A new ER-specific photosensitizer unravels (1)O2-driven protein oxidation and inhibition of deubiquitinases as a generic mechanism for cancer PDT.

Photosensitizers (PS) are ideally devoid of any activity in the absence of photoactivation, and rely on molecular oxygen for the formation of singlet oxygen ((1)O2) to produce cellular damage. Off-targets and tumor hypoxia therefore represent obstacles for the use of PS for cancer photodynamic therapy. Herein, we describe the characterization of OR141, a benzophenazine compound identified through a phenotypic screening for its capacity to be strictly activated by light and to kill a large variety of tumor cells under both normoxia and hypoxia. This new class of PS unraveled an unsuspected common mechanism of action for PS that involves the combined inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway and proteasomal deubiquitinases (DUBs) USP14 and UCH37. Oxidation of mTOR and other endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated proteins drives the early formation of high molecular weight (MW) complexes of multimeric proteins, the concomitant blockade of DUBs preventing their degradation and precipitating cell death. Furthermore, we validated the antitumor effects of OR141 in vivo and documented its highly selective accumulation in the ER, further increasing the ER stress resulting from (1)O2 generation upon light activation.

Involvement of nitric oxide in iodine deficiency-induced microvascular remodeling in the thyroid gland: role of nitric oxide synthase 3 and ryanodine receptors.

Iodine deficiency (ID) induces microvascular changes in the thyroid gland via a TSH-independent reactive oxygen species-hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway. The involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in this pathway and the role of calcium (Ca(2+)) and of ryanodine receptors (RYRs) in NO synthase 3 (NOS3) activation were investigated in a murine model of goitrogenesis and in 3 in vitro models of ID, including primary cultures of human thyrocytes. ID activated NOS3 and the production of NO in thyrocytes in vitro and increased the thyroid blood flow in vivo. Using bevacizumab (a blocking antibody against VEGF-A) in mice, it appeared that NOS3 is activated upstream of VEGF-A. L-nitroarginine methyl ester (a NOS inhibitor) blocked the ID-induced increase in thyroid blood flow in vivo and NO production in vitro, as well as ID-induced VEGF-A mRNA and HIF-1α expression in vitro, whereas S-nitroso-acetyl-penicillamine (a NO donor) did the opposite. Ca(2+) is involved in this pathway as intracellular Ca(2+) flux increased after ID, and thapsigargin activated NOS3 and increased VEGF-A mRNA expression. Two of the 3 known mammalian RYR isoforms (RYR1 and RYR2) were shown to be expressed in thyrocytes. RYR inhibition using ryanodine at 10µM decreased ID-induced NOS3 activation, HIF-1α, and VEGF-A expression, whereas RYR activation with ryanodine at 1nM increased NOS3 activation and VEGF-A mRNA expression. In conclusion, during the early phase of TSH-independent ID-induced microvascular activation, ID sequentially activates RYRs and NOS3, thereby supporting ID-induced activation of the NO/HIF-1α/VEGF-A pathway in thyrocytes.

Genetic deletion of aquaporin-1 results in microcardia and low blood pressure in mouse with intact nitric oxide-dependent relaxation, but enhanced prostanoids-dependent relaxation.

The water channels, aquaporins (AQPs) are key mediators of transcellular fluid transport. However, their expression and role in cardiac tissue is poorly characterized. Particularly, AQP1 was suggested to transport other molecules (nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)) with potential major bearing on cardiovascular physiology. We therefore examined the expression of all AQPs and the phenotype of AQP1 knockout mice (vs. wild-type littermates) under implanted telemetry in vivo, as well as endothelium-dependent relaxation in isolated aortas and resistance vessels ex vivo. Four aquaporins were expressed in wild-type heart tissue (AQP1, AQP7, AQP4, AQP8) and two aquaporins in aortic and mesenteric vessels (AQP1-AQP7). AQP1 was expressed in endothelial as well as cardiac and vascular muscle cells and co-segregated with caveolin-1. AQP1 knockout (KO) mice exhibited a prominent microcardia and decreased myocyte transverse dimensions despite no change in capillary density. Both male and female AQP1 KO mice had lower mean BP, which was not attributable to altered water balance or autonomic dysfunction (from baroreflex and frequency analysis of BP and HR variability). NO-dependent BP variability was unperturbed. Accordingly, endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDH(F)) or NO-dependent relaxation were unchanged in aorta or resistance vessels ex vivo. However, AQP1 KO mesenteric vessels exhibited an increase in endothelial prostanoids-dependent relaxation, together with increased expression of COX-2. This enhanced relaxation was abrogated by COX inhibition. We conclude that AQP1 does not regulate the endothelial EDH or NO-dependent relaxation ex vivo or in vivo, but its deletion decreases baseline BP together with increased prostanoids-dependent relaxation in resistance vessels. Strikingly, this was associated with microcardia, unrelated to perturbed angiogenesis. This may raise interest for new inhibitors of AQP1 and their use to treat hypertrophic cardiac remodeling.

Activation of the Escherichia coli SoxRS-regulon by nitric oxide and its physiological donors.

Activation of the Escherichia coli SoxRS-regulon by nitric oxide (NO) and its physiological donors (S-nitrosothiol (GS-NO) and dinitrosyl iron complexes with glutathione (DNIC(glu)) and cysteine (DNIC(cys)) ligands) has been studied. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of signal transduction via nitrosylation of Fe-S-centers in SoxR, the ability of pure NO and NO-producing agents to activate the SoxRS-regulon in E. coli cells bearing a soxS::lacZ operon (promoter) fusion has been compared. EPR spectroscopy of whole cells has been used to monitor the formation of inducible protein-DNIC complexes. DNIC(cys), GS-NO, and pure NO appeared to be potent inducers of soxS expression, whereas DNIC(glu) was considerably less efficient. Thus, lower in vitro stability of DNIC(cys) was in contrast with its higher biological activity. Pretreatment of the cells with o-phenanthroline, a chelating agent for iron, prevented soxS expression by GS-NO. Treatment of intact E. coli cells with DNIC, GS-NO, and NO at equimolar concentration 150 microM resulted in formation of a single EPR-detectable DNIC-type signal with g = 2.03. The initial stage in the SoxR transcription activity is supposed to include two steps: first, DNIC primers are formed from exogenous NO and free iron, and then these DNIC disintegrate SoxR [2Fe-2S] clusters and thus activate SoxRS-regulon transcription.

A role of iron ions in the SOS DNA repair response induced by nitric oxide in Escherichia coli.

An induction of the SOS DNA repair response by physiological nitric oxide donors (dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNIC) with thiols and S-nitrosothiols (RSNO)) was studied in E. coli cells. DNIC with thiols were the most effective SOS-inducers. Being more toxic, RSNO mediated a similar response at 10-100 microM, but they were inactive at concentrations above 0.5 mM. Pretreatment of the cells with chelating agents, o-phenanthroline and picolinic acid, prevented induction of the SOS response by all NO-donors used and led to a decrease in the DNIC-type EPR signal that appeared after incubation of the cells with DNIC or S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO). Analysis of these effects revealed a dual role of iron ions in reactivity and toxicity of the NO-donating agents. On one hand, they could stabilize GSNO in the form of less toxic DNIC, and, on the other hand, they took part in the formation of the SOS-inducing signal by NO-donating agents.

Induction of the SOS DNA repair response in Escherichia coli by nitric oxide donating agents: dinitrosyl iron complexes with thiol-containing ligands and S-nitrosothiols.

The ability of nitric oxide (NO) donor compounds to induce the SOS DNA repair response in Escherichia coli is reported. Dinitrosyl iron complexes with glutathione and cysteine (DNIC) are the most potent SOS-inducers. S-Nitrosothiols (RSNO) mediate a similar response at 10-100 microM, but the response decreases sharply at concentrations above 0.5 mM. Pretreatment of the cells with the chelating agent o-phenanthroline (OP) prevents induction of the SOS response by all agents used. On the other hand, the toxicity of S-nitrosothiols is higher than that of DNIC. The EPR study shows the appearance of an EPR DNIC-type signal after incubation of the cells with S-nitrosoglutathione because of mutual transformation between RSNO and DNIC in the presence of accessible iron inside the cells. Pretreatment of the cells with OP leads to a decrease in this signal. Analysis of NO donor effects reveals a dual role of the iron ions in reactivity and toxicity of the compounds studied, i.e. (i) stabilization of the cytotoxic RSNO and (ii) generation of the SOS signal.

Interaction of peroxynitrite and hydrogen peroxide with dinitrosyl iron complexes containing thiol ligands in vitro.

The interaction of peroxynitrite with thiolate dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNIC) has been examined and compared with the interaction with H2O2. Peroxynitrite oxidized DNIC containing various thiolate ligands--cysteine, glutathione, and bovine serum albumin. Analysis of the oxidation suggested a two-electron reaction and gave third-order rate constants of (9.3 +/- 0.5).109 M-2.sec-1 for DNIC with BSA, (4.0 +/- 0.3).108 M-2.sec-1 for DNIC with cysteine, and (1. 8 +/- 0.3).107 M-2.sec-1 for DNIC with glutathione at 20 degrees C and pH 7.6. Peroxynitrite was more reactive towards DNIC than towards sulfhydryls. Addition of sodium dithionite after the reaction led to significant restoration of the EPR signal of DNIC with cysteine. The reaction of glutathione DNIC with H2O2 was about 600 times slower than with ONOO- and not reversed by sodium dithionite. Thus peroxynitrite, in contrast to hydrogen peroxide, changes the pool of nitrosocompounds which can be responsible for interconversion, storage, and transportation of nitric oxide in vivo.