Hydroperoxide metabolism in vitamin E-deficient hepatocytes. Studies on low-level chemiluminescence, lipid peroxidation, and glutathione status

Luminol-and lucigenin-amplified chemiluminescence with rat liver microsomes. Kinetics and influence of ascorbic acid, glutathione, dimethylsulfoxide, N-t-butyl-a-phenyl-nitrone, copper-ions and a copper complex, catalase, superoxide dismutase, hexobarbital and aniline

For the investigation of luminol (LM)-and lucigenin (LC)-amplified chemiluminescence (CL) in rat liver microsomes using both a liquid-scintillation counter (LKB/Wallac 1219 Rackbeta) and a Berthold luminometer (AutoLumat LB 953) optimal incubation mixtures and conditions and basic kinetics have been established. Whereas calibration curves for both LM- and LC-CL are performed with hydrogenperoxide (LC quantum yield is 6.25 fold higher as that of LM), distinct differences were revealed with microsomes, indicating that different reactive oxygen species (ROS) are determined: Both LM- and LC-CL follow the kinetics of enzymatic reactions in terms of dependence on protein and NADPH or NADH concentration, time course, temperature etc., but with differences. LM-CL does not work without addition of Fe2+, whereas LC-CL does. Both copper ions and copper bound in a complex abolish CL, LC-CL being much more sensitive. Isolated cytochrome P-450 (P450) and NADPH P450 reductase from liver of pheno-barbital treated rats alone proved to be inactive in LM-and LC-CL production, whereas te combination 1:1 without and with addition of lipid was highly active in both LM-and LC-CL. Ascorbic acid and glutathione as scavengers diminish both LM- and LC-CL in concentrations higher then 10(5). Dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO) was ineffective in LM-CL up to concentrations of 0.2 M, the very high concentration of 2 M diminished LM-CL only to 1/3. LC-CL was diminished starting at concentrations of 100 mM and at 2 M only 10% of maximum LC-CL was observed. The trap substance N-t-butyl-a-phenylnitrone (BNP) also diminished LC-CL more effectively than LM-CL. Clearcut differences were revealed by the addition of catalase and superoxide dismutase: both enzymes diminished LM-CL only, without any influence on LC-CL. Hexobarbital, a potent uncoupler of P450, enhances LM-CL fivefold, whereas LC-CL is barely influenced. Aniline (without uncoupling capability) decreased both LM-and LC-CL increasingly with increasing concentrations. Therefore the conclusion is drawn that LM-CL measures in liver microsomes predominantly superoxide anion radicals, whereas LC-CL is mainly a measure for microsomal hydroxyl radical formation or of reactive organic radicals. With microsomes of phenobarbital and beta-naphthoflavone treated rats CL was much higher but in principle the same kinetic characteristics could be shown. All results on microsomes were obtained uniformly with the liquid scintillation counter and the Berthold luminometer, the letter being much more effective and more sensitive.

The role of iron and glutathione in t-butyl hydroperoxide-induced damage towards isolated perfused rat livers

The hepatotoxic and lipid peroxidative potentials of t-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH) towards isolated perfused rat livers were investigated at doses of 1 and 3 mmol l-1. t-BuOOH led to a concentration-dependent release of cytosolic (glutamate-pyruvate transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase) and mitochondrial (glutamate dehydrogenase) enzymes, an accumulation of calcium in the liver, a marked depletion of hepatic glutathione and an enhanced release of it into the perfusate, as well as an enhanced formation and release of malondialdehyde (MDA) by the liver. These effects were blocked in the presence of the potent iron chelator deferrioxamine, and enhanced in livers from iron-overloaded as well as in livers from glutathione-depleted rats. Our results indicate that the hepatotoxic and pro-oxidant actions of organic hydroperoxides depend upon the presence of ionized iron as a catalyst of radical-forming breakdown reactions, and are potentiated by impairment of glutathione-dependent detoxification reactions.

Temporal relationships between the loss of vitamin E, protein sulfhydryls and lipid peroxidation in microsomes challenged with different prooxidants

Microsomal membranes exposed to various prooxidants displayed distinct patterns in the temporal relationships between the loss of antioxidants and the onset of lipid peroxidation. Prooxidants included ADP-chelated iron with reductants (NADPH and ascorbate), or compounds that generate peroxyl radicals (tert-butyl hydroperoxide and 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane)), or free metal ions (Fe2+ and Cu2+). Lipid peroxidation initiated by Fe2+ began simultaneously with the loss of alpha-tocopherol, while about 15% of alpha-tocopherol was lost during the lag phase preceding lipid peroxidation in systems containing chelated iron. A substantial depletion of alpha-tocopherol (49-69%) preceded peroxidation when initiated by peroxyl radicals, while 97% of the antioxidant disappeared preceding peroxidation initiated by copper. The loss of protein sulfhydryl groups also varied between the prooxidants (ranging from 0 to 82% loss prior to the onset of peroxidation) to a degree that roughly paralleled the loss of vitamin E. Therefore, important determinants of peroxidation are prooxidant-dependent, and not only include alpha-tocopherol and sulfhydryl groups, but also membrane integrity, propagation reactions and the availability of catalytic transition metals.

Careful consideration of the effects induced by glutathione depletion in rat liver and heart. The involvement of cytosolic and mitochondrial glutathione pools

One of the most widely used mechanisms by which the role of glutathione (GSH) in cellular functions has been withdrawn, is to deplete GSH intracellularly. The importance of the procedure and xenobiotic chosen to get it is discussed. Mitochondrial GSH plays certainly an important role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. This contribution varies depending on the tissue and the conclusions obtained about the functions of this GSH pool in one organ may not be applied to others. Original data on the subcellular distribution of GSH in myocardial tissue of the rat are presented, and the effect of phorone on both cardiac GSH pools is compared with the effect in liver. The mechanical failure of myocardium after ischemic or reperfusion damage might involve mitochondrial GSH, in view of the literature data referring to the role of thiol groups in energy transfer from mitochondria to cytosol.