Inhibition of HIF-1alpha by the anticancer drug TAS106 enhances X-ray-induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo.

In a previous study, we showed that a novel anticancer drug, 1-(3-C-ethynyl-beta-D-ribo-pentofuranosyl)cytosine (TAS106, ECyd) increased the antitumour efficacy of X-irradiation. However, its effects on hypoxic cells in tumours remain unclarified. Here, we show that TAS106 enhances the induction of apoptosis in X-irradiated human gastric adenocarcinoma MKN45 and MKN28 cells under hypoxia in vitro. At the same time, the accumulation of HIF-1alpha observed under hypoxia was shown to be decreased to the level of normoxia in the presence of 0.1 microM TAS106. To study the function of HIF-1alpha protein in apoptosis of hypoxic cells, we employed an HIF-1alpha reductive approach using its specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotide. The reduction of HIF-1alpha gene expression dramatically enhanced X-ray-induced apoptosis in hypoxic cells. In in vivo experiments in which MKN45 cells were transplanted into severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, TAS106 (0.5 mg kg(-1)) suppressed HIF-1alpha expression and subsequently reduced the area of the hypoxic region in the tumour and enhanced the induction of apoptosis in the hypoxic region when combined with 2 Gy of X-irradiation. These results suggest the possibility that TAS106 acts as a potent radiosensitiser through the inhibition of HIF-1alpha expression and can be a useful agent against radiotherapy-resistant hypoxic cells in solid tumours.

Familial Congenital Methemoglobinemia in Pomeranian Dogs Caused by a Missense Variant in the NADH-Cytochrome B5 Reductase Gene.

BACKGROUND: In veterinary medicine, congenital methemoglobinemia associated with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-cytochrome b5 reductase (b5R) deficiency is rare. It has been reported in several breeds of dogs, but little information is available about its etiology. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase gene, CYB5R3, in a Pomeranian dog family with methemoglobinemia suspected to be caused by congenital b5R deficiency. ANIMALS: Three Pomeranian dogs from a family with methemoglobinemia were analyzed. Five healthy beagles and 5 nonrelated Pomeranian dogs without methemoglobinemia were used as controls. METHODS: Methemoglobin concentration, b5R activity, and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration were measured, and a turbidity index was used to evaluate Heinz body formation. The CYB5R3 genes of the affected dog and healthy dogs were analyzed by direct sequencing. RESULTS: Methemoglobin concentrations in erythrocytes of the affected dogs were remarkably higher than those of the control dogs. The b5R activity of the affected dogs was notably lower than that of the control dogs. DNA sequencing indicated that this Pomeranian family carried a CYB5R3 gene missense variant (ATC→CTC at codon 194) that resulted in the replacement of isoleucine (Ile) by leucine (Leu). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: This dog family had familial congenital methemoglobinemia caused by b5R deficiency, which resulted from a nonsynonymous variant in the CYB5R3 gene. This variation (c.580A>C) led to an amino acid substitution (p.Ile194Leu), and Ile194 was located in the proximal region of the NADH-binding motif. Our data suggested that this variant in the canine CYB5R3 gene would affect function of the b5R in erythrocytes.

2-Chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine induces apoptosis through the Fas/Fas ligand pathway in human leukemia cell line MOLT-4.

The mechanism of apoptosis induced by 2-chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine (2CdA) in human leukemia cell line MOLT-4 was investigated. 2CdA induced increases of 3'-OH ends of genomic DNA, ladder-like DNA fragmentation and phosphatidylserine translocation to the outer membrane, which are apoptotic characteristics. These apoptotic phenomena induced by 2CdA were inhibited by cycloheximide (CHX; a protein synthesis inhibitor), deoxycytidine (dC; a substrate of deoxycytidine kinase), acetyl Ile-Glu-Thr-Asp aldehyde (Ac-IETD-CHO; a caspase-8 inhibitor) and acetyl Asp-Glu-Val-Asp aldehyde (Ac-DEVD-CHO; a caspase-3 inhibitor). The protein synthesis-dependent expression of Fas and Fas ligand (Fas-L) was detected by treatment with 2CdA. The proteolytic processing of procaspases-8 and -3 to produce active fragments, caspases-8 (p18) and -3 (p17), respectively, was observed after treatment with 2CdA, and suppressed by cycloheximide. Increases in the activities of caspases-8 and -3 were observed after 2CdA treatment. Their activation was also dependent on protein synthesis. These results indicated that 2CdA-induced apoptosis was triggered by phosphorylation of 2CdA followed by the protein synthesis-dependent expression of Fas and Fas-L and activation of caspases-8 and -3.

Roles of p38 MAPK, PKC and PI3-K in the signaling pathways of NADPH oxidase activation and phagocytosis in bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Stimulation of bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) with serum-opsonized zymosan (sOZ) induced the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), protein kinase C (PKC) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) and sOZ-induced O(2)(-) production was significantly attenuated by their inhibitors (SB203580 for p38 MAPK, GF109203X for PKC and wortmannin for PI3-K). They caused significant attenuation of sOZ-induced phosphorylation of p47phox as well. Flow cytometric analysis, however, revealed that SB203580 and wortmannin attenuated phagocytosis, but GF109203X facilitated it. The results suggest that p38 MAPK and PI3-K participated in both signaling pathways of NADPH oxidase activation (O(2)(-) production) and phagocytosis, and PKC participated in the signaling pathway of NADPH oxidase activation alone.

Hydrogen peroxide-induced activation of SAPK/JNK regulated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in Chinese hamster V79 cells.

To clarify activation mechanisms of stress-activated protein kinase/C-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) during oxidative stress, the roles of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase), concentration of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i), and cyclic AMP-dependent kinase (PKA) in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced SAPK/JNK activation were examined in Chinese hamster V79 cells. SAPK/JNK was dose-dependently activated after H2O2 treatment (from 10 microM to 1 mM), and a PI 3-kinase inhibitor (wortmaninn), intracellular calcium chelator (BAPTA-AM), and PKA activator (dibutyl cyclic AMP and forskolin) inhibited this activation. An increase in [Ca2+], was observed after treatment with H2O2. Immunoprecipitation revealed that a PI 3-kinase regulatory subunit, p85alpha, was associated with insulin receptor substance 1 (IRS-1) phosphorylated by H2O2 treatment. Furthermore, the formation of this complex of p85alpha and phospho-IRS-1 was abolished by the presence of BAPTA-AM but not forskolin. These results indicated that the PI 3-kinase activated through phosphorylation of IRS-1 upstream of SAPK/JNK after H2O2 treatment of V79 cells and that [Ca2+]i was a regulation factor for phosphorylation of IRS-1.

Elevation of intracellular calcium ions is essential for the H2O2-induced activation of SAPK/JNK but not for that of p38 and ERK in Chinese hamster V79 cells.

The mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), including stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK), p38, and extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK), are believed to be important biomolecules in cell proliferation, survival, and apoptosis induced by extracellular stimuli. In Chinese hamster V79 cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), we recently demonstrated that SAPK/JNK was activated by tyrosine kinase and intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). In this study, we report that [Ca2+]i release from intracellular stores is important in the activation of SAPK/JNK but not p38 and ERK. H2O2-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i was observed in Ca2+-free medium. Pretreatment with thapsigargin, a Ca2+-ATPase inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum (ER), did not influence H2O2-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i in the absence of external Ca2+. An intracellular Ca2+ chelator (BAPTA-AM) inhibited H2O2-induced phosphorylation of SAPK/JNK, but an extracellular Ca2+ chelator (EDTA) or a Ca2+ entry blocker (NiCl2) did not. Activation of p38 and ERK in V79 cells exposed to H2O2 was observed in the presence of these inhibitors. These results suggest that [Ca2+]i release from intracellular stores such as mitochondria or nuclei but not ER, occurred after H2O2 treatment and Ca2+-dependent tyrosine kinase-induced activation of SAPK/JNK, although [Ca2+]i was unnecessary for the H2O2-induced activation of p38 and ERK.

OH-induced free radicals in 3'-UMP and poly(U): spin-trapping and radical chromatography.

Characterization of OH-induced free radicals using 3'-UMP and poly(U) was performed by a method combining spin-trapping and radical chromatography. A N2O-saturated aqueous solution containing 3'-UMP and 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane as a spin-trap was X-irradiated. The spin adducts generated by the reactions of OH radicals with 3'-UMP were separated by paired-ion HPLC and the separated spin adducts were identified by ESR spectroscopy. In the case of poly(U), the spin adducts were digested to oligonucleotides with RNase A and then separated and identified in the same manner as 3'-UMP. The free radicals observed for poly(U) were identical to those for 3'-UMP. The 5-yl radical and the 6-yl radical were identified as precursors of various oxidized products of the base moiety, and the 4'-yl radical and 5'-yl radical, formed by H-abstraction at the C-4' and C-5' positions of the sugar moieties, respectively, were identified as precursors of strand breaks. The 1'-yl radical, produced by H-abstraction at the C-1' position of the sugar moiety, was also identified. From the similarity of the free radicals of 3'-UMP and poly(U), it is suggested that the reactivities of OH radicals with nucleotides are identical to those in polynucleotides.

OH-induced free radicals in uridine studied by a method combining ESR, spin-trapping, and liquid chromatography.

Free radicals produced by the reactions of OH radicals with uridine were investigated by a method combining ESR, spin-trapping, and liquid chromatography. A N2O-saturated aqueous solution of uridine, containing 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane as a spin-trap, was X-irradiated and the resulting spin-adducts were separated by gel permeation chromatography and reverse-phase HPLC. ESR and uv-absorbance spectra obtained from the separated spin-adducts show that 5-yl and 6-yl radicals are produced by OH addition to the 5,6 double bond of the base moiety. It is also shown that radicals due to H abstraction from the sugar moiety at the C-4' and C-5' positions are produced.

Radiation sensitivity of megakaryocyte colony-forming cells in human placental and umbilical cord blood.

The in vitro radiation sensitivity of CFU-Meg isolated from human placental and umbilical cord blood was evaluated in plasma clot cultures stimulated by recombinant human cytokines, including thrombopoietin, the FLT3 ligand (FLT3LG), interleukin-3, interleukin-11 and stem cell factor. The CD34(+) cells were irradiated with X rays at a dose rate of 73 cGy/ min. The megakaryocyte colonies were identified by using an FITC-conjugated antibody to glycoprotein IIbIIIa and were classified into two groups based on colony size: large colonies (immature CFU-Meg) and small colonies (mature CFU-Meg). Treatment with thrombopoietin alone or in combination with FLT3LG and/or interleukin-11 gave exponential radiation survival curves (D(0) for immature CFU-Meg = 56-77 cGy, D(0) for mature CFU-Meg = 86 cGy-1.12 Gy), while marked shoulders were observed on the survival curves for colonies supported by the combination of thrombopoietin, interleukin-3 and stem cell factor (D(0) for immature CFU-Meg = 89- 98 cGy; D(0) for mature CFU-Meg = 1. 25-1.31 Gy). Our results showed that the immature CFU-Meg were more radiosensitive than the mature CFU-Meg and that the combination of cytokines, including thrombopoietin, interleukin-3 and stem cell factor, affected the radiation sensitivity of CFU-Meg to the same extent as with thrombopoietin alone or in combination with FLT3LG and/or interleukin-11.

Stimulation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert and substantia innominata produces widespread increases in cerebral blood flow in the frontal, parietal and occipital cortices.

The effect of a focal stimulation of the magnocellular nucleus of the basal forebrain at two different areas, the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) and the substantia innominata (SI), on local cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the frontal, parietal and occipital cortices was examined in urethane-anesthetized rats. The stimulation, either electrically or chemically, of both the NBM and SI produced significant CBF increase in all these 3 cortices ipsilateral to the stimulation site. This fact suggests that activation of neurons originating in the NBM and SI produces widespread increases in local CBF in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex.

Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in increased cerebral cortical blood flow following stimulation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert in anesthetized rats.

The effects of i.v. administration of a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, L-NG-nitroarginine (L-NOArg), on the increase in cerebral cortical blood flow (cortical BF), following either electrical stimulation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM), whose cholinergic fibers project to the cortex, or hypercapnia with 10% CO2 inhalation, were studied in anesthetized rats. Cortical BF was measured using laser Doppler flowmetry. The threshold intensity of electrical stimulation of the NBM (0.5 ms, 50 Hz for 10 s) that induced an increase in regional cortical BF was defined as 1T. The cortical BF was increased on a stimulus intensity dependent manner at 1T-5T intensities tested. L-NOArg was administered cumulatively i.v. starting from 0.3 mg/kg, then 3 mg/kg, and 30 mg/kg. Time interval between each cumulative administration of L-NOArg was approximately 40 min. Three and 30 mg/kg of L-NOArg significant reduced the NBM stimulation-induced increase of cortical BF at intensities of 2T and 3T. The response at an intensity of 5T was reduced only by 30 mg/kg of L-NOArg to about half the control response. The reduced responses at 2T, 3T, and 5T were reversed following the i.v. administration of a physiological precursor of NO, L-arg (300 mg/kg). Inhalation of 10% CO2 for 15 s induced an increase in cortical BF which was not influenced by L-NOArg and L-Arg. These results suggest that NO is a necessary factor in the vasodilation of the cortical BF that is brought about by cholinergic fibers originating in the NBM.

Responses of regional cerebral blood flow to intravenous administration of thyrotropin releasing hormone in aged rats.

The effects of i.v. administration of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were examined in both healthy adult (3-5 months old) and healthy aged (24-25 months old) male Wistar rats under halothane anesthesia. The rCBFs in 9 different brain regions-cerebral cortex, caudate putamen, hippocampus, thalamus + hypothalamus, superior colliculus, inferior colliculus, cerebellum, pons, and medulla-were measured by [14C]iodoantipyrine method. In the adult rats, i.v. administration of TRH (300 micrograms/kg) produced significant increases in rCBFs in cerebral cortex, caudate putamen, hippocampus, thalamus + hypothalamus and superior colliculus. In the aged rats, the rCBFs in all brain regions measured did not change significantly by TRH administration. From these results, it is suggested that the system involved in TRH-induced vasodilatation of cerebral blood vessels was impaired with aging.

Neuroprotective effect of alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone in gerbil hippocampus is mediated by the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and heat shock proteins.

alpha-Phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN), a spin trap, is known as a protective agent against delayed-neuronal death after ischemia-reperfusion. To investigate this neuroprotective effect of PBN, we examined the effect of PBN on the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and the expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in the gerbil hippocampus following transient (5 min) ischemia. Immunoblot analysis revealed that intraperitoneal (i. p.) injection of PBN (200 mg/kg) enhanced the activation of extracellular-response kinase (ERK) and suppressed the activation of stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (SAPK/JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38) at 6 h after ischemia. Elevated levels of HSP27 and HSP70 were seen at the same period. These data suggest that PBN protects against delayed-neuronal death not only by its inherent radical-trapping activity but also by regulating the MAPK pathway and up-regulating HSPs.

Contribution of cholinergic vasodilators on the increase in cerebral cortical blood flow responses to the intravenous administration of thyrotropin releasing hormone in anesthetized rats.

The effect of an intravenous administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on the regional cerebral blood flow in the sensory cortex was studied in halothane-anesthetized adult Wistar rats. The regional cerebral blood flow was continuously monitored with the laser Doppler flowmetry. The cerebral blood flow increased dose-dependently following the administration of 3 x 10(2) and 3 x 10(3) microns/kg TRH. The systemic blood pressure also increased simultaneously. After maintaining the systemic blood pressure at a constant level via a pressure reservoir system, the TRH-induced increases in the cerebral blood flow continued to be observed. In atropinized animals, the blood pressure increased as high as that indicated in non-atropinized animals following TRH administration, but the responses of the cerebral blood flow in the latter were much attenuated. It was suggested that the cholinergic vasodilative system contributed to the TRH-induced increase in cerebral blood flow.

Stimulation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert increases cerebral cortical blood flow in rats.

Focal electrical stimulation of the magnocellular nucleus of the basal forebrain (nucleus basalis of Meynert; NBM) or a microinjection of L-glutamate (50 nmol) into the NBM increased cerebral cortical blood flow in the parietal lobe in urethane-anesthetized rats. The vasodilative responses were elicited only ipsilateral to the site of stimulation. Most of the vasodilative responses were abolished by intravenous administrations of muscarinic and nicotinic cholinergic blocking agents (atropine 0.5 mg/kg and mecamylamine 2 mg/kg). This suggests that the cholinergic projecting system sending fibers from the NBM to the parietal lobe contributes to the vasodilation of the cortex by activating muscarinic and nicotinic cholinergic receptors.

Responses of regional cerebral blood flow following focal electrical stimulation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert and the medial septum using the [14C]iodoantipyrine method in rats.

The effects of focal electrical stimulation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) and the medial septum (MS) on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) of the 14 brain regions were examined in halothane-anesthetized rats using the [14C]iodoantipyrine ([14C]IAP) method. The stimulation of the unilateral NBM (with parameters of 200 microA, 0.5 ms, 50 Hz for 60 s) produced significant increases in frontal, parietal and occipital cortical blood flows in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the stimulated NBM; no rCBFs in all other brain regions examined were influenced by the stimulation. The stimulation of the MS produced significant increases in bilateral hippocampal rCBFs, but rCBFs in other brain regions were not influenced by the stimulation. In summary, the response of increase in rCBF following focal electrical stimulation of the NBM or MS is restricted to regions that receive cholinergic nerve projections from the NBM or MS.

Stimulation of the septal complex increases local cerebral blood flow in the hippocampus in anesthetized rats.

The effects of focal stimulation, either electrically or chemically, of the septal complex (i.e. the medial septal nucleus and the nucleus of the diagonal band) on the local hippocampal cerebral blood flow (Hpc CBF) measured by laser Doppler flowmetry were examined in anesthetized rats. Electrical stimulation of the septal complex produced a current-dependent increase in Hpc CBF that was accompanied by an increase in extracellular acetylcholine (ACh) release in the hippocampus. Microinjection of L-glutamate (50-100 nmol) into the septal complex also produced an increase in Hpc CBF. The L-glutamate-induced vasodilative response of Hpc CBF was markedly attenuated after administration of nicotinic cholinergic blocking agent, mecamylamine (2 mg/kg, i.v.). It was suggested that the cholinergic septohippocampal nerve fibers act as an intracerebral vasodilative neural system by releasing ACh from the nerve terminals in the hippocampus and by activating the nicotinic cholinergic receptor.

The suppression of age-related accumulation of lipid peroxides in rat brain by administration of Rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis).

The protective effects of Rooibos tea (RT), Aspalathus linearis, against damage to the central nervous system (CNS) accompanying aging were examined by both the thiobarbituric acid reaction (TBA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods in brains of chronically RT-treated rats. Ad libitum administration of RT was begun with 3-month-old Wistar female rats and continued for 21 months. The contents of TBA reactive substances (TBARS) in the frontal cortex, occipital cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum in 24-month-old rats after administration with water were significantly higher than those in young rats (5 weeks old). However, no significant increase of TBARS was observed in RT-administered aged rats. When MR images of the brains of 24-month-old rats with and without RT as well as 5-week-old rats were taken, a decrease of the signal intensity was observed in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum in MR images of aged rats without RT, whereas little change of the signal intensity was observed in MR images of the same regions of 24-month-old rats treated with RT, whose images were similar to those of young rats. These observations suggested that (1) the age-related accumulation of lipid peroxides in the brain was closely related to the morphological changes observed by MRI, and (2) chronic RT-administration prevented age-related accumulation of lipid peroxides in several regions of rat brain.

alpha-Phenyl N-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) increases the cortical cerebral blood flow by inhibiting the breakdown of nitric oxide in anesthetized rats.

The effects of intravenous administration of alpha-phenyl N-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) on cortical cerebral blood flow (CBF) were examined in Wistar rats under pentobarbital anesthesia and artificial ventilation. The cortical CBF in parietal cortex was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry. Intravenous administrations of 2 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg of PBN dose-dependently produced significant increases in cortical CBF and decreases in systemic blood pressure (BP). To examine whether these increased responses in cortical CBF produced by PBN were associated with the vasodilatation system of nitric oxide (NO), the NO synthase inhibitor L-NG-nitroarginine (L-NOArg), which is an analog of L-arginine, was used to inhibit the NO-related-vasodilatative system. Since the PBN-induced responses in the cortical CBF were much attenuated in L-NOArg-treated rats (30 mg/kg, i.v.), it was inferred that NO-related vasodilatation was strongly associated with the PBN-induced increase in cortical CBF.

ESR detection of intraphagosomal superoxide in polymorphonuclear leukocytes using 5-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-5-methyl-l-pyrroline-N-oxide.

We applied a spin trap, 5-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-5-methyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DEPMPO), to detect O2*- generation during phagocytosis in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). PMNs were activated with serum-opsonized zymosan (sOZ) in the presence of DEPMPO. The ESR spectra mainly consisted of Cu,Zn-SOD-sensitive DEPMPO-OOH spin adducts. To clarify where these spin-adducts were present, cells after stimulation were separated from extracellular fluid by brief centrifugation and resuspended in Hanks' balanced salt solution. ESR examination showed that DEPMPO-OOH adducts were present in both fractions. When cells were stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), the DEPMPO-OOH was detected in extracellular fluid but not in the cell fraction. Furthermore, DEPMPO-OOH adducts were quickly converted into ESR-silent compounds by addition of cell lysate of PMNs. These results indicate that DEPMPO is useful to detect O2*- of extracellular space including the intraphagosome but not that of intracellular space in sOZ-stimulated phagocytes.