Ewelina Zarakowska

Comparison of Oxidative Stress/DNA Damage in Semen and Blood of Fertile and Infertile Men

Abnormal spermatozoa frequently display typical features of oxidative stress, i.e. excessive level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and depleted antioxidant capacity. Moreover, it has been found that a high level of oxidatively damaged DNA is associated with abnormal spermatozoa and male infertility. Therefore, the aim of our study was the comparison of oxidative stress/DNA damage in semen and blood of fertile and infertile men. The broad range of parameters which describe oxidative stress and oxidatively damaged DNA and repair were analyzed in the blood plasma and seminal plasma of groups of fertile and infertile subjects. These parameters include: (i) 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoGua) levels in urine; (ii) 8-oxodG level in DNA isolated from leukocytes and spermatozoa; (iii) antioxidant vitamins (A, C and E) and uric acid. Urinary excretion of 8-oxodG and 8-oxoGua and the level of oxidatively damaged DNA in leukocytes as well as the level of antioxidant vitamins were analyzed using HPLC and HPLC/GC/MS methods. The results of our study demonstrate that 8-oxodG level significantly correlated with every parameter which describe sperm quality: sperm count, motility and morphology. Moreover, the data indicate a higher level of 8-oxodG in sperm DNA compared with DNA of surrogate tissue (leukocytes) in infertile men as well as in healthy control group. For the whole study population the median values of 8-oxodG/106 dG were respectively 7.85 and 5.87 (p = 0.000000002). Since 8-oxodG level in sperm DNA is inversely correlated with urinary excretion rate of 8-oxoGua, which is the product of OGG1 activity, we hypothesize that integrity of spermatozoa DNA may be highly dependent on OGG1 activity. No relationship between the whole body oxidative stress and that of sperm plasma was found, which suggests that the redox status of semen may be rather independent on this characteristic for other tissues.

Oxidatively Damaged DNA/Oxidative Stress in Children with Celiac Disease

Background: Because patients with celiac disease face increased risk of cancer and there is considerable circumstantial evidence that oxidatively damaged DNA may be used as a marker predictive of cancer development, we decided, for the first time, to characterize oxidative stress/oxidative DNA damage in celiac disease patients. Methods: Two kinds of oxidatively damaged DNA biomarkers, namely, urinary excretion of 8-oxodG and 8-oxoGua, and the level of oxidatively damaged DNA in the leukocytes, as well as the level of antioxidant vitamins were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and HPLC/gas chromatography with isotope dilution mass detection methods. These parameters were determined in three groups: (a) children with untreated celiac disease, (b) patients with celiac disease on a strict gluten-free diet, and (c) healthy children. Results: The mean level of 8-oxodG in DNA isolated from the leukocytes and in the urine samples of the two groups of celiacs was significantly higher than in controls, irrespective of diet. There was no statistically significant difference in these parameters between treated and untreated celiacs. The mean plasma retinol and α-tocopherol concentration in the samples of untreated celiacs was significantly lower than in treated celiacs. Conclusion: Our results suggest that although diet can be partially responsible for oxidative stress/oxidatively damaged DNA in celiac patients, there is a factor independent of diet. Impact: It is possible that celiac disease patients may be helped by dietary supplementation rich in vitamin A (and E) to minimize the risk of cancer development. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(8); 1960–5. ©2010 AACR.

Tissue-Specific Differences in DNA Modifications (5-Hydroxymethylcytosine, 5-Formylcytosine, 5-Carboxylcytosine and 5-Hydroxymethyluracil) and Their Interrelationships.

Background Replication-independent active/enzymatic demethylation may be an important process in the functioning of somatic cells. The most plausible mechanisms of active 5-methylcytosine demethylation, leading to activation of previously silenced genes, involve ten-eleven translocation (TET) proteins that participate in oxidation of 5-methylcytosine to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine which can be further oxidized to 5-formylcytosine and 5-carboxylcytosine. Recently, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine was demonstrated to be a relatively stable modification, and the previously observed substantial differences in the level of this modification in various murine tissues were shown to depend mostly on cell proliferation rate. Some experimental evidence supports the hypothesis that 5-hydroxymethyluracil may be also generated by TET enzymes and has epigenetic functions. Results Using an isotope-dilution automated online two-dimensional ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, we have analyzed, for the first time, all the products of active DNA demethylation pathway: 5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine, 5-hydroxymethyl-2′-deoxycytidine, 5-formyl-2′-deoxycytidine and 5-carboxyl-2′-deoxycytidine, as well as 5-hydroxymethyl-2′-deoxyuridine, in DNA isolated from various rat and porcine tissues. A strong significant inverse linear correlation was found between the proliferation rate of cells and the global level of 5-hydroxymethyl-2′-deoxycytidine in both porcine (R2 = 0.88) and rat tissues (R2 = 0.83); no such relationship was observed for 5-formyl-2′-deoxycytidine and 5-carboxyl-2′-deoxycytidine. Moreover, a substrate-product correlation was demonstrated for the two consecutive steps of iterative oxidation pathway: between 5-hydroxymethyl-2′-deoxycytidine and its product 5-formyl-2′-deoxycytidine, as well as between 5-formyl-2′-deoxycytidine and 5-carboxyl-2′-deoxycytidine (R2 = 0.60 and R2 = 0.71, respectively). Conclusions Good correlations within the substrate-product sets of iterative oxidation pathway may suggest that a part of 5-formyl-2′-deoxycytidine and/or 5-carboxyl-2′-deoxycytidine can be directly linked to a small portion of 5-hydroxymethyl-2′-deoxycytidine which defines the active demethylation process.

Vitamin C enhances substantially formation of 5-hydroxymethyluracil in cellular DNA

The most plausible mechanism behind active demethylation of 5-methylcytosine involves TET proteins which participate in oxidation of 5-methylcytosine to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine; the latter is further oxidized to 5-formylcytosine and 5-carboxycytosine. 5-Hydroxymethyluracil can be also generated from thymine in a TET-catalyzed process. Ascorbate was previously demonstrated to enhance generation of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in cultured cells. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of the abovementioned TET-mediated oxidation products of 5-methylcytosine and thymine after addition of ascorbate, using an isotope-dilution automated online two-dimensional ultra-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Intracellular concentration of ascorbate was determined by means of ultra-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. Irrespective of its concentration in culture medium (10-100µM) and inside the cell, ascorbate stimulated a moderate (2- to 3-fold) albeit persistent (up to 96-h) increase in the level of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. However, exposure of cells to higher concentrations of ascorbate (100µM or 1mM) stimulated a substantial increase in 5-formylcytosine and 5-carboxycytosine levels. Moreover, for the first time we demonstrated a spectacular (up to 18.5-fold) increase in 5-hydroxymethyluracil content what, in turn, suggests that TET enzymes contributed to the presence of the modification in cellular DNA. These findings suggest that physiological concentrations of ascorbate in human serum (10-100µM) are sufficient to maintain a stable level of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in cellular DNA. However, markedly higher concentrations of ascorbate (ca. 100µM in the cell milieu or ca. 1mM inside the cell) were needed to obtain a sustained increase in 5-formylcytosine, 5-carboxycytosine and 5-hydroxymethyluracil levels. Such feedback to elevated concentrations of ascorbate may reflect adaptation of the cell to environmental conditions.

In vivo evidence of ascorbate involvement in the generation of epigenetic DNA modifications in leukocytes from patients with colorectal carcinoma, benign adenoma and inflammatory bowel disease

BackgroundA characteristic feature of malignant cells, such as colorectal cancer cells, is a profound decrease in the level of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, a product of 5-methylcytosine oxidation by TET enzymes. Recent studies showed that ascorbate may upregulate the activity of TET enzymes in cultured cells and enhance formation of their products in genomic DNA.MethodsThe study included four groups of subjects: healthy controls (n = 79), patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, n = 51), adenomatous polyps (n = 67) and colorectal cancer (n = 136). The list of analyzed parameters included (i) leukocyte levels of epigenetic DNA modifications and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine, a marker of oxidatively modified DNA, determined by means of isotope-dilution automated online two-dimensional ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, (ii) expression of TET mRNA measured with RT-qPCR, and (iii) chromatographically-determined plasma concentrations of retinol, alpha-tocopherol and ascorbate.ResultsPatients from all groups presented with significantly lower levels of 5-methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in DNA than the controls. A similar tendency was also observed for 5-hydroxymethyluracil level. Patients with IBD showed the highest levels of 5-formylcytosine and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine of all study subjects, and individuals with colorectal cancer presented with the lowest concentrations of ascorbate and retinol. A positive correlation was observed between plasma concentration of ascorbate and levels of two epigenetic modifications, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethyluracil in leukocyte DNA. Moreover, a significant difference was found in the levels of these modifications in patients whose plasma concentrations of ascorbate were below the lower and above the upper quartile for the control group.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that deficiency of ascorbate in the blood may be a marker of its shortage in other tissues, which in turn may correspond to deterioration of DNA methylation-demethylation. These observations may provide a rationale for further research on blood biomarkers of colorectal cancer development.

ERCC1-deficient cells and mice are hypersensitive to lipid peroxidation

Abstract Lipid peroxidation (LPO) products are relatively stable and abundant metabolites, which accumulate in tissues of mammals with aging, being able to modify all cellular nucleophiles, creating protein and DNA adducts including crosslinks. Here, we used cells and mice deficient in the ERCC1‐XPF endonuclease required for nucleotide excision repair and the repair of DNA interstrand crosslinks to ask if specifically LPO‐induced DNA damage contributes to loss of cell and tissue homeostasis. Ercc1−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts were more sensitive than wild‐type (WT) cells to the LPO products: 4‐hydroxy‐2‐nonenal (HNE), crotonaldehyde and malondialdehyde. ERCC1‐XPF hypomorphic mice were hypersensitive to CCl4 and a diet rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, two potent inducers of endogenous LPO. To gain insight into the mechanism of how LPO influences DNA repair‐deficient cells, we measured the impact of the major endogenous LPO product, HNE, on WT and Ercc1−/− cells. HNE inhibited proliferation, stimulated ROS and LPO formation, induced DNA base damage, strand breaks, error‐prone translesion DNA synthesis and cellular senescence much more potently in Ercc1−/− cells than in DNA repair‐competent control cells. HNE also deregulated base excision repair and energy production pathways. Our observations that ERCC1‐deficient cells and mice are hypersensitive to LPO implicates LPO‐induced DNA damage in contributing to cellular demise and tissue degeneration, notably even when the source of LPO is dietary polyunsaturated fats. Graphical abstract Figure. No Caption available. HighlightsERCC1‐deficient mice have increased oxidative stress and LPO.LPO induced DNA and protein damage causes senescence and necrosis in Ercc1−/− cells.HNE induces promutagenic imbalance in BER and TLS in Ercc1−/− mice.Differential antioxidative defense and energy production in Ercc1−/− cells.LPO contributes to premature aging and morbidity.

Characteristic profiles of DNA epigenetic modifications in colon cancer and its predisposing conditions—benign adenomas and inflammatory bowel disease

BackgroundActive demethylation of 5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine (5-mdC) in DNA occurs by oxidation to 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2′-deoxycytidine (5-hmdC) and further oxidation to 5-formyl-2′-deoxycytidine (5-fdC) and 5-carboxy-2′-deoxycytidine (5-cadC), and is carried out by enzymes of the ten-eleven translocation family (TETs 1, 2, 3). Decreased level of epigenetic DNA modifications in cancer tissue may be a consequence of reduced activity/expression of TET proteins. To determine the role of epigenetic DNA modifications in colon cancer development, we analyzed their levels in normal colon and various colonic pathologies. Moreover, we determined the expressions of TETs at mRNA and protein level.The study included material from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), benign polyps (AD), and colorectal cancer (CRC). The levels of epigenetic DNA modifications and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) in examined tissues were determined by means of isotope-dilution automated online two-dimensional ultraperformance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (2D-UPLC-MS/MS). The expressions of TET mRNA were measured with RT-qPCR, and the expressions of TET proteins were determined immunohistochemically.ResultsIBD was characterized by the highest level of 8-oxodG among all analyzed tissues, as well as by a decrease in 5-hmdC and 5-mdC levels (at a midrange between normal colon and CRC). AD had the lowest levels of 5-hmdC and 5-mdC of all examined tissues and showed an increase in 8-oxodG and 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2′-deoxyuridine (5-hmdU) levels. CRC was characterized by lower levels of 5-hmdC and 5-mdC, the lowest level of 5-fdC among all analyzed tissues, and relatively high content of 5-cadC. The expression of TET1 mRNA in CRC and AD was significantly weaker than in IBD and normal colon. Furthermore, CRC and AD showed significantly lower levels of TET2 and AID mRNA than normal colonic tissue.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that a complex relationship between aberrant pattern of DNA epigenetic modification and cancer development does not depend solely on the transcriptional status of TET proteins, but also on the characteristics of premalignant/malignant cells. This study showed for the first time that the examined colonic pathologies had their unique epigenetic marks, distinguishing them from each other, as well as from normal colonic tissue. A decrease in 5-fdC level may be a characteristic feature of largely undifferentiated cancer cells.

Distinct Pattern Of Epigenetic DNA Modification In Leukocytes From Patients With Colorectal Carcinoma And Individuals With Precancerous Conditions, Benign Adenoma And Inflammatory Bowel Disease; A Link To Oxidative Stress

A characteristic feature of malignant cells, including colorectal cancer cells, is a profound decrease in level of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, product of 5-methylcytosine oxidation by TET enzymes. This study included four groups of subjects: healthy controls, and patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), benign polyps and colorectal cancer. Patients from all groups presented with significantly lower levels of 5-methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine than the controls. A similar tendency was also observed for 5-hydroxymethyluracil level. Patients with IBD showed the highest levels of 5-formylcytosine and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2’-deoxyguanosine of all study subjects, and individuals with colorectal cancer presented with the lowest concentrations of vitamin C and A. Expressions of TET1 and TET2 turned out to be the highest in IBD group. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show that healthy subjects, individuals with precancerous conditions and colorectal cancerpatients present with distinct specific patterns of epigenetic modifications in leukocyte DNA.