Carrier-mediated placental transport of cimetidine and valproic acid across differentiating JEG-3 cell layers.

Human choriocarcinoma has been used as a model to study trophoblast transcellular drug transport in the placenta. Previous models had limitations regarding low molecular weight drug transport through the intracellular gap junction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate placental carrier-mediated transport across a differentiating JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cell (DJEGs) layer model in which the intracellular gap junction was restricted. Cimetidine is the substrate of an efflux transporter, breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP). BCRP highly expressed in the placenta, and its function in the DJEGs model was investigated. In addition, the placental drug transport of another efflux transporter, multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs), and an influx transporter, monocarboxylate transporter (MCT), were examined with various substrates. Cimetidine permeated from the fetal side to the maternal side at significantly high levels and saturated in a dose-dependent manner. The permeability coefficient of a MRP substrate, fluorescein, across the DJEGs model was significantly increased by inhibiting MRP function with probenecid. On the other hand, permeation in the influx direction to the fetal side with a substrate of MCT, valproic acid, had a gentle dose-dependent saturation. These findings suggest that the DJEGs model could be used to evaluate transcellular placental drug transport mediated by major placental transporters.

High temporal and spatial quality petawatt-class Ti:sapphire chirped-pulse amplification laser system.

Optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) operation with low gain by seeding with high-energy, clean pulses is shown to significantly improve the contrast to better than 10(-10) to 10(-11) in a high-intensity Ti:sapphire laser system that is based on chirped-pulse amplification. In addition to the high-contrast broadband, high-energy output from the final amplifier is achieved with a flat-topped spatial profile of filling factor near 77%. This is the result of pump beam spatial profile homogenization with diffractive optical elements. Final pulse energies exceed 30 J, indicating capability for reaching peak powers in excess of 500 TW.

Comparison of hepatic oxidative DNA damage in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C.

8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is a promutagenic DNA lesion produced by hydroxyl radicals and is recognized as a useful marker in estimating DNA damage induced by oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical significance of hepatic 8-OHdG levels in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Hepatic 8-OHdG accumulation was investigated in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) (n = 77) and chronic hepatitis B (CH-B) (n = 34) by immunohistochemical staining of liver biopsy samples. 8-OHdG positive hepatocytes were significantly higher in patients with CH-C compared to CH-B (median 55.0 vs 18.8 cells/10(5) mum(2), P < 0.0001). The number of positive hepatocytes significantly increased with the elevation of serum aminotransferase levels, especially in CH-C patients (8-OHdG vs alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/aspartate aminotrasferase (AST) were r = 0.738/0.720 in CH-C and 0.506/0.515 in CH-B). 8-OHdG reactivity was strongly correlated with body and hepatic iron storage markers in CH-C (vs serum ferritin, r = 0.615; vs hepatic total iron score, r = 0.520; vs hepatic hepcidin mRNA levels, r = 0.571), although it was related to serum HBV-DNA titers (r = 0.540) and age of patients (r = -0.559) in CH-B. These results indicate that hepatic oxidative DNA damage is common in chronic viral hepatitis, in particular chronic HCV-infected patients, suggesting a possible link between chronic hepatic inflammation and hepatocarcinogenesis. The strong positive correlation between hepatic DNA damage and iron overload suggests that iron content is one of the most likely mediators of hepatic oxidative stress and iron reduction may be beneficial to reduce the incidence of hepatic cancer in CH-C patients.

Mechanism of oxidative DNA damage induced by delta-aminolevulinic acid in the presence of copper ion.

Delta-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is a heme precursor accumulated in lead poisoning and acute intermittent porphyria. ALA-induced DNA damage in the presence of metal ions was investigated with a DNA sequencing technique and a high-performance liquid chromatograph equipped with an electrochemical detector. ALA caused damage to DNA fragments obtained from c-Ha-ras proto-oncogene in the presence of Cu(II), but only slightly in the presence of Fe(II). ALA + Cu(II) induced piperidine-labile sites at thymine residues, especially in the 5'-GTC-3' and 5'-CTG-3' sequences of double-stranded DNA. Catalase and bathocuproine inhibited DNA damage induced by ALA + Cu(II). Typical .OH scavengers did not inhibit DNA damage, suggesting that active species other than .OH play a more important role in DNA damage. 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine formation by ALA increased with ALA concentration in the presence of Cu(II). Electron spin resonance studies using alpha-(1-oxy-4-pyridyl)-N-tert-butylnitrone as spin trap showed that carbon-centered radicals were generated during Cu(II)-catalyzed autoxidation of ALA. The major pathway of ALA autoxidation consists for the formation of 4,5-dioxovaleric acid and NH(4)+. Formation of a pyrazine derivative through ALA autocondensation was also observed. Concomitantly, O2- and H2O2 were generated during the Cu(II)-catalyzed ALA autoxidation. These results indicate that H2O2 reacts with Cu(I) to form a crypto-OH radical, such as the Cu(I)-peroxide complex, causing DNA damage. The possible mechanism for metal-dependent DNA damage by ALA is discussed in relation to the carcinogenicity of lead compounds and the increased frequency of liver cancer in acute intermittent porphyria.

Hydroxyl radical production and human DNA damage induced by ferric nitrilotriacetate and hydrogen peroxide.

Reactivities of Fe3+ chelates of aminopolycarboxylic acids with DNA were investigated by the DNA-sequencing technique using 32P 5'-end-labeled DNA fragments obtained from the human c-Ha-ras-1 protooncogene, and the reaction mechanism was studied by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe3+-NTA) plus hydrogen peroxide caused strong DNA cleavage in the presence of albumin. No or little DNA cleavage was observed with ferric chloride or Fe3+ chelates of other aminopolycarboxylic acids tested in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The DNA cleavage by Fe3+-NTA plus hydrogen peroxide without piperidine treatment occurred at positions of every nucleotide although a specific cleavage was observed, whereas cleavages at the positions of guanine and thymine increased predominantly with piperidine treatment. Electron spin resonance studies using free radical traps demonstrated that of Fe3+ chelates of aminopolycarboxylic acids, Fe3+-NTA was the most effective catalyst in hydrogen peroxide-derived production of hydroxyl radicals under our conditions. The results suggest that Fe3+-NTA catalyzes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to produce hydroxyl radicals, which subsequently cause the strong base alterations of guanine and thymine, and deoxyribose-phosphate backbone breakages. The possibility that the Fe3+-NTA-induced DNA damage is the initiation and/or promotion of carcinogenesis by Fe3+-NTA is discussed.

Oxidative DNA damage and apoptosis induced by benzene metabolites.

Benzene is a widely recognized human carcinogen. The mechanism of DNA damage induced by major benzene metabolites 1,4-benzoquinone (1,4-BQ) and hydroquinone (1,4-HQ) was investigated in relation to apoptosis and carcinogenesis. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed that cellular DNA strand breakage was induced by benzene metabolites. Internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and morphological changes of apoptotic cells were observed at higher concentrations of benzene metabolites. Flow cytometry showed an increase of peroxides in cultured cells treated with benzene metabolites. 1,4-BQ induced these changes at a much lower concentration than 1,4-HQ. Damage to DNA fragments obtained from the c-Ha-ras-1 proto-oncogene was investigated by a DNA sequencing technique. 1,4-BQ + NADH and 1,4-HQ induced piperidine-labile sites frequently at thymine residues in the presence of Cu(II). Catalase and bathocuproine inhibited DNA damage, suggesting that H2O2 reacts with Cu(I) to produce active species causing DNA damage. Electron spin resonance studies showed that semiquinone radical was produced by NADH-mediated reduction of 1,4-BQ and autoxidation of 1,4-HQ, suggesting that benzene metabolites produce O2- and H2O2 via the formation of semiquinone radical. These results suggest that these benzene metabolites cause DNA damage through H2O2 generation in cells, preceding internucleosomal DNA fragmentation leading to apoptosis. The fates of the cells to apoptosis or mutation might be dependent on the intensity of DNA damage and the ability to repair DNA.

Human DNA damage induced by 1,2,4-benzenetriol, a benzene metabolite.

Reactivities of benzene metabolites (phenol, catechol, hydroquinone, 1,4-benzoquinone, 1,2,4-benzenetriol) and related polyphenols (resorcinol, pyrogallol, phloroglucinol) with DNA were investigated by a DNA sequencing technique using 32P 5'-end-labeled DNA fragments obtained from human c-Ha-ras-1 protooncogene, and the reaction mechanism was studied by UV-visible and electron-spin resonance spectroscopies. 1,2,4-Benzenetriol caused strong DNA damage even without alkali treatment. Alkali-labile sites induced by 1,2,4-benzenetriol were base residues of guanine and adjacent thymine. Catalase, superoxide dismutase and methional inhibited the DNA damage completely, but sodium formate did not inhibit it. 1,2,4-Benzenetriol-induced DNA damage was inhibited by the addition of a Cu(I)-specific chelating agent, bathocuproine, and was accelerated by the addition of Cu(II). The addition of Fe(III) did not create any significant effects on 1,2,4-benzenetriol-induced DNA damage. Electron-spin resonance studies using spin traps demonstrated that addition of Fe(III) increased hydroxyl radical production during the autoxidation of 1,2,4-benzenetriol, whereas the addition of Cu(II) did not. The results suggest that DNA damage was caused by an unidentified active species which was produced by the autoxidation of 1,2,4-benzenetriol in the presence of Cu(II), rather than by hydroxyl radicals. The possibility that 1,2,4-benzenetriol-induced DNA damage is one of the primary reactions in carcinogenesis induced by benzene is discussed.

Caspase-3 activation by lysosomal enzymes in cytochrome c-independent apoptosis in myelodysplastic syndrome-derived cell line P39.

In most cases, apoptosis is considered to involve mitochondrial dysfunction with sequential release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, resulting in activation of caspase-3. However, we found that etoposide induced apoptosis in P39 cells, a myelodysplastic syndrome-derived cell line, without the release of cytochrome c. Furthermore, in etoposide-treated P39 cells, no changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi m) were detected by flow cytometry. Flow cytometry using a pH-sensitive probe demonstrated that lysosomal pH increased during early apoptosis in P39 cells treated with etoposide. A reduction in the ATP level preceded the elevation of lysosomal pH. In addition, specific inhibitors of vacuolar H+-ATPase induced apoptosis in P39 cells but not in HL60 cells. Although etoposide-induced activation of caspase-3 was followed by DNA ladder formation in P39 cells, E-64d, an inhibitor of lysosomal thiol proteases, specifically suppressed etoposide-induced activation of caspase-3. Western blotting analysis provided direct evidence for the involvement of a lysosomal enzyme, cathepsin L. These findings indicate that lysosomal dysfunction induced by a reduction in ATP results in leakage of lysosomal enzymes into the cytosolic compartment and that lysosomal enzyme(s) may be involved in activation of caspase-3 during apoptosis in P39 cells treated with etoposide.

Distinct mechanisms of site-specific DNA damage induced by endogenous reductants in the presence of iron(III) and copper(II).

The ability of Cu(II) and Fe(III) to promote site-specific DNA damage in the presence of endogenous reductants was investigated by using 32P-5'-end-labeled DNA fragments obtained from the human p53 tumor suppressor gene and the c-Ha-ras-1 protooncogene. Ascorbate induced metal-dependent DNA damage most efficiently (ascorbate > GSH > NADH). Cu(II) induced endogenous reductants-dependent DNA damage more efficiently than Fe(III). Endogenous reductants plus Fe(III) caused DNA cleavage at every nucleotide, without marked site preference. DNA damage by Fe(III) was inhibited by hydroxyl free radical (.OH) scavengers and catalase. These results suggest that endogenous reductants plus Fe(III) generate free or extremely near free .OH via H2O2 formation, and that .OH causes DNA damage. In the presence of 50 microM Cu(II) in bicarbonate buffer, ascorbate caused DNA cleavage frequently at sites of two or more adjacent guanine residues. In contrast, in the presence of 20 microM Cu(II), ascorbate caused DNA cleavage frequently at thymine residues. Catalase and a Cu(I)-specific chelator inhibited DNA damage by Cu(II), whereas .OH scavengers did not. Fe(III)-dependent 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine formation was inhibited by .OH scavengers, whereas no inhibition by .OH scavengers was observed with Cu(II). These results suggest that .OH is the main active species formed with Fe(III), whereas copper-peroxide complexes with a reactivity similar to .OH participate in Cu(II)-dependent DNA damage. The polyguanosine sequence specificity of DNA damage in the presence of high concentrations of Cu(II) can be explained by the preferential binding of Cu(II) to guanine residues.

HTHQ (1-O-hexyl-2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone), an anti-lipid-peroxidative compound: its chemical and biochemical characterizations.

Recently, it has become apparent that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play many important roles in biological systems. For example, relationships between many diseases, such as cancer, cardiac infarction and arteriosclerosis, and ROS have been found. It is also well known that anti-oxidative agents scavenge ROS in biological systems, which in turn prevents ROS-related diseases. In our previous efforts to develop effective anti-oxidative compounds, we found that 1-O-hexyl-2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone (HTHQ), which is a hydroquinone monoalkyl ether, is a potent anti-oxidative agent. Here, the scavenging activities of HTHQ against ROS, such as superoxide anion radicals, hydroxyl radicals, t-butyl peroxyl radicals and singlet oxygens, were examined by the ESR (electron spin resonance)-spin trapping method. Among ROS, HTHQ scavenged t-butyl peroxyl radicals most effectively (IC50=0.31+/-0.04 mM), showing approximately twice the activity of a well-known lipophilic anti-oxidant, D,L-alpha-tocopherol (IC50=0.67+/-0.06 mM), as measured by IC50 values defined as the 50% inhibition concentration of the generated ROS. In addition, a relatively stable ESR spectrum of free radicals due to HTHQ was observed during the reaction of HTHQ and t-butyl peroxyl radicals, indicating a direct reaction of HTHQ and t-butyl peroxyl radicals. The free radicals due to HTHQ were more stable than those derived from D,L-alpha-tocopherol under the same conditions examined. On the basis of these results, we evaluated anti-lipid-peroxidative activity of HTHQ in three systems involving micelles, liposomes and rat liver microsomes. HTHQ exhibited a similar anti-oxidative activity to that of D,L-alpha-tocopherol against lipid peroxidation in linolate micelles initiated by addition of Fe2+. On the other hand, HTHQ exhibited approximately 4.8-fold higher anti-lipid-peroxidation activity than that of D,L-alpha-tocopherol against the peroxidation in phosphatidylcholine liposomes initiated by addition of Fe2+. Furthermore, HTHQ scavenged the lipid peroxides at a rate approximately 150 times higher than that of D,L-alpha-tocopherol against Fe3+ -ADP-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes, indicating that the anti-lipid-peroxidation activity of HTHQ might be substantially elevated in biological systems in comparison with that of D,L-alpha-tocopherol. Based on these results, we suggest that HTHQ reacts directly with peroxyl radicals, such as t-butyl peroxyl radicals and peroxides of linolate micelles, liposomes and microsomes, by scavenging them to form stable free radicals. The resulting free radicals are presumed to be reduced by several reducing mechanisms in biological systems similarly to those of D,L-alpha-tocopherol, and then the lipid-peroxidation reactions will be terminated. In conclusion, HTHQ was found to be a potent anti-lipid-peroxidative compound and its antioxidation activity to be extremely elevated in biological systems, such as that of liver microsomes via the generation of stable free radicals. We propose that HTHQ is a potent anti-oxidative agent for use in future treatments for lipid-peroxide relevant diseases.

Oxidative DNA damage induced by simultaneous generation of nitric oxide and superoxide.

Incubation of calf thymus DNA with 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), which simultaneously generates nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide (O2-), induced a significant increase of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG). Peroxynitrite also increased 8-OH-dG in calf thymus DNA. Addition of free hydroxyl radical (.OH) scavengers inhibited the increase of 8-OH-dG by SIN-1 or peroxynitrite. Incubation of 32P-labeled DNA fragment with SIN-1 or peroxynitrite caused DNA cleavage at every nucleotide with a little dominance at guanine residues. The results suggest that NO reacts with O2- to form peroxynitrite and the peroxynitrite induces oxidative DNA damage through an active intermediate of which reactivity is similar to .OH.

NADH-mediated DNA damage induced by a new coenzyme, pyrroloquinoline quinone, in the presence of copper(II) ion.

Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) plays a role as a vitamin or growth factor. Low concentrations of PQQ induced DNA cleavage sites frequently at thymine and cytosine residues in the presence of NADH and Cu(II). Catalase and bathocuproine inhibited DNA damage, whereas free hydroxyl radical scavengers did not. Electron spin resonance and UV-visible spectrometries showed generation of semiquinone radical and superoxide during the reaction of PQQ with NADH. These results suggest that NADH-dependent PQQ redox cycle generated superoxide and hydrogen peroxide to mediate copper-dependent DNA damage. The present study has proposed a requirement to investigate the potentiality of PQQ carcinogenicity.

Site-specific DNA damage at GGG sequence by oxidative stress may accelerate telomere shortening.

Telomere shortening during human aging has been reported to be accelerated by oxidative stress. We investigated the mechanism of telomere shortening by oxidative stress. H2O2 plus Cu(II) caused predominant DNA damage at the 5' site of 5'-GGG-3' in the telomere sequence. Furthermore, H2O2 plus Cu(II) induced 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) formation in telomere sequences more efficiently than that in non-telomere sequences. NO plus O2- efficiently caused base alteration at the 5' site of 5'-GGG-3' in the telomere sequence. It is concluded that the site-specific DNA damage at the GGG sequence by oxidative stress may play an important role in increasing the rate of telomere shortening with aging.

Superoxide dismutases enhance H2O2-induced DNA damage and alter its site specificity.

Superoxide dismutases (SODs) are involved in the protection of cells from oxygen toxicity. However, several papers have reported that the overexpression of CuZn-SOD causes oxidative damage to cells. We investigated a mechanism by which an excess of SODs accelerates oxidative stress. The presence of CuZn-SOD, Mn-SOD or Mn(II) enhanced the frequency of DNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and Cu(II), and altered the site specificity of the latter: H2O2 induced Cu(II)-dependent DNA damage with high frequency at the 5'-guanine of poly G sequences; when SODs were added, the frequency of cleavages at thymine and cytosine residues increased. SODs also enhanced the formation of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine by H2O2 and Cu(II). We conclude that SODs may increase carcinogenic risks, e.g. of tumors in Down syndrome.

Oxidative DNA damage induced by homogentisic acid, a tyrosine metabolite.

We examined the mechanism of DNA damage induced by a mutagenic tyrosine metabolite, homogentisic acid (HGA), using 32P-5'-end-labeled DNA fragments obtained from the human p53 tumor suppressor gene. HGA caused DNA damage in the presence of Cu(II), particularly at thymine and cytosine residues. Catalase and bathocuproine inhibited the DNA damage, suggesting the involvement of H2O2 and Cu(I). The formation of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine by HGA increased depending on HGA concentration in the presence of Cu(II). It is concluded that H2O2 is generated during Cu(II)-catalyzed HGA autoxidation and reacts with Cu(I) to form the Cu(I)-peroxide complex, capable of causing oxidative DNA damage.

Mechanism of oxidative DNA damage induced by carcinogenic allyl isothiocyanate.

Several isothiocyanates have been proposed as promising chemopreventive agents for human cancers. However, it has been reported that allyl isothiocyanate exhibit carcinogenic potential, and benzyl isothiocyanate and phenethyl isothiocyanate have tumor-promoting activities. We investigated whether these isothiocyanates could cause DNA damage, using (32)P-labeled DNA fragments obtained from the human p53 tumor suppressor gene and the c-Ha-ras-1 protooncogene. Allyl isothiocyanate caused Cu(II)-mediated DNA damage and formation of 8-oxo-7, 8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) more strongly than benzyl and phenethyl isothiocyanates. Catalase and bathocuproine, a Cu(I)-specific chelator, inhibited Cu(II)-mediated DNA damage by these isothiocyanates, suggesting involvement of H(2)O(2) and Cu(I). Isothiocyanates induced DNA damage frequently at thymine and cytosine residues in the presence of Cu(II). A UV-visible spectroscopic study revealed an association between the generation of superoxide and the yield of SH group from isothiocyanates. Furthermore, the yield of 8-oxodG formation was correlated with their superoxide-generating ability. Allyl isothiocyanate significantly induced 8-oxodG formation in HL-60 cells, but not in H(2)O(2)-resistant HP100 cells, suggesting the involvement of H(2)O(2) in cellular DNA damage. We conclude that oxidative DNA damage may play important roles in carcinogenic processes induced by allyl isothiocyanate.

Metal-mediated DNA damage induced by diabetogenic alloxan in the presence of NADH.

Alloxan is known to induce diabetes in experimental animals through destruction of insulin-producing 3-cells of pancreas. The mechanism of DNA damage induced by alloxan was investigated using 32P-labeled human DNA fragments. Cu(II)-dependent DNA damage increased with the concentration of alloxan and NADH. Alloxan induced DNA cleavage frequently at thymine and cytosine residues in the presence of NADH and Cu(II). Catalase and bathocuproine, a Cu(I)-specific chelator, almost completely inhibited DNA damage, suggesting the involvement of H2O2 and Cu(I). Alloxan induced Cu(II)-dependent production of 8-oxodG in calf thymus DNA in the presence of NADH. UV-visible and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopic studies showed that superoxide anion radical and alloxan radical were generated by the reduction of alloxan by NADH, and also by the autoxidation of dialuric acid, the reduced form of alloxan. These results suggest that the copper-oxygen complex derived from the reaction of H2O2 with Cu(I) participates in Cu(II)-dependent DNA damage by alloxan plus NADH and dialuric acid. The mechanism of DNA damage is discussed in relation to diabetogenic action of alloxan.

Mechanism of oxidative DNA damage induced by carcinogenic 4-aminobiphenyl.

DNA adduct formation is thought to be a major cause of DNA damage by carcinogenic aromatic amines. We investigated the ability of an aromatic amine, 4-aminobiphenyl (4-ABP) and its N-hydroxy metabolite (4-ABP(NHOH)) to cause oxidative DNA damage, using (32)P-labeled human DNA fragments from the p53 tumor suppressor gene and the c-Ha-ras-1 protooncogene. 4-ABP(NHOH) was found to cause Cu(II)-mediated DNA damage, especially at thymine residues. Addition of the endogenous reductant NADH led to dramatic enhancement of this process. Catalase and bathocuproine, a Cu(I)-specific chelator, reduced the amount of DNA damage, suggesting the involvement of H(2)O(2) and Cu(I). 4-ABP(NHOH) dose-dependently induced 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) formation in the presence of Cu(ll) and NADH. 4-ABP(NHOH) conversion to nitrosobiphenyl, as measured by UV-visible spectroscopy, occurred rapidly in the presence of Cu(II), suggesting Cu(II)-mediated autoxidation. Increased amounts of 8-OHdG were found in HL-60 cells compared to the H(2)O(2)-resistant clone HP100 following 4-ABP(NHOH) treatment, further supporting the involvement of H(2)O(2). The present study demonstrates that an N-hydroxy derivative of 4-ABP induces oxidative DNA damage through H(2)O(2) in both a cell-free system and in cultured human cells. We conclude that, in addition to DNA adduct formation, oxidative DNA damage may play an important role in the carcinogenic process of 4-ABP.

Generation of hydrogen peroxide precedes loss of mitochondrial membrane potential during DNA alkylation-induced apoptosis.

Pulsed field gel electrophoresis showed that the initiation time of DNA breakage induced by the DNA alkylating agent duocarmycin A, which is not a redox-cycling agent, was almost the same in the human leukemia cell line HL-60 and its H2O2-resistant clone HP100. Catalase activity of HP100 cells was much higher than that of HL-60 cells. Duocarmycin A-mediated DNA ladder formation in HP100 cells was delayed compared with that in HL-60 cells, suggesting the involvement of H2O2 in duocarmycin A-induced apoptosis. Flow cytometry demonstrated that peroxide formation preceded loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi m) in cells treated with duocarmycin A. Then, caspase-3 was activated, followed by DNA ladder formation. These findings suggest that DNA damage by duocarmycin A induces H2O2 generation, which causes delta psi m loss and subsequently caspase-3 activation, resulting in apoptosis.

Oxidative DNA damage in cultured cells and rat lungs by carcinogenic nickel compounds.

DNA damage in cultured cells and in lungs of rats induced by nickel compounds was investigated to clarify the mechanism of nickel carcinogenesis. DNA strand breaks in cultured cells exposed to nickel compounds were measured by using a pulsed field gel electrophoresis technique. Among nickel compounds (Ni(3)S(2), NiO (black), NiO (green), and NiSO(4)), only Ni(3)S(2), which is highly carcinogenic, induced lesions of both double- and single-stranded DNA in cultured human cells (Raji and HeLa cells). Treatment of cultured HeLa cells with Ni(3)S(2) (10 microg/ml) induced a 1.5-fold increase in 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) compared with control, whereas NiO (black), NiO (green), and NiSO(4) did not enhance the generation of 8-OH-dG. Intratracheal instillation of Ni(3)S(2), NiO(black), and NiO(green) to Wistar rats increased 8-OH-dG in the lungs significantly. NiSO(4) induced a smaller but significant increase in 8-OH-dG. Histological studies showed that all the nickel compounds used induced inflammation in lungs of the rats. Nitric oxide (NO) generation in phagocytic cells induced by Ni(3)S(2), NiO(black), and NiO(green) was examined using macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 cells. NO generation in RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide was enhanced by all nickel particles. Two mechanisms for nickel-induced oxidative DNA damage have been proposed as follows: all the nickel compounds used induced indirect damage through inflammation, and Ni(3)S(2) also showed direct oxidative DNA damage through H(2)O(2) formation. This double action may explain relatively high carcinogenic risk of Ni(3)S(2).