Cell growth and migration under octenidine-antiseptic treatment

OBJECTIVE

The toxicity of octenidine antiseptics in cultured cells contrasts their good tolerability in tissue. This phenomenon prompted us to examine which cell culture conditions allow survival and proliferation and to investigate a possible modulation of toxicity by the extracellular matrix proteoglycan chondroitin sulfate.

METHOD

We tested fibroblasts and MCF7 cells for growth using the MTT test, and assessed wound healing potency with a laceration assay. Expression levels of the genes involved in controlling wound healing were assessed with RT-PCR.

RESULTS

A 24 hour exposure to the octenidine-based solution was found incompatible with cell growth. When octenidine solution (0.5-0.5mg/l) was coated on dishes, growth was profoundly reduced after 24 hours, however there was no cytotoxic effect at 0.012 mg/l. Interestingly, when dishes were first coated with chondroitin sulfate the cytotoxicity of octenidine-based solution was modulated. Cell migration was not inhibited by octenidine-based solution treatment (2 minutes; 15 mg/l). No significant changes in gene expression levels in response to the octenidine-based solution treatment were detected.

CONCLUSION

In cell culture conditions application of the octenidine-based solution without toxicity can be observed, comparable to the minimal application required to give full bactericidal effect. Alteration of toxicity by interaction with chondroitin sulfate in cell culture suggests a similar function for extraceullar matrix in intact tissue.

The uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate acts as a pro- or antioxidant on LDL oxidation

Uremic toxins have been shown to play a role in chronic kidney disease (CKD) associated oxidative stress. Oxidative stress and inflammation have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease in uraemia. The oxidative modification of LDL may play a role in early atherogenesis. Enhanced LDL oxidation has been found in uremic patients which may account for accelerated atherosclerosis observed in CKD. The uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate (IS) has been reported to exert oxidative and antioxidative activity. Thus, in the present study we have investigated the influence of IS on the atherogenic modifications of LDL exposed in vitro to different oxidising systems. The transition metal ion (Cu(2+)) and hemin/H2O2 induced lipid oxidation reactions monitored by conjugated diene formation, were inhibited by the presence of IS, which points to possible antioxidant effects by this uremic toxin. A protective effect of IS on LDL apoprotein modification by the exposure to the product of the myeloperoxidase/H2O2/Cl(-) system HOCl, was also observed as estimated by protein carbonyl formation. In contrast, a marked increase in conjugated dienes and lipid hydroperoxides was observed when lipid oxidation was initiated by the free radical generator AAPH in presence of IS. The GC-MS analysis revealed the formation of indole-2,3-dione and 6,12-dihydro-6,12-dioxo-indolo[2,1-b]quinazoline (tryptanthrin) in IS/AAPH reaction. A scheme for the generation of tryptanthrin from IS via indoxyl radicals is proposed, which may facilitate LDL lipid oxidation. Our observations add further insight in the Janus-faced properties of this important uremic toxin.

Interaction of respiratory burst and uptake of dehydroascorbic acid in differentiated HL-60 cells

HL-60 cells differentiated with DMSO increased their rates of uptake of ascorbate when they were activated with PMA. The rates observed after this activation were essentially the same as those with dehydroascorbic acid as the original transport substrate. The effect of activation was sensitive to the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase. When ascorbate was oxidized in situ by chemical or enzymic oxidation, the rates of uptake were similar to those after activation of the cells by phorbol ester; however, in the latter case the extracellular vitamin remained largely in the reduced form and there was very little loss by degradation, whereas after immediate oxidation no more reduced ascorbate could be found outside the cells after a few minutes and a significant part of the total vitamin was lost. The generation of superoxide by xanthine/xanthine oxidase stimulated the uptake of ascorbate much less than the activation by phorbol ester; H(2)O(2) was even less effective. Stimulation of the uptake by phorbol ester was also insensitive to GSH, in contrast with stimulation by the chemical oxidation of ascorbate. Stimulation of ascorbate uptake by phorbol ester was sensitive to the respiratory-burst inhibitor diphenyliodonium as well as the protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine, indicating the respiratory burst as the cause of stimulation. Activation of the cells by the phorbol ester also stimulated the uptake of dehydroascorbate as the original substrate, in a manner insensitive to antioxidants or inhibitors of the respiratory burst. In all cases the intracellular vitamin was completely in the reduced form. Kinetic characterization by the calculation of maximal velocities and apparent K(m) values and assaying for the dependence of uptake rates on the ionic milieu and for inhibition by glucose analogues and inhibitors of glucose transport revealed that after treatment with phorbol ester the uptake of total vitamin C in differentiated HL-60 cells was largely due to the low-affinity high-capacity glucose transporter. In contrast, in non-stimulated cells reduced ascorbate was taken up by the Na(+)-dependent high-affinity low-capacity ascorbate transporter. This change was probably due to the oxidation of ascorbate and, simultaneously, the recruitment of additional transporter molecules to the cell surface.

Functions of vitamin C as a mediator of transmembrane electron transport in blood cells and related cell culture models

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is an important physiological antioxidant. Within cells, it is practically always present in the reduced form. Several enzymatic and nonenzymatic mechanisms have been reported to maintain this status. In the extracellular environment, oxidation of ascorbate leads to loss of vitamin because the oxidized form, dehydroascorbic acid, is unstable under physiological conditions. The intermediate ascorbate free radical, although rather long-lived for a free radical, quickly disproportionates into the two other forms, also leading to loss of vitamin. Protection from loss can only be achieved by cellular regeneration mechanisms, i.e., by uptake of dehydroascorbic acid and either storage or recycling, and by plasma-membrane mediated reduction of extracellular free radical or dehydroascorbic acid. Moreover, intracellular ascorbate can also serve as an electron donor for transmembrane reduction of external electron acceptors. However, the physiological significance of this function is as yet unknown. The results presented in the literature are sometimes conflicting as to the relative contributions of these different possibilities, which seem to differ in different cell types. In this short review, the various pathways of regeneration of ascorbate and their relative contributions to the avoidance of vitamin loss in plasma or cell culture medium are discussed.

Preferential uptake and accumulation of oxidized vitamin C by THP-1 monocytic cells

THP-1 cells preferentially accumulate vitamin C in its oxidized form. The uptake displays first-order kinetics and leads to a build-up of an outward concentration gradient which is stable in the absence of extracellular vitamin. The transport is faster than reduction by extracellular glutathione or by added cytosolic extract, and glutathione-depleted cells show the same uptake rates as control cells. In addition, energy depletion or oxidation of intracellular sulfhydryls does not inhibit accumulation of ascorbate. The accumulation, however, always occurs in the reduced form. The affinity for dehydroascorbate is lower (Km 450 microM vs 60 microM) than for reduced ascorbate, but the maximal rate is more than 30 times higher (581 compared to 19 pmol.min-1 per 106 cells), and it is independent of sodium, whereas the uptake of ascorbate is not. The sodium gradient also allows accumulation of reduced ascorbate. Inhibitors of glucose transport by the GLUT-1 transporter also inhibit uptake of dehydroascorbate (DHA), but there are some inconsistencies, because the Ki-values are higher than reported for the isolated transporter and one inhibitor (deoxyglucose) is noncompetitive. The preferential uptake of the dehydro-form of the vitamin may be useful for situations where this short-lived metabolite is formed by oxidation in the environment.