A relay model of lipid peroxidation in biological membranes

Hydrogen peroxide metabolism during peroxisome proliferation by fenofibrate

Fenofibrate, the hypolipidemic drug and peroxisome proliferator, was given to mice (0.23% w/w in the diet) during 1-3 weeks and enzyme activities, H2O2 concentration, and H2O2 production rate were determined. A maximal increase of 150% in liver/body weight ratio was observed after 3 weeks of treatment. Acyl-CoA oxidase, catalase and uricase activities were increased by 712%, 506% and 41% respectively by treatment with fenofibrate. Se- and non Se-glutathione peroxidase and Mn-superoxide dismutase activities were increased by 331%, 188% and 130% respectively in the liver of 2 weeks-treated mice. Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase activity was not affected by fenofibrate treatment. H2O2 steady-state concentration showed an increase of 89% after 2 weeks of treatment. H2O2 production rates, and the steady-state concentrations of the intermediates HO, R and ROO, calculated using experimental data, were higher in the liver of fenofibrate-treated mice than in control animals. According to our findings, the imbalance between H2O2 production and its degradation by its metabolizing enzymes during peroxisome proliferation, would result in an increased level of H2O2 steady-state concentration, with the resulting oxidative stress which may lead to the generation of oxidative damage and to the induction of liver carcinogenesis.

Interaction of tocopherol with peroxyl radicals does not lead to the formation of lipid hydroperoxides in liposomes

alpha-Tocopherol (alpha-TOH) is thought to act as a lipid-soluble antioxidant by scavenging the chain-carrying lipid peroxyl radical (LOO.), giving rise to alpha-TO. and LOOH. The aim of the present work is to test the possibility that alpha-TOH may also exert a protective action by converting LOO. into the parent, unoxidized lipid molecule (LH) with concomitant formation of O2- and T+O. To assess the relative contribution of the two pathways, the amounts of products accumulating were measured, i.e. LOOH and O2-, under conditions where lipid peroxidation was initiated at linear rates by the UV light-induced decomposition of AIBN. The overall conclusion of the study is based on the observation that significant amounts of O2- were produced, whereas the delta LOOH/delta alpha-TOH was considerably smaller than 1.0. A mechanism of one or two-electron oxidation of TOH is considered; according to it the phospholipid primary structure is restored (LOO.-->LH, breaking of the C-->O bond). This leads to the oxygen or superoxide anion-radical release accordingly.

The dual effect of oxidation on lipid bilayer structure

Sphingomyelin membranes were prepared with different levels of oxidative damage caused by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBH). Temperature-induced changes in membrane hydrocarbon chain packing (phase transitions) were monitored using infrared spectroscopy. Lipid phase transition characteristics were evaluated from thermodynamic parameters fitted to the experimental transition curve data. At temperatures below the lipid phase transition Tc, hydrocarbon chains pack in an ordered state whereas above the Tc the hydrocarbon chains pack in a disordered state. Compared to the non-oxidized control, the packing of the hydrocarbon chains of mildly oxidized sphingomyelin (less than 10 nmol TBH/mg lipid) was no different at all temperatures below the Tc, and was more ordered above the Tc. The hydrocarbon chains of strongly oxidized sphingomyelin (greater than 10 nmol TBH/mg lipid) were more disordered at temperatures above and below the Tc compared to the control samples. These results suggest that lipid oxidation has a dual effect on lipid order. A more ordered or disordered state may result depending on the degree of oxidation and the state of lipid order prior to oxidation. These results could be important for explaining the structural changes in oxidized membranes high in sphingomyelin such as those found in the ocular lens and liver plasma membranes.

Inhibition of microsomal lipid peroxidation by alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopherol acetate

1. The antioxidant effects of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopherol acetate were assayed for the (a) oxygen uptake, (b) chemiluminescence and (c) malondialdehyde formation, of tert-butyl hydroperoxide-supplemented rat liver microsomes. 2. Oxygen uptake was inhibited 60% by both alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopherol acetate with the half-maximal effect at 5 nmol tocopherol/mg protein. Chemiluminescence and malondialdehyde formation were equally inhibited 35% by both tocopherols with half-maximal effects at 2 nmol tocopherol/mg protein. 3. The rate of O2 uptake by tocopherol-supplemented microsomes was dependent on O2 concentration. A 60% inhibition by 5 nmol tocopherol/mg protein at 0.2 mM O2 is decreased to 5% inhibition at 0.6 mM O2. 4. The inhibition of O2 uptake, chemiluminescence and malondialdehyde formation indicate that both alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopherol acetate have similar effects as free radical traps in the hydrophobic domain of biomembranes. The different inhibition observed at different O2 concentrations indicate competition between vitamin E and O2 by unoxygenated lipid radicals.

Ubidecarenone in the treatment of mitochondrial myopathies: a multi-center double-blind trial

Forty-four patients with mitochondrial myopathies were treated with Ubidecarenone (CoQ10) for 6 months in an open multi-center trial. No side effects of the drug were observed. Sixteen patients showing at least 25% decrease of post-exercise lactate levels were selected as responders. Responsiveness was apparently not related to CoQ10 level in serum and platelets or to the presence or absence of mtDNA deletions. The responders were treated for a further 3 months with CoQ10 or placebo in the second blind part of the trial; no significant differences were observed between the 2 groups. It is not clear why CoQ10 had therapeutic effects in some patients and not in others with the same clinical presentation and biochemical defect, and we failed to identify candidate responders before treatment. At the dose of CoQ10 used in this study (2 mg/kg/day) the therapy requires a long administration time before a response is seen.

Is methyl-branching in alpha-tocopherol's "tail" important for its in vivo activity? Rat curative myopathy bioassay measurements of the vitamin E activity of three 2RS-n-alkyl-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-6-hydroxychromans

The vitamin E activity of the acetates of three 2RS-n-alkyl-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-6-hydroxychroman analogs of alpha-tocopherol have been measured and compared directly with all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, or indirectly via 2R,4'R,8'R-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, using the rat curative myopathy, plasma pyruvate kinase assay. The analogs with alkyl chain lengths of 11 and 13 carbons have activities which not only do not differ significantly (p greater than 0.05) from each other but also do not differ from that of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate. This finding indicates that methyl branching in the phytyl tail at the 4', 8', and 12' positions has little if any influence upon vitamin E activity. Thus physical interactions involving the methyl branches of the phytyl tail and the polyunsaturated moieties of membrane phospholipids are unimportant in vivo, insofar as this bioassay is concerned. However, the length of the hydrocarbon tail is important. This is indicated by the result obtained with the acetate of the analog with an alkyl chain length of 15 carbon atoms which had only 15% of the activity of 2R,4'R,8'R-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, i.e., 22% of the activity of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate since this form is 1.47 times less active than 2R,4'R,8'R-alpha-tocopheryl acetate in the curative myopathy bioassay (Weiser, Vecchi, & Schlachter, Internat. J. Vit. Nutr. Res. 55:149-158, 1985).

Interactions of vitamin E with free radicals and membranes

alpha-Tocopherol performs an antioxidant role in biological membranes by acting as a one-electron reductant. In micellar solutions it has been observed by pulse radiolysis that the micellar charge has a pronounced effect on the rate constant for repair of organic free radicals by alpha-tocopherol. The interactions between alpha-tocopherol and model bilayer lipid membranes have been studied by fluorescence spectroscopy. Quenching of alpha-tocopherol fluorescence by acrylamide and some n-doxyl stearates shows the transverse distribution of alpha-tocopherol in membranes to be affected by the physical state of the membrane lipids and by the salt concentration in the aqueous phase. Time-resolved fluorescence depolarization measurements, with a diphenylhexatriene-phospholipid conjugate as probe, demonstrate an increase in bilayer order parameter on incorporation of alpha-tocopherol into a membrane.

Influence of cardioprotective cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitors on peroxidative injury to myocardial-membrane phospholipid

Oxygenase-catalyzed and non-enzymatic polyunsaturated fatty acid peroxidations have potential pathogenic roles in ischemic-reperfusion damage to the myocardium. Certain oxygenase inhibitors protect heart muscle from irreversible ischemic injury, and some antiperoxidants can inhibit oxygenase enzymes. We investigated the antiperoxidative abilities of eight anti-ischemic, cardioprotective oxygenase inhibitors to prevent myocardial-membrane phospholipid peroxidation through superoxide-driven, iron-promoted reactions with xanthine oxidase as the source of superoxide. Flurbiprofen, ibuprofen, and REV-5901-5 did not affect peroxidation at concentrations up to 1000 microM. BW755C, AA-861, nafazatrom, dipyridamole, and propyl gallate did protect and cardiac lipids against oxidative injury in a concentration-dependent manner with respective and antiperoxidant IC50 values (concentrations at which peroxidation was inhibited by 50%) of 0.22, 1.25, 3.0, 3.6 and 50 microM. Catechin and phenidone, known oxygenase inhibitors not yet evaluated as anti-ischemic agents, were also found to be antiperoxidants at low micromolar concentrations. Four cyclooxygenase inhibitors ineffective against myocardial infarction (aspirin, indomethacin, naproxen, and sulfinpyrazone) evidenced no antiperoxidant properties at concentrations up to 500 microM. The oxygenase inhibitor-antiperoxidants identified could neither quench superoxide radical nor inhibit xanthine oxidase. However, they were able to interrupt the propagation of an on-going peroxidation reaction. Their antiperoxidant profiles resembled those of known antioxidants, such as alpha-tocopherol, which inhibit peroxidation by intercepting lipid free-radical intermediates. These data raise the possibility that at least some oxygenase inhibitors could exert cardioprotective effects by directly influencing the sensitivity of myocardial-membrane phospholipid to peroxidative injury. Consequently, recognition of the antiperoxidant properties of these agents may aid dissection of their physiological and pharmacological actions.

Coenzyme Q in serum and muscle of 5 patients with Kearns-Sayre syndrome and 12 patients with ophthalmoplegia plus

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) was measured in serum and muscle of 17 patients with ophthalmoplegia plus (including 5 patients with Kearns-Sayre syndrome), in muscle of 9 patients with neurogenic atrophies, 5 patients with myositis, and 5 patients with progressive muscular dystrophies (including 1 patient with oculopharyngeal dystrophy), and in serum and muscle of normal controls. CoQ was markedly decreased in serum and muscle of 1 patient with Kearns-Sayre syndrome and treatment with CoQ resulted in a significant clinical improvement. The other 4 patients with Kearns-Sayre syndrome and the patients with ophthalmoplegia plus exhibited normal concentrations of CoQ in serum and muscle. CoQ levels in muscle of patients with progressive muscular dystrophies, myositis or neurogenic atrophies were within the normal range. Concentrations of CoQ in serum and muscle of normal controls were independent of age and showed no sex difference. The data indicate that CoQ deficiency might be the specific cause of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy in 1 patient but it was not the underlying defect common to all cases with Kearns-Sayre syndrome and ophthalmoplegia plus, although the possibility of a focal CoQ deficiency affecting only single muscle fibres cannot be excluded.

Thiobarbituric acid-reactive malondialdehyde formation during superoxide-dependent, iron-catalyzed lipid peroxidation: influence of peroxidation conditions

A systematic study of the influence of biological lipid peroxidation conditions on lipid hydroperoxide decomposition to thiobarbituric acid-reactive malondialdehyde is presented. A superoxide-dependent, iron-catalyzed peroxidation system was employed with xanthine oxidase plus hypoxanthine plus ferric iron-adenosine diphosphate complex as free radical generator. Purified cardiac membrane phospholipid (as liposomes) was the peroxidative target, and 15-hydroperoxy-eicosatetraenoic acid was used as a standard lipid hydroperoxide. Exposure of myocardial phospholipid to free radical generator at physiological pH (7.4) and temperature (37 degrees C) was found to support not only phospholipid peroxidation, but also rapid lipid hydroperoxide breakdown and consequent malondialdehyde formation during peroxidation. Under lipid peroxidation conditions, oxidative injury to the phospholipid polyunsaturated fatty acids required superoxide radical and ferric iron-adenosine diphosphate complex, whereas 37 degrees C temperature and trace iron were sufficient for lipid hydroperoxide decomposition to malondialdehyde. Harsh thiobarbituric acid-test conditions following peroxidation were not mandatory for either lipid hydroperoxide breakdown or thiobarbituric acid-reactive malondialdehyde formation. However, hydroperoxide decomposition that had begun in the peroxidation reaction could be completed during a subsequent thiobarbituric acid test in which no lipid autoxidation took place. Iron was more critical than heat in promoting the observed hydroperoxide decomposition to malondialdehyde during the lipid peroxidation reaction at 37 degrees C and pH 7.4. These data demonstrate that the radical generator, at physiological pH and temperature, serves a dual role as both initiator of membrane phospholipid peroxidation and promotor of lipid peroxide breakdown and thiobarbituric acid-reactive malondialdehyde formation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy study of bilayer membranes containing alpha-tocopherol

Rotational mobility in fluid phase dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine unilamellar vesicles containing alpha-tocopherol has been studied by time-resolved anisotropy measurements of fluorescence from a diphenylhexatriene-phosphatidylcholine conjugate. The results are analysed using a simple wobbling-in-cone model. The diphenylhexatriene probe shows an increasing order parameter and more restricted wobbling with increasing alpha-tocopherol content of the membrane. The diffusional rate for wobbling was found not to change significantly.

Oxygen radicals acting as chemical messengers: a hypothesis

Based on a critical reappraisal of the reactions of radicals in a biological milieu, a hypothesis is proposed according to which superoxide anion radicals act as biological messengers rather than as mediators or precursors of cellular damage under oxidative stress conditions.

Protection of cardiac membrane phospholipid against oxidative injury by calcium antagonists

Calcium antagonists representative of the four major chemical classes were assessed for their abilities to prevent peroxidation of rat heart membrane lipids through xanthine oxidase-dependent, superoxide-driven, iron-promoted oxygen radical chemistry. The dihydropyridines nifedipine and nitrendipine did not affect peroxidation, even at a concentration (500 microM) approaching their solubility limit. The benzothiazepine diltiazem did protect the cardiac lipids against oxidative injury, but at high micromolar concentrations: 50% inhibition of peroxidation (antiperoxidant IC50) required 510 microM diltiazem. The phenylalkylamines verapamil and gallopamil (D-600) were likewise weak antiperoxidants (approximately 35% inhibition of peroxidation at 500 microM). In contrast, two other alkylamines, bepridil and prenylamine, were very effective membrane lipid protectants with respective antiperoxidant IC50 values of 55 and 75 microM. The diphenylpiperazines flunarizine (IC50 = 190 microM) and cinnarizine (IC50 = 180 microM) displayed moderate antiperoxidant activity. No Ca2+ antagonist inhibited xanthine oxidase under conditions whereby 10 microM allopurinol inhibited enzyme activity by 50%. The effects of the Ca2+ antagonist-antiperoxidants on the kinetics of cardiac membrane lipid peroxidation indicate that they inhibit peroxidation by intercepting oxy- and/or lipid free radical intermediates. These data raise the possibility that antiperoxidant action may contribute to the spectrum of pharmacologic and therapeutic activities of certain Ca2+ antagonists.

The experimental and clinical pathology of diene conjugation

The simple spectroscopic measurement of diene conjugation has long been an established but somewhat problematic marker of free-radical activity in biological systems. The main diene-conjugated compounds in human tissues and tissue fluids have now been identified as esters of octadeca-9,11-dienoic acid (18:2(9,11)), a non-peroxide isomer of linoleic acid (18:2(9,12)); and a range of high-performance liquid chromatographic methods has been developed for their detection and measurement. Significant abnormalities of phospholipid-esterified 18:2(9,11) have been found in the serum of chronic alcoholics and in paraquat poisoning and of non-esterified 18:2(9,11) in lipolytic states. The phospholipid-esterified 18:2(9,11) is increased in the bile of patients with pancreatic disease. In exfoliated cells from the cervix uteri an abnormal molar ratio between phospholipid-esterified 18:2(9,11) and 18:2(9,12) may prove to be the most sensitive biochemical marker of precancerous change.

Free radical-mediated membrane depolarization in renal and cardiac cells

Cell membrane potential was measured with a flow cytometer by quantitating the intracellular accumulation of a fluorescent cationic carbocyanine dye. We used this system to demonstrate depolarization upon the addition of hydrogen peroxide (10-1,000 microM) and ferrous chloride (25-100 microM) to cultures of either neonatal rat myocardial or LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cells. Ferrous chloride-induced depolarization was prevented by superoxide dismutase, catalase and dimethyl sulfoxide, suggesting roles for the superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide and the hydroxyl radical in effecting this depolarization, possibly through a Fenton-type reaction mechanism. Supplementation of either cell type with 2 microM tocopherol acid succinate during growth in tissue culture, prior to exposure to the oxidizing agent, decreased the magnitude of the depolarization in both cell types. The results are consistent with a role for tocopherols in scavenging free radical species responsible for the depolarization of the cell membrane.