Michela Saviozzi

Glutathione transferase omega 1-1 (GSTO1-1) plays an anti-apoptotic role in cell resistance to cisplatin toxicity

Several lines of evidence correlate the overexpression of glutathione S-transferase omega 1-1 (GSTO1-1) with the onset of drug resistance of cancer cells; however, no direct evidence is yet available. In order to investigate the mechanisms involved, stable transfection with GSTO1-1 complementary DNA was performed in HeLa cells, which spontaneously express very low levels of GSTO1-1. When transfected cells were seeded at low density, a sharp increase in GSTO1-1 expression was observed as compared with controls, along with an increased resistance against cisplatin cytotoxicity. When seeded at increasing densities, control untransfected cells also presented with an increase in GSTO1-1 expression, again accompanied by cisplatin resistance; the latter was significantly reduced after transfection with GSTO1-1 small interfering RNA. Cisplatin resistance of transfected cells was not accounted for by changes in the intracellular drug concentration nor in the amount of DNA cross-links or content of glutathione. Rather, transfected cells presented with a marked decrease of apoptosis as compared with controls, suggesting that GSTO1-1 overexpression may prevent cisplatin toxicity by interfering with the apoptotic process. Cisplatin treatment was in fact followed at early times (1-2 h) by activation of both Akt kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-1/2 in the transfected cells but not in controls. Conversely, in transfected cells, the strong activation of Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-1 induced by cisplatin at later times (10-20 h) was completely prevented. In conclusion, GSTO1-1 overexpression appears to be associated with activation of survival pathways (Akt and ERK1/2) and inhibition of apoptotic pathways (JNK1), as well as protection against cisplatin-induced apoptosis.

Localization of a glutathione-dependent dehydroascorbate reductase within the central nervous system of the rat.

In this study, we describe for the first time the occurrence, within the central nervous system of the rat, of a dehydroascorbate reductase analogous to the one we recently described in the liver. Dehydroascorbate reductase plays a pivotal role in regenerating ascorbic acid from its oxidation product, dehydroascorbate. In a first set of experiments, we showed that a dehydroascorbate reductase activity is present in brain cytosol; immunoblotting analysis confirmed the presence of an immunoreactive cytosolic protein in selected brain areas. Immunotitration showed that approximately 65% of dehydroascorbate reductase activity of brain cytosol which was recovered in the ammonium sulphate fraction can be attributed to this enzyme. Using immunohistochemistry, we found that a variety of brain areas expresses the enzyme. Immunoreactivity was confined to the gray matter. Amongst the several brain regions, the cerebellum appears to be the most densely stained. The enzyme was also abundant in the hippocampus and the olfactory cortex. The lesion of norepinephrine terminals following systemic administration of DSP-4 markedly decreased immunoreactivity in the cerebellum. Apart from the possible co-localization of the enzyme with norepinephrine, the relative content of dehydroascorbate reductase in different brain regions might be crucial in conditioning regional sensitivity to free radical-induced brain damage. Given the scarcity of protective mechanisms demonstrated in the brain, the discovery of a new enzyme with antioxidant properties might represent a starting-point to increase our knowledge about the antioxidant mechanisms operating in several central nervous system disorders.

Subcellular localization of a glutathione-dependent dehydroascorbate reductase within specific rat brain regions.

Recently, we described the occurrence of a dehydroascorbate reductase within the rat CNS. This enzyme regenerates ascorbate after it is oxidized during normal aerobic metabolism. In this work, we describe the neuronal compartmentalization of the enzyme, using transmission electron microscopy of those brain areas in which the enzyme was most densely present when observed under light microscopy. In parallel biochemical studies, we performed immunoblotting and measured the enzyme activity of the cytoplasm and different nuclear fractions. Given the abundance of ascorbate in the caudate-putamen, we focused mostly on the occurrence of dehydroascorbate reductase at the striatal subcellular level. We also studied cerebellar Purkinje cells, hippocampal CA3 pyramidal cells and giant neurons in the magnocellular part of the red nucleus. In addition to neurons, immunolabeling was found in striatal endothelial cells, in the basal membrane of blood vessels and in perivascular astrocytes. In neuronal cytosol, the enzyme was observed in a peri-nuclear position and on the nuclear membrane. In addition, in both the striatum and the cerebellum, we found the enzyme within myelin sheets. Dehydroascorbate reductase was also present in the nucleus of neurons, as further indicated by measuring enzyme activity and by immunoblotting selected nuclear fractions. Immunocytochemical labeling confirmed that the protein was present in isolated pure nuclear fractions. Given the great amount of free radicals which are constantly generated in the CNS, the discovery of a new enzyme with antioxidant properties which translocates into neuronal nuclei appears to be a potential starting point to develop alternative strategies in neuroprotection.

Hepatotoxicity and P-4502E1-dependent metabolic oxidation of N,N-dimethylformamide in rats and mice.

A comparative biochemical and histological study on the hepatotoxicity of a single dose of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and N-methylformamide (NMF) in control and acetone-treated SD male rats and CD-1 male mice was performed. In control and acetone-pretreated rats, neither DMF nor NMF caused hepatic damage or elevation of plasma transaminases. In contrast, in acetonized but not in control mice, DMF administration yielded some evidence of liver necrosis and elevation of ALAT (alanine-amino transferase) activity. After a DMF dose of 1000 mg/kg, ALAT activity was found 1215 ± 832 mU/ml and 47 ± 18 mU/ml in acetonized and control mice, respectively. NMF treatment was hepatotoxic in control mice and lethal in acetonized mice. In control mice, an NMF dose of 600 mg/kg increased ALAT activity from a basal value of 35 ± 5 to 2210 ± 1898 mU/ml. When the oxidative metabolism of DMF was investigated, microsomes from both rats and mice preinduced by acetone increased the demethylation rate of DMF 7 to 10-fold compared to that (about 0.25 nmol/min per mg protein) of the corresponding control microsomes. The enzymatic affinities for DMF oxidation, however, were different: in mice the Km (0.05 mM) was one order of magnitude lower than that (0.56 mM) found in rats. The experiments performed with purified rat and mouse P-450 2E1 in a reconstituted system confirmed that the P-450 2E1 isoforms are very active catalysts towards DMF oxidation (the turnover was about 10 nmol/min per nmol P-450 for both enzymes) but with a strikingly different affinity. Whereas the Km for mouse P-450 2E1 was 0.08 ±0.03 mM, that for rat P-450 2E1 was 1.1 ± 0.2 mM. These findings indicate that the higher susceptibility of mice, compared with rats, to DMF hepatotoxicity, could be ascribed, at least in part, to the higher metabolic capacity of mouse P-450 2E1 with respect to that of rats.

Chronic liver injury by thioacetamide and promotion of hepatic carcinogenesis

SummaryTo verify whether a mild, but prolonged liver injury by chemicals needing bioactivation causes both hepatic cirrhosis and the appearance of hepatocyte nodules and tumors (providing the liver has been exposed previously to initiating stimuli), diethylnitrosamine-initiated and uninitiated rats were administered thioacetamide at low dose (250 mg/l drinking water) for 6 months. Hepatocyte nodule incidence as well as changes in the drug-metabolizing system were followed at monthly intervals. In the uninitiated rats a micronodular liver cirrhosis slowly developed upon thioacetamide chronic administration; a few hepatocyte focal lesions of small size were seen from the 3rd month onward. By contrast in the diethylnitrosamine-initiated thioacetamide-treated rats the liver was macronodular because of the appearance and growth of many hepatocyte nodules; some hepatomas were also seen. During thioacetamide administration both uninitiated and diethylnitrosamine-initiated rats underwent a progressive decrease of the cytochrome P-450 liver content as well as of the activity of aminopyrine N-demethylase, ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase. On the other hand, most components of the phase II of the drug-metabolizing system were markedly enhanced. In conclusion, chronic administration of thioacetamide at low doses provided strong promoting stimuli for previously initiated hepatocytes.

Discordant effect of IFN-β1a therapy on anti-IFN antibodies and thyroid disease development in patients with multiple sclerosis

Interferon-beta1b (IFN-beta1b) therapy is associated with a relatively high risk of developing thyroid disease. IFN-beta1a is regarded as less immunogenic than IFN-beta1b because of its structural homology to natural IFN-beta. We assessed the effect of 1 year of IFN-beta1a treatment on thyroid function and autoimmunity in 14 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The results were compared with those obtained in a series of 31 MS patients treated with IFN-beta1b. The prevalence of positive binding antibody (BAb) titer and neutralizing (NAb) anti-IFN antibody titer in the two groups was also assessed. The BAb and NAb positivity rate in IFN-beta1a-treated patients was significantly lower than in the group submitted to IFN-beta1b therapy (7% vs. 84% and 0% vs. 30%, respectively). Although the incidence of thyroid dysfunction was slightly higher in IFN-beta1b-treated patients than in those undergoing IFN-beta1a treatment (33% vs. 23%, respectively), it did not reach statistical significance. Thyroid disease was unrelated to the presence of positive serum BAb or NAb titer in both the group undergoing IFN-beta1a therapy and in that treated with IFN-beta1b. In both groups, thyroid disease developed mostly in women (71%) against a background of preexisting thyroiditis and a diffuse hypoechoic ultrasound thyroid pattern (80%). IFN-beta1a treatment was associated with a significantly lower prevalence of both BAb and NAb-positive titers than was IFN-beta1b. Conversely, thyroid disease was similar and unrelated to the presence of positive anti-IFN-beta antibody titer. Therefore, routine thyroid assessment may be advised during IFN-beta1a treatment, especially in patients with preexisting thyroiditis.

Possible role of the acetone-inducible cytochrome P-450IIE1 in the metabolism and hepatotoxicity of thiobenzamide

The effect of acetone pretreatment (5% in drinking water for 10 days on rat liver metabolism and toxicity of thiobenzamide (TB) was investigated. Hepatic microsomes from acetone-pretreated rats showed a significant increase of TB-S-oxidation rate which, on the basis of selective thermal inactivation of FAD-containing monooxygenase (FADM), appeared dependent only on cytochrome P-450. Furthermore, TB was able to competitively inhibit acetone hydroxylase (AcH), an enzymatic reaction highly specific for the P-450IIE1 isozyme. Acetone pretreatment of rats also produced an exacerbation of liver damage induced by acute administration of TB (150 mg/ kg), as judged by the extent of liver necrosis and serum alanine-amino transferase (ALAT) activities. Coadministration of acetone with TB reduced on the other hand the extent of liver damage. The findings suggest that P-450 species induced by acetone, and in particular the P-450IIE1 isozyme, could be involved in the biotransformation of TB.

Biliary cirrhosis and tumors induced by chronic administration of thiobenzamide to rats

Thiobenzamide (TB), a thiono-containing compound, was administered for 38 weeks to female Sprague-Dawley rats at a dose of 1 g/kg standard diet; the resulting liver pathology was followed up to 8 months after withdrawal of the compound from the diet. TB administration induced the appearance of biliary cirrhosis. In the first weeks of intoxication the progressive distortion of the liver architecture was mainly due to significant proliferation of the bile ductules. Later, the liver assumed a macronodular appearance. In addition to regenerative and degenerative changes of the hepatocytes, preneoplastic lesions were also detected, and some enzymic markers of the mixed-function monooxygenase system were decreased. Cholangiofibrotic areas were evident, and many biliary tubules within them showed mucous metaplasia. At the end of the intoxication period, as well as 4 months after drug suspension, large portions of the liver or entire lobes were substituted by connective tissue surrounding nests of bile ductules and atrophied hepatocellular nodules. Four months later, in the virtual absence of cirrhotic changes, each animal harboured one or more tumors (mainly cholangiomas).

Immunohistochemical evidence and ultrastructural compartmentalization of a new antioxidant enzyme in the rat substantia nigra.

We previously described in the rat the presence of dehydroascorbate reductase, an enzyme regenerating ascorbic acid, which is constantly lost during oxidative processes occurring at a fast rate within the central nervous system. In the present study, we specifically evaluate the occurrence of this enzyme in the rat substantia nigra by using immunohistochemistry, and by analyzing the neuronal compartmentalization of dehydroascorbate reductase within nigral neurons by immunoblotting and transmission electron microscopy coupled with immunocytochemistry. The enzyme occurs in various portions of the substantia nigra, but it is more abundant in the ventromedial part extending through the ventral tegmental area, and the dorsal portion, involving the pars compacta. Within nigral neurons, the cytosolic enzyme is present in a perinuclear position, close to mitochondria, and in the nuclear membrane; we also found the enzyme in nigral axons close to the myelin sheath. In addition, dehydroascorbate reductase was present in the nucleus of nigral neurons. The nuclear occurrence of the enzyme was confirmed by immunocytochemical labelling and immunoblotting of isolated nuclei. The nuclear enzyme was constantly evident as clusters of immunogold particles on chromatin. This localization suggests new roles for dehydroascorbate reductase (eg. prevention of DNA oxidative damage and regulation of gene transcription).

Up-regulation of the 31 kDa dehydroascorbate reductase in the modified skeletal muscle cell (nurse cell) during Trichinella spp. infection

Ascorbic acid (AA) is an important factor of defence against oxidative stress. AA is maintained in the reduced functional form by glutathione (GSH)-dependent dehydroascorbate (DHA) reducing enzymes, including the cytosolic glutaredoxin, the microsomal protein disulphide isomerase, and a DHA reductase of 31 kDa, hereafter referred to as DHAR, purified from rat liver cytosol and human red cells. As these mechanisms have rarely been studied in parasites, we looked for the possible presence of this 31 kDa protein in Trichinella spiralis L(1) larvae. Biochemical data, immunoblot analysis and immunohistochemical studies suggested the absence of this protein within parasites at this stage. However, they possess a low DHA reducing ability, which is probably due to the presence of glutaredoxin. On the other hand, immunohistochemical studies performed in histological sections of muscle tissue from Trichinella-infected animals showed an increase in DHAR in the nurse cell (NC) of T. spiralis- and Trichinella britovi-infected animals, compared with the surrounding muscle fibres. This result was confirmed by immunoblot analysis, whereas no such increase was observed in Trichinella pseudospiralis-infected animals. In the modified skeletal muscle cell also haeme oxygenase 1 increased, as well as lipoperoxidised proteins. Both findings suggest an oxidative stress of the NC, which might be related to the intense inflammatory reaction which surrounds the NC-parasite complex. Another possibility to explain the increase in DHAR could be that the NC needs to recycle a substantial amount of AA to synthesise the collagen capsule.