Johan F. Koster

Iron mobilization from ferritin by superoxide derived from stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Possible mechanism in inflammation diseases.

During inflammation, the superoxide anion (O-2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are produced by stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages. The toxic effects of these reactive oxygen intermediates increase when traces of iron are present, because iron catalyzes the formation of the hydroxyl radical (OH.). Partially saturated iron-binding proteins, such as transferrin and ferritin, are unable to catalyze OH. formation in vitro. Mobilization of iron from these proteins is necessary for iron stimulation of OH. formation. This paper reports that stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes mobilize iron from human and horse ferritin, but not from human transferrin. Iron release from ferritin depends on O-2 because it can be prevented by the addition of superoxide dismutase. Catalase and dimethylsulfoxide have no inhibitory effect on iron mobilization. The efficiency of the iron release increases at low levels of O-2 production. Only O-2 produced by granulocytes is sufficient for iron mobilization, because solid potassium superoxide is also able to release iron from ferritin. We propose that this reaction may potentiate the formation of the OH. radical in inflammatory states.

Superoxide dependent iron release from ferritin in inflammatory diseases

Convincing evidence is presented that oxygen free radicals are involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Superoxide is produced by polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) in synovial fluid and by macrophages in the synovial membrane. Tissue damage typical for free radical attack is detected in RA. No absolute deficiency of protective factors is found in RA compared to controls, but the available protection is insufficient to cope with all radicals formed. The toxicity of superoxide is increased by iron. It is doubtful whether a low molecular weight iron pool is present. Superoxide is able to release iron from ferritin, providing a suitable source of iron, for the formation of hydroxyl radicals. This new pathogenetic mechanism stimulates to the application of iron chelators in the treatment of RA. Preliminary results with desferrioxamine were disappointing because of serious side-effects. Hopefully in the future intra-articular injection of iron chelators with better pharmacodynamics will be possible. The interaction of free radicals and ferritin is probably also involved in the pathogenesis of other inflammatory diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, hepatitis, and haemochromatosus.

Late Lumen Loss After Coronary Angioplasty Is Associated With the Activation Status of Circulating Phagocytes Before Treatment

BACKGROUND The purpose of this pilot study was to identify biological risk factors for restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) to predict the long-term outcome of PTCA before treatment. METHODS AND RESULTS To investigate whether blood granulocytes and monocytes could determine luminal renarrowing after PTCA, several characteristics of these phagocytes were assessed before angioplasty in 32 patients who underwent PTCA of one coronary artery and who had repeat angiograms at 6-month follow-up. The plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-6, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, and lipoprotein(a) before angioplasty were assessed as well. We found that the expression of the membrane antigens CD64, CD66, and CD67 by granulocytes was inversely associated with the luminal renarrowing normalized for vessel size (relative loss) at 6 months after PTCA, while the production of IL-1 beta by stimulated monocytes was positively associated with the relative loss. Next, these univariate predictors were corrected for the established clinical risk factors of dilation of the left anterior descending coronary artery and current smoking, which were statistically significant classic predictors in our patient group. Only the expression of CD67 did not predict late lumen loss independent of these established clinical risk factors. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that luminal renarrowing could be predicted reliably (R2 = .65; P < .0001) in this patient group on the basis of the vessel dilated and only two biological risk factors that reflect the activation status of blood phagocytes, ie, the expression of CD66 by granulocytes and the production of IL-1 beta by stimulated monocytes. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study indicate that activated blood granulocytes prevent luminal renarrowing after PTCA, while activated blood monocytes promote late lumen loss. To validate this new finding, further study in an independent patient group is required.

Prevention of postischemic cardiac injury by the orally active iron chelator 1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridone (L1) and the antioxidant (+)-cyanidanol-3.

In this study, we investigated the role of oxygen-derived free radicals and iron in mediating myocardial injury during ischemia and reperfusion. Iron is of special interest because it may enhance tissue injury during ischemia and reperfusion by catalyzing the formation of highly reactive hydroxyl radicals (by modified Haber-Weiss or Fenton reactions). Rat hearts, perfused by the Langendorff method, were subjected to global ischemia (15 minutes at 37 degrees C) and reperfusion. The effects of two iron chelators, 1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridone (L1) and 5-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-4-pyrone (kojic acid), and one antioxidant, (+)-cyanidanol-3, on contractile function, coronary flow, lactate dehydrogenase release, and lactate production were studied. The combination of these iron chelators is of special importance because L1 is known to prevent lipid peroxidation, induced by ADP/Fe3+ and NADPH in microsomes, in contrast to kojic acid. We found significant protection of contractile function (apex displacement) during reperfusion with 50 microM L1 and 20 microM (+)-cyanidanol-3 (p less than 0.01, n = 6), whereas no protection was found with 50 microM kojic acid (n = 6). Measurements of lactate dehydrogenase release during reperfusion showed a protective pattern similar to that found for heart contractile function, although 50 microM kojic acid also showed a significantly lower lactate dehydrogenase release during the first 10 minutes of reperfusion. No differences in coronary resistance or lactate release were found between the various groups. Our findings indicate that iron and oxygen-derived free radicals are important in the pathogenesis of postischemic reperfusion injury probably because of the formation of hydroxyl radicals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Leukocyte adhesion molecules on the vascular endothelium: their role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease and the mechanisms underlying their expression.

It is well known that granulocytes increase infarct size after reperfusion of the ischemic myocardium, and that monocytes promote atherogenesis. Those cells are also believed to play a contributory role in pathogenesis of coronary restenosis as response to arterial injury during balloon angioplasty. The adhesion of those leukocytes to the vascular endothelium is a prerequisite for their recruitment and accumulation in the lesion. Inflammatory mediators likely to occur under those conditions, e.g., histamine, thrombin, oxygen-derived free radicals (ODFR), interleukin (IL)-1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and activated complement factors, induce in a distinct time course the (transient) expression of the leukocyte adhesion molecules P-selectin, E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 on the endothelium. Only VCAM-1 is specific for monocytes; the others mediate the binding and subsequent extravasation of both monocytes and granulocytes. The response to the relevant inflammatory mediators, except for extracellularly produced ODFR, is coupled via specific receptors on the surface of the endothelium to specific signal transduction pathways and, except for P-selectin (early response), is directly dependent on protein synthesis (intermediate and late response). Protein kinase-C-induced phosphorylation of transcription factors is often shown to be involved. Protein synthesis is preceded by increased transcription of mRNA that is regulated in part by the transcription factor NF-kappa B. Indications have been obtained that intracellularly produced ODFR may be involved in the translocation of this transcription factor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Low Molecular Weight Iron and the Oxygen Paradox in Isolated Rat Hearts

Little is known about changes in the amount of iron in the intracellular low molecular weight pool, which catalyzes the Fenton reactions during reperfusion after ischemia. In this study a new approach is presented to measure low molecular weight iron and it is applied to normal hearts during ischemia and to iron-loaded hearts during anoxia and reoxygenation. The results of this study show that (a) during ischemia in normal hearts a progressive 30-fold increase occurs in low molecular weight iron after 45 min of ischemia, whereas (b) during 45 min of anoxic perfusion the low molecular weight iron does not increase. This means that the reductive release from the storage protein ferritin is greatly enhanced by the acidification that occurs during ischemia. (c) Anoxic perfusion of iron-loaded hearts does increase low molecular weight iron and there is a further increase upon reoxygenation, which is prevented by (+)-cyanidanol-3. Based on these findings it is concluded that oxygen deprivation enhances the susceptibility of rat hearts to oxygen radicals by increasing the amount of catalytic, ferrous iron in the low molecular weight pool.

Lipid peroxidation of rat liver microsomes

1. The NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation process was studied with microsomes and also the effects of addition of superoxide dismutase, catalase and thiourea. Only catalase and thiourea were able to inhibit lipid peroxidation. It seems that the initiating radical is the OH. radical formed by the Fenton reaction. 2. During lipid peroxidation glucose-6-phosphatase is inactivated, whilst the microsomal enzyme palmitoyl-CoA hydrolase is practically not affected. Because glucose-6-phosphatase activity decreases during ageing and palmitoyl-CoA hydrolase does not, a possible relationship with the ageing process is thought to exist. 3. Chromolipids are formed by the NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation. These chromolipids have the same excitation-emission spectra as described for lipofuscin. The formation of these chromolipids is blocked by the addition of catalase and thiourea. 4. High-molecular weight proteins are formed during the NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation. This process can be associated with the inactivation of enzymes. Also polymerisation is prevented by catalase and thiourea.

Human erythrocyte pyruvate kinase. Its purification and some properties

Abstract 1. 1. Human erythrocyte pyruvate kinase (EC 2.7.1.40) was purified 30 000-fold by successive (NH4)2SO4 precipitation and column chromatography with blue dextran 2000. The resulting enzyme preparation had a specific activity of 150 μmoles NADH · min −1 · mg −1 at 25°. 2. 2. The molecular weight as determined by gel filtration with Sephadex G-200 was 205 000 ± 5000 . 3. 3. With starch gel electrophoresis only one band was observed after-detection of the enzyme activity with the fluorescent technique. 4. 4. The variation of activity of pyruvate kinase at various ADP and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) concentrations was studied. 5. 5. The stimulatory effect of Fru -1,6-P 2 as well as the inhibitory effect of ATP on the activity of pyruvate kinase were pH dependent. 6. 6. Phosphorylated hexoses ( Fru -1,6-P 2 and Glc -6-P ), P1 and the substrate PEP overcame the inhibition of the activity of pyruvate kinase by ATP at physiological pH. 7. 7. Phosphorylated hexoses and P1 stimulated the activity of pyruvate kinase.

Lipid peroxidation of human erythrocyte ghosts induced by organic hydroperoxides

Isolated human erythrocyte ghosts perform lipid peroxidation, measured as malondialdehyde, induced by cumene hydroperoxide and t-butyl hydroperoxide but not by H2O2. In contrast to Ames et al. (Ames, B.N., Cathcart, R., Schwiers, E. and Hochstein, P. (1981) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 78, 6858-6862), no inhibition is found by uric acid, only an increase in lag-time of the malondialdehyde production. In parallel with the malondialdehyde production, fluorescent chromolipids are also formed. Both processes are blocked by the addition of desferal, a potent iron chelator. The malondialdehyde production is also inhibited by the OH radical scavenger, thiourea, and by the anti-oxidant, butylated hydroxytoluene. Treatment of erythrocyte ghosts with cumene hydroperoxide or t-butyl hydroperoxide leads to the genesis of high-molecular-weight protein, but not with H2O2. The appearance of high-molecular-weight proteins is accompanied by disappearance of protein bands, e.g., the alpha- and beta-spectrin band, the anion-exchanger and some other smaller bands. Furthermore, a protein band is formed in the lower-molecular-weight region. 4. The addition of desferal does not reveal any blockade of the high-molecular-weight protein genesis. In contrast, a marked diminution of high-molecular-weight proteins is observed by the addition of thiourea, accompanied by a protection of the protein bands which would otherwise disappear. Similar results are obtained with butylated hydroxytoluene. 5. It is concluded that under oxidative stress the process of high-molecular-weight protein genesis can occur independently of the lipid peroxidation process, measured as the revealing of malondialdehyde.

Myocardial malondialdehyde and uric acid release after short-lasting coronary occlusions during coronary angioplasty: Potential mechanisms for free radical generation

The stunned myocardium has recently become the focus of considerable interest because of its potential role in negating the benefits of reperfusion. A critical but still unresolved issue relates to the mechanism responsible for this contractile abnormality. In recent years an increasing number of studies have provided indirect evidence that postischemic myocardial dysfunction may be mediated in part by the generation of reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide radical, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical. These oxygen-free radicals could arise from various sources, such as hypoxanthine conversion by xanthine oxidase, catecholamine degradation and mitochondrial electron transport. Direct evidence of injury by free radicals has yet to be shown in the human heart, but many studies of other mammals have linked reactive oxygen metabolites with myocardial injury. l-5 During myocardial ischemia, xanthine dehydrogenase (which appears to be located in the endothelial cells)‘j is converted to xanthine oxidase, an enzyme that produces supcroxide radical, hydrogen peroxide and uric acid from hypoxanthine or xanthine and molecular oxygen.7 At the same time, ischemia is associated with rapid catabolism of adenosine triphosphate.7 This degradation of adenosine triphosphate causes an efflux of breakdown products that are able to pass through the cell membrane, resulting in an accumulation of hypoxanthine, 1 of 2 substrates for xanthine oxidase. The other substrate (molecular oxygen) is provided by reperfusion, which results in a burst of free-radical generation. These free radicals initiate chain reactions causing peroxidative breakdown of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the membrane bilayer.9-12 The interaction among oxygen-free radicals with polyunsaturated fatty acids has been described as lipid pet-oxidation and can be measured by formation of malondialdehyde. Until recently, the assessment of alterations in myocardial metabolism in humans early after short and repetitive occlusions of a major coronary artery has not been feasible. However, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty provides a unique opportunity to study the time course of these metabolic changes during transient interruption of coronary flow by the balloon-occlusion sequence in patients with 1 -vessel disease and without angi