Interaction of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa secretory products pyocyanin and pyochelin generates hydroxyl radical and causes synergistic damage to endothelial cells. Implications for Pseudomonas-associated tissue injury.

Pyocyanin, a secretory product of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, has the capacity to undergo redox cycling under aerobic conditions with resulting generation of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. By using spin trapping techniques in conjunction with electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry (EPR), superoxide was detected during the aerobic reduction of pyocyanin by NADH or porcine endothelial cells. No evidence of hydroxyl radical formation was detected. Chromium oxalate eliminated the EPR spectrum of the superoxide-derived spin adduct resulting from endothelial cell exposure to pyocyanin, suggesting superoxide formation close to the endothelial cell plasma membrane. We have previously reported that iron bound to the P. aeruginosa siderophore pyochelin (ferripyochelin) catalyzes the formation of hydroxyl free radical from superoxide and hydrogen peroxide via the Haber-Weiss reaction. In the present study, spin trap evidence of hydroxyl radical formation was detected when NADH and pyocyanin were allowed to react in the presence of ferripyochelin. Similarly, endothelial cell exposure to pyocyanin and ferripyochelin also resulted in hydroxyl radical production which appeared to occur in close proximity to the cell surface. As assessed by 51Cr release, endothelial cells which were treated with pyocyanin or ferripyochelin alone demonstrated minimal injury. However, endothelial cell exposure to the combination of pyochelin and pyocyanin resulted in 55% specific 51Cr release. Injury was not observed with the substitution of iron-free pyochelin and was diminished by the presence of catalase or dimethyl thiourea. These data suggest the possibility that the P. aeruginosa secretory products pyocyanin and pyochelin may act synergistically via the generation of hydroxyl radical to damage local tissues at sites of pseudomonas infection.

Manganese superoxide dismutase in normal and transformed human embryonic lung fibroblasts.

The manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) activity of W138 human embryonic lung fibroblasts and SV40-transformed WI38 cells was measured. Under various growth conditions, the transformed cells always had lower MnSOD activity than their normal cell counterparts. The activity of MnSOD changes greatly with the growth conditions in the WI38 cells, while the MnSOD activity in the tumor cells remained more constant. The amount of immunoreactive MnSOD was measured by Western blotting. In all cases studied, the amount of immunoreactive MnSOD was lower in the transformed cells than in the normal cells.

Stable H2O2-resistant variants of Chinese hamster fibroblasts demonstrate increases in catalase activity.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-resistant variants of the Chinese hamster ovary HA-1 line have been derived by culturing cells in progressively higher concentrations of H2O2 (greater than 200 days, in 50-800 microM H2O2). The H2O2-resistant phenotype has been stable for over 60 passages (240 days) following removal from the H2O2 stress. The resistant cells demonstrate both increased capacity to deplete exogenously added H2O2 from the growth medium and increased catalase activity. H2O2 resistance correlates well with catalase activity. An increase in chromosome number occurred in the cells adapted to 200-800 microM H2O2, but increases in aneuploidy and tetraploidy were not necessary for resistance. These results suggest that adaptation to chronic oxidative stress mediated by H2O2 in mammalian cells is accompanied by a stable heritable change in expression of catalase activity.

Immunogold analysis of antioxidant enzymes in human renal cell carcinoma.

Analysis of activities of the antioxidant enzyme manganese superoxide dismutase in human renal cell carcinomas often showed greatly altered enzyme levels (either elevated or depressed) compared to the cell of origin, the kidney proximal tubule. In order to better understand the variability observed, immunogold studies were performed on human renal cell carcinomas using a polyclonal antibody to human kidney manganese superoxide dismutase. For comparison, studies were also performed using antibodies to other antioxidant enzymes. For histologic studies, renal cell carcinomas were subclassified on the basis of light microscopy and ultrastructural analysis into clear cell, granular cell, or mixed clear and granular cell variants. In all three types of tumor, immunogold studies showed little staining using antibodies to copper, zinc superoxide dismutase or glutathione-dependent enzymes. However, intensity of labeling for manganese superoxide dismutase and catalase depended on the cell type(s) in the tumor. Clear cell variants demonstrated trace staining for manganese superoxide dismutase and catalase, while granular cell variants exhibited heavy staining for both of these enzymes. Mixed types of tumors showed clear cells with trace staining for all antioxidant enzymes examined, while granular cells again showed intense labeling for manganese superoxide dismutase and catalase. Using normal kidney proximal tubule as a comparison, immunogold ultrastructural analysis using antibody to manganese superoxide dismutase demonstrated infrequent small lightly labeled mitochondria in clear cell variants, while granular cell variants exhibited numerous medium-sized heavily labeled mitochondria. These data suggest that: 1) the variability in activity values for manganese superoxide dismutase may be due to heterogeneity of cell types in these tumors and 2) manganese superoxide dismutase immunoreactive protein was elevated in granular cells both because of an increase in number of mitochondria and because the labeling density in mitochondria was increased compared to mitochondria in clear cell types or in normal proximal tubular cells.

Superoxide dismutase and media dependence of far-UV radiation resistance in thiol-treated cells.

Pretreatment of wild-type Escherichia coli K12 cells with dithiothreitol (DTT) induces far-UV radiation resistance after the thiol is removed (Claycamp 1988). The present study shows that a 1 h treatment of cells with DTT in minimal medium followed by a 0.5 h incubation in buffer (37 degrees C) results in a dose reduction factor (DRF) calculated at F37 of 1.81. When the thiol pretreatment was in rich medium, sensitization occurs with DRF = 0.729. This sensitization could be reversed to protection by inhibiting extracellular thiol oxidation in rich medium with the chelator, DETAPAC, such that the thiol oxidation rate was equivalent to that of DTT in minimal medium. Both thiol-induced resistance and sensitization produced changes predominantly in the shoulders of the survival curves. Furthermore, for either protection or sensitization, at least one form of endogenous superoxide dismutase (SOD) was required: in SOD-deficient cells (sodAsodB) the DRFs were 1.08 and 0.882 for minimal and rich media, respectively. These results suggest that different targets are involved in thiol-induced UV protection and sensitization: DNA and extracellular targets (e.g. the membrane), respectively. The results augment observations of alternate and multiple repair pathways inducible by oxygen radicals and may help understanding non-physicochemical thiol protection mechanisms.

Evidence for the existence of a surface receptor for ferriclactoferrin and ferrictransferrin associated with the plasma membrane of the protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani.

Previous work has demonstrated the ability of the promastigote form of the protozoan parasite Leishmania chagasi to utilize iron chelated to lactoferrin and transferrin for growth and metabolism. We have obtained evidence suggesting that the promastigote form of the parasite possesses specific binding sites for lactoferrin and transferrin. Lactoferrin binding appears to be: 1) independent of whether or not the protein contains iron; 2) not inhibited by transferrin; and 3) independent of whether the organism is in log or stationary phase of growth. Transferrin binding is: 1) markedly greater if the protein is iron loaded; 2) inhibited by the presence of lactoferrin; and 3) independent of whether the organism is in log or stationary growth phase. Preliminary ligand blot analyses are consistent with the presence of a protein or proteins which bind lactoferrin and/or transferrin. The relationship to these binding sites to those described in other protozoan species requires further investigation.

Preventing postpartum hemorrhage in low-resource settings.

OBJECTIVES: To review the literature to determine the most effective methods for preventing postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), the single most important cause of maternal death worldwide. METHODS: Systematic review of published randomized controlled trials and relevant reviews. RESULTS: Review of the literature confirms that active management of the third stage of labor, especially the administration of uterotonic drugs, reduces the risk of PPH due to uterine atony without increasing the incidence of retained placenta or other serious complications. Oxytocin is the preferred uterotonic drug compared with syntometrine, but misoprostol also can be used to prevent hemorrhage in situations where parenteral medications are not available (e.g. at home births in developing countries). CONCLUSIONS: The use of active management of the third stage of labor to prevent PPH due to uterine atony should be expanded, especially in developing country settings.

Ability of induced corpora lutea to maintain pregnancy in beef cows.

Experiments were conducted in beef cows without a primary CL, in which pregnancy had been maintained with exogenous progestogen. In preliminary trials, replacement CL induced ipsilateral to the embryo and after, rather than before, d 36 of pregnancy, maintained more pregnancies after withdrawal of exogenous progestogen (13/13 vs 2/6; P < 0.05). In Exp. 1, in cows with replacement CL induced by treatment with hCG on d 28 of pregnancy, treatment with flunixin meglumine on d 31 through 37 did not increase maintenance of pregnancy. Experiment 2 was conducted to evaluate directly the effects of concentrations of PGF2alpha and estradiol-17beta during d 31 through 35 of pregnancy on maintenance of pregnancy by replacement CL induced between d 28 and 31. In cows that maintained pregnancy while progestogen was provided, maintenance of pregnancy after withdrawal of exogenous progestogen tended to be greater with high (5/5) than with low (2/6; P < 0.10) concentrations of PGF2alpha and greater with low (6/7) than with high (2/6; P = 0.10) concentrations of estradiol-17beta. Secretion of progesterone by replacement CL was greater (P < 0.05) in cows with high than in those with low concentrations of PGF2, during d 31 through 35. Prostaglandin F2alpha may facilitate attachment of the bovine embryo (d 30 to 40) in a manner similar to that reported for implantation in other species. Cows that did not form CL in response to hCG on d 28 to 31 responded well when retreated after d 36. Again, maintenance of pregnancy was greater when replacement CL were induced after (9/9) rather than before d 36 (8/16; P < 0.05).

Peroxidase- and nitrite-dependent metabolism of the anthracycline anticancer agents daunorubicin and doxorubicin.

Oxidation of the anticancer anthracyclines doxorubicin (DXR) and daunorubicin (DNR) by lactoperoxidase(LPO)/H(2)O(2) and horseradish peroxidase(HRP)/H(2)O(2) systems in the presence and absence of nitrite (NO(2)(-)) has been investigated using spectrophotometric and EPR techniques. We report that LPO/H(2)O(2)/NO(2)(-) causes rapid and irreversible loss of anthracyclines' absorption bands, suggesting oxidative degradation of their chromophores. Both the initial rate and the extent of oxidation are dependent on both NO(2)(-) concentration and pH. The initial rate decreases when the pH is changed from 7 to 5, and the reaction virtually stops at pH 5. Oxidation of a model hydroquinone compound, 2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone, by LPO/H(2)O(2) is also dependent on NO(2)(-); however, in contrast to DNR and DXR, this oxidation is most efficient at pH 5, indicating that LPO/H(2)O(2)/NO(2)(-) is capable of efficiently oxidizing simple hydroquinones even in the neutral form. Oxidation of anthracyclines by HRP/H(2)O(2)/NO(2)(-) is substantially less efficient relative to that by LPO/H(2)O(2)/NO(2)(-) at either pH 5 or pH 7, most likely due to the lower rate of NO(2)(-) metabolism by HRP/H(2)O(2). EPR measurements show that interaction of anthracyclines and 2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone with LPO/H(2)O(2)/NO(2)(-) generates the corresponding semiquinone radicals presumably via one-electron oxidation of their hydroquinone moieties. The possible role of the (*)NO(2) radical, a putative LPO metabolite of NO(2)(-), in oxidation of these compounds is discussed. Because in vivo the anthracyclines may co-localize with peroxidases, H(2)O(2), and NO(2)(-) in tissues, their oxidation via the proposed mechanism is likely. These observations reveal a novel, peroxidase- and nitrite-dependent mechanism for the oxidative transformation of the anticancer anthracyclines, which may be pertinent to their biological activities in vivo.

The spin trap alpha-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone stimulates peroxidase-mediated oxidation of deferoxamine. Implications for pharmacological use of spin-trapping agents.

The iron chelator deferoxamine (Desferal; DSFL) reacts with peroxidases and H2O2 to form the DSFL radical (DSFL.), which can be detected by EPR spectroscopy. We have found that DSFL. formation resulting from exposure to H2O2 and any of a number of different peroxidases is greatly enhanced in the presence of the nitrone spin trap alpha-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone (4-POBN). This enhancement was seen at 4-POBN concentrations as low as 200 microM. We observed a modest enhancement of DSFL. formation with 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane. However, no enhancement was seen with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline 1-oxide (DMPO) or phenyl-tert-butylnitrone. A modest enhancement was also seen with the nitrone compound pyridine N-oxide. 2-Methyl-2-nitrosopropane and pyridine N-oxide were additionally capable of increasing enzymatic peroxidase activity as measured by o-dianisidine and/or tetramethylbenzidine oxidation. Furthermore, at high concentrations of 4-POBN (50 mM) in the absence of DSFL, we detected a peroxidase/H2O2-dependent 12-line EPR spectrum that likely represents a 4-POBN/.4-POBN nitrogen-centered spin adduct. In the presence of both 4-POBN (10 mM) and DMPO (100 mM), an 18-line EPR spectrum was observed consistent with formation of a DMPO/.4-POBN nitrogen-centered spin adduct. Thus, the nitrone spin trap 4-POBN can enhance the peroxidase-mediated formation of DSFL., possibly via the formation of a transient 4-POBN radical species. These data suggest the importance of assessing the potential for nitrone spin traps to both inhibit and enhance biological oxidation prior to their use as potential pharmacological agents.

Endogenous superoxide dismutase levels regulate iron-dependent hydroxyl radical formation in Escherichia coli exposed to hydrogen peroxide.

Aerobic organisms contain antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, to protect them from both direct and indirect effects of reactive oxygen species, such as O2.- and H2O2. Previous work by others has shown that Escherichia coli mutants lacking SOD not only are more susceptible to DNA damage and killing by H2O2 but also contain larger pools of intracellular free iron. The present study investigated if SOD-deficient E. coli cells are exposed to increased levels of hydroxyl radical (.OH) as a consequence of the reaction of H2O2 with this increased iron pool. When the parental E. coli strain AB1157 was exposed to H2O2 in the presence of an alpha-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butyl-nitrone (4-POBN)-ethanol spin-trapping system, the 4-POBN-.CH(CH3)OH spin adduct was detectable by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, indicating .OH production. When the isogenic E. coli mutant JI132, lacking both Fe- and Mn-containing SODs, was exposed to H2O2 in a similar manner, the magnitude of .OH spin trapped was significantly greater than with the control strain. Preincubation of the bacteria with the iron chelator deferoxamine markedly inhibited the magnitude of .OH spin trapped. Exogenous SOD failed to inhibit .OH formation, indicating the need for intracellular SOD. Redox-active iron, defined as EPR-detectable ascorbyl radical, was greater in the SOD-deficient strain than in the control strain. These studies (i) extend recent data from others demonstrating increased levels of iron in E. coli SOD mutants and (ii) support the hypothesis that a resulting increase in .OH formation generated by Fenton chemistry is responsible for the observed enhancement of DNA damage and the increased susceptibility to H2O2-mediated killing seen in these mutants lacking SOD.

Spontaneous clostridial empyema and pyopneumothorax.

Five patients developed pleural empyema due to Clostridium perfringens in the absence of penetration of the thorax; two of the patients presented with pyopneumothorax. Thirteen additional cases from the literature are reviewed. Predisposing factors to the development of pleural empyema appear to include aspiration pneumonia, pulmonary embolization and infarction, and bacteremia from other foci. Pleural disease and pulmonary tuberculosis may also predispose patients to pleural empyema. Treatment consists of drainage and antimicrobial chemotherapy.

Eosinophils from schistosome-induced hepatic granulomas produce superoxide and hydroxyl radical.

Human peripheral blood eosinophils generate superoxide (O2.-) in response to PMA stimulation. These cells are also capable of forming the highly reactive hydroxyl radical (HO.) by a process that is dependent on the presence of active eosinophil peroxidase. To extend this work to tissue-resident cells, we chose to study a murine model of Schistosoma mansoni infection in which parasite ova induce granulomas whose cellular content is 50% eosinophils. In contrast to peritoneal lavage eosinophils, dispersed granuloma cells were unable to reduce ferricytochrome c (as an indicator of O2.-) in response to PMA stimulation. Furthermore, when human neutrophils were pretreated with conditioned medium from the granuloma cells, they also failed to reduce ferricytochrome c following PMA stimulation, implying the existence of an inhibitory factor. However, using a 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide spin-trapping system, we were able to demonstrate significant generation of O2.- in response to PMA stimulation, not only in the granuloma cells, but also in the conditioned medium-treated neutrophils, demonstrating that the inhibitory factor was not affecting O2.- generation, but rather was interfering with ferricytochrome c reduction. In addition, using an alpha-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butyl-nitrone/ethanol spin-trapping system, we were able to detect HO. formation by these same cells following PMA stimulation. This HO. formation was inhibited by superoxide dismutase, azide, and thiocyanide, and NaSCN, consistent with a mechanism requiring O2.- and enzymatic peroxidase activity. These results demonstrate that tissue eosinophils associated with the schistosome-induced granuloma have the ability to form both O2.- and HO., and point out potential problems associated with the measurement of O2.- in whole tissue preparations.

Eosinophil peroxidase-dependent hydroxyl radical generation by human eosinophils.

Eosinophil production of superoxide (O2-.) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is important in host defense. The present study assessed the potential of eosinophils to generate another potent cytotoxic species, the hydroxyl radical (.OH). .OH formation by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated eosinophils was demonstrated using an alpha-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butyl nitrone/ethanol spin trapping system. Additionally, .OH was spin trapped following the addition of purified eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) to a cell-free O2-./H2O2 generating systems. Effects of superoxide dismutase, catalase, azide, aminotriazole, chloride-depleted buffer, and extensive metal chelation were consistent with .OH formation via the reaction of O2-. and EPO-generated hypohalous acid. Under chloride-depleted conditions, physiologic concentrations of Br- increased .OH formation by both PMA-stimulated eosinophils and the cell-free EPO system. Physiologic concentrations of SCN-, however, did not increase .OH formation, and in the presence of both Br- and SCN-, .OH formation was similar to SCN- only. Eosinophils appear to form .OH via an EPO-dependent mechanism, the magnitude of which varies with the availability of various EPO substrates. Given the highly reactive nature of this radical and the ability of EPO to adhere to cell membranes, even small amounts of .OH formed at such sites could contribute to eosinophil-mediated cytotoxicity.

Lactoferrin binds CpG-containing oligonucleotides and inhibits their immunostimulatory effects on human B cells.

Unmethylated CpG dinucleotide motifs in bacterial DNA, as well as oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing these motifs, are potent stimuli for many host immunological responses. These CpG motifs may enhance host responses to bacterial infection and are being examined as immune activators for therapeutic applications in cancer, allergy/asthma, and infectious diseases. However, little attention has been given to processes that down-modulate this response. The iron-binding protein lactoferrin is present at mucosal surfaces and at sites of infection. Since lactoferrin is known to bind DNA, we tested the hypothesis that lactoferrin will bind CpG-containing ODN and modulate their biological activity. Physiological concentrations of lactoferrin (regardless of iron content) rapidly bound CpG ODN. The related iron-binding protein transferrin lacked this capacity. ODN binding by lactoferrin did not require the presence of CpG motifs and was calcium independent. The process was inhibited by high salt, and the highly cationic N-terminal sequence of lactoferrin (lactoferricin B) was equivalent to lactoferrin in its ODN-binding ability, suggesting that ODN binding by lactoferrin occurs via charge-charge interaction. Heparin and bacterial LPS, known to bind to the lactoferricin component of lactoferrin, also inhibited ODN binding. Lactoferrin and lactoferricin B, but not transferrin, inhibited CpG ODN stimulation of CD86 expression in the human Ramos B cell line and decreased cellular uptake of ODN, a process required for CpG bioactivity. Lactoferrin binding of CpG-containing ODN may serve to modulate and terminate host response to these potent immunostimulatory molecules at mucosal surfaces and sites of bacterial infection.

Relationship between changes in ploidy and stable cellular resistance to hydrogen peroxide.

Stable hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-resistant variants of the Chinese hamster ovary HA-1 line have been isolated by culturing cells in progressively increasing concentrations of H2O2 (greater than 200 days, in 50-800 microM H2O2). Increases in catalase activity in these variant cell lines were shown to correlate with increased H2O2 resistance. Stable (greater than 240 days) H2O2-resistant cell lines, seven quasidiploid (21-22 chromosomes/cell) and six quasitetraploid (40-44 chromosomes/cell) were clonally isolated from the 800 microM adapted H2O2-resistant variants which were heterogeneous with respect to ploidy. The H2O2 dose-modifying factors (DMFs) were 3, 5, 8, 13, 15, 26, and 27 for the seven quasidiploid cell lines, and 21, 32, 38, 40, 42, and 49 for the six quasitetraploid cell lines. The mean DMF was 14 +/- 10 for the former and 37 +/- 10 for the latter. Our data show that on the average the quasitetraploid cell lines were significantly more resistant to H2O2-mediated cell killing than the quasidiploid cell lines derived from the same mixed population of 800 microM H2O2-adapted cells. When catalase activities (k units/cell) of the HA-1 cells and three of the clonally derived cell lines (two quasidiploid and one quasitetraploid) were determined and plotted vs. H2O2-DMF, a positive linear correlation was obtained (correlation coefficient = 0.99). This result was further confirmed when immunoreactive catalase protein/cell was detected by Western blots. Our data show that chronic exposure of cells to H2O2 stress (800 microM) was accompanied by increases in quasitetraploid cells within the population. Quasitetraploid cell lines derived from this population demonstrated increased stable H2O2-resistance which may be related to stable increases in the expression of catalase.

Antioxidant enzyme expression in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: identification of an atypical form of manganese superoxide dismutase.

Expression of superoxide dismutases (FeSOD and MnSOD) and catalases by laboratory strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is modulated by exogenous factors. Whether clinical isolates behave similarly and whether antioxidant enzyme expression influences P. aeruginosa virulence remain unclear. Fifty-seven P. aeruginosa blood culture isolates, plus seven pairs of blood and local-site isolates, were examined for FeSOD, MnSOD, and catalase production in vitro. Under iron-replete growth conditions FeSOD and catalase activities were maximized. MnSOD was not detected. FeSOD and catalase activity decreased under iron-limited growth conditions, whereas MnSOD activity appeared. SOD and catalase activity did not change with site of isolation or by patient. MnSOD could not be expressed by one isolate due to a missense mutation in sodA that produced a premature stop codon. Eleven percent of the isolates expressed a novel, rapidly migrating MnSOD that was associated with missense mutations in the normal stop codon of sodA. We conclude that clinical P. aeruginosa isolates vary little in FeSOD and catalase expression. Some strains produce a newly described MnSOD variant, whereas one is deficient in MnSOD production. The absence of MnSOD expression in a P. aeruginosa strain causing invasive human disease indicates that MnSOD is probably not essential for P. aeruginosa virulence.

Superoxide dismutase and catalase levels during estrogen-induced renal tumorigenesis, in renal tumors and their autonomous variants in the Syrian hamster.

Antioxidant enzyme levels were determined in kidneys during estrogen-induced cortical renal tumorigenesis in male Syrian hamsters. The activity of these enzymes in renal tumors were compared to those in the kidney cortex of untreated male castrated hamsters of different ages and in age-matched animals treated with diethylstilbestrol (DES) for varying periods. A transient increase in kidney Mn superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and total SOD activity was seen after 1.5 and 3.1 months of DES treatment compared to untreated controls. However, after 4.4 months of DES exposure the activities of these antioxidant enzymes fell below untreated levels. The level of MnSOD and CuZnSOD was 3- to 10-fold lower compared to castrated male renal cortical values in DES-induced primary, serially transplanted and in autonomous renal tumour variants. Catalase activity declined steadily at 1.5 to 4.4 months of DES treatment. Low levels of catalase activity were found in all tumors examined. In general, Western blot analysis of immunoreactive proteins confirmed these findings, indicating that the low enzyme activities were due to low levels of enzyme proteins. Immunohistochemistry of the earliest tumor foci exhibited negligible antioxidant enzyme activity. The levels of these antioxidant enzymes were similar in all tumors surveyed, both primary and autonomous variants and in newborn kidneys, and they were about 10-fold lower than in normal kidney cortex or isolated proximal tubules.

Electron paramagnetic resonance detection of free tyrosyl radical generated by myeloperoxidase, lactoperoxidase, and horseradish peroxidase.

Phagocytes secrete the heme protein myeloperoxidase, which is present and active in human atherosclerotic tissue. These cells also generate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), thereby allowing myeloperoxidase to generate a range of oxidizing intermediates and stable end products. When this system acts on L-tyrosine in vitro, it forms o, o'-dityrosine, which is enriched in atherosclerotic lesions. Myeloperoxidase, therefore, may oxidize artery wall proteins in vivo, cross-linking their L-tyrosine residues. In these studies, we used electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to identify an oxidizing intermediate in this reaction pathway and in parallel reactions catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase and lactoperoxidase. Using an EPR flow system to rapidly mix and examine solutions containing horseradish peroxidase, H2O2, and L-tyrosine, we detected free tyrosyl radical (a2,6H = 6.3 G, a3,5H = 1.6 G, and abetaH = 15. 0 G). We then used spin trapping techniques with 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (MNP) to further identify this intermediate. The resulting three-line spectrum (aN = 15.6 G) was consistent with an MNP/tyrosyl radical spin adduct. Additional MNP spin trapping studies with ring-labeled L-[13C6]tyrosine yielded a characteristic eight-line EPR spectrum (aN = 15.6 G, a13C (2) = 8.0 G, a13C (1) = 7.1 G, a13C (1) = 1.3 G), indicating that the MNP adduct resulted from trapping a carbon-centered radical located on the aromatic ring of L-tyrosine. This same eight-line spectrum was observed when human myeloperoxidase or bovine lactoperoxidase was substituted for horseradish peroxidase. Furthermore, a partially immobilized MNP/tyrosyl radical spin adduct was detected when we exposed a synthetic polypeptide composed of glutamate and L-tyrosine residues to the myeloperoxidase-H2O2-L-tyrosine system. The broadened EPR signal resulting from this MNP/polypeptide adduct was greatly narrowed by proteolytic digestion with Pronase, confirming that the initial spin-trapped radical was protein-bound. Collectively, these results indicate that peroxidases use H2O2 to convert L-tyrosine to free tyrosyl radical. They also support the idea that free tyrosyl radical initiates cross-linking of L-tyrosine residues in proteins. We suggest that this pathway may play an important role in protein and lipid oxidation at sites of inflammation and in atherosclerotic lesions.

Production of brominating intermediates by myeloperoxidase. A transhalogenation pathway for generating mutagenic nucleobases during inflammation.

The existence of interhalogen compounds was proposed more than a century ago, but no biological roles have been attributed to these highly oxidizing intermediates. In this study, we determined whether the peroxidases of white blood cells can generate the interhalogen gas bromine chloride (BrCl). Myeloperoxidase, the heme enzyme secreted by activated neutrophils and monocytes, uses H2O2 and Cl(-) to produce HOCl, a chlorinating intermediate. In contrast, eosinophil peroxidase preferentially converts Br(-) to HOBr. Remarkably, both myeloperoxidase and eosinophil peroxidase were able to brominate deoxycytidine, a nucleoside, and uracil, a nucleobase, at plasma concentrations of Br(-) (100 microM) and Cl(-) (100 mM). The two enzymes used different reaction pathways, however. When HOCl brominated deoxycytidine, the reaction required Br(-) and was inhibited by taurine. In contrast, bromination by HOBr was independent of Br(-) and unaffected by taurine. Moreover, taurine inhibited 5-bromodeoxycytidine production by the myeloperoxidase-H2O2-Cl(-)- Br(-) system but not by the eosinophil peroxidase-H2O2-Cl(-)-Br(-) system, indicating that bromination by myeloperoxidase involves the initial production of HOCl. Both HOCl-Br(-) and the myeloperoxidase-H2O2-Cl(-)-Br(-) system generated a gas that converted cyclohexene into 1-bromo-2-chlorocyclohexane, implicating BrCl in the reaction. Moreover, human neutrophils used myeloperoxidase, H2O2, and Br(-) to brominate deoxycytidine by a taurine-sensitive pathway, suggesting that transhalogenation reactions may be physiologically relevant. 5-Bromouracil incorporated into nuclear DNA is a well known mutagen. Our observations therefore raise the possibility that transhalogenation reactions initiated by phagocytes provide one pathway for mutagenesis and cytotoxicity at sites of inflammation.