Gregory J. Quinlan

Action of lead(II) and aluminium(III) ions on iron-stimulated lipid peroxidation in liposomes, erythrocytes and rat liver microsomal fractions

Lead (Pb2+) ions accelerate the lipid peroxidation observed when Fe2+ ions are added to phospholipid liposomes at pH 5.5 or pH 7.4, although Pb2+ ions alone do not induce any peroxidation. Similarly, aluminium (Al3+) ions increase Fe2+-dependent liposomal peroxidation at pH 5.5. Both Pb2+ and Al3+ accelerate the peroxidation of erythrocytes induced by high concentrations of H2O2 in the presence of azide, and they also increase the peroxidation that occurs when Fe2+ or Fe2+-ADP is added to rat liver microsomes at pH 7.4. It is proposed that increased lipid peroxidation may contribute to the toxic actions of Pb2+ in humans.

Oxygen radical damage to DNA by rifamycin SV and copper ions.

The hydroquinone moiety of the antibiotic rifamycin SV reacts with molecular oxygen to form reduced oxygen intermediates such as superoxide (O2-.) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The antibiotic semiquinone is also formed. Rifamycin SV in the presence of iron and copper salts can lead to the formation of the highly reactive hydroxyl radical (OH) which degrades the sugar deoxyribose. This damage is substantially inhibited by the enzyme catalase and scavengers of the hydroxyl radical such as formate, mannitol and thiourea. When linear duplex DNA is substituted for deoxyribose only rifamycin SV and copper ions substantially degrade DNA with release from the DNA molecule of thiobarbituric acid-reactive products. Damage to DNA by rifamycin and copper ions is significantly inhibited by catalase but poorly inhibited by scavengers of the hydroxyl radical consistent with a site-specific radical reaction of the DNA molecule. Several biological properties of rifamycin SV are known to resemble those of the metal chelating agent 1,10-phenanthroline. Here, we show that similarities extend to an unusual chemical property whereby thiobarbituric acid-reactive material is released from DNA in the presence of a copper salt.

Mitomycin C-induced deoxyribose degradation inhibited by superoxide dismutase: A reaction involving iron, hydroxyl and semiquinone radicals

Mitomycin C stimulates deoxyribose degradation with the release of thiobarbituric acid‐reactive material under conditions of low oxygen concentration. This damage is inhibited by scavengers of the hydroxyl radical, iron chelators and the specific proteins catalase and superoxide dismutase. The reactive radical species appears to arise from a Fenton‐type sequence in which iron is reduced by the mitomycin C semiquinone radical.

Hydrixyl radical generation by the tetracycline antibiotics with free radical damage to DNA, lipids and carbohydrate in the presence of iron and copper salts

Tetracycline antibiotics caused the degradation of carbohydrate in the presence of a ferric salt at pH 7.4. This degradation appeared to involve hydroxyl radicals since the damage was substantially reduced by the presence of catalase, superoxide dismutase, scavengers of the hydroxyl radical and metal chelators. Similarly, the tetracycline antibiotics in the presence of a ferric salt greatly stimulated the peroxidation of liposomal membranes. This damage, which did not implicate the hydroxyl radical, was significantly reduced by the addition of chain-breaking antioxidants and metal chelators. Only copper salts in the presence of tetracycline antibiotics, however, caused substantial damage to linear duplex DNA. Studies with inhibitors suggested that damage to DNA did involve hydroxyl radicals.

Free radical damage to deoxyribose by anthracycline, aureolic acid and aminoquinone antitumour antibiotics: An essential requirement for iron, semiquinones and hydrogen peroxide

Anthracycline, aureolic acid and aminoquinone antitumour antibiotics damage deoxyribose in cell-free systems when reduced in air by the enzyme ferredoxin reductase. Damage to deoxyribose is inhibited by the iron chelator desferrioxamine, the copper-containing protein caeruloplasmin and catalase but not by superoxide dismutase. Scavengers of the hydroxyl radical such as formate, butan-1-ol, ethanol and benzoate do not offer much protection, whereas mannitol and thiourea do. These findings point to a site-specific Fenton reaction in which the drug semiquinones reduce complexed iron and dioxygen leading to the formation of hydrogen peroxide and a ferrous complex.

Superoxide-dependent lipid peroxidation. Problems with the use of catalase as a specific probe for fenton-derived hydroxyl radicals

Hydroxyl radicals (OH.) can initiate lipid oxidation by hydrogen abstraction. Transition metals however, particularly iron and copper, stimulate lipid oxidation by reacting with lipid peroxides to form new radical species. The haem-iron protein catalase can react non-specifically with lipid peroxides in this way resulting in loss of their conjugated diene structures. When a superoxide-generating system is used to stimulate lipid autoxidation, catalase can conceivably inhibit the reaction in two ways (A) by decomposing lipid peroxides as they are formed (B) through the removal of hydrogen peroxide preventing OH. radical formation. Results presented here suggest that the latter interpretation, although commonly presented, cannot be automatically assumed.

Carminic acid-promoted oxygen radical damage to lipid and carbohydrate.

The food colouring carminic acid redox cycles to produce free radicals. These radicals, in the presence of trace amounts of iron salts, readily damage membrane lipid and degrade the carbohydrate deoxyribose. Damage to membrane lipid appears to involve mainly organic oxygen radicals such as alkoxy and peroxy radicals, whereas that to deoxyribose implicates the hydroxyl radical formed in a Fenton-type reaction. Antioxidants and iron chelators prevent such damage.

Oxidative Damage to DNA and Deoxyribose by β-Lactam Antibiotics in the Presence of Iron and Copper Salts

beta-lactam antibiotics in the presence of certain metal ions damage deoxyribose and DNA with the release of thiobarbituric acid-reactive material. This damage can be substantially prevented by catalase, metal chelators and some scavengers of the hydroxyl radical. Ferric salts in the presence of certain beta-lactam antibiotics were effective in degrading deoxyribose but they did not appear to damage DNA. In contrast copper salts and beta-lactam antibiotics were extremely effective in damaging both DNA and deoxyribose.

Reactive Oxygen Species, Antioxidant Protection and Lung Injury

The syndrome of acute respiratory distress in adults (ARDS) is characterized by refractory hypoxemia secondary to nonhydrostatic pulmonary edema and is associated with a wide variety of precipitating factors, often not directly involving the lung [1,2]. Thus, ARDS can result from such diverse clinical conditions as sepsis, gastric aspiration, polytrauma, pancreatitis, hemorrhagic shock, severe burns, oxygen toxicity and cardiopulmonary bypass [2]. In spite of the increasing complexity and scientific basis of medical support, ARDS still carries a mortality rate of around 50%, little changed from when it was first described [3].