Evidence for intracellular superoxide formation following the exposure of guinea pig enterocytes to bleomycin.

Spin trapping of free radicals during the exposure of guinea pig enterocytes to bleomycin (BLM) was investigated using an in vitro cell suspension. The spin traps employed in this study were 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxide (DMPO) and 3,3-diethyl-5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxide (DEDMPO). The hydroxyl radical spin-trapped adduct 2-hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrrolidinyloxyl (DMPO-OH) was observed with DMPO. In the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), the only 2,2,5-trimethyl-1-pyrrolidinyloxyl (DMPO-CH3) observed was that expected from hydroxyl radical formation by the decomposition of the superoxide spin-trapped adduct 2-hydroperoxy-5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrrolidinyloxyl (DMPO-OOH). Production of hydroxyl radical was not detected in the presence of DEDMPO, which is a nitrone that will spin trap hydroxyl radical, but not superoxide, at cellular concentrations. Thus, these data indicate that superoxide was produced during the exposure of guinea pig enterocytes to BLM and that DMPO-OH resulted from the cellular bioreduction of DMPO-OOH by glutathione peroxidase. Addition of superoxide dismutase to the in vitro reaction mixture indicated that superoxide production was intracellular.

Direct measurement of nitroxide pharmacokinetics in isolated hearts situated in a low-frequency electron spin resonance spectrometer: implications for spin trapping and in vivo oxymetry.

The pharmacokinetics of two nitroxides were investigated in isolated rat hearts situated in a low-frequency electron spin resonance spectrometer. The spin labels 2,2,3,3,5,5-hexamethyl-1-pyrrolidinyloxy and 3-carboxy-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-pyrrolidinyloxy were chosen for their physiochemical analogy to the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) and its corresponding spin-trapped adduct, 2-hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrrolidinyloxy (DMPO-OH). The bioreductive rates of the two nitroxides were measured during constant perfusion as well as during ischemia and are discussed in terms of a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model. These data provide information necessary to the design and application of spin traps to detect oxy radicals during reperfusion of ischemic tissue and suggest the feasibility of monitoring free-radical processes in intact, functioning mammalian tissues by using a low-frequency electron spin resonance spectrometer.

Role of oxygen radicals in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced squamous differentiation of cultured normal human bronchial epithelial cells.

The tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) inhibits growth and induces terminal squamous differentiation of normal human bronchial cells when added to the culture media [J. C. Willey, A. J. Saladino, C. Ozanne, J. F. Lechner, and C. C. Harris, Carcinogenesis (lond.), 5: 209-215, 1984]. We have investigated the possibility of oxygen free radicals being involved as intermediates in this process. Electron paramagnetic resonance measurements using the spin-trapping agent 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxide failed to detect oxygen free radicals in bronchial epithelial cells exposed to TPA, although oxy radicals were detected in bronchial epithelial cells after a nontoxic exposure to menadione, and in human neutrophils after exposure to TPA. Addition to the culture media of free radical scavenger, i.e., reduced glutathione, N-acetylcysteine, D-alpha-tocopherol, copper (II) (3,5-diisopropylsalicyclic acid)2, or the combination of superoxide dismutase and catalase did not affect the dose-dependent growth inhibition of TPA on the bronchial epithelial cells. Moreover, exposure of the bronchial epithelial cells to TPA did not result in increased DNA single strand breaks measured by alkaline elution, as would be expected with a free radical mediated mechanism. Thus, our results argue against the importance of oxygen free radicals in the inhibition of growth and the induction of squamous differentiation by TPA in normal human bronchial epithelial cells.

Detection of free radicals as a consequence of rat intestinal cellular drug metabolism.

Because the intestine is the first pass organ for orally administered drugs and because some of these drugs are known to undergo oxidative metabolism leading to the formation of free radicals, we investigated the potential for this to occur in cell suspensions of rat enterocytes. As part of our study, the effect of intracellularly produced superoxide on cellular metabolism was investigated. The drugs chosen were the quinone, menadione and the aromatic nitro-containing compound, nitrazepam. On incubation of both drugs with isolated enterocytes and the spin trap, 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO), rapid appearance of an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum was recorded which was characteristic of hydroxyl radicals being spin trapped by DMPO giving 2,2-dimethyl-5-hydroxy-1-pyrrolidenyloxyl (DMPO-OH). Experiments were conducted which determined that the EPR spectrum of DMPO-OH resulted from the initial spin trapping of superoxide by DMPO to yield the corresponding nitroxide, 2,2-dimethyl-5-hydroxyl-1-pyrrolidenyloxyl (DMPO-OOH). Bioreduction of DMPO-OOH by glutathione peroxidase led to the rapid formation of DMPO-OH. We believe this enzymic pathway accounted for the EPR spectrum noted in incubations with either drug in the presence of the spin trap, DMPO. The incubation of enterocytes with both drugs did not mediate release of 51Cr nor lactate dehydrogenase. However, production of 14CO2 from [14C]glucose was severely inhibited (4-5-fold) in the presence of both drugs, while the incorporation of [14C]leucine into trichloroacetic acid precipitable protein was antagonized by menadione only. We conclude that superoxide can be demonstrated to arise as the result of enterocyte metabolism of menadione or nitrazepam. The consequence of oxidative metabolism of these drugs results in cellular dysfunction.

Studies on the role of oxygen radicals in asbestos-induced cytopathology of cultured human lung mesothelial cells.

The possible role of oxygen radicals in mediating the cytopathologic effects of asbestos was studied using human mesothelial cells in culture. Electron paramagnetic resonance measurements of intact cells using the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxide failed to detect any increase in oxygen radicals in mesothelial cells after exposure to amosite asbestos, although oxygen radicals were readily detected in cells exposed to menadione, an uncoupler of oxidation-reduction reactions. Cellular thiol levels were reduced after exposure to menadione, but were not affected by exposure to asbestos. Addition to the culture media of the free radical scavengers superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, N-acetylcysteine, or D-alpha-tocopherol had no affect on the dose-dependent cytotoxicity of amosite fibers. Furthermore, exposure of the mesothelial cells to amosite fibers resulted in no significant increase in the level of DNA single-strand breaks. These results all suggest that for cultured human mesothelial cells, oxygen free radicals are not important mediators of the cytopathic effect of asbestos.