Light-induced cytotoxicity after aminolevulinic acid treatment is mediated by heme and not by iron

Adverse Effect of Blue Light on DNA Integrity Is Accelerated by 5-Aminolevulinic Acid in HaCaT Human Keratinocyte Cells and B16F1 Murine Melanoma Cells

Several studies have suggested the potential benefits of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)-based photodynamic therapy (PDT). 5-ALA is a precursor of heme, which generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) following photoirradiation. Some reports indicate that blue light induces intracellular ROS production. In the present study, we elucidated the effects of blue light and 5-ALA on DNA integrity in B16F1 murine melanoma and human keratinocyte HaCaT cells using a variety of comet assay techniques. Co-treatment with blue light and 5-ALA significantly decreased cell viability in both cell lines. A neutral comet assay was performed to assess DNA double-strand break (DSB) formation and blue light and 5-ALA caused DSBs. We also performed an alkali comet assay to detect single-strand breaks (SSB) and alkali labile sites (ALS). The results indicated that 5-ALA accelerated blue light-induced SSB formation. In addition, modified comet assays were done using two types of enzymes to evaluate oxidative DNA damages. The results indicated that blue light and 5-ALA generated oxidized purine and pyrimidines in both cell lines. In summary, co-treatment with 5-ALA and photoirradiation may cause unexpected DNA damage in cells and tissues.

Photomedicine based on heme-derived compounds

Photoimaging and phototherapy have become major platforms for the diagnosis and treatment of various health complications. These applications require a photosensitizer (PS) that is capable of absorbing light from a source and converting it into other energy forms for detection and therapy. While synthetic inorganic materials such as quantum dots and gold nanorods have been widely explored for their medical diagnosis and photodynamic (PDT) and photothermal (PTT) therapy capabilities, translation of these technologies has lagged, primarily owing to potential cytotoxicity and immunogenicity issues. Of the various photoreactive molecules, the naturally occurring endogenous compound heme, a constituent of red blood cells, and its derivatives, porphyrin, biliverdin and bilirubin, have shown immense potential as noteworthy candidates for clinically translatable photoreactive agents, as evidenced by previous reports. While porphyrin-based photomedicines have attracted significant attention and are well documented, research on photomedicines based on two other heme-derived compounds, biliverdin and bilirubin, has been relatively lacking. In this review, we summarize the unique photoproperties of heme-derived compounds and outline recent efforts to use them in biomedical imaging and phototherapy applications.

Fluorescence spectrum photo-bleaching analysis for distinguishing microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) from other particles in air

A new device with a 405 nm blue laser diode is developed for collecting samples in air and detecting their spectra variation. The multi-sample particles which are pure microorganisms can be distinguished from interferents in the air by photo-bleaching phenomenon. Six types of microorganisms and twelve types of interferents from the air, which exhibit laser-induced fluorescence, are used to evaluate the performance of the analysis approach, and their fluorescence emission spectra are presented. The results show that when microorganisms are illuminated by the laser, the fluorescence spectra will change significantly within several minutes, including both the wavelength of the main peak and fluorescence intensity. Our work provides a potential approach to distinguish microorganisms from other particles by the changes.

Developing strategies to predict photodynamic therapy outcome: the role of melanoma microenvironment

Melanoma is among the most aggressive and treatment-resistant human skin cancer. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), a minimally invasive therapeutic modality, is a promising approach to treating melanoma. It combines a non-toxic photoactivatable drug called photosensitizer with harmless visible light to generate reactive oxygen species which mediate the antitumor effects. The aim of this review was to compile the available data about PDT on melanoma. Our comparative analysis revealed a disconnection between several hypotheses generated by in vitro therapeutic studies and in vivo and clinical assays. This fact led us to highlight new preclinical experimental platforms that mimic the complexity of tumor biology. The tumor and its stromal microenvironment have a dynamic and reciprocal interaction that plays a critical role in tumor resistance, and these interactions can be exploited for novel therapeutic targets. In this sense, we review two strategies used by photodynamic researchers: (a) developing 3D culture systems which mimic tumor architecture and (b) heterotypic cultures that resemble tumor microenvironment to favor therapeutic regimen design. After this comprehensive review of the literature, we suggest that new complementary preclinical models are required to better optimize the clinical outcome of PDT on skin melanoma.

Actin carbonylation: from cell dysfunction to organism disorder

Protein carbonylation is an important event in the context of proteostasis because of its frequency, non-enzymatic nature and irreversible effects. The carbonylation of proteins disturbs their function and leads to protein aggregates, which may precede cellular senescence and cell death. Actin, an evolutionarily conserved cytoskeletal protein that is involved in important cellular processes, is one of the proteins most susceptible to carbonylation. Conditions resulting in oxidative stress are likely to lead to its carbonylation, loss of function and aggregate formation. In this review, we summarise actin susceptibility to carbonylation, as verified in cell free extracts, cell lines and animal models, and review its fate through the activation of cell mechanisms aimed at removing damaged proteins. Their insufficient activity may underlie age-related diseases and the ageing process. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Posttranslational Protein modifications in biology and Medicine.

Novel development of 5-aminolevurinic acid (ALA) in cancer diagnoses and therapy

Early detection and intervention are needed for optimal outcomes in cancer therapy. Improvements in diagnostic technology, including endoscopy, photodynamic diagnosis (PDD), and photodynamic therapy (PDT), have allowed substantial progress in the treatment of cancer. 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is a natural, delta amino acid biosynthesized by animal and plant mitochondria. ALA is a precursor of porphyrin, heme, and bile pigments, and it is metabolized into protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in the course of heme synthesis. PpIX preferentially accumulates in tumor cells resulting in a red fluorescence following irradiation with violet light and the formation of singlet oxygen. This reaction, utilized to diagnose and treat cancer, is termed ALA-induced PDD and PDT. In this review, the biological significance of heme metabolites, the mechanism of PpIX accumulation in tumor cells, and the therapeutic potential of ALA-induced PDT alone and combined with hyperthermia and immunotherapy are discussed.

Combination of PDT and inhibitor treatment affects melanoma cells and spares keratinocytes

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a potential tool in cancer treatment. Today this therapy is established among others for the treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancer. However, the more dangerous skin cancer--the melanoma--still has to be removed by surgery. Therefore, we investigated the effects of PDT and additional administration of heme oxygenase I (HO-I) and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors on the treatment of melanoma cells in comparison to nonmalignant keratinocytes. Therefore, cocultures were established with WM451LU melanoma cells and HaCaT keratinocytes. In the coculture some 65% melanoma cells and 35% HaCaT cells were present before PDT, whereas after PDT the proportion was 41% melanoma cells and 59% HaCaT cells. Combination of both inhibitors improves these results to only 16% melanoma cells and 84% HaCaT cells. PDT is, therefore, a potent skin cancer treatment, which might also be interesting for melanoma treatment. The cytotoxic effects of PDT are largely mediated by ROS. Addition of HO-I and PARP inhibitors could improve the efficiency of photodynamic treatment.

The outcome of 5-ALA-mediated photodynamic treatment in melanoma cells is influenced by vitamin C and heme oxygenase-1

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an important clinical approach for cancer treatment. It involves the administration of a photosensitizer, followed by its activation with light and induction of cell death. The underlying mechanism is an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to oxidative stress, which is followed by cell death. However, effectiveness of PDT is limited due to an initiation of endogenous rescue response systems like heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in tumor cells. In recent years, consuming of antioxidant supplements has become widespread, but the effect of exogenously applied antioxidants on cancer therapy outcome remains unclear. Thus, this study was aimed to investigate if exogenous antioxidants might decrease ROS-induced cytotoxicity in photodynamic treatment. Lycopene, β-carotene, vitamin C, N-acetylcysteine, trolox, and N-tert-butyl-α-phenylnitrone in different doses were administered to human melanoma cells prior exposure to photodynamic treatment. Supplementation with vitamin C resulted in a significant decrease of the cell death rate, whereas the other tested antioxidants had no effect on cell viability and oxidative stress markers. The simultaneous application of vitamin C with the HO-1 activity inhibitor zinc protoporphyrine IX (ZnPPIX) caused a considerable decrease of photodynamic treatment-induced cytotoxicity compared to ZnPPIX alone. It can be summarized that exogenously applied antioxidants do not have a leading role in the protective response against photodynamic treatment. However, further studies are necessary to investigate more antioxidants and other substances, which might affect the outcome of photodynamic treatment in cancer therapy.