Effect of sorbinil on myo-inositol metabolism in cultured neuroblastoma cells exposed to increased glucose levels

Identification of Pre-Diagnostic Metabolic Patterns for Glioma Using Subset Analysis of Matched Repeated Time Points

Simple Summary

Reprogramming of cellular metabolism is a major hallmark of cancer cells, and play an important role in tumor initiation and progression. The aim of our study is to discover circulating early metabolic markers of brain tumors, as discovery and development of reliable predictive molecular markers are needed for precision oncology applications. We use a study design tailored to minimize confounding factors and a novel machine learning and visualization approach (SMART) to identify a panel of 15 interlinked metabolites related to glioma development. The presented SMART strategy facilitates early molecular marker discovery and can be used for many types of molecular data.

Abstract

Here, we present a strategy for early molecular marker pattern detection—Subset analysis of Matched Repeated Time points (SMART)—used in a mass-spectrometry-based metabolomics study of repeated blood samples from future glioma patients and their matched controls. The outcome from SMART is a predictive time span when disease-related changes are detectable, defined by time to diagnosis and time between longitudinal sampling, and visualization of molecular marker patterns related to future disease. For glioma, we detect significant changes in metabolite levels as early as eight years before diagnosis, with longitudinal follow up within seven years. Elevated blood plasma levels of myo-inositol, cysteine, N-acetylglucosamine, creatinine, glycine, proline, erythronic-, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic-, uric-, and aceturic acid were particularly evident in glioma cases. We use data simulation to ensure non-random events and a separate data set for biomarker validation. The latent biomarker, consisting of 15 interlinked and significantly altered metabolites, shows a strong correlation to oxidative metabolism, glutathione biosynthesis and monosaccharide metabolism, linked to known early events in tumor development. This study highlights the benefits of progression pattern analysis and provide a tool for the discovery of early markers of disease.

Regulation of Na+/myo-inositol cotransporter gene expression in hyperglycemic rat hippocampus

myo-Inositol is accumulated into cells by means of the Na+/myo-inositol cotransporter (SMIT), which is of interest because its activity is upregulated by hyperosmotic stress. We investigated the effects of hyperglycemia on the expression of SMIT mRNA mainly in rat hippocampus. In normal control rats, SMIT mRNA signals were predominantly located in the hippocampus, cerebellum and choroid plexus. Interestingly, massive induction in the hippocampus was observed on the acute stage of induced hyperglycemia in the CA3/CA4, the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus, and the hippocampal fissure. The perivascular cells along the hippocampal fissure also expressed prominent signals. In the cerebral cortex, heterogeneous induction was observed from layers 2 to 6. Furthermore, these changes immediately returned to baseline levels after normalization of glucose levels. These results suggest that regional specificity of permeability of the blood-brain barrier and/or cellular differences in sensitivity to hyperglycemic stress would exist in the brain.

Effect of an aldose reductase inhibitor on type IV collagen production by human endothelial cells cultured in high glucose

Diabetic microangiopathy is characterized by a thickening of capillary basement membranes associated with type IV collagen accumulation. An increase in type IV collagen content of the aortic wall is also observed in macroangiopathy. In order to analyse the importance of the polyol pathway in the development of the collagen metabolism alterations seen in diabetic angiopathy and their prevention by aldose reductase inhibitors, we have studied the effects of sorbinil on the high glucose-induced stimulation of type IV collagen biosynthesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Primary cultures were exposed to high glucose (16.7 mmol/l), with and without 0.11 mmol/l sorbinil, for 3 or 6 days after beginning of confluence. We measured the soluble type IV collagen secreted into the culture medium and the insoluble type IV collagen accumulated in the extracellular matrix and cells, by ELISA. We also studied [14C]proline incorporation into the newly synthesized collagenous and total proteins in the culture supernatant and in the extracellular matrix and cell fraction. High glucose decreased the number of cells and increased the amount of type IV collagen in the culture supernatant and in the extracellular matrix and cell fraction. It also increased proline incorporation into the newly synthesized collagenous and total proteins in the culture supernatant and in the extracellular matrix and cell fraction. Sorbinil corrected all these high glucose-induced alterations. The corrective effects of sorbinil on the proliferation and on type IV collagen metabolism of endothelial cells cultured in high glucose may be attributed to prevention of polyol pathway dysregulation.

Na+/myo-inositol cotransport is regulated by tonicity in cultured rat mesangial cells

Mesangial cells are considered to be faced with osmotic stress under physiological (such as extraglomerular mesangial cells) and pathophysiological (for example, diabetes mellitus) conditions. To see if mesangial cells have an osmoregulatory mechanism, like renal medullary cells, we measured the intracellular contents of organic osmolytes in isotonic and hypertonic conditions. Cultured rat mesangial cells are well tolerant of acute increase in osmolality up to 500 mOsm/kg. The myo-inositol content increased in hypertonic cells more than six-fold the value in isotonic cells. The contents of glycerophosphorylcholine and sorbitol also increased but were less than that of myo-inositol. The Na(+)-dependent myo-inositol uptake in hypertonic cells was a 12-fold uptake in isotonic cells, reaching a maximum 24 hours after the switch to a hypertonic medium. The uptake rate increased as medium osmolality increased from 300 to 500 mOsm/kg. Raffinose is the most effective solute to increase the myo-inositol uptake. NaCl, glucose and mannitol also increased the uptake rate (NaCl > glucose > mannitol). The increased uptake by hypertonicity was the result of an increase in Vmax without change in Km and was dependent on RNA and protein synthesis. These results indicate that mesangial cells respond to extracellular hypertonicity by increasing myo-inositol transport activity and accumulating myo-inositol into the cells, suggesting that myo-inositol functions as an organic osmolyte in mesangial cells.

Reduced Na+/K+ ATPase transport activity, resting membrane potential, and bradykinin-stimulated phosphatidylinositol synthesis by polyol accumulation in cultured neuroblastoma cells

In these studies we examined the effect of polyol accumulation on neural cell myo-inositol metabolism and properties. Neuroblastoma cells were cultured for two weeks in media containing 30 mM glucose, fructose, galactose or mannose with or without 0.4 mM sorbinil or 250 microM myo-inositol. Chronic exposure of neuroblastoma cells to media containing 30 mM glucose, galactose, or mannose caused a decrease in myo- inositol content and myo-[2-3H]inositol accumulation and incorporation into phosphoinositides compared to cells cultured in unsupplemented medium or medium containing 30 mM fructose as an osmotic control. These monosaccharides each caused an increase in intracellular polyol levels with galactitol > sorbitol = mannitol accumulation. Chronic exposure of neuroblastoma cells to media containing 30 mM glucose, galactose, or mannose caused a significant decrease in Na+/K+ ATPase transport activity, resting membrane potential, and bradykinin-stimulated 32P incorporation into phosphatidylinositol compared to cells cultured in medium containing 30 mM fructose. In contrast, basal incorporation of 32P into phosphatidylinositol or basal and bradykinin-stimulated 32P incorporation into phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate were not effected. Each of these cellular functions as well as myo-inositol metabolism and content and polyol levels remained near control values when 0.4 mM sorbinil, an aldose reductase inhibitor, was added to the glucose, galactose, or mannose supplemented media. myo-Inositol metabolism and content and bradykinin-stimulated phosphatidylinositol synthesis were also maintained when media containing 30 mM glucose, galactose, or mannose was supplemented with 250 microM myo-inositol. The results suggest that polyol accumulation induces defects in neural cell myo-inositol metabolism and certain cell functions which could, if they occurred in vivo, contribute to the pathological defects observed in diabetic neuropathy.

Decreased myo-inositol uptake is associated with reduced bradykinin-stimulated phosphatidylinositol synthesis and diacylglycerol content in cultured neuroblastoma cells exposed to L-fucose

L-Fucose is a potent, competitive inhibitor of myo-inositol transport by cultured mammalian cells. Chronic exposure of neuroblastoma cells to L-fucose causes a concentration-dependent decrease in myo-inositol content, accumulation, and incorporation into phosphoinositides. In these studies, L-fucose supplementation of culture medium was used to assess the effect of decreased myo-inositol metabolism and content on bradykinin-stimulated phosphatidylinositol synthesis and diacylglycerol production. Chronic exposure of cells to 30 mM L-fucose caused a sustained decrease in bradykinin-stimulated, but not basal, 3H-inositol phosphate release and 32P incorporation into phosphatidylinositol in cells incubated in serum-free, unsupplemented medium. In addition, 32P incorporation into phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate was not altered in L-fucose-conditioned cells. Acute exposure of cells to serum-free medium containing 30 mM L-fucose did not affect either basal or bradykinin-stimulated 32P incorporation into phosphatidylinositol. Basal diacylglycerol content was decreased by 20% in cells chronically exposed to 30 mM L-fucose, although analysis of the molecular species profile revealed no compositional change. Bradykinin stimulated diacylglycerol production in neuroblastoma cells by increasing the hydrolysis of both phosphoinositides and phosphatidylcholine. Bradykinin-stimulated production of total diacylglycerol was similar for control and L-fucose-conditioned cells. However, there was a decrease in the bradykinin-induced generation of the 1-stearoyl-2-arachidonoyl diacylglycerol molecular species in the cells chronically exposed to 30 mM L-fucose. This molecular species accounts for about 70% of the composition of phosphoinositides, but only 10% of phosphatidylcholine. The results suggest that a decrease in myo-inositol uptake results in diminished agonist-induced phosphatidylinositol synthesis and phosphoinositide hydrolysis in cultured neuroblastoma cells grown in L-fucose-containing medium.

Elevated levels of glucose and L-fucose reduce 22Na+ uptake and whole cell Na+ current in cultured neuroblastoma cells

Na+ flux was studied in cultured neuroblastoma cells grown in medium containing increased glucose or L-fucose concentrations. Chronic exposure of neuroblastoma cells to 30 mM glucose or 30 mM L-fucose caused a decrease in ouabain-sensitive and veratridine-stimulated 22Na+ uptake compared with cells cultured in unsupplemented medium. The Na+ current, determined by using whole-cell configuration of the patch clamp, was also decreased in these cells. Tetrodotoxin (3 microM), which blocked whole cell Na+ currents, also blocked veratridine-stimulated 22Na+ accumulation. Culturing cells in medium containing 30 mM fructose as an osmotic control had no effect on Na+ flux. Specific [3H]saxitoxin binding was not affected by 30 mM glucose or 30 mM L-fucose compared with cells grown in unsupplemented medium, suggesting that the number of Na+ channels was not decreased. These studies suggest that exposing cultured neuronal cells to conditions that occur in the diabetic milieu alters Na+ transport and Na(+)-channel activity.

Reversal of hyperglycemic-induced defects in myo-inositol metabolism and Na+/K+ pump activity in cultured neuroblastoma cells by normalizing glucose levels

myo-Inositol accumulation and incorporation into phosphoinositides was decreased in neuroblastoma cells chronically exposed to medium containing 30 mmol/L glucose or 30 mmol/L galactose. In addition, the intracellular content of myo-inositol and phosphatidylinositol was decreased and the sorbitol or galactitol content increased in cells cultured for 2 weeks in medium containing 30 mmol/L glucose or 30 mmol/L galactose, respectively. Na+/K+ adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) transport activity was also significantly decreased by long-term exposure of neuroblastoma cells to medium containing 30 mmol/L glucose or 30 mmol/L galactose. When glucose-conditioned cells were placed in medium containing a normal glucose concentration for 24 hours, myo-inositol metabolism and content, phosphatidylinositol levels, and Na+/K+ pump activity were restored or completely returned to normal values. These functions were also significantly improved, except for the phosphatidylinositol content, which was increased by 55%, when galactose-conditioned cells were incubated for 24 hours in unsupplemented medium. The polyol content of the glucose- or galactose-conditioned cells was also significantly reduced. Returning the cells to normal glucose levels for 1 to 3 hours did not completely restore myo-inositol metabolism. Improved myo-inositol metabolism and content, sorbitol levels, and Na+/K+ ATPase transport activity were also obtained within 24 hours when cells chronically exposed to medium supplemented with 30 mmol/L glucose were placed in medium containing 30 mmol/L glucose and 0.4 mmol/L sorbinil. The phosphatidylinositol content of these cells was improved by approximately 30%. Cells prelabeled for 24 hours with [U-14C]sorbitol metabolize more than 50% of the [U-14C]sorbitol during a 24-hour incubation in unsupplemented medium. These studies conducted at the cellular level suggest that restoration of normal myo-inositol metabolism, polyol content, and Na+/K+ pump activity altered by hyperglycemic conditions occurs rapidly following normalization of glucose concentration.

Effect of bradykinin on cytosolic calcium in neuroblastoma cells using the fluorescent indicator fluo-3

Neuroblastoma cells were used to examine the effect of chronic exposure to increased concentrations of glucose, galactose, or L-fucose on bradykinin-stimulated intracellular calcium release using the calcium indicator fluo-3. Bradykinin caused a concentration dependent increase in the intracellular calcium concentration and phosphoinositide hydrolysis in neuroblastoma cells. Norepinephrine, carbachol, serotonin, and thapsigargin also increased the calcium concentration. Treatment of the cells with 10(-6) M bradykinin exhausts calcium release such that the successive treatment of the cells with norepinephrine, carbachol, or serotonin results in no secondary response. In contrast, bradykinin treatment of the cells following exposure to norepinephrine, carbachol, or serotonin caused a secondary increase in calcium release. These results suggest that several hormone responsive calcium pools may exist in neuroblastoma cells or that norepinephrine, carbachol, or serotonin may not fully stimulate calcium release. Bradykinin-stimulated calcium release is not effected by chronic exposure of the cells to increased concentrations of glucose, galactose, or L-fucose. Suggesting that hormone-stimulated calcium release is not an abnormality that develops in neural cells exposed to conditions that mimic the diabetic milieu. In addition, these studies provide evidence that fluo-3 is a good fluorescent indicator for the study of calcium mobilization in cultured neuroblastoma cells.

Effect of L-fucose on proliferation and myo-inositol metabolism in cultured cerebral microvessel and aortic endothelial cells

Decreased myo-inositol metabolism possibly contributes to the development of diabetic complications including micro and macrovascular disease. Previous studies have shown that hyperglycemia may be partially responsible for this defect. We have found that L-fucose, a monosaccharide present in low concentrations in normal circulation and found to be elevated in diabetes, causes defects in cultured endothelial cells, including alterations in myo-inositol metabolism and proliferation. Murine cerebral microvessel and bovine aortic endothelial cells take up L-fucose from the medium in a time and concentration-dependent manner. Both acute and chronic exposure of these cultured endothelial cells to media containing L-fucose at concentrations that may exist in diabetic sera cause a significant decrease in the accumulation of myo-inositol and its incorporation into inositol phospholipids. There is a concomitant decrease in the intracellular levels of myo-inositol. Kinetic analysis of the effect of L-fucose on myo-inositol uptake suggests that L-fucose competitively inhibits the transport of myo-inositol, exhibiting a Ki in the range of 1.6-4.1 mM for both cell types. Endothelial cells exposed to L-fucose concentrations of 0.5-20 mM exhibit depressed rates of proliferation in a concentration-dependent fashion. Furthermore, L-fucose causes a concentration-dependent decrease in synthesis of proteoglycan by cultured cerebral microvessel endothelial cells as measured by incorporation of 35S; however, this effect is not observed in the aortic endothelia. These data suggest that L-fucose at concentrations that may exist in diabetic sera may impair myo-inositol metabolism and proliferation of the vascular endothelium.

Regulation of inositol transport by glucose and protein kinase C in mesangial cells

Since inositol (Ins) depletion appears to be an important mechanism of cell injury in diabetic glomerulopathy, we studied Ins transport in cultured rat mesangial cells during hyperglycemia. High glucose stimulated [3H]-Ins uptake by 50 to 90% within 24 hours in a dose dependent manner. This effect was characterized by an increase in the Vmax of a Na(+)-dependent Ins transporter (10.3 +/- 0.2 vs. 16.4 +/- 0.4 pmol/mg/min, P less than 0.005). Since high glucose also induced activation of protein kinase C (PKC) in permeabilized mesangial cells, we examined the potential role of this enzyme in the stimulation of Ins transport by glucose. Both PKC inhibition with H7 and staurosporine, and down regulation of PKC by prolonged PMA (1.6 microM) treatment inhibited the stimulatory effect of glucose on Ins transport. In conclusion, high glucose stimulates Na(+)-dependent Ins transport in mesangial cells by a mechanism mediated by PKC. This process may represent an important adaptive response of mesangial cells to hyperglycemia.

L-fucose is a potent inhibitor of myo-inositol transport and metabolism in cultured neuroblastoma cells

It has been proposed that abnormal myo-inositol metabolism may be a factor in the development of diabetic complications. Studies with animal models of diabetes and cultured cells have suggested that hyperglycemia by an unknown mechanism may alter myo-inositol metabolism and content. Recently, we have shown that L-fucose, a 6-deoxy sugar whose content has been reported to be increased in diabetes, is a potent inhibitor of myo-inositol transport. To examine the effect of L-fucose on myo-inositol metabolism, neuroblastoma cells were cultured in medium supplemented with L-fucose. L-Fucose is a competitive inhibitor of Na(+)-dependent, high-affinity myo-inositol transport. The Ki for inhibition of myo-inositol transport by L-fucose is about 3 mM. L-Fucose is taken up and accumulates in neuroblastoma cells. The uptake of L-fucose is inhibited by Na+ depletion, D-glucose, glucose analogues, phloridzin, and cytochalasin B. In contrast, neither myo-inositol nor L-glucose inhibits L-fucose uptake. Chronic exposure of neuroblastoma cells to 1-30 mM L-fucose causes a decrease in myo-inositol accumulation and incorporation into inositol phospholipids, intracellular free myo-inositol content, and phosphatidylinositol levels. Na+,K(+)-ATPase transport activity is decreased by about 15% by acute or chronic exposure of neuroblastoma cells to L-fucose. Similar defects occur when neuroblastoma cells are exposed chronically to 30 mM glucose. Cell myo-inositol metabolism and Na+/K(+)-pump activity are maintained when 250 microM myo-inositol is added to the L-fucose-supplemented medium. Unlike the effect of chronic exposure of neuroblastoma cells to medium containing 30 mM glucose, the resting membrane potential of neuroblastoma cells is not altered by chronic exposure of the cells to 30 mM L-fucose. The effect of L-fucose on cultured neuroblastoma cell properties occurs at concentrations of L-fucose which may exist in the diabetic milieu. These data suggest that increased concentrations of L-fucose may have a role in myo-inositol-related defects in mammalian cells.

myo-inositol transport in mouse astroglia-rich primary cultures

Uptake of radiolabeled myo-inositol was studied in astroglia-rich primary cultures derived from neonatal mouse brains. The uptake was saturable in the presence of Na+ with a Km of 25 microM and a Vmax of 60 pmol.min-1.(mg protein)-1, suggesting a high-affinity transport system for myo-inositol in astroglial cells. In addition, a Na(+)-independent, nonsaturable component was found. Carrier-mediated uptake was not inhibited by cytochalasin B (50 microM), but was reduced by depolarizing concentrations of K+ and, to different extents, in the presence of phloretin, ouabain, or amiloride (1 mM each). scyllo-Inositol, glucose, and galactose also reduced myo-inositol uptake; inhibition by the two hexoses was not reversed in the presence of 0.4 mM sorbinil. On the other hand, uptake of 2-deoxyglucose was not inhibited by high concentrations of myo-inositol. Preincubation of the cells with glucose-free or inositol-free medium stimulated uptake of myo-inositol and preincubation with 25 mM glucose in the presence of 0.4 mM sorbinil had no effect on the rate of uptake. The results suggest that myo-inositol is taken up into the astroglial cells by a transport mechanism that is distinct from that of glucose and probably is an active one. Sorbitol pathway activity does not interfere with myo-inositol uptake.

Acute and chronic exposure of mouse cerebral microvessel endothelial cells to increased concentrations of glucose and galactose: effect on myo-inositol metabolism, PGE2 synthesis, and Na+/K(+)-ATPase transport activity

Cultured mouse cerebral microvessel endothelial cells have a large intracellular myo-inositol content and rapidly take up extracellular myo-inositol. Myo-inositol uptake occurs by a high- and low-affinity transport system. Both transport systems appear to be Na(+)-dependent. The high- and low-affinity transport systems have a Km of 11 and 198 mumol/L and a Vmax of 47 and 381 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively. Acute exposure of cultured cells to 30 mmol/L D-glucose or D-galactose causes a decrease in myo-inositol uptake. The acute effect of glucose and galactose on myo-inositol uptake is sensitive to the extracellular myo-inositol concentration. The acute effect of glucose is apparently due to a competitive inhibition of high-affinity myo-inositol transport and has a Ki of 21 mmol/L. L-Glucose is more effective than D-glucose in decreasing myo-inositol uptake. In contrast, 2-deoxyglucose or 3-0-methylglucose does not acutely inhibit myo-inositol uptake. This suggests that the hydroxyl groups on carbons 2 and 3 of glucose are necessary for inhibitory activity. Chronic exposure of cells to media containing 136.4 mumol/L myo-inositol and 30 mmol/L glucose has no effect on myo-inositol accumulation from the extracellular fluid, myo-inositol incorporation into inositol phospholipids, or total myo-inositol content. Chronic exposure of the cells to media containing 30 mmol/L glucose causes only a small increase in the intracellular sorbitol content. In contrast, chronic exposure of the cells to media containing 30 mmol/L galactose causes a large increase in galactitol content and a decrease in myo-inositol accumulation, myo-inositol incorporation into inositol phospholipids, and intracellular myo-inositol content. Sorbinil treatment of the galactose-supplemented media protects the cells form changes in myo-inositol metabolism and content. Chronic exposure of the cells to media containing 30 mmol/L glucose or 30 mmol/L galactose causes a decrease in ouabain-sensitive Na+/K(+)-ATPase transport activity, which is corrected by the addition of sorbinil to the media. Chronic exposure of the cells to media containing 45 mmol/L glucose, but not galactose, causes an increase in PGE2 production. These studies suggest that acute or chronic exposure of cultured microvessel endothelial cells to increased concentrations of glucose or galactose causes a decrease in myo-inositol uptake by different mechanisms. Chronic exposure of the cells to increased concentrations of glucose or galactose causes alterations in endothelial cell properties, including Na+/K(+)-ATPase transport activity and eicosanoid synthesis. The data are not clearly supportive of polyol accumulation and myo-inositol depletion as being responsible for the decrease in Na+/K+ pump activity.

Resting membrane potential in 41A3 mouse neuroblastoma cells. Effect of increased glucose and galactose concentrations

Neuroblastoma cells were used to examine the effect of high concentrations of glucose or galactose and accumulation of polyols on the resting membrane potential. Polyol levels are increased and myo-inositol content decreased when neuroblastoma cells are chronically exposed to media containing 30 mM glucose or 30 mM galactose compared to cells grown in media containing 30 mM fructose. Furthermore, the 6 h accumulation and incorporation into phospholipid of extracellular myo-inositol is decreased in cells exposed to media containing 30 mM glucose or 30 mM galactose compared to cells grown in media containing 30 mM fructose. The resting membrane potential was determined by examining the steady-state accumulation of the lipophilic cation tetra[3H]phenylphosphonium bromide (TPP+). The resting membrane potential of cells grown in media containing 30 mM fructose is about -70 mV which is very similar to the resting membrane potential of cells grown in unsupplemented media. The resting membrane potential is significantly decreased in cells grown in media containing 30 mM glucose or 30 mM galactose. myo-Inositol metabolism and content and polyol levels are maintained at near normal values and the resting membrane potential is improved when media containing 30 mM glucose or 30 mM galactose are supplemented with 0.4 mM sorbinil. Acute exposure of neuroblastoma cells to 2 mM ouabain had no significant effect on [3H]TPP+ accumulation. This suggests that acute inhibition of Na+/K+ pump activity does not decrease the resting membrane potential of neuroblastoma cells. The decrease in resting membrane potential may be induced by the metabolic abnormalities and/or chronic decrease in Na+/K+ pump activity which occur when neuroblastoma cells are chronically exposed to increased glucose or galactose concentrations.

Effect of fructose supplementation on sorbitol accumulation and myo-inositol metabolism in cultured neuroblastoma cells exposed to increased glucose concentrations

Aldose reductase activity is increased in neuroblastoma cells grown in media containing 30 mM fructose and/or 30 mM glucose. Neuroblastoma cells cultured in media supplemented with increased concentrations of glucose and fructose amass greater amounts of sorbitol than do cells exposed to media containing only high glucose concentrations. The increase in sorbitol content is dependent on the fructose and glucose concentration in the media. The increase in sorbitol content caused by exposing neuroblastoma cells to media containing 30 mM glucose/30 mM fructose is due to a protein synthesis sensitive mechanism and not to an alteration in the redox state. The addition of sorbinil to media containing 30 mM glucose blocks the increase in sorbitol content. In contrast, sorbinil treatment of media containing 30 mM glucose/30 mM fructose does not totally block the increase in sorbitol levels. myo-Inositol accumulation and incorporation into inositol phospholipids and intracellular myo-inositol content are decreased in cells chronically exposed to media containing 30 mM glucose or 30 mM glucose/30 mM fructose compared to cells cultured in unsupplemented media or media containing 30 mM fructose. However, maximal depletion of myo-inositol accumulation and intracellular content occurs earlier in cells exposed to media containing 30 mM glucose/30 mM fructose than in cells exposed to media supplemented with 30 mM glucose. Sorbinil treatment of media containing 30 mM glucose/30 mM fructose maintains cellular myo-inositol accumulation and incorporation into phospholipids at near normal levels. myo-Inositol content in neuroblastoma cells chronically exposed to media containing 30 mM glucose or 30 mM glucose/30 mM fructose recovers within 72 h when the cells are transferred to unsupplemented media or media containing 30 mM fructose. In contrast, the sorbitol content of cells previously exposed to media containing 30 mM glucose or 30 mM glucose/30 mM fructose then transferred into media containing 30 mM fructose remains elevated compared to the sorbitol content of cells transferred into unsupplemented media. These data suggest that fructose may be activating or increasing sorbinil-resistant aldose reductase activity as well as partially blocking sorbitol dehydrogenase activity. The presence of increased concentrations of fructose in combination with increased glucose levels may enhance alterations in cell metabolism and properties due to increased sorbitol levels.

The effect of elevated glucose levels on myo-inositol metabolism in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells

Bovine aorta endothelial cells were used to determine the effect of high ambient glucose concentrations on myo-inositol metabolism. Culturing the cells for a minimum of 1 week in elevated glucose concentrations caused an increase in the intracellular sorbitol content and a decrease in myo-inositol levels. The accumulation of myo-inositol from the medium and incorporation into phospholipids was reduced 25% to 50% in cells grown in the presence of 30 to 50 mmol/L glucose. This effect was not observed following a short-term exposure of the cells to elevated glucose levels. Kinetic analysis of high-affinity myo-inositol uptake showed that the K'm was significantly increased in cells grown in 30 mmol/L glucose compared to those cultured in 5.6 mmol/L glucose. This would suggest that exposing endothelial cells to high ambient glucose levels for a minimum of 1 week leads to a competitive type of inhibition of high-affinity myo-inositol uptake. The changes in myo-inositol metabolism and content and sorbitol levels mediated by glucose exposure were blocked by addition of the aldose reductase inhibitor, sorbinil, to the media, suggesting that these changes are caused by the accumulation of sorbitol by the cells. Exposure of bovine aorta endothelial cells to high ambient levels of glucose leads to accumulation of sorbitol in the cells, which is responsible for alterations in myo-inositol metabolism. These changes could result in alteration of endothelial cell membrane function and contribute to the pathology of diabetes mellitus.

Effect of increased glucose levels on Na+/K+-pump activity in cultured neuroblastoma cells

Neuroblastoma cells were used to analyze the effect of elevated glucose levels on myo-inositol metabolism and Na+/K+-pump activity. The activity of the Na+/K+ pump in neuroblastoma cells is almost totally sensitive to ouabain inhibition. Culturing neuroblastoma cells in 30 mM glucose caused a significant decrease in Na+/K+-pump activity, myo-inositol metabolism, and myo-inositol content, compared to cells grown in the presence of 30 mM fructose. Glucose supplementation also caused a large intracellular accumulation of sorbitol. The aldose reductase inhibitor sorbinil prevented the abnormalities in myo-inositol metabolism and partially restored Na+/K+-pump activity in neuroblastoma cells cultured in the presence of elevated glucose levels. These results suggest that the accumulation of sorbitol by neuroblastoma cells exposed to elevated concentrations of extracellular glucose causes a decrease in myo-inositol metabolism and these abnormalities are associated with a reduction in Na+/K+-pump activity.