ß-carotene treatment alters the cellular death process in oxidative stress-induced K562 cells.

Oxidizing agents (e.g., H2 O2 ) cause structural and functional disruptions of molecules by affecting lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. As a result, cellular mechanisms related to disrupted macro molecules are affected and cell death is induced. Oxidative damage can be prevented at a certain point by antioxidants or the damage can be reversed. In this work, we studied the cellular response against oxidative stress induced by H2 O2 and antioxidant-oxidant (ß-carotene-H2 O2 ) interactions in terms of time, concentration, and treatment method (pre-, co-, and post) in K562 cells. We showed that co- or post-treatment with ß-carotene did not protect cells from the damage of oxidative stress furthermore co- and post-ß-carotene-treated oxidative stress induced cells showed similar results with only H2 O2 treated cells. However, ß-carotene pre-treatment prevented oxidative damage induced by H2 O2 at concentrations lower than 1,000 µM compared with only H2 O2 -treated and co- and post-ß-carotene-treated oxidative stress-induced cells in terms of studied cellular parameters (mitochondrial membrane potential [Δψm ], cell cycle and apoptosis). Prevention effect of ß-carotene pre-treatment was lost at concentrations higher than 1,000 µM H2 O2 (2-10 mM). These findings suggest that ß-carotene pre-treatment alters the effects of oxidative damage induced by H2 O2 and cell death processes in K562 cells.

K562 cells display different vulnerability to H2O2 induced oxidative stress in differing cell cycle phases.

Oxidative stress can be defined as the increase of oxidizing agents like reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, or the imbalance between the antioxidative defense mechanism and oxidants. Cell cycle checkpoint response can be defined as the arrest of the cell cycle functioning after damaging chemical exposure. This temporary arrest may be a period of time given to the cells to repair the DNA damage before entering the cycle again and completing mitosis. In order to determine the effects of oxidative stress on several cell cycle phases, human erytroleukemia cell line (K562) was synchronized with mimosine and genistein, and cell cycle analysis carried out. Synchronized cells were exposed to oxidative stress with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at several concentrations and different times. Changes on mitochondria membrane potential (ΔΨm) of K562 cells were analyzed in G1, S, and G2 /M using Rhodamine 123 (Rho 123). To determine apoptosis and necrosis, stressed cells were stained with Annexin V (AnnV) and propidium iodide (PI) for flow cytometry. Changes were observed in the ΔΨm of synchronized and asynchronized cells that were exposed to oxidative stress. Synchronized cells in S phase proved resistant to the effects of oxidative stress and synchronized cells at G2 /M phase were sensitive to the effects of H2O2 -induced oxidative stress at 500 µM and above.

Characterization of Lin⁻ALDH (bright) population using Ehrlich ascites tumor cells in mice.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs)/tumor initiating cells have been shown to exist in recent studies; however, it is challenging to isolate these cells. The latest evidence suggests that elevated aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity is a hallmark of CSCs. In this study, mice implanted with Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) cells were used to isolate cancer stem cells. Femoral bone marrow aspirations were performed 15 days after the injection of EAT cells and Lin(-)ALDH(bright) and Lin(-)ALDH(low) cell populations were isolated. Lin(-)ALDH(bright) cells isolated from EAT-bearing mice accounted for 11.08 ± 10.52 % of all the Lin(-) cell population. Analysis of hematopoietic stem cell markers showed that Sca-1, c-kit, and CD38 were expressed higher in the Lin(-)ALDH(bright) population compared with Lin(-)ALDH(low). The Lin(-)ALDH(bright) population expressed P-glycoprotein, a product of the multidrug resistance (MDR) gene. P-gp activity measured by rhodamine 123 (Rh123) and blocked by verapamil. Among the cells treated with doxorubicin for 48 h, the Lin(-)ALDH(bright) cell groups were more resistant and had higher overexpression of Bcl-2 protein than Lin(-)ALDH(low).

Clinical significance of serum ADP-ribosylation and NAD glycohydrolase activity in patients with colorectal cancer.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of serum ADP-ribosylation and NAD glycohydrolase activity in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). A total of 108 patients with CRC who underwent curative surgery and 20 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. ADP-ribosylation and NAD glycohydrolase activity levels were determined. The association of ADP-ribosylation and NAD glycohydrolase with clinical and laboratory factors and their impact on overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) were shown. The preoperative ADP-ribosylation and NAD glycohydrolase activity levels were significantly higher in patients with CRC than in the control group (p<0.001). ADP-ribosylation and NAD glycohydrolase activity levels were correlated with tumor stage (p=0.05, p=0.001), stage of disease (p<0.001, p<0.001), serum CEA level (p<0.001, p<0.001), and site of lesion (p<0.001, p<0.001), respectively. Patients with high ADP-ribosylation had significantly unfavorable OS and DFS compared with those with lower levels (p<0.001, p<0.001), respectively. Moreover, the patients with high NAD glycohydrolase activity showed significantly worse OS and DFS rates, similar to ADP-ribosylation. Serum levels of ADP-ribosylation and NAD glycohydrolase activity correlate well with tumor stage, stage of disease, serum CEA level, and site of lesion. In conclusion, elevated levels of preoperative ADP-ribosylation and NAD glycohydrolase levels in serum are associated with poor prognosis in patients with CRC.

Purification of NAD+ glycohydrolase from human serum.

In the present study, NAD+ glycohydrolase was purified from serum samples collected from healthy individuals using ammonium sulfate fractionation, Affi-Gel blue (Cibacron Blue F3GA) affinity chromatography, Sephadex G-100 column chromatography and isoelectric focusing. The final step was followed by a second Sephadex G-100 column chromatography assay in order to remove the ampholytes from the isoelectric focusing step. In terms of enhancement of specific activity, the NAD+ glycohydrolase protein was purified ∼480-fold, with a yield of 1% compared with the initial serum fraction. The purified fraction appeared to be homogeneous, with a molecular weight of 39 kDa, as revealed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis, and also corresponded to the soluble (monomeric) form of surface antigen CD38.

Isolation of hematopoietic stem cells and the effect of CD38 expression during the early erythroid progenitor cell development process.

The aim of this study was to investigate changes in primitive hematopoietic cells through CD38 expression, identify the stage at which erythrocyte differentiation CD38 gains activity and the effects of serum factors on this expression by establishing a hematopoietic stem cell system in the erythroid development process. Using an immunomagnetic labeling and separation technique, CD34(+) cells were selected from cord blood. The CD34(+) cells were cultured in a 2 mM L-glutamine-enriched medium containing erythropoietin (Epo), penicillin-streptomycin and stem cell factor (SCF), and were incubated in 5% CO(2) at 37°C. In erythroid development pathways following CD38 expression, primitive/progenitor human hematopoietic cells obtained from cord blood were assessed through the erythroid development process in a serum-free medium in the presence of proper SCF and Epo. At the end of the 26-day process, using staining with a Megacult-c staining kit, it was determined that progenitor cells nucleate and differentiate into erythroid cell lines of 8-10 µm. During the course of this process, we analyzed increases over time in NAD glycohydrolase activity rates using the supernatant liquid samples. Results of co-culture experiments in cell culture studies showed that the stimulating effects of CD38 expression originate from specific serum factors. CD38 expression has been shown to occur at hematopoietic cell sources as well as at a number of differentiation levels. In the proliferation process the possible induction of CD38 through specific serum factors leads us to conclude that it may be involved in proliferation with a physiological task or that it may be involved in an event, such as an apoptotic process.

The cytotoxic effect of diphtheria toxin on the actin cytoskeleton.

Diphtheria toxin (DT) and its N-terminal fragment A (FA) catalyse the transfer of the ADP-ribose moiety of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) into a covalent linkage with eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2). DT-induced cytotoxicity is versatile, and it includes DNA cleavage and the depolymerisation of actin filaments. The inhibition of the ADP-ribosyltransferase (ADPrT) activity of FA did not affect the deoxyribonuclease activity of FA or its interaction with actin. The toxin entry rate into cells (HUVEC) was determined by measuring the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. DT uptake was nearly 80% after 30 min. The efficiency was determined as K(m) = 2.2 nM; V(max) = 0.25 pmol.min(-1). The nuclease activity was tested with hyperchromicity experiments, and it was concluded that G-actin has an inhibitory effect on DT nuclease activity. In the presence of DT and mutant of diphtheria toxin (CRM197), F-actin depolymerisation was determined with gel filtration, WB and fluorescence techniques. In the presence of DT and CRM197, 60-65% F-actin depolymerisation was observed. An in vitro FA-actin interaction and F-actin depolymerisation were reported in our previous paper. The present study thus confirms the depolymerisation of actin cytoskeleton in vivo.

On diphtheria toxin fragment A release into the cytosol--cytochalasin D effect and involvement of actin filaments and eukaryotic elongation factor 2.

Diphtheria toxin has been well characterized in terms of its receptor binding and receptor mediated endocytosis. However, the precise mechanism of the cytosolic release of diphtheria toxin fragment A from early endosomes is still unclear. Various reports differ regarding the requirement for cytosolic factors in this process. Here, we present data indicating that the distribution of actin filaments due to cytochalasin D action enhances the retention of diphtheria toxin in early endosomes. Treating cells with cytochalasin D reduces the cytosolic fragment A activity and leads to changes in the intracellular distribution and size of early endosomes with toxin cargo. F-actin and eukaryotic elongation factor 2 can promote fragment A release from toxin-loaded early endosomes in an in vitro translocation system. Moreover, these proteins bind to toxin-loaded early endosomes in vitro and promote each other's binding. They are thus thought to be involved in the cytosolic release of fragment A. Finally, ADP-ribosylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 is shown to inhibit fragment A release and, via a feed-back mechanism, to account for the minute amounts of fragment A normally found in the cytosol.

CD38 expression as response of hematopoietic system to cancer.

Erythrocyte and lymphocyte NAD(+) glycohydrolase levels were previously found to be elevated in cancer patients. These results were confirmed in an animal model. The administration of live Ehrlich ascites tumor cells to BALB/c mice led to increases in erythrocyte and lymphocyte NAD(+) glycohydrolase, along with tumor development. Serum samples, ascites fluid from mice with developed tumors, serum samples from cancer patients and Ehrlich cell supernatants had a similar stimulatory effect when administered to mice or when incubated with peripheric lymphocytes in culture. These increases were accompanied by the appearance of an anti-CD38 reactive band of 45 kDa in SDS-PAGE/Western blot analyses of erythrocyte ghost and lymphocyte membrane proteins. The results, supported by flow cytometry data, support previous clinical findings that an enhancement in CD38 expression occurs in the hematopoietic system during proliferative processes. Moreover, they suggest that CD38 expression is triggered at least in part by a certain cytokine(s) secreted by cancer cells. Finally, the results emphasize the prospective use of CD38 expression as a marker of tumor development and progression.

Interaction of diphtheria toxin (fragment A) with actin.

It was shown by gel filtration and viscosity measurements that N-terminal fragment (FA) of diphtheria toxin (DT) can interact with both G- and F-actin (filamentous actin). Elution profiles on Sephadex G-100 indicated the formation of a binary complex of fragment A (FA) with globular actin monomer (G-actin), which was inhibited by gelsolin. Deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) in turn appeared to interact with this complex. Tritiated FA was found to bind to F-actin stoichiometrically. This binding was inhibited again by gelsolin and G-actin, but not by DNase I. The binding of FA inhibited polymerization of G-actin and induced a time-dependent breakdown of F-actin under polymerization conditions. Inhibition of its ADP-ribosyltransferase activity did not have any effect on the interactions of FA with actin. FA interacted with actin also in the cell. After treatment of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with biotin-labeled DT, Western blot analysis revealed predominantly the presence of actin in affinity-isolated complexes of the labeled FA. Similarly, FA was found in immunoaffinity-isolated complexes of actin.

Erythrocyte CD38 as a prognostic marker in cancer.

BACKGROUND: Surface antigen CD38 which is a multifunctional protein with enzymatic and receptorial properties is involved in many processes of cell proliferation and activation. It is widely expressed within the hematopoetic system, and its expression is stimulated by proinflammatory cytokines. CD38-associated enzymatic activities in erythrocytes from cancer patients were investigated in this context. METHODS: Erythrocyte NAD glycohydrolase and ADP-ribosyl cyclase activities in normal individuals and cancer patients were compared and correlation of these activities to CEA values and anemia were determined. Changes in CD38-expression were followed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis of erythrocyte membrane proteins. RESULTS: Erythrocyte NAD glycohydrolase and ADP-ribosyl cyclase activities were significantly increased in cancer, in parallel to enhancement of CD38 expression and in correlation with CEA values and anemia. CONCLUSIONS: An increased expression of CD38 which may be due to action of proinflammatory cytokines produced in tumor-host reactions appears to account for the elevations in erythrocyte CD38-associated enzyme activities in cancer patients. The changes in these enzyme activities may provide a prognostic outlook in view of their apparently close correlation to tumor progressions.

Endogenous ADP-ribosylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 and its 32 kDa tryptic fragment.

Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF-2) can undergo ADP-ribosylation in the absence of diphtheria toxin. The binding of free ADP-ribose and endogenous transferase-dependent ADP-ribosylation were distinct reactions for eEF-2, as indicated by different findings. Incubation of eEF-2 tryptic fragment 32/33 kDa (32F) with NAD was ADP-ribosylated and gave rise to the covalent binding of ADP-ribose to eEF-2. 32F was revealed to be at the C-terminal by Edman degradation sequence analysis. In our study, the elution of 32F from SDS-PAGE was ADP-ribosylated both in the presence and absence of diphtheria toxin. These results suggest that endogenous ADP-ribosylation of 32F might be related to protein synthesis. This modification appears to be important for the cell function.

Endogenous ADP-ribosylation for eukaryotic elongation factor 2: evidence of two different sites and reactions.

Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 can undergo ADP-ribosylation in the absence of diphtheria toxin under the action of an endogenous transferase. The investigation which aimed to gain insight into the nature of endogenous ADP-ribosylation revealed that this reaction may be, in some cases, due to covalent binding of free ADP-ribose to elongation factor 2. Binding of free ADP-ribose, and NAD- and endogenous transferase-dependent ADP-ribosylation were suggested to be distinct reactions by different findings. Free ADP-ribose could bind to elongation factor 2 previously subjected to ADP-ribosylation by diphtheria toxin or endogenous transferase. The binding of free ADP-ribose was inhibited by neutral NH2OH, L-lysine and picrylsulfonate, whereas endogenous ADP-ribosyltransferase was inhibited by NAD glycohydrolase inhibitors and L-arginine. The ADP-ribosyl-elongation factor 2 adduct which formed upon binding of free ADP-ribose was resistant to neutral NH2OH, but decomposed almost completely upon treatment with NaOH. The product of endogenous transferase-dependent ADP- ribosylation was partially resistant to NH2OH and NaOH treatment. Moreover, this reaction was reversed in the presence of diphtheria toxin and nicotinamide. Both types of endogenous ADP-ribosylation gave rise to inhibition of polyphenylalanine synthesis. This study thus provides evidence for the presence of two different types of endogenous ADP-ribosylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2. The respective sites involved in these reactions are distinct from one another as well as from diphthamide, the site of attack by diphtheria toxin.

Effect of oxidative stress on in vivo ADP-ribosylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2.

Different lines of evidence indicate that eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) can be ADP-ribosylated endogenously. The physiological significance of this reaction has, however, remained unclarified. In order to address this issue we investigated the in vivo ADP-ribosylation of eEF2 and the effect of oxidative stress thereon. The investigation revealed that the endogenous ADP-ribosylation of eEF2 is complex and can take place in K562 cell lysates either under the action of endogenous transferase from [adenosine-14C]NAD or by direct binding of free [14C]ADP-ribose. These two types of ADP-ribosylation were distinguished by use of different treatments based on the chemical stability of the respective bonds formed. Under standard culture conditions, in vivo labeling of eEF2 in the presence of [14C]adenosine was reversed to about 65% in the presence of diphtheria toxin and nicotinamide. This finding implied that the modification that took place under physiological circumstances was, mainly, of an enzymic nature. On the other hand, H2O2-promoted oxidative stress gave rise to a nearly two-fold increase in the extent of in vivo labeling of eEF2. This was accompanied by a loss of eEF2 activity in polypeptide chain elongation. Oxidative stress specifically inhibited the subsequent binding of free ADP-ribose to eEF2. The results thus provide evidence that endogenous ADP-ribosylation of eEF2 can also take place by the binding of free ADP-ribose. This nonenzymic reaction appears to account primarily for in vivo ADP-ribosylation of eEF2 under oxidative stress.

NAD glycohydrolase activities and ADP-ribose uptake in erythrocytes from normal subjects and cancer patients.

Erythrocytes from cancer patients exhibited up to fivefold higher NAD glycohydrolase activities than control erythrocytes from normal subjects and also similarly increased [14C] ADP-ribose uptake values. When [adenosine-14C] NAD was used instead of free [14C] ADP-ribose, the uptake was dependent on ecto-NAD glycohydrolase activity. This was reflected in the inhibition of ADP-ribose uptake from [adenosine-14C] NAD by Cibacron Blue. ADP-ribose uptake in erythrocytes appeared to be complex: upon incubation with free [14C] ADP-ribose, the radiolabel associated with erythrocytes was located in nearly equal parts in cytoplasm and plasma membrane. Part of [14C] ADP-ribose binding to the membrane was covalent, as indicated by its resistance to trichloroacetic acid-treatment. A preincubation with unlabeled ADP-ribose depressed subsequent erythrocyte NAD glycohydrolase activity and binding of [14C] ADP-ribose to erythrocyte membrane; but it failed to inhibit the transfer of labeled ADP-ribose to erythrocyte cytoplasm. On the other hand, incubation with [adenosine-14C] NAD did not result in a similar covalent binding of radiolabel to erythrocyte membrane. In line with this finding, a preincubation with unlabeled NAD was not inhibitory on subsequent NAD glycohydrolase reaction and ADP-ribose binding. ADP-ribose binding and NAD glycohydrolase activities were found also in solubilized erythrocyte membrane proteins and, after size fractionation, mainly in a protein fraction of around 45kDa-molecular weight.

Actin--an inhibitor of eukaryotic elongation factor activities.

An inhibitor of diphtheria toxin- and endogenous transferase-dependent ADP-ribosylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) has been found in the cytoplasmic fraction from rat liver. We provide evidence that this cytoplasmic inhibitor corresponds to actin, which gives rise also to inhibition of polyphenylalanine (polyPhe) synthesis. Both globular monomeric (G-actin) and filamentous (F-actin) forms of actin appear to be inhibitory on the action of elongation factors 1 and 2 (eEF1 and eEF2) in polyPhe synthesis with the inhibitory effect of G-actin proving to be stronger. Some component(s) in the postribosomal supernatant (S-130) fraction and also DNase I prevent actin-promoted inhibition of polyPhe synthesis.