Comparison of oxidant-generation and BP-diol activation by bone marrow cells from C57Bl/6 and DBA/2 mice: implications for risk of bone marrow toxicity induced by polycyclic hydrocarbons

Targeting glutathione with the triterpenoid CDDO-Im protects against benzo-a-pyrene-1,6-quinone-induced cytotoxicity in endothelial cells

Epidemiological studies have exhibited a strong correlation between exposure to air pollution and deaths due to vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. Benzo-a-pyrene-1,6-quinone (BP-1,6-Q) is one of the components of air pollution_. This study was to examine the role of GSH in BP-1,6-Q mediated cytotoxicity in human EA.hy96 endothelial cells and demonstrated that induction of cellular glutathione by a potent triterpenoid, CDDO-Im (1-[2-cyano-3-,12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oyl]imidazole), protects cells against BP-1,6-Q induced protein and lipid damage. Incubation of EA.hy926 endothelial cells with BP-1,6-Q caused a significant increase in dose-dependent cytotoxicity as measured by LDH release assay and both apoptotic and necrotic cell deaths as measured by flow cytometric analysis. Incubation of EA.hy926 endothelial cells with BP-1,6-Q also caused a significant decrease in cellular GSH levels. The diminishment of cellular GSH by buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) potentiated BP-1,6-Q-induced toxicity significantly suggesting a critical involvement of GSH in BP-1,6-Q induced cellular toxicity. GSH-induction by CDDO-Im significantly protects cells against BP-1,6-Q induced protein and lipid damage as measured by protein carbonyl (PC) assay and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay, respectively. However, the co-treatment of cells with CDDO-Im and BSO reversed the cytoprotective effect of CDDO-Im on BP-1,6-Q-mediated lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation. These results suggest that induction of GSH by CDDO-Im might be the important cellular defense against BP-1,6-Q induced protein and lipid damage. These findings would contribute to better understand the action of BP-1,6-Q and may help to develop novel therapies to protect against BP-1,6-Q-induced atherogenesis.

Chronic fuel oil toxicity in American mink (Mustela vison): systemic and hematological effects of ingestion of a low-concentration of bunker C fuel oil

Petroleum oil enters the coastal marine environment through various sources; marine mammals such as sea otters that inhabit this environment may be exposed to low concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons through ingestion of contaminated prey. The inability to perform controlled studies in free-ranging animals hinders investigations of the effects of chronic petroleum oil exposure on sea otter morbidity and mortality, necessitating the development of a reliable laboratory model. We examined the effects of oral exposure to 500 ppm bunker C fuel oil over 113-118 days on American mink, a species phylogenetically related to the sea otter. Hematological parameters and organs were examined for fuel oil-associated changes. Hepatic cytochrome P4501A1 mRNA expression and fecal cortisol concentrations were also measured. Ingestion of fuel oil was associated with a decrease in erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration (Hgb), hematocrit (HCT), and an increase in mean corpuscular volume (MCV). Total leukocytes were elevated in the fuel oil group from increases in neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes. Significant interactions between fuel oil and antigen challenge were found for erythrocyte parameters, monocyte and lymphocyte counts. Liver and adrenal weights were increased although mesenteric lymph node weights were decreased in the fuel oil group. Hepatic cytochrome P4501A1 mRNA was elevated in the fuel oil group. Fecal cortisol concentration did not vary between the two groups. Our findings show that fuel oil exposure alters circulating leukocyte numbers, erythrocyte homeostasis, hepatic metabolism and adrenal physiology and establish a framework to use mink as a model for sea otters in studying the systemic effects of marine contaminants.

Biochemical characterization of lucigenin (Bis-N-methylacridinium) as a chemiluminescent probe for detecting intramitochondrial superoxide anion radical production

Direct detection of intramitochondrial superoxide anion radical (O(-*)(2)) production is of critical importance for investigating the pathophysiological consequences resulting from altered cellular reactive oxygen homeostasis. The purpose of this study with isolated mitochondria was to characterize the biochemical basis for lucigenin as a chemiluminescent probe to detect intramitochondrial O(-*)(2) production. Incubation of isolated mitochondria with lucigenin at non-redox cycling concentration produced lucigenin-derived chemiluminescence (LDCL), which was increased markedly by mitochondrial substrates, pyruvate/malate or succinate. The LDCL was reduced greatly by the membrane permeable superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetics, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl and Mn(III)tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphyrin, but not by Cu,Zn-SOD. With an ion-pair HPLC method, a concentration-dependent accumulation of lucigenin was detected within mitochondria. The accumulation of lucigenin by mitochondria was reduced markedly in the presence of carbonyl cyanide p-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyhyldrazone, an uncoupler known to dissipate the mitochondrial membrane potential. With submitochondrial particles, we observed that both complexes I and III of the mitochondrial electron transport chain appear to be able to catalyze the one electron reduction of lucigenin, a critical step involved in LDCL. After incubation of mitochondria with lucigenin at non-redox cycling concentrations, formation of N-methylacridone, the proposed end product of the reaction pathway leading to LDCL, within the mitochondrial fraction was also detected. In addition, a significant linear correlation was observed between the LDCL and either the lucigenin accumulation or the N-methylacridone formation within the mitochondria. Taken together, our results conclusively demonstrate that when properly used LDCL can reliably detect intramitochondrial O(-*)(2) production.

Detection of mitochondria-derived reactive oxygen species production by the chemilumigenic probes lucigenin and luminol

Both lucigenin and luminol have widely been used as chemilumigenic probes for detecting reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by various cellular systems. Our laboratory has previously demonstrated that lucigenin localizes to the mitochondria of rat alveolar macrophages and that lucigenin-derived chemiluminescence (CL) appears to reflects superoxide O2(-.) production by mitochondria in the unstimulated macrophages. In this study, we further examined the ability of lucigenin- and luminol-derived CL to assess O2(-.) and H2O2 formation, respectively, by isolated intact mitochondria. Mitochondria were isolated from monocytes/macrophages differentiated from monoblastic ML-1 cells. Incubation of the substrate-supported mitochondria with lucigenin at non-redox cycling concentration produced lucigenin-derived CL. Luminol-derived CL was also elicited with substrate-supplemented mitochondria in the presence of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The lucigenin-derived CL was diminished extensively by the membrane permeable superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetics, 2,2,6, 6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl and Mn(III) tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphyrin, but not by Cu,Zn-SOD. On the other hand, luminol-derived CL was not observed in the absence of HRP and was significantly inhibited by catalase. A spectrum of agents known to specifically affect mitochondrial respiration exhibited corresponding effects on both lucigenin- and luminol-derived CL. Taken together, our results demonstrate that with isolated mitochondria lucigenin-derived CL monitors intramitochondrial O2(-.) production by the mitochondrial electron transport chain, whereas the luminol-derived CL detects H2O2 released from the mitochondria. As such, use of both probes provides a comprehensive and clear assessment of ROS production by mitochondria.

Alternative testing systems for evaluating noncarcinogenic, hematologic toxicity

Hematopoietic tissues are the targets of numerous xenobiotics. Clinical hematotoxicity is either a decrease or an increase in peripheral blood cell counts in one or more cell lineages--a cytopenia or a cytosis, respectively--that carries a risk of an adverse clinical event. The purpose of in vitro hematotoxicology is the prediction of these adverse hematologic effects from the effects of the toxicants on human hematopoietic targets under controlled experimental conditions in the laboratory. Building on its important foundations in experimental hematology and the wealth of hematotoxicology data found in experimental oncology, this field of alternative toxicology has developed rapidly during the past decade. Although the colony-forming unit-granulocyte/monocyte neutrophil progenitor is most frequently evaluated, other defined progenitors and stem cells as well as cell types found in the marrow stroma can be evaluated in vitro. End points have been proposed for predicting toxicant exposure levels at the maximum tolerated dose and the no observable adverse effect level for the neutrophil lineage, and several clinical prediction models for neutropenia have developed to the point that they are ready for prospective evaluation and validation in both preclinical species and humans. Known predictive end points are the key to successful comparisons across species or across chemical structures when in vitro dose-response curves are nonparallel. Analytical chemistry support is critical for accurate interpretation of in vitro data and for relating the in vitro pharmacodynamics to the in vivo pharmacokinetics. In contrast to acute neutropenia, anemia and acute thrombocytopenia, as well as adverse effects from chronic toxicant exposure, are much more difficult to predict from in vitro data. Pharmacologic principles critical for clinical predictions from in vitro data very likely will apply to toxicities to other proliferative tissues, such as mucositis.

Validation of lucigenin (bis-N-methylacridinium) as a chemilumigenic probe for detecting superoxide anion radical production by enzymatic and cellular systems

Lucigenin is most noted for its wide use as a chemiluminescent detector of superoxide anion radical (O2-.) production by biological systems. However, its validity as a O2-.-detecting probe has recently been questioned in view of its ability to undergo redox cycling in several in vitro enzymatic systems, which produce little or no O2-.. Whether and to what extent lucigenin redox cycling occurs in systems that produce significant amounts of O2-. has not been carefully investigated. We examined and correlated three end points, including sensitive measurement of lucigenin-derived chemiluminescence (LDCL), O2 consumption by oxygen polarography, and O2-. production by 5-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-5-methyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide spin trapping to characterize the potential of lucigenin to undergo redox cycling and as such to act as an additional source of O2-. in various enzymatic and cellular systems. Marked LDCL was elicited at lucigenin concentrations ranging from 1 to 5 microM in all of the O2-.-generating systems examined, including xanthine oxidase (XO)/xanthine, lipoamide dehydrogenase/ NADH, isolated mitochondria, mitochondria in intact cells, and phagocytic NADPH oxidase. These concentrations of lucigenin were far below those that stimulated additional O2 consumption or O2-. production in the above systems. Moreover, a significant linear correlation between LDCL and superoxide dismutase-inhibitable cytochrome c reduction was observed in the XO/ xanthine and phagocytic NADPH oxidase systems. In contrast to the above O2-.-generating systems, no LDCL was observed at non-redox cycling concentrations of lucigenin in the glucose oxidase/glucose and XO/NADH systems, which do not produce a significant amount of O2-.. Thus, LDCL still appears to be a valid probe for detecting O2-. production by enzymatic and cellular sources.

Depletion of glutathione by benzo(a)pyrene metabolites, ionomycin, thapsigargin, and phorbol myristate in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Previous studies in this laboratory have shown that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) alter Ca2+ homeostasis and inhibit activation of both B and T lymphocytes obtained from rodents and humans. In the present studies, we demonstrate that alpha-naphthoflavone (ANF), an inhibitor of cytochrome P4501A activity, reduced the Ca2+ elevation produced by BaP in human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (HPBMC) lymphocytes. These results suggested that BaP metabolites may play a role in intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis in human lymphocytes. Reactive oxidative intermediates of BaP produced in HPMBC are known to be highly carcinogenic and have also been shown to be immunosuppressive. We examined the effects of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA), benzo(e)pyrene (BeP), and anthracene, as well as certain BaP metabolites, on the levels of intracellular Ca2+ and glutathione in HPBMC. While BaP, DMBA, BeP, and anthracene did not cause a statistically significant decrease in GSH in HPBMC at concentrations of 1 or 10 microM following a 6-, 48-, or 72-hr exposure, reactive BaP metabolites including 4,5-epoxide BaP and 7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide BaP consistently produced a 20-30% depletion of glutathione in HPBMC following a 6-hr treatment period. These BaP metabolites also elevated intracellular Ca2+ in HPBMC during a 6-hr incubation. Results of these experiments suggest that metabolism of BaP to certain epoxide metabolites may be responsible for sulfhydryl damage leading to transient GSH depletion and Ca2+ elevation. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that sulfhydryl damage by certain PAH metabolites may lead to altered Ca2+ homeostasis, leading to inhibition of cell activation and proliferation in HPBMC.

Role of alterations in Ca(2+)-associated signaling pathways in the immunotoxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are an important class of environmental pollutants that are known to be carcinogenic and immunotoxic. The effects of PAHs on the immune system of various animals and models have been studied for at least 30 yr. Despite these efforts, the mechanism or mechanisms by which PAHs exert their effects on the immune system are still largely unknown. During recent years, the molecular events associated with lymphocyte activation and receptor-mediated signaling have become increasingly clear. Substantial progress has been made in understanding the molecular and cellular bases for toxicant-induced immune cell injury. Understanding mechanisms of drug or chemical effects on the immune system is an important area of research in the field of immunotoxicology, and indeed in all fields of toxicology. Mechanistic toxicology plays an important role in risk assessment and extrapolation of potential human health effects. In this review, we have summarized recent evidence that has examined the effects of PAHs on the immune system of animals and humans. In particular, we have focused on the effects of PAHs on cell signaling in lymphoid cells and have examined the hypothesis that PAHs alter lymphocyte activation via calcium-dependent mechanisms. Previously published reports are discussed, and new data obtained with murine B cells and cell lines are presented demonstrating the relationship between alterations in intracellular calcium and immune dysregulation. These data demonstrate a strong association between PAH-induced alterations in B- and T-lymphocyte activation and changes in calcium homeostasis.

A mathematical approach to benzo[a]pyrene-induced hematotoxicity

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) has been reported to exert a differential effect on murine hematopoiesis that is mouse strain specific. Interpretation of these results based solely on experimental data is restricted and leaves important questions unanswered. Therefore, a mathematical model of murine hematopoiesis was applied in order to: (1) identify the targets of BaP, (2) quantify the damage to target cells and (3) based on these results, interpret differences in strain susceptibility. Model analysis of the hematopoietic response of D2 and BDF1 mice to a daily oral administration of 125 mg/kg BaP showed that proliferating hematopoietic cells are the targets of BaP. Within this group it was found that: (a) erythropoietic cells were the most susceptible to BaP, (b) granulopoietic cells showed a susceptibility half that of erythropoietic cells and (c) the susceptibility of stem cells ranged between that of erythropoietic and granulopoietic cells. This damage pattern was the same for both strains, indicating that the difference between the strains was quantitative. As cell destruction rates were about 3-fold higher for D2 than BDF1 mice, it was concluded that D2 mice were about three times as susceptible to BaP as BDF1 mice. The study showed that the mathematical model, in addition to experimental methods, provided an efficient tool for the analysis of BaP hematotoxicity.