Light-activated tissue bonding for excisional wound closure: a split-lesion clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Apposition of wound edges by sutures provides a temporary scaffold and tension support for healing. We have developed a novel tissue-sealing technology, photoactivated tissue bonding (PTB), which immediately crosslinks proteins between tissue planes, thereby sealing on a molecular scale. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of PTB for superficial closure of skin excisions and to compare the results with standard epidermal suturing. METHODS: A split-lesion, paired comparison study of 31 skin excisions was performed. Following deep closure with absorbable sutures, one-half of each wound was superficially closed with nonabsorbable nylon sutures while the other half was stained with Rose Bengal dye and treated with green light. Overall appearance and scar characteristics were rated at 2weeks and 6months in a blinded manner by three dermatologists viewing photographs, by two onsite physicians and by patients. RESULTS: At 2weeks, neither sutured nor PTB-treated segments showed dehiscence; however, PTB-sealed segments showed less erythema than sutured segments as determined by photographic (P=0·001) and onsite evaluations (P=0·005). Overall appearance after PTB was judged better than after sutures (P=0·002). At 6months, scars produced by PTB were deemed superior to scars resulting from sutures in terms of appearance (P<0·001), width (P=0·002) and healing (P=0·003). Patients were more satisfied with the appearance of the PTB-sealed wound half after 2weeks and 6months (P=0·013 and P=0·003, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A novel molecular suturing technique produces effective wound sealing and less scarring than closure with nylon interrupted epidermal sutures. Comparisons with better suturing techniques are warranted.

In vivo evaluation of demyelination and remyelination in a nerve crush injury model.

Nerves of the peripheral nervous system have, to some extent, the ability to regenerate after injury, particularly in instances of crush or contusion injuries. After a controlled crush injury of the rat sciatic nerve, demyelination and remyelination are followed with functional assessments and imaged both ex vivo and in vivo over the course of 4 weeks with video-rate coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy. A new procedure compatible with live animal imaging is developed for performing histomorphometry of myelinated axons. This allows quantification of demyelination proximal and remyelination distal to the crush site ex vivo and in vivo respectively.

Factors influencing sunless tanning with dihydroxyacetone.

BACKGROUND: Sunless tanning preparations have been used for more than 50 years and are still very popular because they provide temporary pigmentation resembling an ultraviolet-induced tan. The pigment is the product of reactions between dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and amino acids in the stratum corneum. OBJECTIVES: To understand the factors that influence the reactions of DHA with amino acids in the stratum corneum with the ultimate goal of producing pigmentation with greater photoprotection. METHODS: The influence of hydration and/or oxygen on the development of DHA-induced pigment was assessed in vivo using an occlusive dressing and ex vitro on human epidermal preparations. Two spectroscopic techniques, diffuse reflectance and fluorescence emission, were used to monitor the extent of pigment development. The optimal relative humidity for DHA-induced pigmentation was assessed on the epidermal preparations. The formation of products from reactions between DHA and nine amino acids was studied in solutions buffered at pH 5 and 7. RESULTS: Development of DHA-induced pigmentation was inhibited by a 24-h occlusive dressing but appeared after its removal, indicating that DHA was still present. High hydration but not the absence of oxygen inhibited coloration of occluded skin. The extent of pigmentation did not vary in a simple manner with hydration, as pigment formation was positively correlated with humidity from 0 to 75% but negatively correlated from 75 to 100%. Lysine, glycine and histidine reacted most rapidly with DHA, with reaction rates greater at pH 7 than at pH 5. The products absorbed with maxima at wavelengths up to 340 nm. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that extent of hydration, pH and availability of certain amino acids influence the development of DHA-induced pigmentation in the stratum corneum and suggest that manipulation of these factors might produce pigmentation with greater photoprotection.

Protein kinase C inhibits singlet oxygen-induced apoptosis by decreasing caspase-8 activation.

Although activation of protein kinase C (PKC) inhibits apoptosis induced by a variety of stimuli including singlet oxygen, the step at which PKC activation interferes with apoptotic signaling is not well defined. We have shown previously that caspase-8 and p38 mediate singlet oxygen-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells. In this study, we investigated the influence of PKC on regulation of the caspase and p38 pathways initiated by singlet oxygen. Singlet oxygen induced Fas clustering and subsequent recruitment of FADD and caspase-8. Treatment of cells with the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a PKC activator, did not affect the binding of caspase-8 to the aggregated Fas. Surprisingly, under the same conditions PKC activation was still able to prevent singlet oxygen-induced activation of caspase-8 and block its downstream signaling events including cleavage of Bid and caspase-3, decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. Inhibition of PKC by GF109203 or H7 counteracted the TPA-mediated effects on the cleavage of caspases -3 and -8. However, neither activation nor inhibition of PKC affected p38 phosphorylation. These data indicate that PKC inhibits singlet oxygen-induced apoptosis by blocking activation of caspase-8.

Influence of cytokines on matrix metalloproteinases produced by fibroblasts cultured in monolayer and collagen gels.

BACKGROUND: Extracellular matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are crucial factors involved in connective tissue remodeling that accompanies ultraviolet radiation-induced actinic damage. This study investigated whether the cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, and IL-10 modulate the expression of MMPs in cultured human newborn skin fibroblasts. METHODS: Different concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-10 were added to human dermal fibroblasts grown in monolayers or embedded in three-dimensional (3D) collagen gels, a model closer to skin. Supernatant from the fibroblast cell culture was collected 24 hours later. The concentrations of MMP-1 and MMP-3 were assaysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) while the concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were analysed by zymography. RESULTS: Basal production of MMPs was significantly greater in fibroblasts grown in 3D gels than in cells grown as monolayers. TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta induced increases in the concentrations of MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9, but not in MMP-2 or tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 or -2. The inducibility of MMP secretion is more significant in 3D gels. IL-10 did not significantly modulate MMPs. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that basal concentrations of MMPs are higher in fibroblasts cultured in 3D gels and their response to cytokines is different to that of cells grown as monolayers. Cytokines can increase the collagenolytic and gelatinolytic activity involved in extracellular matrix remodeling and hence contribute to photoaging.

Singlet oxygen, but not oxidizing radicals, induces apoptosis in HL-60 cells.

Oxidizing species (OS), produced by photosensitization or derived from cytotoxic agents, activate apoptotic pathways. We investigated whether two different OS, formed at the same subcellular sites, have equivalent ability to initiate apoptosis in HL-60 cells. Our previous work showed that absorption of visible light by rose bengal (RB) produces singlet oxygen exclusively, whereas absorption of ultraviolet A produces RB-derived radicals in addition to singlet oxygen. Singlet oxygen, but not the RB-derived radicals, induced nuclear condensation and DNA fragmentation into nucleosome-size fragments in a dose dependent manner. In contrast, the RB-derived radicals caused greater lipid oxidation than singlet oxygen. These results indicate that different OS, produced at the same subcellular sites, do not have the same ability to induce apoptosis and that the ability of an OS to initiate lipid oxidation does not necessarily correlate with its ability to induce apoptosis.

Photochemical keratodesmos for repair of lamellar corneal incisions.

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of photochemical keratodesmos (PKD) for closing surgical incisions in the cornea of enucleated rabbit eyes compared with that achieved using sutures and self-sealing incisions. METHODS: A 3.5-mm incision, at an angle parallel to the iris, was made in the cornea of enucleated New Zealand White rabbit eyes. The intraocular pressure required to cause leakage (IOP(L)) from the untreated incision was then recorded. Photochemical keratodesmos treatment was then performed by application of a dye, Rose Bengal (RB), in saline solution to the surfaces of the incision wound, followed by laser irradiation at 514 nm from an argon ion laser. Immediately after treatment, the IOP(L) was measured. Both dose and laser irradiance dependencies were studied in five or more eyes for each condition and appropriate control eyes. The IOP(L)s were compared with those obtained using conventional interrupted 10-0 nylon sutures. Other dyes were tested in a similar fashion. RESULTS: The IOP(L) of 300 mm Hg was obtained using a fluence of 1270 J/cm(2) with an irradiance of 1.27 W/cm(2) (laser exposure time, 16 minutes 40 seconds). No sealing was observed using dye or light alone where control pressures of approximately 30 mm Hg were found. At higher dose (1524 J/cm(2)) and irradiance (3.82 W/cm(2); 6 minutes 35 seconds), PKD was less effective, which may be attributable to thermal effects. PKD produced IOP(L)s similar to those in closure by sutures. Other dyes such as riboflavin-5-phosphate and N:-hydroxy-pyridine thione also produced efficient bonding after PKD. Nonphotochemically active dyes did not produce significant increases in the IOP(L) at which leakage occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in IOP(L) after PKD treatment, comparable with that with sutures, in enucleated rabbit eyes demonstrates the feasibility of this technique ex vivo.

Reactive oxidizing species produced near the plasma membrane induce apoptosis in bovine aorta endothelial cells.

Many cytotoxic agents initiate apoptosis by generating reactive oxidizing species (ROS). The goal of this study was to determine whether apoptosis could be induced by initial reactions of ROS near the plasma membrane. Bovine aorta endothelial cells (BAEC) were illuminated with evanescent wave visible radiation, which has limited penetration into the basal surface of cells, or by trans-radiation. Imaging of fluorescent dyes localizing in the plasma membrane, mitochondria, or nucleus confirmed that evanescent wave radiation excited only dyes in and near the plasma membrane. Singlet oxygen, an ROS generated by photosensitization, has a very short lifetime, ensuring that it oxidizes molecules residing in or very close to the plasma membrane when evanescent wave radiation is used. Cells with condensed nuclei were considered apoptotic and were quantified after treatment with varying doses of light. Annexin V staining without propidium iodide staining confirmed that these cells were apoptotic. The doses required to induce apoptosis using evanescent wave radiation were 10-fold greater than those needed for trans-irradiation. Quantitative analysis of the evanescent wave penetration into cells supports a mechanism in which the singlet oxygen created near the plasma membrane, rather than at intracellular sites, was responsible for initiation of apoptosis.

Photosensitized production of singlet oxygen.

Photosensitization is a simple and controllable method for the generation of singlet oxygen in solution and in cells. Methods are described for determining the yield of singlet oxygen in solution, for measurement of the rate of reaction between singlet oxygen and a substrate, and for comparing the effectiveness of singlet oxygen generated by different photosensitizers in cells. These quantitative measurements can lead to better understanding of the interaction of singlet oxygen with biomolecules.

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase mediates bid cleavage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and caspase-3 activation during apoptosis induced by singlet oxygen but not by hydrogen peroxide.

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase is activated and involved in cleavage of caspase-3 during apoptosis induced by a number of stimuli. However, the signaling events triggered by p38 that result in caspase-3 activation are still unknown. In human leukemia cells, two reactive oxygen species, singlet oxygen and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), selectively stimulated the phosphorylation of p38. Preincubation of cells with SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38, dose dependently inhibited DNA fragmentation induced by singlet oxygen but not by H(2)O(2). Protection from apoptosis by SB203580 correlated with inhibition of caspase-3, and several events that are associated with caspase-3 activation, including Bid cleavage, decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, whereas caspase-8 cleavage was not affected by this inhibitor. In contrast, blockade of caspase-8 with Ile-Glu-Thr-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone is sufficient to prevent formation of DNA fragments and to inhibit all the above signaling events, with exception of p38 phosphorylation, in both singlet oxygen- and H(2)O(2)-treated cells. These data suggest that caspase-3 activation is regulated through redundant signaling pathways that involve p38 and caspase-8 acting upstream of Bid during singlet oxygen-induced apoptosis, whereas the activation of caspase-3 by H(2)O(2) is only governed by a caspase-8-mediated apoptotic pathway.

Apoptosis induced by dithiothreitol in HL-60 cells shows early activation of caspase 3 and is independent of mitochondria.

Previous studies have shown that under certain conditions some thiol-containing compounds can cause apoptosis in a number of different cell lines. Herein, we investigated the apoptotic pathways in HL-60 cells triggered by dithiothreitol (DTT), used as a model thiol compound, and tested the hypothesis that thiols cause apoptosis via production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) during thiol oxidation. The results show that, unlike H2O2, DTT does not induce apoptosis via a mitochondrial pathway. This is demonstrated by the absence of early cytochrome c release from mitochondria into the cytosol, the lack of mitochondrial membrane depolarization at early times, and the minor role of caspase 9 in DTT-induced apoptosis. The first caspase activity detectable in DTT-treated cells is caspase 3, which is increased significantly 1 - 2 h after the start of DTT treatment. This was shown by following the cleavage of both a natural substrate, DFF-45/ICAD, and a synthetic fluorescent substrate, z-DEVD-AFC. Cleavage of substrates of caspases 2 and 8, known as initiator caspases, does not start until 3 - 4 h after DTT exposure, well after caspase 3 has become active and at a time when apoptosis is in late stages, as shown by the occurrence of DNA fragmentation to oligonucleosomal-sized pieces. Although oxidizing DTT can produce H2O2, data presented here indicate that DTT-induced apoptosis is not mediated by production of H2O2 and occurs via a novel pathway that involves activation of caspase 3 at early stages, prior to activation of the common 'initiator' caspases 2, 8 and 9.

Chronic photodamage in skin of mast cell-deficient mice.

Solar elastosis is a hallmark of photoaged human skin and a prominent feature in experimentally produced photoaging in murine skin. The products of mast cells have been implicated in the development of photoaged skin. We evaluated whether products from mast cells mediate chronic UVB-induced changes in murine skin by employing a strain of mast cell-deficient mice, WWv. The responses in these mice were compared to those in BALB/c, another albino mouse strain. Mice were exposed three times per week to UVB radiation for 11 weeks; the total dose was 18.8 J/cm2. Irradiated WWv mice showed greater epidermal alterations than the irradiated BALB/c mice. In the dermis, a 3.6-fold increase in elastin content, as measured by desmosine, was produced in the UVB-treated BALB/c mice; in contrast, no difference was observed in elastin between UVB-treated and untreated WWv mice. Collagen content was not increased by UVB treatment in either strain, and the glycosaminoglycan content increased a similar amount in UVB-treated mice in both strains. The number of mast cells increased two-fold and the number of neutrophils increased six-fold in UVB-treated BALB/c mice compared to age-matched unirradiated controls. Neutrophils, as well as mast cells, were absent in untreated and UVB-treated WWv mouse skin. These results suggest that products of mast cells are important in the development of solar elastosis in murine skin either by directly inducing elastin production by fibroblasts or indirectly by mediating the presence of other cell types that produce products that increase fibroblast elastin production.

Caspase-8 mediates caspase-3 activation and cytochrome c release during singlet oxygen-induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells.

We reported previously that singlet oxygen, generated by irradiation of rose bengal with visible light, induced apoptosis in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. However, the mechanism of apoptosis caused by this reactive oxygen species is unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that singlet oxygen induced caspase-3 activation and Z-DEVD-FMK, a caspase-3 inhibitor, blocked apoptosis induction, while caspase-1 activity was not detectable and the caspase-1 inhibitor Z-YVAD-FMK had a very limited effect on apoptosis. This suggests that the activation of caspase-3 by singlet oxygen is essential for the commitment of cells to undergo apoptosis. Further studies showed that singlet oxygen induced an increase in caspase-8 activity and a reduction in mitochondrial cytochrome c. Time course analysis indicated that the cleavage of caspase-8 precedes that of caspase-3. In addition, blockade of caspase-8 by Z-IETD-FMK inhibited cleavage of pro-caspase-3 and prevented loss of mitochondrial cytochrome c. These results suggest that caspase-8 mediates caspase-3 activation and cytochrome c release during singlet oxygen-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells.

The effects of radicals compared with UVB as initiating species for the induction of chronic cutaneous photodamage.

There is substantial evidence that ultraviolet radiation induces the formation of reactive oxygen species which are implicated as toxic intermediates in the pathogenesis of photoaging. The aim of this study was to determine whether repeated topical treatment with benzoyl peroxide, a source of free radicals, produced the same cutaneous effects as chronic ultraviolet B radiation. Three concentrations of benzoyl peroxide (0.1, 1.5, 5.0% wt/wt) and three cumulative fluences of ultraviolet B radiation (0.9, 2.2, 5.1 J per cm2) used alone and in all combinations along with appropriate controls. Female SKH1 (hr/hr) albino hairless mice were treated 5 d per wk for 12 wk. Extracellular matrix molecules and histologic parameters were assessed. Ultraviolet B radiation induced a fluence-dependent and time-dependent increase in skin-fold thickness. Fluence dependence was seen for epidermal thickness, sunburn cell numbers, dermal thickness, glycosaminoglycan content, mast cell numbers, and skin-fold thickness. Benzoyl peroxide treatment alone caused less marked increases in epidermal and dermal measures compared with ultraviolet B under the conditions used. A benzoyl peroxide concentration-dependent increase was only observed for elastin content, although the highest concentration of benzoyl peroxide increased epidermal thickness and glycosaminoglycan content. A synergistic interaction between ultraviolet B and benzoyl peroxide was not found. These results indicate that repeated administration of benzoyl peroxide produces skin changes in the hairless mouse that qualitatively resemble those produced by ultraviolet B and suggest that common mechanisms may be involved. In addition, any potential synergistic effect of ultraviolet B and benzoyl peroxide was below the level of detection used in this study.

Photoaddition to DNA by nonintercalated chlorpromazine molecules.

Chlorpromazine (CPZ) forms photoadducts with DNA and photosensitizes DNA strand breaks. These reactions may be responsible for the reported photomutagenicity of CPZ and for the well-known cutaneous and ocular phototoxicity associated with this drug. We have investigated whether CPZ molecules that are intercalated between base pairs in double-stranded (ds) DNA are the absorbing species for the photoaddition reaction. Quenching of CPZ fluorescence by ds-DNA gave nonlinear Stern-Volmer plots, indicating that more than one type of complex is formed. Linear dichroism spectra of CPZ in the presence of ds-DNA showed a minimum at 345 nm, indicating that the absorption maxima of intercalation complex(es) are red-shifted compared to the absorption maximum of free CPZ at 307 nm. The sum of the absorption of all CPZ complexes with ds-DNA, obtained from dialysis experiments, was broadened and maximized at about 315 nm, indicating that complexes not involving intercalation dominate the absorption spectrum at lambda < 350 nm. The wavelength dependence for covalent binding of CPZ to DNA was determined by irradiating 3H-CPZ in the presence of ds-DNA at 310, 322, 334, 346, 358 and 370 nm. The resulting spectrum correlated closely with the absorption spectrum of nonintercalated CPZ rather than with the spectrum of intercalated CPZ, indicating that the latter species is not the chromophore for the photoaddition reaction.

Activation of protein kinase C is required for protection of cells against apoptosis induced by singlet oxygen.

We evaluated the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in the regulation of apoptosis triggered by singlet oxygen. Activation of PKC by short-term 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) treatment inhibited apoptosis, whereas inhibition of PKC with several inhibitors potentiated this process. The antiapoptotic effect of TPA was accompanied by phosphorylation of extracelluar signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). Pretreatment of cells with MEK inhibitor, PD98059, inhibited TPA-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and the cytoprotective ability of TPA. These results suggest that activation of PKC in HL-60 cells confers protection against apoptosis induced by singlet oxygen and that ERK1/2 mediates antiapoptotic signaling of PKC.

Endogenous skin fluorescence includes bands that may serve as quantitative markers of aging and photoaging.

Aging and photoaging cause distinct changes in skin cells and extracellular matrix. Changes in hairless mouse skin as a function of age and chronic UVB exposure were investigated by fluorescence excitation spectroscopy. Fluorescence excitation spectra were measured in vivo, on heat-separated epidermis and dermis, and on extracts of mouse skin to characterize the absorption spectra of the emitting chromophores. Fluorescence excitation spectra obtained in vivo on 6 wk old mouse skin had maxima at 295, 340, and 360 nm; the 295 nm band was the dominant band. Using heat separated tissue, the 295 nm band predominantly originated in the epidermis and the bands at 340 and 360 nm originated in the dermis. The 295 nm band was assigned to tryptophan fluorescence, the 340 nm band to pepsin digestable collagen cross-links fluorescence and the 360 nm band to collagenase digestable collagen cross-links fluorescence. Fluorescence excitation maxima remained unchanged in chronologically aged mice (34-38 wk old), whereas the 295 nm band decreased in intensity with age and the 340 nm band increased in intensity with age. In contrast, fluorescence excitation spectra of chronically UVB exposed mice showed a large increase in the 295 nm band compared with age-matched controls and the bands at 340 and 350 nm were no longer distinct. Two new bands appeared in the chronically exposed mice at 270 nm and at 305 nm. These reproducible changes in skin autofluorescence suggest that aging causes predictable alterations in both epidermal and dermal fluorescence, whereas chronic UV exposure induces the appearance of new fluorphores.

Benzoyl peroxide increases UVA-induced plasma membrane damage and lipid oxidation in murine leukemia L1210 cells.

Ultraviolet A radiation induces oxidative stress and cell damage. The purpose of this investigation was to examine whether ultraviolet A-induced cell injury was amplified by the presence of a non-ultraviolet A absorbing molecule capable of generating free radicals. Benzoyl peroxide was used as a lipid soluble potential radical-generating agent. Plasma membrane permeability assessed by trypan blue uptake was used to measure cell damage in murine leukemia L1210 cells. Cells were irradiated with a pulsed Nd/YAG laser at 355 nm using 0-160 J per cm2. The ratio of the fluence-response slope in the presence of 40 microM benzoyl peroxide to that of irradiated controls was 4.3 +/- 2.6. Benzoyl peroxide alone or benzoyl peroxide added after irradiation did not cause increased trypan blue uptake. The ratio of the fluence-response slopes in the presence of 40 microM benzoyl peroxide to that of irradiated controls was 4.7 +/- 1.4 when cells were irradiated (0-43 J per cm2) with a xenon lamp, filtered to remove wavelengths <320 nm. The increased trypan blue uptake in 355 nm-irradiated cells in the presence of benzoyl peroxide was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by butylated hydroxytoluene, vitamin E, and trolox, a water-soluble vitamin E derivative. Lipid oxidation, assessed as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, was significantly increased in samples irradiated with ultraviolet A in the presence of benzoyl peroxide at fluences >34 J per cm2. The increased trypan blue uptake and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were inhibited by butylated hydroxytoluene. These results suggest that agents not absorbing ultraviolet A radiation may enhance ultraviolet A-initiated oxidative stress in cells.

Electron transfer quenching of the rose bengal triplet state.

The potential for electron transfer quenching of rose bengal triplet (3RB2-) to compete with energy transfer quenching by oxygen was evaluated. Rate constants for oxidative and reductive quenching were measured in buffered aqueous solution, acetonitrile and in small unilamellar liposomes using laser flash photolysis. Biologically relevant quenchers were used that varied widely in structure, reduction potential and charge. Radical ion yields (phi i) were measured by monitoring the absorption of the rose bengal semireduced (RB.3-) and semioxidized (RB.-) radicals. The results in solution were analyzed as a function of the free energy for electron transfer (delta G) calculated using the Weller equation including electrostatic terms. Exothermic oxidative quenching was about 10-fold faster than exothermic reductive quenching in aqueous solution. The quenching rate constants decreased as delta G approached zero in both aqueous and acetonitrile solution. Exceptions to these generalizations were observed that could be rationalized by specific steric or electrostatic effects or by a change in mechanism. The results suggest that electron transfer reactions with some potential quenchers in cells could compete with formation of singlet oxygen [O2(1 delta g)]. Values of phi i were generally greater for reductive quenching and, for oxidative quenching, greater in acetonitrile than in buffer. Electron transfer quenching of 3RB2- in liposomes, below the phase transition temperature was slower than in solution for both lipid-soluble and water-soluble quenchers indicating that these reactions may not compete with formation of O2(1 delta g) during cell photosensitization.

Cell damage induced by Angiovist-370 and 308nm excimer laser radiation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Radiographic contrast media containing iodine-labeled organic compounds can be present in the irradiated field during laser angioplasty using 308 nm excimer laser radiation. These compounds absorb light at 308 nm and may undergo photochemical reactions that produce products that damage cells. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was undertaken to determine whether photoproducts that damage human lymphocytes in vitro are formed when Angiovist 370 (AV), a contrast medium containing triiodinated aromatic compounds, is exposed to 308 nm radiation. RESULTS: The absorption spectrum of AV developed a new peak at 360 nm that extended to wavelengths greater than 500 nm when dilute AV solutions were exposed to 308 nm radiation indicating that photoproducts were formed. Irradiating dilute AV solutions above a layer of human lymphocytes caused a dose-dependent decrease in thymidine incorporation using fluence rates between 5.2 x 10(6) and 1.0 x 10(8) W/cm2. Decreased DNA synthesis was independent of the pulse length (10 ns vs. 230 ns) but was lower, at a given dose, when the highest fluence rate was used. Incubation of lymphocytes with preirradiated AV solutions also decreased incorporation of thymidine in a radiation dose-dependent manner. The cell damaging photoproducts in preirradiated AV solutions were unstable; within 15 min, the effectiveness had decreased by approximately 85%. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that exposure of AV to 308 nm excimer laser radiation produces photochemical products that damage human cells in vitro.