5-Methyltetrahydrofolate can be photodegraded by endogenous photosensitizers

Folate deficiency is linked to serious birth defects, pregnancy complications, male infertility, cardiovascular diseases, and even the evolution of human skin color. Conflicting data exist on whether exposure to sun or artificial UV sources may deplete the levels of blood folate in humans. Blood contains several photosensitizers and proteins, as well as antioxidants, which when exposed to UV radiation and visible light may be involved in the degradation of folate. In this study the photodegradation of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5MTHF) in aqueous and deuterious solutions exposed to UVB, UVA, or visible light in the absence or presence of riboflavin, uroporphyrin, and conjugated bilirubin was investigated by absorption spectroscopy. 5MTHF is stable under exposure to visible light and UVA radiation, whereas it is slowly photooxidized under UVB exposure. However, it is rapidly oxidized by UVA or visible radiation in the presence of riboflavin or uroporphyrin, but not in the presence of conjugated bilirubin, which acts in a protective manner. Reactive oxygen species produced in type I and/or type II reactions were involved. This study suggests that 5MTHF in blood can be photodegraded in the presence of the flavins and porphyrins, but protected by bilirubins. This may have health and evolutionary implications.

Photodynamic and light independent action of 8 to 2 carboxylic free porphyrins on some haem-enzymes

BACKGROUNDS AND AIMS

skin lesions in cutaneous porphyrias appear to be determined by the structural properties of the porphyrins accumulated. To better understand the relationship between the structure and physicochemical properties of porphyrins and their specific effect on protein configuration, the action of a whole range of 8 to 2 carboxylic porphyrins has been studied. MATERIALS AMD METHODS: delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) and porphobilinogen deaminase (PBG-D) partially purified from bovine liver, were exposed to 10 microM uroporphyrin (Uro), phyriaporphyrin (Phyria), hexaporphyrin (Hexa), pentaporphyrin (Penta), coproporphyrin (Copro) or protoporphyrin (Proto), either in the dark or under UV light. All experiments were performed in the enzyme solutions after removing the porphyrins.

RESULTS

under both illuminating conditions, all porphyrins inactivated the enzymes (20-70% under control values), indicating photodynamic action mediated by oxidative reactions and conformational changes due to direct binding of porphyrins to the protein. Total thiol content in ALA-D was not significantly changed by most porphyrins under UV light, while all porphyrins increase total sulfhydryl groups in PBG-D (23-52% over the control values) indicating changes in the redox status of SH residues. Free amino groups were reduced by all porphyrins in ALA-D (23-56% under controls), instead they were enhanced in PBG-D (23-51% over controls), suggesting protein fragmentation. The formation of molecular aggregates would be the consequence of cross-links between oxidation products, while fragmentation can be attributed to either rupture of disulphur bridges and/or enhancement of free amino groups on the protein enzyme.

CONCLUSIONS

the effect of the porphyrins on enzyme activity, total SH groups and free amino groups content, was different for ALA-D and PBG-D, even under the same illuminating conditions. On the basis of these results, no correlation between enzyme alterations and the physico-chemical properties of porphyrins could be established.

Increased iron absorption in uroporphyrin-treated rats

Rats were given 59Fe (28 micrograms) together with doses of 0, 2 and 200 micrograms of uroporphyrin III in paired observations. Absorption of 59Fe was determined by comparing whole body counts of the rats 30 min and 7 days after dosing. Prior treatment with 200 micrograms of uroporphyrin twice daily for 3 days was associated with significantly increased 59Fe absorption of 6.2% compared to the absorption of 4.6% without uroporphyrin (control) and 4.6% with a 2-micrograms dose (p less than 0.05).

The photodynamic and non-photodynamic actions of porphyrins

Porphyrias are a family of inherited diseases, each associated with a partial defect in one of the enzymes of the heme biosynthetic pathway. In six of the eight porphyrias described, the main clinical manifestation is skin photosensitivity brought about by the action of light on porphyrins, which are deposited in the upper epidermal layer of the skin. Porphyrins absorb light energy intensively in the UV region, and to a lesser extent in the long visible bands, resulting in transitions to excited electronic states. The excited porphyrin may react directly with biological structures (type I reactions) or with molecular oxygen, generating excited singlet oxygen (type II reactions). Besides this well-known photodynamic action of porphyrins, a novel light-independent effect of porphyrins has been described. Irradiation of enzymes in the presence of porphyrins mainly induces type I reactions, although type II reactions could also occur, further increasing the direct non-photodynamic effect of porphyrins on proteins and macro-molecules. Conformational changes of protein structure are induced by porphyrins in the dark or under UV light, resulting in reduced enzyme activity and increased proteolytic susceptibility. The effect of porphyrins depends not only on their physico-chemical properties but also on the specific site on the protein on which they act. Porphyrin action alters the functionality of the enzymes of the heme biosynthetic pathway exacerbating the metabolic deficiencies in porphyrias. Light energy absorption by porphyrins results in the generation of oxygen reactive species, overcoming the protective cellular mechanisms and leading to molecular, cell and tissue damage, thus amplifying the porphyric picture.

Psoralen photoactivation promotes morphological and functional changes in fibroblasts in vitro reminiscent of cellular senescence

Premature aging of the skin is a prominent side effect of psoralen photoactivation, a treatment used widely for various skin disorders. The molecular mechanisms underlying premature aging upon psoralen photoactivation are as yet unknown. Here we show that treatment of fibroblasts with 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) and subsequent ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation resulted in a permanent switch of mitotic to stably postmitotic fibroblasts which acquired a high level of de novo expression of SA-beta-galactosidase, a marker for fibroblast senescence in vitro and in vivo. A single exposure of fibroblasts to 8-MOP/UVA resulted in a 5.8-fold up-regulation of two matrix-degrading enzymes, interstitial collagenase (MMP-1) and stromelysin-1 (MMP-3), over a period of >120 days, while TIMP-1, the major inhibitor of MMP-1 and MMP-3, was only slightly induced. This imbalance between matrix-degrading metalloproteases and their inhibitor may lead to connective tissue damage, a hallmark of premature aging. Superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, but not singlet oxygen, were identified as important intermediates in the downstream signaling pathway leading to these complex fibroblast responses upon psoralen photoactivation. Collectively, the end phenotype induced upon psoralen photoactivation shares several criteria of senescent cells. In the absence of detailed molecular data on what constitutes normal aging, it is difficult to decide whether the changes reported here reflect mechanisms underlying normal cellular aging/senescence or rather produce a mimic of cellular aging/senescence by quite different pathways.

Photodynamic action of uroporphyrin and protochlorophyllide in greening barley leaves treated with cesium chloride

Incubation of greening barley leaves with cesium chloride (CsCl) results in photodynamic leaf lesions within 24 h due to an inactivation of uroporphyrinogen III decarboxylase, an enzyme of tetrapyrrole biosynthesis, and transient accumulation of uroporphyrin (ogen). To examine the mechanism of porphyrinogenesis, time kinetics of the accumulating tetrapyrrole intermediates uroporphyrin (ogen) and protochlorophyllide were performed with leaves which were cut from 7-day-old dark-grown barley seedlings and incubated in 15 mM CsCl or water under different light regimes. In the presence of CsCl chlorophyll and carotenoids accumulation was inhibited in the first 24 h of continuous light and the pigment content decreased dramatically during extended illumination. When CsCl=treated leaves were transferred to darkness, accumulated uroporphyrinogen was completely converted to protochlorophyllide. Low temperature fluorescence spectroscopy confirmed that uroporphyrinogen almost completely accumulated in the reduced form. The oxidised form, uroporphyrin, was detectable after 24 h of illumination. The photodynamic leaf lesions became visible at the same time. Protochlorophyllide synthesised from accumulated uroporphyrinogen III in dark incubated leaves had a fluorescence maximum at 635 nm which is indicative for its non-photoconvertible form. Re-illumination of the barley leaves resulted in a rapid degradation of proteins and pigments and an intense lipid peroxidation within less than two hours due to the photodestructive potential of non-metabolised protochlorophyllide.

Porphyrin-induced protein structural alterations of heme enzymes

Some alterations in the protein structure of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) and porphobilinogen deaminase (PBG-D) induced by uroporphyrin (URO) and prototoporphyrin (PROTO) have been observed previously. To obtain further evidence of these phenomena, the absorption and fluorescence spectra of ALA-D and PBG-D and the total protein content of sulfhydryl and free amino groups were analyzed after exposure of the enzymes to URO I and PROTO IX, ALA-D and PBG-D were partially purified from bovine liver and exposed to URO I or PROTO IX, both in the dark and under UV light. All experiments were performed in the enzyme solutions after removing the porphyrins. Absorbance spectra changes in the region of 220-300 nm were registered, indicating the interaction of the porphyrins with the molecular structure of the enzymes. The main changes in the fluorescence spectra were observed in the spectral region of 555 nm, and only slight modifications in the spectral region of 340-360 nm; moreover, alterations were stronger upon UV irradiation and in the presence of URO I when compared with darkness and PROTO IX. Variations in total SH groups would suggest the formation of disulfur bridges induced by URO I and the rupture of some S-S groups induced by PROTO IX. The effect of porphyrins on free amino groups would reflect a combination of cross-linking and fragmentation of proteins. Structural changes were observed when the enzymes were exposed to the porphyrin both in the dark or under UV light; however, they were stronger in the latter condition. These results suggest that porphyrins per se could act directly on the protein structure and that this action would be enhanced upon UV irradiation.

Folding and unfolding of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase and porphobilinogen deaminase induced by uro- and protoporphyrin

In all the cutaneous porphyrias, alterations in the heme pathway lead to an excessive production and accumulation of porphyrins. Absorption of light energy by circulating porphyrins induces reactive oxygen species generation, which provoke enzyme inactivation and protein structure changes. Protein structure alterations induced by porphyrins with different physico-chemical properties on delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) and porphobilinogen deaminase (PBG-D) were examined. The action of uroporphyrin (URO), a highly hydrophilic porphyrin, and protoporphyrin (PROTO), most hydrophobic, was tested. ALA-D and PBG-D were partially purified from bovine liver and exposed to URO or PROTO, both in the dark and under UV light. All experiments were performed in solution after removing the porphyrins. Treatment with 10 microM URO I or 10 microM PROTO IX reduced the activity of ALA-D and PBG-D. This effect increased with increasing time of exposure to porphyrins. Solubility of the enzymes in buffer containing 3 M KCl decreased with increasing time of porphyrin treatment; this may be because of exposure of hydrophobic residues that are normally shielded in the native protein structure. Tryptic digestion of ALA-D and PBG-D exposed to URO I or PROTO IX resulted in an increase of protein degradation products, indicating an enhanced susceptibility to proteolysis. Fluorescence emission of several enzymes aminoacids was greatly modified. The structural changes described were observed when the enzymes were exposed to porphyrins both in the dark or under UV light. However, they were more noticeable with UV light. These results suggest that porphyrins per se can act directly on protein structure and that this action may be enhanced by UV irradiation.

Photosensitization of uroporphyrin augments the ultraviolet A-induced synthesis of matrix metalloproteinases in human dermal fibroblasts

Porphyria cutanea tarda is characterized by severe connective tissue damage in sun-exposed skin. The regulated synthesis and degradation of the extracellular matrix by various matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) determine its amount and composition within the skin. In this study, we therefore asked whether long-wave ultraviolet irradiation (340-450 nm) in conjunction with uroporphyrin I could modulate the synthesis of MMPs with substrate specificities for dermal (collagens I, III, V; proteoglycans) and basement membrane components (collagens IV, VII; fibronectin; laminin) and whether synthesis of the counteracting tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases is also affected. After irradiation of uroporphyrin-pretreated fibroblasts, specific mRNAs of MMP-1 and MMP-3 increased concomitantly up to 2.7-fold compared with ultraviolet-irradiated cells and up to 10-fold compared with mock-irradiated or uroporphyrin I-treated controls. In contrast, mRNA levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases remained unaltered. Similar results were obtained by immunoprecipitation. Gelatin and casein zymography revealed increased proteolytic activity of MMP-2 and MMP-3 in blister fluids of patients with porphyria cutanea tarda, indicating that similar events may occur in vivo. Using deuterium oxide as enhancer and sodium azide as quencher of singlet oxygen, we could increase or reduce MMP synthesis, suggesting that singlet oxygen is the major intermediate in the upregulation of MMPs after irradiation of uroporphyrin-pretreated fibroblasts. Taken together, our results show that ultraviolet irradiation alone, and to a greater extent in conjunction with uroporphyrin I, results in an unbalanced synthesis of MMPs that may contribute to the destruction of the dermis and basement membrane, leading to blistering and accelerated photoaging in porphyria cutanea tarda patients.

Mechanistic studies on uroporphyrin I-induced photoinactivation of some heme-enzymes

Aerobic and anaerobic studies have demonstrated that uroporphyrin I-induced inactivation of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase, porphobilinogenase, deaminase and uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase was dependent on oxygen and mediated by reactive oxygen species. The mechanism of photoinactivation of those heme-enzymes from human erythrocytes by uroporphyrin I by u.v. light was investigated. Enzymes of the heme pathway were preincubated in the presence of specific scavengers for several reactive oxygen species and then exposed to uroporphyrin I and u.v. light. Upon exposure of the enzymes to the porphyrin under u.v. light, and in an aerobic atmosphere, the percentage of enzyme activities with respect to the corresponding controls were 50.2 +/- 5.1 (SD, n = 6), 25.3 +/- 3.0 (SD, n = 6), 25.9 +/- 2.8 (SD, n = 6) and 49.7 +/- 7.5 (SD, n = 8) for delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase, porphobilinogenase, deaminase and uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase, respectively. The presence of sodium azide, histidine or superoxide dismutase did not protect the enzymes against the effects of uroporphyrin I. However, both cysteine and potassium ferrycyanide prevented the enzyme photoinactivation induced by uroporphyrin I. In the presence of either catalase or GSH, the enzyme photoinactivation was lower. Ethanol, glucose and dimethylsulfoxide had no effect on enzyme activity, while ion chelators had variable effects. This study shows that the type II mechanism is not the predominant reaction mediating the uroporphyrin I effect and enzyme photoinactivation would involve an electron transfer. Hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals could possibly mediate the uroporphyrin I-induced enzyme photoinactivation.

Cytosolic and mitochondrial enzymes inactivation by uroporphyrin in light and darkness

The effect of uroporphyrin I (UI) on several cytosolic and mitochondrial enzymes (succinyl CoA synthetase, delta-aminolevulinic acid synthetase, rhodanese, lactate dehydrogenase) has been examined. All the enzymes were inactivated in the presence of the porphyrin both in the dark and under UV light.

delta-Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase inactivation by uroporphyrin I in light and darkness

1. The action of uroporphyrin I on erythrocytic ALA-D activity under dark and light conditions was examined. 2. Photo and non-photoinactivation of ALA-D induced by uroporphyrin I were observed. 3. Both effects were dependent on uroporphyrin concentration, temperature and time of exposure of the protein to the porphyrin. 4. Light-dependent effect of uroporphyrin I is related with the phototoxicity of porphyrins and could be produced by primary amino acid photooxidation followed by secondary cross-linking of the protein. 5. Light-dependent effect of uroporphyrin I could be ascribed to a direct enzyme inhibition due to binding of the porphyrin to the protein inducing structural changes at or near its active site.

How the atmosphere and the presence of substrate affect the photo and non-photoinactivation of heme enzymes by uroporphyrin I

1. The effect of URO I on the activity of ALA-D, PBGase, deaminase and URO-D, both in aerobiosis and anaerobiosis, was studied. 2. Photoinactivation of the enzymes was much lower in an anaerobic than in an aerobic atmosphere. 3. Dark inactivation in the absence of oxygen was lower than its presence. 4. Preincubation in the presence of ALA or PBG protected the enzymic activity of ALA-D, PBGase and deaminase against URO I-inactivation both under u.v. light and in the dark. 5. Photoinactivating action of URO I would be mediated by reactive oxygen species generated by the excited porphyrin after its absorption of light. Dark inactivation, in aerobiosis, can also be partly mediated by amino acid oxidation, although to a lesser extent than that observed under u.v. light.

Molecular changes during the photooxidation of alpha-crystallin in the presence of uroporphyrin

Singlet oxygen reacts preferentially with three amino acids in proteins, His, Trp and Met. In order to study the specific molecular events that result from such oxidations, calf alpha-crystallin was photooxidized in the presence of uroporphyrin and the reactions were investigated by high performance liquid chromatography peptide mapping using a photodiode array detector followed by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS). From these studies, the following conclusions can be inferred: (1) Upon photooxidation residue Met-68 of the B chain is oxidized to Met sulfoxide, whereas residue Trp-60 remains intact. (2) Two of the 16 His residues in alpha-crystallin are photooxidized with an apparent pKa of ca 7.0 (3) FAB-MS analysis suggests that residue Lys-166 close to the C-terminal end of the A chain forms a cross-link with the His-7 residue close to the N-terminal end of the A chain. This may be either an inter- or intramolecular cross-link.

Correlation between photodynamic efficacy of differing porphyrins and membrane partitioning behavior

The ability of a photosensitizer to partition into membrane is determined by its structure and physical properties. Partitioning behavior can be quantitated as the partition coefficient (Kp) for a particular drug. This property may be an important determinant of cytocidal efficacy in photodynamic therapy. The Kp of five photoactive drugs--13,17-ditetraammonium protoporphyrin (PH1008), photofrin II (PII), hematoporphyrin (Hp), benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid (BPD-MA), coproporphyrin (Cp), and uroporphyrin (Up)--was determined using a simple liposome system composed of sonicated egg phosphatidylcholine single bilayer vesicles. The cytocidal efficacy of each drug was compared by determining the concentration of drug resulting in 50% maximal lysis (C50) obtained by measuring the hemoglobin absorbance at 414 nm released from lysed human red blood cells. The percentage lysis at 1 microM final drug concentration was also determined. An argon-dye laser was used to administer light of 630-nm wavelength for a total exposure of 5 J/cm2. Porphyrins with a greater tendency to partition into phosphocholine bilayer membranes demonstrated a greater lytic efficacy in the rbc system utilized. The comparison of physical properties with lytic ability may be useful in understanding the mechanism by which PDT exerts its effects and in predicting the clinical efficacy of different drugs.

Role of iron in the photosensitization by uroporphyrin

The role of iron in the mechanism of photosensitivity due to uroporphyrin was investigated. There is frequently increased levels of Fe in the serum from patients with porphyria cutanea tarda, where the photosensitivity is due to uroporphyrin. It has been reported that H2O2 has a major role in the uroporphyrin induced photosensitivity. Hence we examined the hypothesis that Fe would catalyze the production of OH from H2O2 and the OH thus formed may have a significant role in the uroporphyrin photosensitivity. This was examined by studying the effects of the Fe chelating compound deferoxamine in an in vitro system. Our results show that deferoxamine inhibited the uroporphyrin photosensitivity, but not the photosensitivity due to protoporphyrin. This indicates that Fe may play a role in the uroporphyrin photosensitization in the skin, by accelerating the formation of OH, which may be a major reactive species responsible for the photosensitization in porphyria cutanea tarda.

Further evidence on the photodynamic and the novel non-photodynamic inactivation of uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase by uroporphyrin I

The action of uroporphyrin I (URO I) on the activity of red cell uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (URO-D) in the dark and under UV light was studied. Light-dependent-and light-independent inactivation was observed. Both effects increased at increasing concentrations of URO I, the former reached its maximum at 150 microM of sensitizer. At 100 microM of URO I, both light and dark inactivation were temperature dependent amounting to about 50% at 30-37 degrees C. The velocity of dark inactivation increased with increasing temperature in the range of 0 to 45 degrees C. Photoinactivation can be ascribed to primary oxidation of essential amino acids, very likely histidyl residues, followed by secondary inter or intrapeptide cross-linking. Dark inactivation could be the result of both oxidation and cross-linking (although to a less degree than that produced by light) and also direct inhibition of the enzyme by induced conformational changes at its active site through binding of the porphyrin to the protein. When the action of URO I was tested on partially purified URO-D, the enzyme appeared to be more susceptible to the dark than to the light effect.

Hematoporphyrin can inhibit the metabolism and growth of embryonic chicken cartilage in vitro

Hematoporphyrin (HP) derivatives have been recognized chiefly as growth inhibitors of neoplastic tissues within the context of tumor phototherapy. We investigated the possibility that HP may also modify the growth potential of rapidly growing nonneoplastic tissues and describe the effect of HP on the metabolism and growth of embryonic chick cartilage in vitro. In the embryonic chick pelvic rudiment prolonged organ-culture bioassay, pelvic rudiment growth was significantly inhibited when HP 0.01 mmol/L was added to the culture medium (after 5 days in organ culture, weight increment in presence of serum + 136% +/- 12% v + 90% +/- 8% in presence of serum plus HP 0.01 mmol/L and + 43% +/- 10% in presence of serum plus HP 0.025 mmol/L, P less than .001). Inhibition of cartilage growth was irreversible if HP was added to the culture medium without serum for 2 days, but partial reversibility was observed when hypophysectomized rat serum was present during that period. Therefore, the protective effect of serum was apparently unrelated to pituitary-dependent growth factors. Binding of HP to albumin did not eliminate its inhibitory effects. Uridine incorporation into RNA and, to a lesser extent, sulfate incorporation into proteoglycans were reduced in cartilage incubated overnight with HP. Our study shows that HP can exert partially reversible inhibition of cartilage metabolism and growth suggesting potentially novel tissue actions for this compound.

A comparison of the phototoxicity of protoporphyrin, coproporphyrin and uroporphyrin using a cellular system in vitro

The photobiological effects of protoporphyrin (PP), coproporphyrin (CP) and uroporphyrin (UP) were investigated using an in vitro model. Suspensions of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells were labelled with 51Cr and irradiated in the presence of a wide range of concentrations of PP, CP and UP. It was found that PP was the most potent photosensitizer in this system; CP was less effective than PP and UP was the least potent. The cell lysis by CP was enhanced by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and inhibited by catalase; the lysis by UP was also inhibited by catalase; on the other hand, the lysis by PP was not affected by SOD or catalase. These indicate that the cell lysis by CP and UP was largely due to hydrogen peroxide produced from superoxide formed during the irradiation. The lysis produced by PP was not mediated by hydrogen peroxide. These differences in the mechanisms of the phototoxicity of the various porphyrins may have relevance in the etiology and treatment of the porphyrias.

Differential effects of protoporphyrin and uroporphyrin on murine mast cells

To investigate the mechanisms responsible for the distinct cutaneous manifestations of erythropoietic protoporphyria and porphyria cutanea tarda, the effects of protoporphyrin (PP) and uroporphyrin (URO), the predominant porphyrins in the respective disease, on mast cells were examined. Release of preformed and generated mediators was assessed by the release of radioactivity from cells labeled with [3H]serotonin and [14C]arachidonic acid, respectively. Clinically relevant doses of PP (25-500 ng/ml) and 396-407 nm irradiation (3-16 X 10(2)J/m2) induced maximal net release of preformed mediators of 44.52 +/- 6.6 to 58.01 +/- 4.0% (mean +/- SE). In contrast, irradiation in the presence of URO (50-5000 ng/ml) resulted in less than 5% net release. [3H]Serotonin release induced by PP and irradiation was calcium-independent, and was not enhanced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, a known activator of protein kinase C. This release was suppressed by catalase, a scavenger of hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, irradiation in the presence of PP, but not in the presence of URO, resulted in perturbation of cell membrane. Irradiation in the presence of PP also resulted in a maximal net release of generated mediators of 9.98 +/- 3.5% (mean +/- SE), whereas similar treatment in the presence of URO induced less than 0.5% net release. These results suggested that the burning, stinging, erythema, and edema experienced by patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria following sun exposure, and the lack of such findings in patients with porphyria cutanea tarda, may be explained, at least in part, by the differential effects of PP and URO on mast cells.

Photodynamic action of uroporphyrin on the complement system in porphyria cutanea tarda

We investigated the effect of UV light (320-460 nm) on total hemolytic CH50 activity and C3 cleavage in sera obtained from 14 patients with porphyria cutanea tarda. Irradiation with 5, 10, or 50 J/cm2 resulted in a 12%-60% loss of CH50 and a 5%-30% cleavage of native C3 as estimated by planimetric evaluation of the immunoelectrophoretic C3 pattern. The complement changes were most pronounced in sera from patients with active disease and were minimal or absent in patients who were in remission. In all cases, the decrease of CH50 and C3 cleavage was proportional to the plasma-porphyrin concentration and the dose of radiation. After exposure to 320- to 460-nm light, similar changes were seen in normal human serum (NHS) to which exogenous uroporphyrin had been added. Beta-carotene and chloroquine had no inhibitory effect on the photodynamic complement activation. The C3 cleavage in irradiated NHS containing uroporphyrin was not affected by 10 mM EGTA, but was partially inhibited in the presence of 30 mM EDTA, thus indicating that the interaction of photoexcited uroporphyrin with the complement system differs from classical-pathway complement activation.

Depletion of complement by light and porphyrin does not depend on sequential activation

The mechanism of complement depletion from human serum fortified with porphyrin and irradiated with light has been reinvestigated, with the conclusion that it did not depend on the normal sequence of complement activation. Thus, disappearance of the activities of C3, C4, and C5 was not dependent on divalent cations. Purified C3-C7 were labile to porphyrin/light treatment in the absence of other components. The depletion of C4 was not prevented by potent inhibitors of C1 and, unlike the depletion of C4 seen in response to aggregated gamma globulin, was insensitive to change in temperature. Electrophoresis showed an alteration of C3 unlike that caused by cobra venom factor and that light/porphyrin treatment nonspecifically altered many serum proteins.

Uroporphyrin I stimulation of collagen biosynthesis in human skin fibroblasts. A unique dark effect of porphyrin

Porphyria cutanea tarda and erythropoietic porphyria are disorders of heme synthesis that originate in the liver and bone marrow, respectively. Each is characterized by increased accumulation of uroporphyrin, I, by cutaneous photosensitivity, and in some patients by indurated plaques and scarring that resemble scleroderma. These scleroderma-like lesions occur in light-exposed and light-protected body areas. In these studies we evaluated the role of uroporphyrin I and of light in evoking the scleroderma-like cutaneous changes. Normal human skin fibroblasts were exposed to uroporphyrin I and to 400 nm radiation and the effect of these agents on collagen accumulation by the cells was determined. Radioactive tracer studies showed that uroporphyrin I caused a specific increase in the accumulation of newly synthesized collagen by fibroblast monolayer cultures, as verified by [(3)H]hydroxyproline and collagenase digestion assays. Collagen accumulation was stimulated 1.5- to 2.7-fold by uroporphyrin I, whereas noncollagenous protein accumulation was unchanged. The increased collagen accumulation was time and uroporphyrin I-concentration-dependent, and occurred both in the presence or absence of ultraviolet light exposure. Further studies demonstrated that the increased accumulation was not the result of decreased rates of collagen degradation nor was it due to changes in cell population growth parameters (generation times and saturation densities). No changes in morphology of the treated cells occurred. These studies indicate that porphyrins possess previously undemonstrated biological effects that are independent of their photosensitizing properties. This novel dark effect of uroporphyrin I may account for the sclerodermatous lesions seen in the skin of patients with porphyria cutanea tarda and erythropoietic porphyria.

Porphyrin-induced photodamage to isolated human neutrophils

Human neutrophils were irradiated with light at 340-380 nm in the presence of low concentrations of protoporphyrin or uroporphyrin. At increasing light doses or increasing concentrations of protoporphyrin, the neutrophils rapidly lost the ability of locomotion. Also, neutrophil chemiluminescence and hexose-monophosphate shunt activity rapidly declined. An early event was leakage of endogenous K(+) followed by lactate dehydrogenase and at a later stage leakage of particle-bound acid phosphatase. A number of cellular enzymes were inactivated, the susceptibility to inactivation decreased in the order: succinate dehydrogenase greater than lactate dehydrogenase greater than glutamate dehydrogenase greater than acid phosphatase. Uroporphyrin had no effect on neutrophil functions, leakage of K(+), or cellular enzymes. The results suggest that photodamage to the plasma membrane and the mitochondria are earlier events than photodamage to lysosomes.

Porphyrin-induced photodamage at the cellular and the subcellular level as related to the solubility of the porphyrin

Porphyrin-induced photodamage has been studied on small organic molecules, biomolecules, mitochondria and red cells. Water soluble components (e.g. tryptophan and glutamate dehydrogenase) are more easily destroyed by uroporphyrin than by protoporphyrin. On the other hand, lipophilic components (e.g. succinate dehydrogenase, mitochondria and red cell membranes) are more severely damaged by protoporphyrin. The results may be of importance to explain the different skin lesions in erythropoietic protoporphyria and in porphyria cutanea tarda. The photodamage is enhanced by D2O and reduced by azide. Reagents known to increase or decrease the yields of superoxide, peroxide or hydroxyl radicals have no effect on the photodamage. The results suggest that singlet oxygen is the most important reactive oxygen species.

[Effect of porphyrins and their derivatives on biosynthesis of vitamin B 12 and the development of Propionibacterium shermanii]

The effect of uroporphyrin, coproporphyrin and their cobalt-containing derivatives on the biosynthesis of vitamin B12 and development of propionibacterium shermanii was studied. The compounds under study stimulated the vitamin synthesis by growing cultures and resting suspensions of these bacteria. Cobalt porphyrins as the sole source of cobalt were used in the vitamin B12 biosynthesis. An addition of cobalt porphyrins to the growing culture of propionic bacteria increased in accumulation of their biomass. Possible mechanisms of porphyrin involvement in the biosynthesis of vitamin B12 and the specific role of cobalt porphyrins in the bacterial activity are discussed.

Presynaptic neuromuscular inhibition by porphobilinogen and porphobilin

The rat hemidiaphragm was studied in vitro as a test system to evaluate the effects of heme precursors and the uroporphyrins upon neuromuscular excitability. Porphobilinogen and porphobilin had no effect on the resting miniature end-plate potential frequency, but the K(+)-augmented frequency was significantly reduced. Porphobilin and porphobilinogen gave 50% of their maximal effect at concentrations of 0.008 and 0.6 mug/ml, respectively; the effect increased with concentration. Uroporphyrin I at 0.05-1.0 mug/ml caused a 25% decrease in frequency, but the effect did not increase with concentration. At similar concentrations, uroporphyrin III was without effect. The concentrations of porphobilin and porphobilinogen effective in inhibiting the K(+) stimulation, which are several orders of magnitude lower than the effective concentrations of simple amino acids, are those which might reasonably be expected in the sera of patients with acute intermittent porphyria.