Copper-catalyzed ascorbate oxidation results in glyoxal/AGE formation and cytotoxicity.

Previously we showed that 10 muM glyoxal compromised hepatocyte resistance to hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) by increasing glutathione (GSH) and NADPH oxidation and decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) before cytotoxicity ensued. Since transition metal-catalyzed oxidation of ascorbate (Asc) has been shown to result in the generation of both glyoxal and H(2)O(2), we hypothesized that glyoxal formation during this process compromises hepatocyte resistance to H(2)O(2). We used isolated rat hepatocytes and incubated them with Asc/copper and measured cytotoxicity, glyoxal levels, H(2)O(2), GSH levels, and MMP. To investigate the role of Asc/copper on glyoxal-BSA adducts, we measured the appearance of advanced glycation end-products (AGE) in the presence and absence of catalase or aminoguanidine (AG). Asc/copper increased glyoxal and H(2)O(2) formation. Hepatocyte GSH levels were decreased and cytotoxicity ensued after a collapse of the hepatocyte MMP. Glyoxal traps protected hepatocytes against Asc/copper-induced cytotoxicity. In cell-free studies with BSA, incubation with Asc and copper resulted in glyoxal-hydroimidazolone formation, which was decreased by both AG and catalase. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that illustrates the importance of glyoxal production by transition metal-catalyzed Asc autoxidation. Understanding this mechanism of toxicity could lead to the development of novel copper chelating drug therapies to treat diabetic complications.

Hepatocyte susceptibility to glyoxal is dependent on cell thiamin content.

Glyoxal, a reactive dicarbonyl, is detoxified primarily by the glyoxalase system utilizing glutathione (GSH) and by the aldo-keto reductase enzymes which utilizes NAD[P]H as the co-factor. Thiamin (Vitamin B(1)) is an essential coenzyme for transketolase (TK) that is part of the pentose phosphate pathway which helps maintain cellular NADPH levels. NADPH plays an intracellular role in regenerating glutathione (GSH) from oxidized GSH (GSSG), thereby increasing the antioxidant defenses of the cell. In this study we have focused on the prevention of glyoxal toxicity by supplementation with thiamin (3mM). Thiamin was cytoprotective and restored NADPH levels, glyoxal detoxification and mitochondrial membrane potential. Hepatocyte reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, lipid peroxidation and GSH oxidation were decreased. Furthermore, hepatocytes were made thiamin deficient with oxythiamin (3mM) as measured by the decreased hepatocyte TK activity. Under thiamin deficient conditions a non-toxic dose of glyoxal (2mM) became cytotoxic and glyoxal metabolism decreased; while ROS formation, lipid peroxidation and GSH oxidation was increased.

A thermolyzed diet increases oxidative stress, plasma alpha-aldehydes and colonic inflammation in the rat.

A thermolyzed diet has the potential of providing exogenous oxidative stress in the form of advanced glycation end-products (AGE) and decreased thiamin. There is then a possibility that it could result in intracellular exposure to alpha-oxoaldehydes (glyoxal and methylglyoxal (MG)) with metabolic and genetic consequences. Two groups of Fischer 344 rats were fed the following diets: group A was given an AIN93G diet (control diet), while group B was given a thermolyzed AIN93G diet for 77 days. At the end of 77 days TK activity in red blood cells; glyoxal/MG levels in the plasma; glyoxal/MG HI protein adducts and dicarbonyls in the plasma, liver and colon tissues; glutathione levels of whole blood; and oxidative stress/inflammatory markers in the colon were measured. The thermolyzed diet resulted in: decreased thiamin status, increased plasma levels of glyoxal/MG and their adducts, increased protein dicarbonyls in the liver and plasma, lowered blood glutathione levels, increased infiltration of macrophages and increased colon nitrotyrosine levels. The thermolyzed diet increased the body burden of AGEs and decreased the thiamin status of the rats. This increased endogenous alpha-oxoaldehydes and oxidative stress has the potential to injure tissues that have low levels of antioxidant defenses such as the colon.

Glyoxal markedly compromises hepatocyte resistance to hydrogen peroxide.

Glyoxal is an interesting endogenous alpha-oxoaldehyde as it originates from pathways that have been linked to various pathologies, including lipid peroxidation, DNA oxidation and glucose autoxidation. In our previous study we showed that the LD(50) of glyoxal towards isolated rat hepatocytes was 5mM. However, 10microM glyoxal was sufficient to overcome hepatocyte resistance to H(2)O(2)-mediated cytotoxicity. Hepatocyte GSH oxidation, NADPH oxidation, reactive oxygen species formation, DNA oxidation, protein carbonylation and loss of mitochondrial potential were also markedly increased before cytotoxicity ensued. Cytotoxicity was prevented by glyoxal traps, the ferric chelator, desferoxamine, and antioxidants such as quercetin and propyl gallate. These results suggest there is a powerful relationship between H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress and glyoxal which involves an inhibition of the NADPH supply by glyoxal resulting in cytotoxicity caused by H(2)O(2)-induced mitochondrial oxidative stress.

Herbal monoterpene alcohols inhibit propofol metabolism and prolong anesthesia time.

2,6-Diisopropylphenol (Propofol) is a short-acting intravenous anesthetic that is rapidly metabolized by glucuronidation and ring hydroxylation catalyzed by cytochrome P450. The goal of this research was to determine whether dietary monoterpene alcohols (MAs) could be used to prolong the anesthetic effect of propofol by inhibiting propofol metabolism in animals. Mice were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with MAs (100-200) mg/kg followed by the administration of 100 mg/kg propofol 40 min later via an i.p. injection. The time of the anesthesia of each mouse was recorded. It was found that (+/-)-borneol, (-)-carveol, trans-sobrerol, and menthol significantly extended the anesthetic effect of propofol (>3 times). The concentration of propofol in the mouse blood over time (up to 180 min) also increased in mice pre-treated with (-)-borneol, (-)-carveol, and trans-sobrerol. The volume of distribution of propofol decreased in the (-)-borneol (p<0.05), pre-treated group as compared to the propofol control group. Moreover, the maximum blood concentration of propofol and the concentration of propofol in the blood as indicated by the area under the curve were significantly increased in (-)-borneol and (-)-carveol pre-treated groups. Additional evidence using rat hepatocytes showed that (-)-borneol inhibited propofol glucuronidation whereas trans-sobrerol and (-)-carveol inhibited cytochrome P450 dependent microsomal aminopyrine N-demethylation. These results suggest that (-)-borneol extends propofol-induced anesthesia by inhibiting its glucuronidation in the mouse whereas trans-sobrerol (-)-carveol extends propofol-induced anesthesia by inhibiting P450 catalyzed propofol metabolism.

Mitochondrial function and toxicity: role of B vitamins on the one-carbon transfer pathways.

The B vitamins are water-soluble vitamins that are required as coenzymes for reactions essential for cellular function. This review focuses on the essential role of vitamins in maintaining the one-carbon transfer cycles. Folate and choline are believed to be central methyl donors required for mitochondrial protein and nucleic acid synthesis through their active forms, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and betaine, respectively. Cobalamin (B12) may assist methyltetrahydrofolate in the synthesis of methionine, a cysteine source for glutathione biosynthesis. Pyridoxal, pyridoxine and pyridoxamine (B6) seem to be involved in the regeneration of tetrahydrofolate into the active methyl-bearing form and in glutathione biosynthesis from homocysteine. Other roles of these vitamins that are relevant to mitochondrial functions will also be discussed. However these roles for B vitamins in cell function are mostly theoretically based and still require verification at the cellular level. For instance it is still not known what B vitamins are depleted by xenobiotic toxins or which cellular targets, metabolic pathways or molecular toxic mechanisms are prevented by B vitamins. This review covers the current state of knowledge and suggests where this research field is heading so as to better understand the role vitamin Bs play in cellular function and intermediary metabolism as well as molecular, cellular and clinical consequences of vitamin deficiency. The current experimental and clinical evidence that supplementation alleviates deficiency symptoms as well as the effectiveness of vitamins as antioxidants will also be reviewed.

Mitochondrial function and toxicity: role of the B vitamin family on mitochondrial energy metabolism.

The B vitamins are water-soluble vitamins required as coenzymes for enzymes essential for cell function. This review focuses on their essential role in maintaining mitochondrial function and on how mitochondria are compromised by a deficiency of any B vitamin. Thiamin (B1) is essential for the oxidative decarboxylation of the multienzyme branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes of the citric acid cycle. Riboflavin (B2) is required for the flavoenzymes of the respiratory chain, while NADH is synthesized from niacin (B3) and is required to supply protons for oxidative phosphorylation. Pantothenic acid (B5) is required for coenzyme A formation and is also essential for alpha-ketoglutarate and pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes as well as fatty acid oxidation. Biotin (B7) is the coenzyme of decarboxylases required for gluconeogenesis and fatty acid oxidation. Pyridoxal (B6), folate and cobalamin (B12) properties are reviewed elsewhere in this issue. The experimental animal and clinical evidence that vitamin B therapy alleviates B deficiency symptoms and prevents mitochondrial toxicity is also reviewed. The effectiveness of B vitamins as antioxidants preventing oxidative stress toxicity is also reviewed.

The effects of partial thiamin deficiency and oxidative stress (i.e., glyoxal and methylglyoxal) on the levels of alpha-oxoaldehyde plasma protein adducts in Fischer 344 rats.

We hypothesized that in marginal thiamin deficiency intracellular alpha-oxoaldehydes form macromolecular adducts that could possibly be genotoxic in colon cells; and that in the presence of oxidative stress these effects are augmented because of decreased detoxification of these aldehydes. We have demonstrated that reduced dietary thiamin in F344 rats decreased transketolase activity and increased alpha-oxoaldehyde adduct levels. The methylglyoxal protein adduct level was not affected by oral glyoxal or methylglyoxal in the animals receiving thiamin at the control levels but was markedly increased in the animals on a thiamin-reduced diet. These observations are consistent with our suggestion that the induction of aberrant crypt foci with marginally thiamin-deficient diets may be a consequence of the formation of methylglyoxal adducts.

The biosynthesis of ascorbate protects isolated rat hepatocytes from cumene hydroperoxide-mediated oxidative stress.

Most animals synthesize ascorbate. It is an essential enzymatic cofactor for the synthesis of a variety of biological molecules and also a powerful antioxidant. There is, however, little direct evidence supporting an antioxidant role for endogenously produced ascorbate. Recently, we demonstrated that incubation of rat hepatocytes with 1-bromoheptane or phorone simultaneously depleted glutathione (GSH) and triggered rapid ascorbate synthesis. The present study investigates the hypothesis that endogenous ascorbate synthesis can confer protection against oxidative stress. Rat and guinea pig hepatocytes were depleted of GSH with 1-bromoheptane and subsequently treated with the oxidative stressor cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) in the presence or absence of the ascorbate synthesis inhibitor sorbinil. In rat hepatocytes, ascorbate content increased linearly (from 15.1 to 35.8 nmol/10(6) cells) over a 105-min incubation. Prior depletion of GSH increased CHP-induced cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, lipid peroxidation, and cell death in rat and guinea pig hepatocytes. Inhibiting ascorbate synthesis, however, further elevated ROS production (2-fold), lipid peroxidation (1.5-fold), and cell death (2-fold) in rat hepatocytes only. This is the first time that endogenous ascorbate synthesis has been shown to decrease cellular susceptibility to oxidative stress. Protection by endogenously produced ascorbate may therefore need to be addressed when extrapolating data to humans from experiments using rodents capable of synthesizing ascorbate.

Mechanism of mitochondrial uncouplers, inhibitors, and toxins: focus on electron transfer, free radicals, and structure-activity relationships.

The biology of the mitochondrial electron transport chain is summarized. Our approach to the mechanism of uncouplers, inhibitors, and toxins is based on electron transfer (ET) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Extensive supporting evidence, which is broadly applicable, is cited. ROS can be generated either endogenously or exogenously. Generally, the reactive entities arise via redox cycling by ET functionalities, such as, quinones (or precursors), metal compounds, imines (or iminiums), and aromatic nitro compounds (or reduced metabolites). In most cases, the ET functions are formed metabolically. The toxic substances belong to many categories, e.g., medicinals, industrial chemicals, abused drugs, and pesticides. Structure-activity relationships are presented from the ET-ROS perspective, and also quantitatively. Evidence for the theoretical framework is provided by the protective effect of antioxidants. Among other topics addressed are proton flux, membrane pores, and apoptosis. There is support for the thesis that mitochondrial insult may contribute to illnesses and aging.

Sulfation and glucuronidation of phenols: implications in coenyzme Q metabolism.

Phase II conjugation of phenolic compounds constitutes an important mechanism through which exogenous or endogenous toxins are detoxified and excreted. Species differences in the rates of glucuronidation or sulfation can lead to significant variation in the metabolism of this class of compounds. Conjugation of the hydroxyl groups of phenols can occur with glucuronate or sulfate. Quinone metabolism, deactivation, and detoxification are also affected by the same conjugatory systems as phenols; however, reduction of quinones to hydroquinols seems to be a prerequisite. This work reviews current knowledge on phenol conjugation and its implications on hydroquinone metabolism with special consideration for coenzyme Q metabolism.

Drug-induced mitochondrial toxicity.

Mitochondria play a critical role in generating most of the cell's energy as ATP. They are also involved in other metabolic processes such as urea generation, haem synthesis and fatty acid beta-oxidation. Disruption of mitochondrial function by drugs can result in cell death by necrosis or can signal cell death by apoptosis (e.g., following cytochrome c release). Drugs that injure mitochondria usually do so by inhibiting respiratory complexes of the electron chain; inhibiting or uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation; inducing mitochondrial oxidative stress; or inhibiting DNA replication, transcription or translation. It is important to test for mitochondrial toxicity early in drug development as impairment of mitochondrial function can induce various pathological conditions that are life threatening or can increase the progression of existing mitochondrial diseases.

Marginal dietary thiamin deficiency induces the formation of colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rats.

Thiamin deficiency leads to the endogenous formation of genotoxic alpha-oxoaldehydes (glyoxals). To evaluate whether marginal deficiency poses a carcinogenesis risk we fed rats AIN-76A sucrose-based diets containing thiamin at 4.9 (control), 1.6 or 1.0 mg/kg diet and examined their colons after 160 days. Reduced thiamin increased aberrant crypt foci (ACF) from 1.14+/-0.46 to 3.70+/-1.17 and 2.60+/-1.02 ACF/colon in the absence of exogenous carcinogen or of symptoms of beriberi. Since typical Western diets can provide marginal levels of thiamin with high levels of simple sugars, individuals could be exposed to an increased risk of colon and perhaps other cancers.

The cytotoxic mechanism of glyoxal involves oxidative stress.

Glyoxal is a reactive alpha-oxoaldehyde that is a physiological metabolite formed by lipid peroxidation, ascorbate autoxidation, oxidative degradation of glucose and degradation of glycated proteins. Glyoxal is capable of inducing cellular damage, like methylglyoxal (MG), but may also accelerate the rate of glycation leading to the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). However, the mechanism of glyoxal cytotoxicity has not been precisely defined. In this study we have focused on the cytotoxic effects of glyoxal and its ability to overcome cellular resistance to oxidative stress. Isolated rat hepatocytes were incubated with different concentrations of glyoxal. Glyoxal by itself was cytotoxic at 5mM, depleted GSH, formed reactive oxygen species (ROS) and collapsed the mitochondrial membrane potential. Glyoxal also induced lipid peroxidation and formaldehyde formation. Glycolytic substrates, e.g. fructose, sorbitol and xylitol inhibited glyoxal-induced cytotoxicity and prevented the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential suggesting that mitochondrial toxicity contributed to the cytotoxic mechanism. Glyoxal cytotoxicity was prevented by the glyoxal traps d-penicillamine or aminoguanidine or ROS scavengers were also cytoprotective even when added some time after glyoxal suggesting that oxidative stress contributed to the glyoxal cytotoxic mechanism.

The use of rat lens explant cultures to study the mechanism of drug-induced cataractogenesis.

Lens explant cultures were used to assess the mechanism of drug-induced cataractogenic potential of NVS001, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARδ) agonist, which resulted in cataract in all treated animals during a 13-week rat study. Ciglitazone, a PPARγ agonist and cataractogenic compound, was used as a positive control to validate this model. Rat lenses were extracted and cultured in medium supplemented with antibiotics for 24-h preincubation pretreatment. Lenses showing no signs of damage at the end of the preincubation pretreatment period were randomized into five experimental groups, (1) untreated control, (2) 0.1% dimethyl sulphoxide control, (3) 10µM NVS001, (4) 10µM ciglitazone, and (5) 10µM acetaminophen (negative control). Lenses were treated every 24 h after preincubation pretreatment for up to 48 h. Samples for viability, histology, and gene expression profiling were collected at 4, 24, and 48 h. There was a time-dependent increase in opacity, which correlated to a decrease in viability measured by adenosine triphosphate levels in NVS001 and ciglitazone-treated lenses compared with controls. NVS001 and ciglitazone had comparable cataractogenic effects after 48 h with histology showing rupture of the lens capsule, lens fiber degeneration, cortical lens vacuolation, and lens epithelial degeneration. Furthermore, no changes were seen when lenses were treated with acetaminophen. Gene expression analysis supported oxidative and osmotic stress, along with decreases in membrane and epithelial cell integrity as key factors in NVS001-induced cataracts. This study suggests that in vitro lens cultures can be used to assess cataractogenic potential of PPAR agonists and to study/understand the underlying molecular mechanism of cataractogenesis in rat.

Preventing cell death induced by carbonyl stress, oxidative stress or mitochondrial toxins with vitamin B anti-AGE agents.

Carbonyls generated by autoxidation of carbohydrates or lipid peroxidation have been implicated in advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation in tissues adversely affected by diabetes complications. Tissue AGE and associated pathology have been decreased by vitamin B(1)/B(6) in trials involving diabetic animal models. To understand the molecular cytoprotective mechanisms involved, the effects of B(1)/B(6) vitamers against cytotoxicity induced by AGE/advanced lipid end product (ALE) carbonyl precursors (glyoxal/acrolein) have been compared to cytotoxicity induced by oxidative stress (hydroperoxide) or mitochondrial toxins (cyanide/copper). Thiamin was found to be best at preventing cell death induced by carbonyl stress and mitochondrial toxins but not oxidative stress cell death suggesting that thiamin pyrophosphate restored pyruvate and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenases inhibited by mitochondrial toxicity. However, B(6) vitamers were most effective at preventing oxidative stress or lipid peroxidation cytotoxicity suggesting that pyridoxal or pyridoxal phosphate were antioxidants and/or Fe/Cu chelators. A therapeutic vitamin cocktail could provide maximal prevention against carbonyl stress toxicity associated with diabetic complications.

Catalase activity assays.

Catalase (hydrogen peroxide/hydrogen peroxide oxidoreductase) is an important cellular antioxidant enzyme that defends against oxidative stress. It is found in the peroxisomes of most aerobic cells. It serves to protect the cell from toxic effects of high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) by catalyzing its decomposition into molecular oxygen and water, without the production of free radicals. It is important to measure catalase levels because oxidative stress is inherent in pathological conditions such as cancer, diabetes, cataracts, atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative disease, aging, and nutritional deficiencies. This unit provides methods for catalase activity measurements.

Aldehyde sources, metabolism, molecular toxicity mechanisms, and possible effects on human health.

Aldehydes are organic compounds that are widespread in nature. They can be formed endogenously by lipid peroxidation (LPO), carbohydrate or metabolism ascorbate autoxidation, amine oxidases, cytochrome P-450s, or myeloperoxidase-catalyzed metabolic activation. This review compares the reactivity of many aldehydes towards biomolecules particularly macromolecules. Furthermore, it includes not only aldehydes of environmental or occupational concerns but also dietary aldehydes and aldehydes formed endogenously by intermediary metabolism. Drugs that are aldehydes or form reactive aldehyde metabolites that cause side-effect toxicity are also included. The effects of these aldehydes on biological function, their contribution to human diseases, and the role of nucleic acid and protein carbonylation/oxidation in mutagenicity and cytotoxicity mechanisms, respectively, as well as carbonyl signal transduction and gene expression, are reviewed. Aldehyde metabolic activation and detoxication by metabolizing enzymes are also reviewed, as well as the toxicological and anticancer therapeutic effects of metabolizing enzyme inhibitors. The human health risks from clinical and animal research studies are reviewed, including aldehydes as haptens in allergenic hypersensitivity diseases, respiratory allergies, and idiosyncratic drug toxicity; the potential carcinogenic risks of the carbonyl body burden; and the toxic effects of aldehydes in liver disease, embryo toxicity/teratogenicity, diabetes/hypertension, sclerosing peritonitis, cerebral ischemia/neurodegenerative diseases, and other aging-associated diseases.

Metabolism, not autoxidation, plays a role in alpha-oxoaldehyde- and reducing sugar-induced erythrocyte GSH depletion: relevance for diabetes mellitus.

Erythrocyte and lens reduced glutathione (GSH) levels are often lower in patients with diabetes whereas erythrocyte dicarbonyl levels are often higher. We hypothesise that high plasma carbohydrates may be metabolised by glycolytic and pentose phosphate pathways to form alpha-oxoaldehydes, which deplete cellular GSH. Our aims were: (1) to compare the effectiveness of various carbohydrates or metabolites at depleting erythrocyte GSH, (2) to determine if GSH loss is related to the autoxidation or metabolism of carbohydrates. It was found that erythrocyte GSH was depleted by 50% (ED-50) at t = 2.5 h when erythrocytes were incubated with the following: methylglyoxal (MG) 23 microM, glyoxal 75 microM, DL-glyceraldehyde 299 microM, deoxyribose 606 microM, xylitol 626 microM, and ribose 2 mM. The glycolytic inhibitors, sodium arsenate and KF prevented ribose, deoxyribose, xylitol and MG-induced GSH depletion in erythrocytes over 2 h. However, the antioxidant trolox and the ferric chelator detapac did not affect MG-induced GSH depletion. These data suggest that the carbohydrates or glyceraldehyde were metabolised to form carbonyls such as MG which depleted erythrocyte GSH as a result of catalysis by glyoxalase I. None of the carbohydrates were autoxidised to carbonyls over this time period. We speculate that as a result of GSH depletion, subsequent glycoxidative stress affects erythrocyte function and contributes to diabetic complications.