Transient induction of increased aldehyde dehydrogenase 3A1 levels in cultured human breast (adeno)carcinoma cell lines via 5'-upstream xenobiotic, and electrophile, responsive elements is, respectively, estrogen receptor-dependent and -independent

A Comprehensive Review on Source, Types, Effects, Nanotechnology, Detection, and Therapeutic Management of Reactive Carbonyl Species Associated with Various Chronic Diseases

Continuous oxidation of carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids generate extremely reactive carbonyl species (RCS). Human body comprises some important RCS namely hexanal, acrolein, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, methylglyoxal, malondialdehyde, isolevuglandins, and 4-oxo-2- nonenal etc. These RCS damage important cellular components including proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, which manifests cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, multitude of adducts and crosslinks that are connected to ageing and various chronic diseases like inflammatory disease, atherosclerosis, cerebral ischemia, diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular disease. The constant prevalence of RCS in living cells suggests their importance in signal transduction and gene expression. Extensive knowledge of RCS properties, metabolism and relation with metabolic diseases would assist in development of effective approach to prevent numerous chronic diseases. Treatment approaches for RCS associated diseases involve endogenous RCS metabolizers, carbonyl metabolizing enzyme inducers, and RCS scavengers. Limited bioavailability and bio efficacy of RCS sequesters suggest importance of nanoparticles and nanocarriers. Identification of RCS and screening of compounds ability to sequester RCS employ several bioassays and analytical techniques. Present review describes in-depth study of RCS sources, types, properties, identification techniques, therapeutic approaches, nanocarriers, and their role in various diseases. This study will give an idea for therapeutic development to combat the RCS associated chronic diseases.

Identifying Methylation Pattern and Genes Associated with Breast Cancer Subtypes

Breast cancer is regarded worldwide as a severe human disease. Various genetic variations, including hereditary and somatic mutations, contribute to the initiation and progression of this disease. The diagnostic parameters of breast cancer are not limited to the conventional protein content and can include newly discovered genetic variants and even genetic modification patterns such as methylation and microRNA. In addition, breast cancer detection extends to detailed breast cancer stratifications to provide subtype-specific indications for further personalized treatment. One genome-wide expression–methylation quantitative trait loci analysis confirmed that different breast cancer subtypes have various methylation patterns. However, recognizing clinically applied (methylation) biomarkers is difficult due to the large number of differentially methylated genes. In this study, we attempted to re-screen a small group of functional biomarkers for the identification and distinction of different breast cancer subtypes with advanced machine learning methods. The findings may contribute to biomarker identification for different breast cancer subtypes and provide a new perspective for differential pathogenesis in breast cancer subtypes.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid is a potential aldehyde dehydrogenase inducer in murine hepatoma Hepa1c1c7 cells

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) is one of the major colonic microflora-produced catabolites of quercetin glycosides, such as quercetin 4′-glucoside derived from onion. Here, we investigated whether DOPAC modulates the aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity and protects the cells from the acetaldehyde-induced cytotoxicity in vitro. DOPAC was shown to enhance not only the total ALDH activity, but also the gene expression of ALDH1A1, ALDH2 and ALDH3A1 in a concentration-dependent manner. DOPAC simultaneously stimulated the nuclear translocation of NFE2-related factor 2 and aryl hydrocarbon receptor. The pretreatment of DOPAC completely protected the cells from the acetaldehyde-induced cytotoxicity. The present study suggested that DOPAC acts as a potential ALDH inducer to prevent the alcohol-induced abnormal reaction.

The activity of salivary aldehyde dehydrogenase during the menstrual cycle and pregnancy

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to describe the changes in the activity of ALDH3A1 in saliva in relation to the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. We also measured major salivary antioxidants, salivary peroxidase (SPO) activity and uric acid (UA) concentration.

DESIGN

Fasting saliva samples were collected from 63 women with uncomplicated pregnancies and from 39 healthy women of reproductive age, but not pregnant. Saliva samples were also collected from 10 healthy women with regular menstrual cycles in the early follicular, the mid-cycle and the mid-luteal phase during one menstrual cycle. SPO and ALDH3A1 activity was determined fluorimetrically, whereas UA concentration photometrically.

RESULTS

The ALDH3A1 did not vary significantly among phases of menstrual cycle. However, the enzyme activity decreased with the length of pregnancy and in the third trimester is significantly lower than that in the saliva of non-pregnant women.

CONCLUSIONS

Lower concentration of UA and in the third trimester the activity of ALDH3A1 in saliva of pregnant women could be a risk factor of, e.g. oral pathologies.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and 3-methylcholanthrene regulate distinct genetic networks

The two estrogen receptor isoforms ERα and ERβ mediate biological effects of estrogens, but are also targets for endocrine disruptive chemicals (EDCs), compounds that interfere with hormonal signaling. 3-Methylcholanthrene (3-MC) and dioxin (TCDD) are EDCs and prototypical aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists, and can inhibit ER signaling. However, in contrast to TCDD, 3-MC gives rise to metabolites with estrogenic properties. We compared gene expression profiles in HepG2 cells after exposure to 3-MC, TCDD, and the synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES). Interestingly, we observed little overlap between the genetic networks activated by 3-MC and TCDD, two compounds sometimes considered as interchangeable AhR ligands. Like DES, 3-MC induced a number of ER-regulated genes and lead to recruitment of ERα to the promoters of such genes. Interestingly, in contrast to DES, the estrogenic effects exerted by 3-MC were exclusively observed in ERα, but not in ERβ-expressing cells, suggesting ER isoform selectivity of 3-MC-derived metabolites.

Oxazaphosphorine bioactivation and detoxification The role of xenobiotic receptors

Oxazaphosphorines, with the most representative members including cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, and trofosfamide, constitute a class of alkylating agents that have a broad spectrum of anticancer activity against many malignant ailments including both solid tumors such as breast cancer and hematological malignancies such as leukemia and lymphoma. Most oxazaphosphorines are prodrugs that require hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes to generate active alkylating moieties before manifesting their chemotherapeutic effects. Meanwhile, oxazaphosphorines can also be transformed into non-therapeutic byproducts by various drug-metabolizing enzymes. Clinically, oxazaphosphorines are often administered in combination with other chemotherapeutics in adjuvant treatments. As such, the therapeutic efficacy, off-target toxicity, and unintentional drug-drug interactions of oxazaphosphorines have been long-lasting clinical concerns and heightened focuses of scientific literatures. Recent evidence suggests that xenobiotic receptors may play important roles in regulating the metabolism and clearance of oxazaphosphorines. Drugs as modulators of xenobiotic receptors can affect the therapeutic efficacy, cytotoxicity, and pharmacokinetics of coadministered oxazaphosphorines, providing a new molecular mechanism of drug-drug interactions. Here, we review current advances regarding the influence of xenobiotic receptors, particularly, the constitutive androstane receptor, the pregnane X receptor and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, on the bioactivation and detoxification of oxazaphosphorines, with a focus on cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide.

Aldehyde dehydrogenases and cell proliferation

Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) oxidize aldehydes to the corresponding carboxylic acids using either NAD or NADP as a coenzyme. Aldehydes are highly reactive aliphatic or aromatic molecules that play an important role in numerous physiological, pathological, and pharmacological processes. ALDHs have been discovered in practically all organisms and there are multiple isoforms, with multiple subcellular localizations. More than 160 ALDH cDNAs or genes have been isolated and sequenced to date from various sources, including bacteria, yeast, fungi, plants, and animals. The eukaryote ALDH genes can be subdivided into several families; the human genome contains 19 known ALDH genes, as well as many pseudogenes. Noteworthy is the fact that elevated activity of various ALDHs, namely ALDH1A2, ALDH1A3, ALDH1A7, ALDH2*2, ALDH3A1, ALDH4A1, ALDH5A1, ALDH6, and ALDH9A1, has been observed in normal and cancer stem cells. Consequently, ALDHs not only may be considered markers of these cells, but also may well play a functional role in terms of self-protection, differentiation, and/or expansion of stem cell populations. The ALDH3 family includes enzymes able to oxidize medium-chain aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes, such as peroxidic and fatty aldehydes. Moreover, these enzymes also have noncatalytic functions, including antioxidant functions and some structural roles. The gene of the cytosolic form, ALDH3A1, is localized on chromosome 17 in human beings and on the 11th and 10th chromosome in the mouse and rat, respectively. ALDH3A1 belongs to the phase II group of drug-metabolizing enzymes and is highly expressed in the stomach, lung, keratinocytes, and cornea, but poorly, if at all, in normal liver. Cytosolic ALDH3 is induced by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or chlorinated compounds, such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, in rat liver cells and increases during carcinogenesis. It has been observed that this increased activity is directly correlated with the degree of deviation in hepatoma and lung cancer cell lines, as is the case in chemically induced hepatoma in rats. High ALDH3A1 expression and activity have been correlated with cell proliferation, resistance against aldehydes derived from lipid peroxidation, and resistance against drug toxicity, such as oxazaphosphorines. Indeed, cells with a high ALDH3A1 content are more resistant to the cytostatic and cytotoxic effects of lipidic aldehydes than are those with a low content. A reduction in cell proliferation can be observed when the enzyme is directly inhibited by the administration of synthetic specific inhibitors, antisense oligonucleotides, or siRNA or indirectly inhibited by the induction of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) with polyunsaturated fatty acids or PPARγ transfection. Conversely, cell proliferation is stimulated by the activation of ALDH3A1, whether by inhibiting PPARγ with a specific antagonist, antisense oligonucleotides, siRNA, or a medical device (i.e., composite polypropylene prosthesis for hernia repair) used to induce cell proliferation. To date, the mechanisms underlying the effects of ALDHs on cell proliferation are not yet fully clear. A likely hypothesis is that the regulatory effect is mediated by the catabolism of some endogenous substrates deriving from normal cell metabolism, such as 4-hydroxynonenal, which have the capacity to either stimulate or inhibit the expression of genes involved in regulating proliferation.

Chlorinated benzenes cause concomitantly oxidative stress and induction of apoptotic markers in lung epithelial cells (A549) at nonacute toxic concentrations

In industrialized countries, people spend more time indoors and are therefore increasingly exposed to volatile organic compounds that are emitted at working places and from consumer products, paintings, and furniture, with chlorobenzene (CB) and 1,2-dichlorobenzene (DCB) being representatives of the halogenated arenes. To unravel the molecular effects of low concentrations typical for indoor and occupational exposure, we exposed human lung epithelial cells to CB and DCB and analyzed the effects on the proteome level by 2-D DIGE, where 860 protein spots were detected. A set of 25 and 30 proteins were found to be significantly altered due to exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of 10(-2) g/m(3) of CB or 10(-3) g/m(3) of DCB (2.2 and 0.17 ppm), respectively. The most enriched pathways were cell death signaling, oxidative stress response, protein quality control, and metabolism. The involvement of oxidative stress was validated by ROS measurement. Among the regulated proteins, 28, for example, voltage-dependent anion-selective channel protein 2, PDCD6IP protein, heat shock protein beta-1, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, nucleophosmin, seryl-tRNA synthetase, prohibitin, and protein arginine N-methyltransferase 1, could be correlated with the molecular pathway of cell death signaling. Caspase 3 activation by cleavage was confirmed for both CB and DCB by immunoblotting. Treatment with CB or DCB also caused differential protein phosphorylation, for example, at the proteins HNRNP C1/C2, serine-threonine receptor associated protein, and transaldolase 1. Compared to previous results, where cells were exposed to styrene, for the chlorinated aromatic substances besides oxidative stress, apoptosis was found as the predominant cellular response mechanism.

Molecular characterization, expression analysis, and role of ALDH3B1 in the cellular protection against oxidative stress

Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) enzymes are critical in the detoxification of aldehydes. The human genome contains 19 ALDH genes, mutations in which are the basis of several diseases. The expression, subcellular localization, enzyme kinetics, and role of ALDH3B1 in aldehyde- and oxidant-induced cytotoxicity were investigated. ALDH3B1 was purified from Sf9 cells using chromatographic methods, and enzyme kinetics were determined spectrophotometrically. ALDH3B1 demonstrated high affinity for hexanal (K(m)=62 μM), octanal (K(m)=8 μM), 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4HNE; K(m)=52 μM), and benzaldehyde (K(m)=46 μM). Low affinity was seen toward acetaldehyde (K(m)=23.3 mM), malondialdehyde (K(m)=152 mM), and the ester p-nitrophenyl acetate (K(m)=3.6 mM). ALDH3B1 mRNA was abundant in testis, lung, kidney, and ovary. ALDH3B1 protein was highly expressed in these tissues and the liver. Immunofluorescence microscopy of ALDH3B1-transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells and subcellular fractionation of mouse kidney and liver revealed a cytosolic protein localization. ALDH3B1-transfected HEK293 cells were significantly protected from the lipid peroxidation-derived aldehydes trans-2-octenal, 4HNE, and hexanal and the oxidants H(2)O(2) and menadione. In addition, ALDH3B1 protein expression was up-regulated by 4HNE in ARPE-19 cells. The results detailed in this study support a pathophysiological role for ALDH3B1 in protecting cells from the damaging effects of oxidative stress.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 3B1 (ALDH3B1): immunohistochemical tissue distribution and cellular-specific localization in normal and cancerous human tissues

Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) enzymes are critical in the detoxification of endogenous and exogenous aldehydes. Our previous findings indicate that the ALDH3B1 enzyme is expressed in several mouse tissues and is catalytically active toward aldehydes derived from lipid peroxidation, suggesting a potential role against oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to elucidate by immunohistochemistry the tissue, cellular, and subcellular distribution of ALDH3B1 in normal human tissues and in tumors of human lung, colon, breast, and ovary. Our results indicate that ALDH3B1 is expressed in a tissue-specific manner and in a limited number of cell types, including hepatocytes, proximal convoluted tubule cells, cerebellar astrocytes, bronchiole ciliated cells, testis efferent ductule ciliated cells, and histiocytes. ALDH3B1 expression was upregulated in a high percentage of human tumors (lung > breast = ovarian > colon). Increased ALDH3B1 expression in tumor cells may confer a growth advantage or be the result of an induction mechanism mediated by increased oxidative stress. Subcellular localization of ALDH3B1 was predominantly cytosolic in tissues, with the exception of normal human lung and testis, in which localization appeared membrane-bound or membrane-associated. The specificity of ALDH3B1 distribution may prove to be directly related to the functional role of this enzyme in human tissues.

Reactive carbonyls and oxidative stress: potential for therapeutic intervention

Reactive aldehydes and ketones are produced as a result of oxidative stress in several disease processes. Considerable evidence is now accumulating that these reactive carbonyl products are also involved in the progression of diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, atherosclerosis, diabetic complications, reperfusion after ischemic injury, hypertension, and inflammation. To counter carbonyl stress, cells possess enzymes that can decrease aldehyde load. These enzymes include aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDH), aldo-keto reductases (AKR), carbonyl reductase (CBR), and glutathione S-transferases (GST). Some of these enzymes are inducible by chemoprotective compounds via Nrf2/ARE- or AhR/XRE-dependent mechanisms. This review describes the metabolism of reactive carbonyls and discusses the potential for manipulating levels of carbonyl-metabolizing enzymes through chemical intervention.

Differential Expression Profiling of the Hepatic Proteome in a Rat Model of Dioxin Resistance

One characteristic feature of acute 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) toxicity is dramatic interspecies and interstrain variability in sensitivity. This complicates dioxin risk assessment for humans. However, this variability also provides a means of characterizing mechanisms of dioxin toxicity. Long-Evans (Turku/AB) rats are orders of magnitude more susceptible to TCDD lethality than Han/Wistar (Kuopio) rats, and this difference constitutes a very useful model for identifying mechanisms of dioxin toxicity. We adopted a proteomic approach to identify the differential effects of TCDD exposure on liver protein expression in Han/Wistar rats as compared with Long-Evans rats. This allows determination of which, if any, protein markers are indicative of differences in dioxin susceptibility and/or responsible for conferring resistance. Differential protein expression in total liver protein was assessed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, computerized gel image analysis, in-gel digestion, and mass spectrometry. We observed significant changes in the abundance of several proteins, which fall into three general classes: (i) TCDD-independent and exclusively strain-specific (e.g. isoforms of the protein-disulfide isomerase A3, regucalcin, and agmatine ureohydrolase); (ii) strain-independent and only dependent on TCDD exposure (e.g. aldehyde dehydrogenase 3A1 and rat selenium-binding protein 2); (iii) dependent on both TCDD exposure and strain (e.g. oxidative stress-related proteins, apoptosis-inducing factor, and MAWD-binding protein). By integrating transcriptomic (microarray) data and genomic data (computational search of regulatory elements), we found that protein expression levels were mainly controlled at the level of transcription. These results reveal, for the first time, a subset of hepatic proteins that are differentially regulated in response to TCDD in a strain-specific manner. Some of these differential responses may play a role in establishing the major differences in TCDD response between these two strains of rats. As such, our work is expected to lead to new insights into the mechanism of TCDD toxicity and resistance.

17-Allyamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin and 17-NN-dimethyl ethylene diamine-geldanamycin have cytotoxic activity against multiple gynecologic cancer cell types

OBJECTIVE

HSP90 is a cellular chaperone that is overexpressed in many cancers. HSP90 assists in proper folding of a variety of clients, many of which are oncoproteins. HSP90 has been shown to be elevated in endometrial, ovarian, and breast cancer. Furthermore, HSP90 is known to stabilize the oncoprotein Akt; disruptions of the Akt pathway are common in gynecologic malignancies. We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of HSP90 inhibitors in gynecologic cancer.

METHODS

We tested two HSP90 inhibitors, 17-AAG and 17-DMAG, against gynecologic cancer cell lines (four endometrial, one cervical, one ovarian, and one breast cancer line). We performed Western blots to determine effects of treatment on levels of HSP90 client proteins and PARP cleavage. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays were used to assess cell viability, and flow cytometry to quantitate cell-cycle distribution and apoptosis.

RESULTS

After treatment with 17-AAG or 17-DMAG, we detected no decrease in HSP90 levels. Levels of other oncoproteins did decrease with treatment: phosphorylated and total Akt, and Met. One cell line underwent G(1) arrest, and five showed G(2) arrest. All showed some level of apoptotic cell death, which was confirmed by detection of PARP cleavage. Sensitivity to the drugs varied among cell lines, ranging from 20% to 90% apoptosis after treatment. Our data suggest that 17-DMAG may be more potent than 17-AAG.

CONCLUSIONS

HSP90 inhibitors are effective cytotoxic agents in gynecologic cancer cells. Further testing in in vivo model systems is warranted, with the goal of eventual translation to clinical trials in gynecologic oncology patients.

Polymorphisms of estrogen synthesizing and metabolizing genes and breast cancer risk in Japanese women

Recent success of chemoprevention with tamoxifen has opened a new era wherein prevention of breast cancer is much more emphasized than treatment of established breast cancer. Since tamoxifen has been shown to reduce the risk of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, but not ER-negative, breast cancer in the chemoprevention trial (P-1), it seems to be important to develop risk factors for ER-positive breast cancer in order to select the candidates for chemoprevention more appropriately. Estrogens, the major risk factors for breast cancer, are speculated to affect breast cancer risk through ER, thus, genetic polymorphisms of the genes involved in the estrogens biosynthesis and metabolism are expected as risk factors for ER-positive breast cancer. Significance of polymorphisms of the genes involved in estrogens biosynthesis (CYP17, CYP19) and metabolism (CYP1A1, CYP1B1, COMT) in modulating the susceptibility to breast cancer is reviewed. The ethnic difference of the variant allele frequencies between Caucasian women and Asian women is also discussed.

Association of genetic polymorphisms in CYP19 and CYP1A1 with the oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer risk

Since tamoxifen has been shown to reduce the risk of oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive, but not ER-negative, breast cancers in a chemoprevention trial (P-1), it is important to develop assays to assess risk factors for ER-positive breast cancer in order to appropriately select candidates for chemoprevention with tamoxifen. Thus, the significance of genetic polymorphisms of genes involved in oestrogen biosynthesis (CYP19) and metabolism (CYP1A1) as a risk factor for ER-positive breast cancers was evaluated. A case-control study was conducted with 257 breast cancer patients and 191 healthy female controls. Two polymorphisms, CYP19 (TTTA repeats) in intron 4 and CYP1A1 6235C/T in the 3' non-coding region, and their association with the breast cancer risk after adjustment for the other epidemiological risk factors were examined. CYP19 (TTTA)7(-3bp) allele carriers showed a significantly (P<0.05) increased risk of ER-positive breast cancers (Odds Ratio (OR)=1.72, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.10-2.69), but not ER-negative breast cancers. CYP1A1 6235C allele carriers showed a non-significant (P=0.06) trend towards a decreased risk of ER-positive breast cancers (OR=0.65, 95% CI 0.42-1.02), but not ER-negative breast cancers. The combination of these two polymorphisms was found to be more useful in the assessment of the ER-positive breast cancer risk (OR=3.00, 95% CI=1.56-5.74) than the CYP19 (TTTA)7(-3bp) polymorphism alone. The combination of CYP19 (TTTA)7(-3bp) and CYP1A1 6235C/T polymorphisms is associated with an ER-positive, but not ER-negative, breast cancer risk, and, thus, would be useful in the selection of candidates for chemoprevention with tamoxifen.