NADPH: nitroblue tetrazolium reductase found in plasma membrane of human neutrophil

Hydrogen sulfide enhances reducing activity in neurons: neurotrophic role of H2S in the brain?

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) can enzymatically be produced from cysteine in the brain. H2S functions as a synaptic modulator as well as a neuroprotectant from oxidative stress in the brain. Here we show that H2S specifically enhances the reducing activity in neurons and mouse neuroblastoma Neuro2a cells. An inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinase, genistein, suppresses the effect of H2S, suggesting that tyrosine kinase may be involved in the enhancement of reducing activity by H2S. The H2S-specific enhancement of the reducing activity in neurons may lead to a neurotrophic role in the brain.

Tetrazolium dyes as tools in cell biology: new insights into their cellular reduction

Tetrazolium salts have become some of the most widely used tools in cell biology for measuring the metabolic activity of cells ranging from mammalian to microbial origin. With mammalian cells, fractionation studies indicate that the reduced pyridine nucleotide cofactor, NADH, is responsible for most MTT reduction and this is supported by studies with whole cells. MTT reduction is associated not only with mitochondria, but also with the cytoplasm and with non-mitochondrial membranes including the endosome/lysosome compartment and the plasma membrane. The net positive charge on tetrazolium salts like MTT and NBT appears to be the predominant factor involved in their cellular uptake via the plasma membrane potential. However, second generation tetrazolium dyes that form water-soluble formazans and require an intermediate electron acceptor for reduction (XTT, WST-1 and to some extent, MTS), are characterised by a net negative charge and are therefore largely cell-impermeable. Considerable evidence indicates that their reduction occurs at the cell surface, or at the level of the plasma membrane via trans-plasma membrane electron transport. The implications of these new findings are discussed in terms of the use of tetrazolium dyes as indicators of cell metabolism and their applications in cell biology.

Interaction between p21-activated protein kinase and Rac during differentiation of HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cell induced by all-trans-retinoic acid

Undifferentiated human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells show little or no superoxide production, but generate a very low O(2)(-) concentration upon incubation with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). Its production reaches a maximum within 20 h, and thereafter is maintained at an almost constant level. The differentiated cells show phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated NADPH oxidase activity consistent with the amount of gp91phox (phagocytic oxidase) expressed in the plasma membrane. Three isoforms of p21-activated serine/threonine kinases, PAK68, PAK65 and PAK62, were found in both cytosolic and membrane fractions, and their contents were significantly increased during induced differentiation. The amount of Rac identified in the two fractions was also markedly enhanced by ATRA- induced differentiation. In contrast, neither PAK nor Rac was seen in the plasma membrane of undifferentiated HL-60 or human neutrophil, but they were abundant in the cytoplasmic fraction. Binding of Rac with PAK isoforms was shown in the membrane upon induced differentiation of HL-60 cells. Direct binding of purified Rac1 to PAK68 was quantified using a fluorescent analog of GTP (methylanthraniloyl guanosine-5'-[beta,gamma-imido]triphosphate) bound to Rac as a reporter group. Rac1 bound to PAK68 with a 1 : 1 stoichiometry and with a K(d) value of 6.7 nm.

Mitochondrial and nonmitochondrial reduction of MTT: interaction of MTT with TMRE, JC-1, and NAO mitochondrial fluorescent probes

BACKGROUND

Bioreduction of water-soluble tetrazolium salts (e.g., MTS, XTT, and MTT) to their respective formazans is generally regarded as an indicator of cell "redox activity." The reaction is attributed mainly to mitochondrial enzymes and electron carriers. However, MTT reduction may also be catalyzed by a number of other nonmitochondrial enzymes. The goal of this work was to establish the sites of MTT reduction in intact HepG2 human hepatoma cells in culture.

METHODS

In order to establish the subcellular localization of the sites of reduction of MTT, we imaged the formation of MTT-formazan deposits using backscattered light confocal microscopy. Mitochondria were visualized in viable cells using fluorescent dyes that bind in a manner dependent (JC-1 and TMRE) or independent (NAO) of mitochondrial electric potential.

RESULTS

Only 25-45% of MTT-formazan was associated with mitochondria after 25 min of incubation. No more than 25% of the mitochondrial area on images was occupied by MTT-formazan. Mitochondrial fluorescence of TMRE, NAO, and the monomeric form of JC-1 decreased rapidly in cells incubated with MTT. However, the intensity of fluorescence of JC-1 aggregates dropped by less than 30% at the onset of incubation and remained constant as reduction of MTT proceeded further.

CONCLUSIONS

(1) Most of MTT-formazan deposits are not coincident with mitochondria. (2) Monomeric JC-1, as well as TMRE and NAO, accumulating in mitochondria may be displaced by MTT. Thus, the presence of positively charged organic compounds (like MTT) may distort measurements of mitochondrial transmembrane electric potential, which are based on accumulation of fluorescent dyes.

Essential requirement of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) for stimulation of NADPH oxidase-associated diaphorase activity in granulocyte-like cells

We have previously established a model of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2))-deficient differentiated PLB-985 cells (PLB-D cells) and demonstrated that cPLA(2)-generated arachidonic acid (AA) is essential for NADPH oxidase activation. In this study we used this model to investigate the physiological role of cPLA(2) in regulation of NADPH oxidase-associated diaphorase activity. A novel diaphorase activity assay, using 4-iodonitrotetrazolium violet as an electron acceptor, was used in permeabilized neutrophils and PLB-985 cells differentiated toward the granulocytic or monocytic phenotypes. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, guanosine 5'-3-O- (thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S), or FMLP stimulated a similar diphenylene iodonium-sensitive diaphorase activity pattern in neutrophils and in differentiated parent PLB-985 cells. This diaphorase activity was not detected in undifferentiated cells, but developed during differentiation. Furthermore, diaphorase activity could not be stimulated in permeabilized neutrophils from X-linked CGD patients and in differentiated gp91(phox)-targeted PLB-985 cells that lacked normal expression of gp91(phox), but was restored to these cells following transduction with retrovirus encoding gp91(phox). The differentiated PLB-D cells showed no diaphorase activity when stimulated by either GTP gamma S or FMLP, and only partial activation when stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Diaphorase activity in response to either agonists was fully restored by the addition of 10 microm free AA. The permeabilized cell 4-iodonitrotetrazolium violet reduction assay offers a unique tool for the evaluation of NADPH oxidase-associated diaphorase activity in stimulated whole cells. These results establish an essential and specific physiological requirement of cPLA(2)-generated AA in activation of electron transfer through the FAD reduction center of NADPH oxidase.

The role of plasma membrane in bioreduction of two tetrazolium salts, MTT, and CTC

Despite widespread use of various tetrazolium assays, the mechanisms of bioreduction of these compounds have not been fully elucidated. We investigated the capacity of tetrazolium salts to penetrate through intact cell plasma membranes. 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium chloride (CTC) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) tetrazolium salts appear to represent examples of species that are reduced by different mechanisms. We provide evidence suggesting that MTT readily crosses intact plasma membranes and is reduced intracellularly. MTT appears to be reduced by both plasma membrane and intracellular reductases; reducing cells are not damaged and remain metabolically active for at least 45 min. In contrast, CTC remains extracellular with respect to viable cells and thus requires plasma membrane permeable electron carrier to be reduced efficiently. However, reduction of CTC in the presence of an electron carrier inflicts damage on plasma membranes. The intracellular vs extracellular sites of reduction of tetrazolium salts were established on the basis of deposition of formazans. Crystals of formazan were detected using fluorescence or backscattered light confocal laser microscopy. We postulate that the capacity of a tetrazolium salt to cross intact plasma membranes constitutes an important experimental variable which needs to be controlled in order to correctly interpret the outcome of tetrazolium assays designed to measure cellular production of oxygen radicals, activity of mitochondrial, cytosolic, or outer membrane reductases, etc.

Effect of lactoferrin on the phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear leucocytes isolated from blood of patients with autoimmune diseases and Staphylococcus aureus allergy

Phagocytic number (PN) and phagocytic index (PI) of neutrophils isolated from blood of patients with autoimmune diseases, allergy to Staphylococcus aureus and from blood of healthy individuals were examined. Our results concerning the influence of lactoferrin (Lf); (6.7 mg/l) on the PI of PMN showed that: 1) Lf enhances reliable PI of PMN at the 30-th minute starting the phagocytic reaction in patients with autoimmune disease in an active stage, in blood donors treated as healthy with the presence of autoantibodies, in patients with autoimmune diseases and proved autoantibodies against tissue, cell antigens and collagen, 2) Lf influences non-significantly PI of PMN in patients with autoimmune collagen diseases in remission, 3) Lf increases PI of PMN with 19% only in 58% from the assessed patients with Staphylococcus aureus, and 4) Lf decreases non-significantly PI of PMN in the healthy controls. Our studies on the effect of Lf on the phagocytic activity of PMN suggest that Lf has stronger effect on the PN compared to the PI: 1) Lf enhances with 86% the PN in patients with Staphylococcus aureus, 2) Lf increases PN of PMN in all of the assessed patients with autoimmune collagen diseases in active stage (mean with 72%), and 3) Lf increases PN of PMN in 4 from the 5 investigated healthy controls (mean with 22%). Our results show a "corrective" effect of Lf on the phagocytic functions in the investigated groups of patients. The possible mechanisms, by which Lf increases PN and PI of neutrophils, is discussed: 1) they may concern the antioxidative properties of Lf to block the iron ions in their catalytic inactive form or to take part as ferric-Lf in an oxidative-reduction processes on the plasma membrane and controlling transmembrane transport systems, 2) Lf decreases the negative surface charge and thus enhances the adherent ability of the PMN. Probably to this stimulated adherent ability dues the increased ingestion of bacteria in the presence of Lf, and 3) The "changed" membrane of PMN may have higher number receptors for Lf to bind more molecules of exogenous Lf. The increase of Lf binding which enhances the adherence and aggregation of neutrophils, facilitates the phagocytosis.

Reconstitution of flavin-depleted neutrophil flavocytochrome b558 with 8-mercapto-FAD and characterization of the flavin-reconstituted enzyme

Cytochrome b558 isolated from human neutrophils was inactive and contained no detectable FAD. However, high NADPH oxidase activity was seen upon reconstitution of the cytochrome with either native FAD or 8-mercapto-FAD in the presence of phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine/phosphatidylinositol/ sphingomyelin/cholesterol, 4:2:1:3:3 (w/w)). Their cell-free superoxide-generating activities were 40.5 and 35.5 mol/s/mol of heme, respectively, which corresponded to 70 and 61% of the original activity of the plasma membranes. Both flavins co-eluted with heme and protein on gel exclusion chromatography. The respective specific flavin content was 6.45 and 7.93 nmol/mg of protein and corresponded to a flavin:heme molar ratio of 0.41 and 0.51 consistent with a 2:1 ratio of heme to flavin. Mixing of 8-mercapto-FAD with flavin-depleted cytochrome b558 caused a red-shift of the flavin absorption maximum from 520 nm to around 560 nm, as has been seen when a variety of other apoflavoprotein dehydrogenases bind this analog. The 8-mercapto-FAD reconstituted into the cytochrome reacted readily with either iodoacetamide (k = 38.8 M-1.min-1) or iodoacetic acid (k = 12.1 M-1.min-1) to give a fluorescence spectrum characteristic of a 8-mercaptoflavin derivative, 8-SCH2CONH2 FAD or 8-SCH2COOH FAD. These results indicate that position 8 of FAD bound to the protein is freely accessible to solvent. These studies support the idea that cytochrome b558 is a flavocytochrome.

Purification of an NADPH-dependent diaphorase from membrane of DMSO-induced differentiated human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells

NADPH diaphorase activity was found in membrane of DMSO-induced differentiated human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. This membrane-bound diaphorase activity increased dramatically during differentiation of HL-60 cells. A dye reductase was extracted from membrane of DMSO-induced differentiated HL-60 cells with n-octyl glucoside and sodium cholate in the presence of several protease inhibitors such as PMSF, DIFP, TLCK, antipain, chymostatin, leupeptin, pepstatin A and trypsin inhibitor. The NADPH diaphorase was highly purified by two-stage sequential column chromatographies. The purified enzyme, showing both SOD-insensitive cytochrome c and NBT reductase activities, migrated with an apparent molecular mass of 77 kDa on SDS-PAGE. When the purification of this diaphorase was carried out in the presence of only three protease inhibitors, PMSF, DIFP and TLCK, a partially proteolyzed form of the diaphorase with a molecular mass of 68 kDa was prepared. The proteolyzed diaphorase exhibited only an NADPH-dependent cytochrome c reductase. The NADPH diaphorase gave a positive cross-reaction to polyclonal antibodies raised against microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase from rabbit liver.

NADPH-cytochrome c reductase from human neutrophil membranes: purification, characterization and localization

Neutrophil-membrane-associated NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome b558 were separately eluted and highly purified by a combination of ion-exchange Sepharose, N-amino-octylagarose, 2',5'-ADP-Sepharose and heparin-Sepharose column chromatographies. The purified cytochrome c reductase with an apparent molecular mass of 68 kDa contained FMN and FAD (FMN/FAD approx. 1). Cytochrome b558 prepared in the presence of phospholipids and FAD showed marked O2-.-producing activity (Vmax., 8.53 mumol of O2-./min per mg of cytochrome; Km for NADPH 58.8 microM) in a cell-free assay system consisting of cytosol, arachidonate and GTP[S]. However, when it was obtained without FAD added to the purification process, it had negligible FAD and little or no O2-.-forming activity in the reconstituted system. The NADPH oxidase activity was not markedly stimulated on incubation of the purified reductase with either flavinated or flavin-depleted cytochrome b558 in the cell-free system, suggesting that the reductase is not likely to be involved in neutrophil O2-. generation. The purified reductase cross-reacted with polyclonal antibodies against both hepatic NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and a synthetic peptide, ILVGPGTGIAPFRSF, which indicates residues 529-543 located in the glycine-rich NADPH-binding domain of the P-450 reductase, but cytochrome b558 did not produce any immunoreactive bands to these antibodies. These antibodies also produced a positive reaction with a 76 kDa protein from dimethyl sulphoxide-induced HL-60-cell microsomes. After solubilization of the microsomal membranes, the 76 kDa protein was readily converted into a partially proteolysed form (68 kDa) even in the presence of antiproteases. In addition, the microsomal fraction shows a CO difference spectrum with a peak at about 454 nm and a trough at 476 nm in the presence of dithionite, indicating the presence of a cytochrome P-450-like haemoprotein.