Alcohol-induced liver injury in mice lacking Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase

Because alcoholic liver disease has been linked to oxidative stress, we investigated the effect of a compromised antioxidant defense system, Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (Sod1) deficiency, on alcohol-induced liver injury. C57BL/129SV wild-type (Sod1(+/+)) and Sod1 knockout (Sod1(-/-)) mice were fed dextrose or ethanol (10% of total calories) liquid diets for 3 weeks. Histologic evaluation of liver specimens of Sod1(-/-) mice fed ethanol showed the development of liver injury ranging from mild to extensive centrilobular necrosis and inflammation. Sod1(+/+) mice fed ethanol showed mild steatosis; both Sod1(+/+) and Sod1(-/-) mice fed the dextrose diet had normal histology. Alanine transaminase levels were significantly elevated only in Sod1(-/-) mice fed ethanol. Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2e1) activity was elevated about 2-fold by ethanol in Sod1(+/+) and Sod1(-/-) mice. Ethanol consumption increased levels of protein carbonyls and lipid peroxidation aldehydic products in the liver of Sod1(-/-) mice. Hepatic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content was reduced dramatically in Sod1(-/-) mice fed ethanol in association with a decrease in the mitochondrial reduced glutathione (GSH) level and activity of MnSOD. Immunohistochemical determination of 3-nitrotyrosine (3NT) residues in liver sections of the Sod1 knockout mice treated with ethanol showed a significant increase of 3NT staining in the centrilobular areas. In conclusion, a rather moderate ethanol consumption promoted oxidative stress in Sod1(-/-) mice, with increased formation of peroxynitrite, protein carbonyls, and lipid peroxidation and decreased mitochondrial GSH and MnSOD. We speculate that the increased oxidative stress causes mitochondrial damage and reduction of ATP content, leading to alcoholic liver injury. This model may be useful in further mechanistic studies on alcohol-induced liver injury.

Mitochondrial alterations in livers of Sod1-/- mice fed alcohol

Chronic alcohol consumption induced liver injury in Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase-deficient mice (Sod1-/-), with extensive centrilobular necrosis and inflammation and a reduction in hepatic ATP content. Mechanisms by which ethanol decreased ATP in these mice remain unclear. We investigated alterations in mitochondria of Sod1-/- mice produced by chronic ethanol treatment. These mitochondria had an increase in State 4 oxygen consumption with succinate and especially with glutamate plus malate compared to mitochondria from pair-fed Sod1-/- mice or mitochondria from wild-type mice fed dextrose or ethanol. This uncoupling was associated with a decrease in ADP/O and respiratory control ratios, a decline in mitochondrial membrane potential, enhanced mitochondrial permeability transition, and decreased aconitase activity. Total thiols and uncoupling protein 2 levels were elevated in the pair-fed Sod1-/- mitochondria, perhaps an adaptive response to oxidant stress. However, no such increases were found with the ethanol-fed Sod1-/- mitochondria, suggesting a failure to develop these adaptations. The mitochondria from the ethanol-fed Sod1-/- mice had elevated levels of cleaved Bax, Bak, Bcl-xl, and adenine nucleotide translocator. Immunoprecipitation studies revealed increased association of Bax and Bak with the adenine nucleotide translocator. ADP-ATP exchange was very low in the ethanol-fed Sod1-/- mitochondria. These results suggest that ethanol treatment of Sod1-/- mice produces uncoupling and a decline in Deltapsi, swelling, increased association of proapoptotic proteins involved in the permeability transition, and decreased adenine nucleotide translocator activity, which may be responsible for the decline in ATP levels and development of necrosis in this model of alcohol-induced liver injury.

Decreased protein and mRNA expression of ER stress proteins GRP78 and GRP94 in HepG2 cells over-expressing CYP2E1

CYP2E1 causes oxidative stress mediated cell death; the latter is one mechanism for endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the cell. Unfolded proteins accumulate during ER stress and ER resident proteins GRP78 and GRP94 protect cells against ER dysfunction. We examined the possible role of GRP78 and GRP94 as protective factors against CYP2E1-mediated toxicity in HepG2 cells expressing CYP2E1 (E47 cells). E47 cells expressed high levels of CYP2E1 protein and catalytic activity which is associated with increased ROS generation, lipid peroxidation and the elevated presence of ubiquinated and aggregated proteins as compared to control HepG2 C34 cells which do not express CYP2E1. The mRNA and protein expression of GRP78 and GRP94 were decreased in E47 cells compared to the C34 cells, which may explain the accumulation of ubiquinated and aggregated proteins. Expression of these GRP proteins was induced with the ER stress agent thapsigargin in E47 cells, and E47 cells were more resistant to the toxicity caused by thapsigargin and calcimycin, possibly due to this upregulation and also because of the high expression of GSH and antioxidant enzymes in E47 cells. Antioxidants such as trolox and N-acetylcysteine increased GRP78 and GRP94 levels in the E47 cells, suggesting that CYP2E1- derived oxidant stress was responsible for down regulation of these GRPs in the E47 cells. Thapsigargin mediated toxicity was decreased in cells treated with the antioxidant trolox indicating a role for oxidative stress in this toxicity. These results suggest that CYP2E1 mediated oxidative stress downregulates the expression of GRP proteins in HepG2 cells and oxidative stress is an important mechanism in causing ER dysfunction in these cells.

The effect of CYP2E1-dependent oxidant stress on activity of proteasomes in HepG2 cells

A reduction in proteasome activity and accumulation of oxidized proteins may play a role in alcoholic liver disease. The current study assessed proteasome peptidase activities and oxidative modifications of proteasomes during oxidative stress generated by CYP2E1. The model of toxicity by arachidonic acid (AA) and iron [ferric-nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA)] in HepG2 cells overexpressing CYP2E1 (E47 cells) and control C34 cells was used. AA/Fe-NTA treatment decreased trypsin-like (T-L) activity of the proteasome in E47 cells but not in C34 cells. This inhibition was abolished by antioxidants. Chymotrypsin-like activity of the proteasome was increased in E47 cells, and activity was not altered by AA/Fe-NTA treatment. There were no changes in content of subunits of 20S proteasomes or 19S regulator ATPase subunits S4 and p42 by AA/Fe-NTA treatment. An increased content of the PA28alpha subunit of the 11S regulator of proteasomes was detected in E47 cells. In proteasome pellets, the decline of T-L activity was accompanied by increased content of carbonyl adducts, suggesting oxidative modification of proteasomes. Higher levels of ubiquitinated, 3-nitrotyrosine- and 4-hydroxynonenal-modified proteins and lower levels of free ubiquitin were detected in untreated E47 cells in comparison with C34 cells. Accumulation of protein cross-linked, detergent-insoluble aggregates was increased with AA/Fe-NTA treatment in E47 cells. Thus, reactive oxygen species generated upon CYP2E1-dependent oxidative stress mediated a decline in T-L proteasome function, increased carbonyl adducts in proteasomes, and promoted protein aggregate formation; this may alter the balance among protein oxidation, ubiquitination, and degradation.

Inducibility of cytochromes P-4502E1 and P-4501A1 in the rat pancreas

Cytochrome P-450 (CYP) isoenzymes have been incriminated in the toxicity and carcinogenicity of various xenobiotics in different tissues, but prior measurements of their activity in pancreatic microsomes have been disappointing. We now applied new isolation methods and a highly sensitive procedure to assay for the metabolism of p-nitrophenol and 7-ethoxyresorufin, specific substrates for CYP2E1 (2E1) and CYP1A1 (1A1), respectively. 2E1 and 1A1 content was estimated with high-resolution chemiluminescent Western blots using recombinant 2E1 and 1A1 as standards. We found that p-nitrophenol hydroxylase activity was 5.07 +/- 0.66 and 1.50 +/- 0.26 pmol/ min/mg of protein in pancreatic microsomes of ethanol-fed and control rats, respectively. Chronic ethanol treatment increased 2E1 content in pancreatic microsomes 3.6-fold. Activity and content of 2E1 were also assessed in hepatic microsomes: specific activity (expressed per 2E1 content) was similar in pancreatic and hepatic microsomes. There was also an inductive effect of 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) on 1A1 in pancreatic microsomes. Pancreatic microsomal 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylation activity in MC-treated rats was 19.6 +/- 1.7 pmol/min/mg of protein, 61-fold higher than in controls. MC treatment increased the 1A1 content in pancreatic microsomes 42-fold. These results demonstrate that, in pancreatic microsomes, ethanol and MC exert striking inductive effects on 2E1 and 1A1 activities, which could play a role in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis and/or pancreatic cancer.

Respective roles of human cytochrome P-4502E1, 1A2, and 3A4 in the hepatic microsomal ethanol oxidizing system

The microsomal ethanol oxidizing system comprises an ethanol-inducible cytochrome P-4502E1, but the involvement of other P-450s has also been suggested. In our study, human CYP2E1, CYP1A2, and CYP3A4 were heterologously expressed in HepG2 cells, and their ethanol oxidation was assessed using a corresponding selective inhibitor: all three P-450 isoenzymes metabolized ethanol. Selective inhibitors-4-methylpyrazole (CYP2E1), furafylline (CYP1A2), and troleandomycin (CYP3A4)-also decreased microsomal ethanol oxidation in the livers of 18 organ donors. The P-450-dependent ethanol oxidizing activities correlated significantly with those of the specific monooxygenases and the immunochemically determined microsomal content of the respective P-450. The mean CYP2E1-dependent ethanol oxidation in human liver microsomes [1.41+/-0.11 nmol min(-1) (mg protein)(-1)] was twice that of CYP1A2 (0.61+/-0.07) or CYP3A4 (0.73+/-0.11) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, CYP2E1 had the highest (p < 0.05) specific activity [28+/-2 nmol min(-1) (nmol CYP2E1)(-1) versus 17+/-3 nmol min(-1) (nmol CYP1A2)(-1), and 12+/-2 nmol min(-1) (CYP3A4)(-1), respectively]. Thus, in human liver microsomes, CYP2E1 plays the major role. However, CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 contribute significantly to microsomal ethanol oxidation and may, therefore, also be involved in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease.

Effect of beta-carotene on hepatic cytochrome P-450 in ethanol-fed rats

BACKGROUND

Hepatotoxicity of ethanol is increased by beta-carotene in both rodents and nonhuman primates. Furthermore, in smokers who are also drinkers, beta-carotene increases the incidence of pulmonary cancer. The hepatotoxicity was associated with proliferation of the membranes of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, suggesting the involvement of cytochromes P-450. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the effect of beta-carotene and ethanol treatment on rodent hepatic cytochromes P-450.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Weanling male Sprague-Dawley rats were pair-fed beta-carotene (56.5 mg/l of diet) for 8 weeks, with and without ethanol (Lieber-DeCarli, 1994 liquid diet). As expected, ethanol increased CYP2E1 (measured by Western blots) from 67 +/- 8 to 317 +/- 27 densitometric units (p < 0.001). Furthermore, beta-carotene potentiated the ethanol induction to 442 +/- 38 densitometric units (p < 0.01) with a significant interaction (p = 0.012). The rise was confirmed by a corresponding increase in the hydroxylation of p-nitrophenol, a specific substrate for CYP2E1, and by the inhibition with diethyl dithiocarbamate (50 microM). Beta-carotene alone also significantly induced CYP4A1 protein (328 +/- 49 vs. 158 +/- 17 densitometric units, p < 0.05). The corresponding CYP4A1 mRNA (measured by Northern blots) was also increased (p < 0.05) and there was a significant interaction of the two treatments (p = 0.015). The combination of ethanol and beta-carotene had no significant effect on either total cytochrome P-450 or CYP1A1/2, CYP2B, CYP3A, and CYP4A2/3 contents.

CONCLUSIONS

Beta-carotene potentiates the CYP2E1 induction by ethanol in rat liver and also increases CYP4A1, which may, at least in part, explain the associated hepatotoxicity.