as arylesterase substrates, some kinetic constants of the enzyme, analytical variables such as precision (within-run <2% and between-run <2.5% relative standard deviation) and a preliminary reference interval (19.5-52.4 kU/l) for adults are described.

In vivo regulation of delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase activity

The interrelationships among purified delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase (ALA-D; EC 4.2.1.24) activity, Pb, and ALA-D concentrations were studied in vitro. The ratio of Pb to the ALA-D subunit, but not the Pb concentration, determined the relative activity of ALA-D, indicating the significance of the amount of ALA-D in studying the mechanism of enzyme inhibition by Pb. To elucidate the in vivo mechanisms of ALA-D regulation, male Wistar rats, 6 months old, were treated with Pb, Zn, and glutathione (GSH) separately or in combination for 130 days. After Pb administration, the amount of ALA-D, as determined by radioimmunoassay, increased in the presence and in the absence of the Zn-GSH pretreatment, even if the enzyme activity were higher (the Zn-GSH-Pb-treated rats) than that of the control. Zn and GSH restored the enzyme activity in vivo synergistically. Since immunochemical study showed the identity of the liver ALA-D with the erythroid ALA-D, the liver and erythroid data were pooled to quantify the interrelationship among ALA-D activity, and Pb, Zn, SH, and the enzyme concentrations. The equation was the relative activity of ALA-D (%) = 0.256.[Pb/ALA-D subunit]2 - 9.56.[Pb/ALA-D subunit] - 0.000281.[square root Zn.SH/ALA-D subunit]2 + 0.0898..[square root Zn.SH/ALA-D subunit] + 33.6 (multiple correlation coefficient = 0.909, n = 108, p less than 0.01). The result indicated that 83% of the in vivo regulation of ALA-D activity is explained when the four factors, Pb, Zn, SH, and ALA-D concentrations, are considered in combination.

Enzyme-catalysed reactions between some 2-substituted 5-nitrofuran derivatives and glutathione

1. A glutathione transferase present in rat and human liver supernatant catalyses the reaction of some 2-substituted 5-nitrofuran derivatives with GSH, with formation of a conjugate and release of the nitro group as inorganic nitrite. Some of the substrates undergo the same reaction at a slower rate in the absence of enzyme. Nitrofuran derivatives commonly used as drugs, and five other drugs containing nitro groups, did not react. 2. Substrate activity in the nitrofuran derivatives showed an approximate correlation with the lability of the nitro group to alkali. 3. Optimum pH values ranging from 6.6 to 9.0 were found for the enzymic reaction with various derivatives, the values being influenced by alkali-lability and pK values of the compounds. 4. Tenfold purification of rat liver glutathione S-aryl-transferase resulted in an equal purification of the activities that catalyse the reaction of two of the nitrofuran derivatives with GSH.