NADH-Cytochrome b5 Reductase 3 Promotes Colonization and Metastasis Formation and Is a Prognostic Marker of Disease-Free and Overall Survival in Estrogen Receptor-Negative Breast Cancer.

Metastasis is the main cause of cancer-related deaths and remains the most significant challenge to management of the disease. Metastases are established through a complex multistep process involving intracellular signaling pathways. To gain insight to proteins central to specific steps in metastasis formation, we used a metastasis cell line model that allows investigation of extravasation and colonization of circulating cancer cells to lungs in mice. Using stable isotopic labeling by amino acids in cell culture and subcellular fractionation, the nuclear, cytosol, and mitochondria proteomes were analyzed by LC-MS/MS, identifying a number of proteins that exhibited altered expression in isogenic metastatic versus nonmetastatic cancer cell lines, including NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase 3 (CYB5R3), l-lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), Niemann-pick c1 protein (NPC1), and nucleolar RNA helicase 2 (NRH2). The altered expression levels were validated at the protein and transcriptional levels, and analysis of breast cancer biopsies from two cohorts of patients demonstrated a significant correlation between high CYB5R3 expression and poor disease-free and overall survival in patients with estrogen receptor-negative tumors (DFS: p = .02, OS: p = .04). CYB5R3 gene knock-down using siRNA in metastasizing cells led to significantly decreased tumor burden in lungs when injected intravenously in immunodeficient mice. The cellular effects of CYB5R3 knock-down showed signaling alterations associated with extravasation, TGFß and HIFα pathways, and apoptosis. The decreased apoptosis of CYB5R3 knock-down metastatic cancer cell lines was confirmed in functional assays. Our study reveals a central role of CYB5R3 in extravasation/colonization of cancer cells and demonstrates the ability of our quantitative, comparative proteomic approach to identify key proteins of specific important biological processes that may also prove useful as potential biomarkers of clinical relevance. MS data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD001391.

Purified NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase is a novel superoxide anion source inhibited by apocynin: sensitivity to nitric oxide and peroxynitrite.

Cytochrome b5 reductase (Cb5R) is a pleiotropic flavoprotein that catalyzes multiple one-electron reduction reactions with various redox partners in cells. In earlier work from our laboratory, we have shown its implication in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), primarily a superoxide anion overshoot peak, which plays a major role as a triggering event for the acceleration of apoptosis in cerebellar granule neurons in culture. However, the results obtained in that work did not allow us to exclude the possibility that this superoxide anion production could be derived from Cb5R acting in concert with other cellular components. In this work, we have purified Cb5R from pig liver and we have experimentally shown that this enzyme catalyzed NADH-dependent production of superoxide anion, assayed with cytochrome c and nitroblue tetrazolium as detection reagents for this particular ROS. The basic kinetic parameters for this novel NADH-dependent activity of Cb5R at 37°C are Vmax = 3.0 ± 0.5 µmol/min/mg of purified Cb5R and KM(NADH) = 2.8 ± 0.3 µM NADH. In addition, we report that apocynin, a widely used inhibitor of nonmitochondrial ROS production in mammalian cell cultures and tissues, is a potent inhibitor of purified Cb5R activity at the concentrations used in the experiments done with cell cultures. In the presence of apocynin the KM(NADH) value of Cb5R increases, and docking simulations indicate that apocynin can bind to a site near to or partially overlapping the NADH binding site of Cb5R. Other ROS, such as nitric oxide and peroxynitrite, have inhibitory effects on purified Cb5R, providing the basis for a feedback cellular protection mechanism through modulation of excessive extramitochondrial superoxide anion production by Cb5R. Both kinetic assays and docking simulations suggest that nitric oxide-induced nitrosylation (including covalent adduction of nitroso functional groups) of Cb5R cysteines and peroxynitrite-induced tyrosine nitration and cysteine oxidation modified the conformation of the NADH binding domain leading to a decreased affinity of Cb5R for NADH.

In vitro effects of myricetin, morin, apigenin, (+)-taxifolin, (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, naringenin and naringin on cytochrome b5 reduction by purified NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase.

The microsomal NADH-dependent electron transport system consisting of cytochrome b5 reductase and cytochrome b5 participates in a number of physiologically important processes including lipid metabolism as well as is involved in the metabolism of various drug and xenobiotics. In the present study, we assessed the inhibitory effects of eight dietary flavonoids representing five distinct chemical classes on cytochrome b5 reduction by purified cytochrome b5 reductase. From the flavonoids tested, myricetin was the most potent in inhibiting cytochrome b5 reduction with an IC50 value of 0.35µM. Myricetin inhibited b5 reductase noncompetitively with a Ki of 0.21µM with respect to cofactor NADH, and exhibited a non-linear relationship indicating non-Michaelis-Menten kinetic binding with respect to cytochrome b5. In contrast to the potent inhibitory activity of myricetin, (+)-taxifolin was found to be a weak inhibitor (IC50=9.8µM). The remaining flavonoids were inactive within the concentration range tested (1-50µM). Analysis of structure-activity data suggested that simultaneous presence of three OH groups in ring B is a primary structural determinant for a potent enzyme inhibition. Our results suggest that inhibition of the activity of this system by myricetin or myricetin containing diets may influence the metabolism of therapeutic drugs as well as detoxification of xenobiotics.

Inhibitory effects of dietary flavonoids on purified hepatic NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase: structure-activity relationships.

The structure-activity relationships of flavonoids with regard to their inhibitory effects on NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase (E.C. 1.6.2.2), a clinically and toxicologically important enzyme, are not known. In the present study, the inhibitory effects of fourteen selected flavonoids of variable structure on the activity of purified bovine liver cytochrome b5 reductase, which shares a high degree of homology with the human counterpart, were investigated and the relationship between structure and inhibition was examined. Of all the compounds tested, the flavone luteolin was the most potent in inhibiting b5 reductase with an IC50 value of 0.11 µM, whereas naringenin, naringin and chrysin were inactive within the concentration range tested. Most of the remaining flavonoids (morin, quercetin, quercitrin, myricetin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, (-)-epicatechin, and (+)-catechin) produced a considerable inhibition of enzyme activity with IC50 values ranging from 0.81 to 4.5 µM except apigenin (36 µM), rutin (57 µM) and (+)-taxifolin (IC50 not determined). The magnitude of inhibition was found to be closely related to the chemical structures of flavonoids. Analysis of structure-activity data revealed that flavonoids containing two hydroxyl groups in ring B and a carbonyl group at C-4 in combination with a double bond between C-2 and C-3 produced a much stronger inhibition, whereas substitution of a hydroxyl group at C-3 was associated with a less inhibitory effect. The physiologically relevant IC50 values for most of the flavonoids tested regarding b5 reductase inhibition indicate a potential for significant flavonoid-drug and/or flavonoid-xenobiotic interactions which may have important therapeutic and toxicological outcomes for certain drugs and/or xenobiotics.

Role of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and cytochrome-b5/NADH-b5 reductase in variability of CYP3A activity in human liver microsomes.

NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) and cytochrome-b(5) (b(5)) together with NADH-b(5) reductase (b(5)R) play important roles in cytochrome P450 3A-mediated drug metabolism via electron transfer. However, it is not clear whether variability in expression of these accessory proteins contributes to the known interindividual variability in CYP3A activity. CPR and b(5) were measured in human liver microsomes (HLMs) by spectrophotometry and immunoblotting. HLMs from elderly (>or=46 years) male donors (n=11) averaged 27% (P=0.034) and 41% (P=0.011) lower CPR levels than young (

[Metabolism of nicousamide in rat and human liver in vitro].

This paper is aimed to study the metabolic kinetics of nicousamide in rat liver microsomes and cytosol and to identify the major metabolite and drug metabolizing enzymes involved in the metabolism of nicousamide in rat and human liver microsomes by selective inhibitors in vitro. The concentration of nicousamide was determined by HPLC-UV method. The metabolite of nicousamide in rat and human liver microsomes was isolated and identified by LC-MS/MS. The major metabolite of nicousamide in rat and human liver microsomes was identified to be 3-(3'-carboxy-4'-hydroxy-anilino-carbo-)-6-amino-7-hydroxy-8-methyl-coumarin (M1). The metabolite of nicousamide in rat plasma, urine, bile and liver was consistent with M1. The metabolism of nicousamide can be catalyzed by several reductases, including CYP450 reductases, cytochrome b5 reductases and CYP2C6 in rat liver microsomes, as well as xanthine oxidase and DT-diaphorase in rat liver cytosol.

NADH cytochrome b5 reductase and cytochrome b5 catalyze the microsomal reduction of xenobiotic hydroxylamines and amidoximes in humans.

Hydroxylamine metabolites, implicated in dose-dependent and idiosyncratic toxicity from arylamine drugs, and amidoximes, used as pro-drugs, are metabolized by an as yet incompletely characterized NADH-dependent microsomal reductase system. We hypothesized that NADH cytochrome b5 reductase and cytochrome b5 were responsible for this enzymatic activity in humans. Purified human soluble NADH cytochrome b5 reductase and cytochrome b5, expressed in Escherichia coli, efficiently catalyzed the reduction of sulfamethoxazole hydroxylamine, dapsone hydroxylamine, and benzamidoxime, with apparent Km values similar to those found in human liver microsomes and specific activities (Vmax) 74 to 235 times higher than in microsomes. Minimal activity was seen with either protein alone, and microsomal protein did not enhance activity other than additively. All three reduction activities were significantly correlated with immunoreactivity for cytochrome b5 in individual human liver microsomes. In addition, polyclonal antibodies to both NADH cytochrome b5 reductase and cytochrome b5 significantly inhibited reduction activity for sulfamethoxazole hydroxylamine. Finally, fibroblasts from a patient with type II hereditary methemoglobinemia (deficient in NADH cytochrome b5 reductase) showed virtually no activity for hydroxylamine reduction, compared with normal fibroblasts. These results indicate a novel direct role for NADH cytochrome b5 reductase and cytochrome b5 in xenobiotic metabolism and suggest that pharmacogenetic variability in either of these proteins may effect drug reduction capacity.

Effects of chronic exposure to cadmium on renal cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase system in rats.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of chronic exposure to cadmium (Cd) on the renal cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase system. For this purpose, male Wistar rats were intoxicated with Cd administered in drinking water at a concentration of 5 or 50 mg Cd/l for 6, 12 and 24 weeks. Concentrations of cytochrome P450 and cytochrome b(5) as well as activities of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and NADH-cytochrome b(5) reductase were determined in the kidney microsomal fraction. Protein content of CYP1A1, CYP2E1 and CYP3A1 cytochrome P450 isoforms was evaluated as well. In the rats exposed to 5 mg Cd/l, the concentration of cytochrome P450 decreased (by 41%) after 24 weeks of the experiment. The activity of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase decreased (by 24%) after 6 and 12 weeks, whereas after 24 weeks it remained unchanged, compared with the control group. Moreover, a decrease in the concentration of cytochrome b(5) (by 25, 15 and 26% at 6, 12 and 24 weeks, respectively) and the activity of its NADH reductase (by 26 and 31% at 6 and 24 weeks, respectively) was noted in these animals. At the exposure to 50 mg Cd/l, the concentrations of cytochrome P450 and cytochrome b(5) and the activities of their corresponding reductases were decreased at each time-point. Western blot analysis revealed that all isoforms of cytochrome P450 studied were affected by Cd and the effect was dependent on the level and the duration of exposure. The results of this study indicate that chronic exposure to Cd in a dose- and time-dependent manner affects the kidney cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase system by decreasing the concentrations of cytochrome P450 and cytochrome b(5) and inhibiting the activities of their corresponding reductases. The effect of Cd on the cytochrome P450 content is associated with its ability to stimulate or inhibit of various P450 isoforms. A very important finding of this study is that Cd affects the kidney cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase system at relatively low exposure and low kidney Cd accumulation (2.40+/-0.15 microg/g). As the experimental model used reflects human exposure to Cd, we conclude that Cd can affect the kidney cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase system in environmentally exposed humans. Previously we have reported disorders in the system in the liver of rats at the same levels of exposure as in this study. Thus, we hypothesize that the metabolism and detoxification of many substances, including xenobiotics, may be seriously affected in Cd-exposed subjects.

Cadmium and vanadate oligomers effects on methaemoglobin reductase activity from Lusitanian toadfish: in vivo and in vitro studies.

Cadmium and two vanadate solutions as 'metavanadate' (containing ortho and metavanadate species) and 'decavanadate' (containing decameric species) (5 mM) were injected intraperitoneously in Halobatrachus didactylus (Lusitanian toadfish), in order to evaluate the effects of cadmium and oligomeric vanadate species on methaemoglobin reductase activity from fish red blood cells. Following short-term exposure (1 and 7 days), different changes were observed on enzyme activity. After 7 days of exposure, 'metavanadate' increased methaemoglobin reductase activity by 67% (P < 0.05), whereas, minor effects were observed on enzymatic activity upon cadmium and 'decavanadate' administration. However, in vitro studies indicate that decameric vanadate, in concentrations as low as 50 microM, besides strongly inhibiting methaemoglobin reductase activity, promotes haemoglobin oxidation to methaemoglobin. Although decameric vanadate species showed to be unstable in the different media used in this work, the rate of decameric vanadate deoligomerization is in general slow enough, making it possible to study its effects. It is concluded that the increase in H. didactylus methaemoglobin reductase activity is more pronounced upon exposition to 'metavanadate' than to cadmium and decameric species. Moreover, only decameric vanadate species promoted haemoglobin oxidation, suggesting that vanadate speciation is important to evaluate in vivo and in vitro effects on methaemoglobin reductase activity.

A simple and rapid evaluation of methemoglobin toxicity of 8-aminoquinolines and related compounds.

Methemoglobin, a toxic ferric form of hemoglobin, is continuously formed in normal erythrocytes, but during abnormal situations in situ, the level is enhanced. 8-Amino-quinolines and related compounds are causative agents for methemoglobin formation. Employing oxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin toxicity was about six times higher with primaquine compared to CDRI Compound 80/53 at 10(-9) M concentration. Methemoglobin reductase activity was also completely inhibited by primaquine, whereas 24% inhibition was noted in the case of 80/53 at the same concentrations. Mastomys, a rodent animal model, was found to be equally good for comparative evaluation of methemoglobin toxicity. Further, with the use of primaquine transdermal tape on the Mastomys model, a rise in methemoglobin occurred with increase in time. In conclusion, the study presents simple, economical, less time-consuming methods for the evaluation of methemoglobin toxicity, in vitro and in vivo, without employing the conventional Beagle dog model.

Synthesis of bisquinolines and their in vitro ability to produce methemoglobin in canine hemolysate.

Synthesis of a number of derivatives of bisquinolines (3-9) have been reported here. Effect of these compounds on in vitro methemoglobin formation and methemoglobin reductase activity has resulted in the identification of two potential compounds (5 & 7), showing negligible methemoglobin toxicity.

In vitro haematotoxic effects of three methylated hydroxylamines.

Hydroxylamine (HYAM, HONH2) and some of its derivatives are known to cause erythrotoxic effects both in vitro and in vivo. Previous studies have shown that the primary in vitro effect of HYAM and O-ethyl hydroxylamine (OEH) is methaemoglobin formation, leading to liberation of free radicals which cause lipid peroxidation, enzyme inhibitions and glutathione depletion. By contrast, N-substituted N,O-dimethyl hydroxylamine (NODMH), primarily induces impairment of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and glutathione reductase (GR). The oxidative potency of HYAM and the O-derivative was larger than the potency of the N,O-derivative. This seemed to indicate that attachment of an alkyl group to the nitrogen atom of hydroxylamine leads to decreased reactivity. To achieve a better understanding of the structure activity relationship for hydroxylamines three methylated derivatives were tested: N-methyl hydroxylamine (NMH). N-dimethyl hydroxylamine (NDMH) and O-methyl hydroxylamine (OMH). We were also interested in the erythrotoxic potency of OMH which recently entered industrial production. Methaemoglobin formation, high release of lipid peroxidation products, inhibition of NADPH methaemoglobin reductase and glutathione S-transferase (GST) and depletion of total glutathione (GT) were seen for OMH. The reducing enzymes G6PDH and GR were not impaired by OMH. These findings for OMH are consistent with the proposed mechanism for O-derivatives. Since both the effects caused by OMH and its potency are comparable to those of HYAM and OEH this indicates that possible occupational exposure to this compound may be approached similarly to HYAM and OEH. NMH only inhibited G6PDH and GR activity, which is fully in accord with the proposed mechanism for N-substituted derivatives of HYAM. However, NDMH a double N-substituted compound, caused a strikingly different scheme of reactivity inhibition of G6PDH but not of GR, severe methaemoglobin formation, only little lipid peroxidation and some impairment of NADPH methaemoglobin reductase. This study confirms that O-derivatives of HYAM are potent haemoglobin oxidators, leading to other oxidative effects. The main effect was confirmed for single N-derivatives as inhibition of the two protective enzymes G6PDH and GR. However, the results for NDMH indicate that this simple classification of O-derivatives and N-derivatives has to be extended for double N-substituted compounds which give a mixture of effects.

An improved pharmacodynamic model for formation of methemoglobin by antimalarial drugs.

The widely used 8-aminoquinoline antimalarial group of compounds and the derivatives such as WR242511 that are being developed for possible prophylactic anticyanide applications have complex interactions with erythrocytes. Methemoglobin (MetHb) levels following the use of this drug predicted by earlier authors grossly deviated from the observed steady state levels under multiple-dose conditions. We propose a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model to characterize literature data for blood levels of MetHb generated after administration of WR242511. The model is based on an indirect mechanism involving WR242511 putative metabolite concentration, Cm on the formation of MetHb (rate constant, kr) and on depletion of reducing equivalents leading to accumulation of MetHb. Eventual depletion of MetHb is modeled as related to the disposition of both the drug metabolite and MetHb. The rate of change of MetHb concentration in the blood under the influence of a dose of WR242511 in dogs was governed by this relationship: d[MetHb]/d(t) = kr.Cm.[Hb]-kh.[MetHb], where kr is 2.9 x 10(-5) ml.ng-1.hr-1 and kh is 0.0418 hr-1. This model was validated with multiple-dose data. The model is simple and compatible with the physiological behavior of MetHb in vivo under single-dose and multiple-dose conditions of WR242511 administration.

Inhibition of NADH-methemoglobin reductase by organic phosphates.

The organic phosphate allosteric effectors of hemoglobin, inositol hexaphosphate, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, and ATP, interact with NADH-methemoglobin reductase (NADH-diaphorase). Significant inhibitory effects on the enzyme were found when dichlorophenolindophenol, or ferricyanide were used as electron acceptors in place of methemoglobin. In contrast, apparent stimulation of enzyme activity was observed when adult human methemoglobin was used as the electroganic phosphate on the rate of reaction due to its interaction with the substrate methemoglobin to produce the favored T type of quaternary conformation. The inhibitory effect of inositol hexaphosphate on the enzyme is associated with a perturbation in the reactivity of essential sulfhydryl group(s) on the enzyme. It is suggested that the interaction of the organic phosphate with the enzyme as well as with the substrate is significant in determining the overall rate of methemoglobin reduction.

Methemoglobin reductase: inactivation and protection against inactivation during disc gel electrophoresis.

Methemoglobin reductase was found to be inactivated during electrophoresis on ammonium persulfate polymerized polyacrylamide gels. Hemoglobin in various states of ligation offers protection from inactivation. Thiols such as dithiothreitol also offer protection but the effect due to hemoglobin is not provided by its sulfhydryl groups.