Woan-Fang Tzeng

The roles of glutathione and antioxidant enzymes in menadione-induced oxidative stress

We investigated the role of glutathione (GSH) and antioxidant enzymes in menadione-resistance by using K300 cells (menadione-resistant cells) and parental P19 cells (menadione-sensitive cells). We found that acquisition of resistance was associated with elevations in glutathione content and DT-diaphorase activity. The activity of glutathione S-transferase (GST) was significantly decreased, while the activities of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase in K300 cells were maintained at the same levels as compared to the parental P19 cells. Using reactive oxygen species (ROS)-sensitive fluorescence dye 2,7- dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH/DA), we demonstrated that K300 cells are characterized by reduced cellular ROS as compared to the parental P19 cells during menadiones action. Menadione depleted glutathione to a small extent in the K300 cells, but a rapid depletion was observed in P19 cells. Pretreatment of K300 cells with dicumarol, a DT-diaphorase inhibitor, or buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), an inhibitor of gamma-glutamyl cysteine synthase, sensitized the cells to menadione. BSO treatment was less effective than dicumarol treatment in reversing menadione resistance in K300 cells. These results strongly support the belief that DT-diaphorase plays a central role in protecting cells against menadione-induced oxidative stress by decreasing the ROS formation.

Protection of cells from menadione-induced apoptosis by inhibition of lipid peroxidation

Menadione is a commonly used compound that causes oxidative stress. We investigated the influence of lipid peroxidation on the apoptotic response of mouse myogenic C2C12 cells following menadione-induced oxidative stress. The presence of hypodiploid cells and phosphatidylserine translocation were assayed to detect apoptotic cells. Menadione at 10-40 micro M induced cell apoptosis. Menadione at dose of 80 micro M induced both apoptosis and necrosis. At a 160 micro M dosage, menadione induced cell necrosis. Caspase 3 activation is required for menadione-induced apoptosis. Incubation of cells with 40 micro M menadione resulted in the depletion of cellular glutathione and increased lipid peroxidation. Pre-treatment of cells with cysteine suppressed the menadione-induced apoptosis and prevented changes in reactive oxygen species levels, glutathione levels and lipid peroxidation. Pre-treatment of cells with deferoxamine mesylate, an iron chelator, also reduced both menadione-induced apoptosis and lipid peroxidation. However, this did not prevent menadione-induced glutathione depletion. Thus, the inhibition of lipid peroxidation by deferoxamine mesylate prevented apoptosis even though cellular glutathione remained depleted. Our data suggest that menadione-induced apoptosis is directly linked to iron-dependent lipid peroxidation.

The role of lipid peroxidation in menadione-mediated toxicity in cardiomyocytes

The role of lipid peroxidation in menadione-mediated toxicity was studied in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Incubation of cardiomyocytes with menadione resulted in depleted cellular glutathione levels, increased intracellular Ca2+ and increased lipid peroxidation which all occurred prior to cell degeneration. Pre-treatment of cells with cysteine suppressed the menadione-induced cell degeneration and prevented changes in glutathione levels, intracellular Ca2+, and lipid peroxidation. Pre-treatment of cells with fura-2 acetoxymethyl ester, a Ca2+ chelator, reduced menadione-induced cell degeneration and lipid peroxidation but it did not block cellular glutathione depletion. Pre-treatment of cells with deferoxamine mesylate, an iron chelator, also reduced both menadione-induced cell degeneration and lipid peroxidation; however, it did not prevent the menadione-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+, nor the depletion of glutathione. Thus, the inhibition of menadione-induced lipid peroxidation by deferoxamine mesylate prevented cell degeneration even though intracellular Ca2+ remained elevated and glutathione remained depleted. The protective effects of deferoxamine mesylate and fura-2 AM on menadiones toxicity were inhibited by addition of FeCl3 to cells. Ferric ions did not inhibit the protective effect of cysteine. These data suggest that menadione-induced cardiomyocyte degeneration is directly linked to iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and less tightly coupled to elevation in intracellular Ca2+ or depletion of glutathione.

MicroRNA-138 Suppresses Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin Expression and Inhibits Tumorigenicity

The expression of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is up-regulated in some cancers; therefore NGAL has potential as a tumor biomarker. Although the regulation mechanism for this is unknown, one study has shown that it is likely to involve a microRNA (miRNA). Here, we investigate the relation between miRNA expression and NGAL expression, and the role of NGAL in tumorigenesis. Using miRNA target–detecting software, we analyze the mRNA sequence of NGAL and identify a target site for microRNA-138 (miR-138) in nucleotides 25–53 of the 3′ UTR. We then analyze NGAL and miR-138 expression in three cancer cell lines originating from breast, endometrial and pancreatic carcinomas (the MCF-7, RL95-2 and AsPC-1 cell lines), respectively, using quantitative (real-time) PCR and western blot analysis. Metastasis is a critical event in cancer progression, in which malignant cell proliferation, migration and invasion increase. To determine whether miR-138-regulated NGAL expression is associated with metastasis, the proliferation and migration of the cell line are examined after miR-138 transfection. Using nude mice, we examine both the tumorigenicity of these cell lines and of miR-138-transfected cancer cells in vivo, as well as the effect of treating tumors with an antibody against NGAL. Our results show that these cancer cell lines down-regulate NGAL when miR-138 is highly expressed. Ectopic transfection of miR-138 suppresses NGAL expression and cell migration in RL95-2 and AsPC-1 cells, demonstrating that miR-138-regulated NGAL expression is associated with cell migration. Additionally, injection of the NGAL antibody diminishes NGAL-mediated tumorigenesis in nude mice, and miR-138 transfection of cancer cells reduces tumor formation. As the cell proliferation data showed that the tumor size should be regulated by NGAL-related cell growth. Taken together, our results indicate that NGAL may be a good target for cancer therapy and suggest that miR-138 acts as a tumor suppressor and may prevent metastasis.

Cardiac and renal toxicity of menadione in rat

Menadione induced oxidative stress in cells. The acute and cumulative toxic effects of menadione were evaluated by intravenous injection of the drug in Wistar rats. For evaluation of acute toxicity, single bolus doses of 25, 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg menadione were used. For evaluation of cumulative toxicity, five doses of 100 and 150 mg/kg menadione were injected every other day. Histologic and ultrastructural examinations were made from tissues of kidney, heart, liver, lung, skeletal muscle of foreleg and smooth muscle of stomach. A dose-response relationship was observed in rats whether treated with single or five doses of menadione. Menadione at a dose of 25 mg/kg produced minimal granular degeneration in the tubular cells of the kidney. Menadione at a dose of 50 mg/kg produced minimal granular degeneration in the tubular cells of the kidney and mild pulmonary hemorrhage in the lung. Menadione at doses of 100 and 150 mg/kg produced lesions in the kidney, heart, liver and lung. The characteristic lesions in the kidney included tubular dilatation, formation of protein casts in the lumen of renal tubules, Ca2+ mineralization, vacuolization in proximal and distal tubules, granular degeneration in the cortex and necrosis. Apoptosis was very obvious in kidney from rats treated at 100 and 150 mg/kg menadione. Lesions found in the heart included inflammation, hemorrhage, vacuolization, edema and necrosis. Mitochondria were swollen. Hepatic changes included inflammation, degeneration, vacuolization and necrosis. The only lesion observed in lung was hemorrhage. At the same dose of menadione, structural damage was more severe in kidney than in other organs. The lesions produced by one dose of single injection of the drug were more severe than five doses of multiple injection of menadione in all observed tissues. We conclude that the acute toxicity of menadione is more severe than the cumulative toxicity of menadione.

Mouse lipocalin as an enhancer of spermatozoa motility.

The 24p3 protein is a 25 kDa glycoprotein that is secreted into the uterine fluid during the proestrous phase of mice. We assessed the effects on spermatozoa motility and on the functions of mouse spermatozoa using the computer-assisted sperm analysis method, cytochemical staining and detection of the protein tyrosine phosphorylation pattern. Compared with the control cells, sperm motility was stimulated by the addition of 24p3 protein into the medium. Introducing 24p3 protein enhanced progressive motility but did not promote the appearance of hyperactivated movement. The presence of 24p3 protein in the medium did not allow the cells to undergo the capacitated protein tyrosine phosphorylation pattern and acrosome reaction. The tyrosine phosphorylation pattern shows phosphoproteins in the range of Mr 50000–106000 correlated with the sperm progressive motility after the addition of 24p3 protein into the medium. Using flow cytometry, we assessed the changes in the intracellular pH and measured the intracellular cAMP concentration with an immunodetection kit. The results indicated that the elevation in intracellular pH from 6.67 to 6.89, increase of intracellular cAMP accumulation, and protein tyrosine phosphorylation might be the factors in enhancement of sperm motility as the 24p3 protein bound to the spermatozoa. The 24p3 protein may have a role in regulating flagellar motility.

Pulmonary function changes in long-term survivors of chronic myelogenous leukemia after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: a Taiwan experience.

Pulmonary function in 42 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) was tested before and after HLA-matched (39 related, 3 unrelated) allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) between 1985 and 1999. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) including ventilatory capacity, lung volumes, and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) were performed before and 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after BMT, and every 12 months thereafter. Possible pre- and post-BMT risk factors were evaluated for their influence on pulmonary function. Patients were divided into two groups according to their survival duration for more than 12 months or not. Pretransplant PFTs were essentially normal except for mild reduction in DLCO values in the short-term survival group. Overall pulmonary function changes revealed persistent and significant decrease of forced vital capacity (FVC) and DLCO values after BMT. The DLCO values reached abnormal levels (<80%) and showed a trend of incomplete recovery. Decrease of forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and vital capacity were also noted but the FEV1/FVC ratio remained within normal limits after BMT. Transient fall of total lung capacity after BMT was noted. However, its values did not reach abnormal levels such as to cause restrictive ventilatory impairment. Possible risk factors including gender, smoking, bronchiolitis obliterans, acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) were found to have significant influences on posttransplant pulmonary function changes by multiple regression analysis. Most patients except those who developed bronchiolitis obliterans were clinically asymptomatic. Development of bronchiolitis obliterans was the most important factor to cause both clinical symptoms and impaired pulmonary function. In summary, pulmonary function changes before and after HLA-matched allogeneic BMT in long-term survivors of CML only showed modest dysfunction. The primary negative presentation with the development of oxygenation defect had no clinical significance in most patients. The influences on the impairment of pulmonary function were multifactorial.

DT-diaphorase protects against menadione-induced oxidative stress.

To study the role of DT-diaphorase in menadione-mediated cytotoxicity, menadione-resistant cells were selected from P19 cells by stepwise increasing concentrations of menadione from 10 to 60, 120 or 300 microM without mutagenic pretreatment. Three isolated clones, K60, K120 and K300, were maintained in media containing 60, 120 or 300 microM menadione, respectively. The resistance of these cells to menadione, in order, was: K300 > K120 > K60 > P19 cells. K300 cells were the most resistant. Acquisition of resistance was associated with elevation in DT-diaphorase activity. Pretreatment of the resistant cells with 30 microM dicumarol at 37 degrees C for 30 min sensitized the resistant cells to menadione. When the resistant cells were maintained in the absence of menadione for 28 days, the resistance of K60 and K120 cells was lost. The lower degree of resistance was accompanied by a decrease in DT-diaphorase activity in the revertant cells. However, the resistance and the activity of DT-diaphorase in K300 cells were quite stable in the same period. These results support strongly that DT-diaphorase protects against menadione-induced oxidative stress.

Macrophage inflammatory protein-3α influences growth of K562 leukemia cells in co-culture with anticancer drug-pretreated HS-5 stromal cells

Stromal cell monolayers have been an important means of studying the regulation of hematopoiesis, because they produce cytokines. Cytosine arabinoside, vincristine, daunorubicin, and doxorubicin are common drugs for hematological cancer therapy, and they may have some effects on bone marrow stroma during chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to elucidate interactions between the bone marrow stromal microenvironment and leukemic cells after drug treatment. We tested the hypothesis that human HS-5 stromal cells, pretreated with anticancer drugs, affected the growth of leukemic K562 cells by changing the cytokines in the culture microenvironment. Thereafter, proliferation of K562 cells increased nearly 2.5-fold compared the co-cultivation with drugs-pretreated HS-5 stromal cells and drugs-untreated HS-5 stromal cells. The results indicated that co-cultivation with HS-5 stromal cells pretreated with drugs caused significant K562 cell proliferation. Cytokines in the microenvironment were detected via the RayBio((R))Human Cytokine Antibody Array Membrane. The levels of the cytokines CKbeta, IL-12, IL-13, IGFBP-2, MCP-1, MCP-3, MCP-4, MDC, MIP-1beta and MIP-1delta were decreased, with a particularly marked decrease in MIP-3alpha. In co-culture medium, there was a 20-fold decrease in MIP-3alpha in daunorubicin-pretreated HS-5 cells and at least a 3-fold decrease in Ara-C-pretreated cells. This indicated a significant effect of anticancer drugs on the stromal cell line. Using phosphorylated Erk and pRb proteins as cell proliferation markers, we found that phosphorylation of these markers in K562 cells was inhibited during co-cultivation with drug-pretreated stromal cells in MIP-3alpha-supplemented medium and restored by MIP-3alpha antibody supplement. In conclusion, anticancer drug pretreatment suppresses the negative control exerted by HS-5 cells on leukemic cell proliferation, via modulation of cytokines in the microenvironment, especially at the level of MIP-3alpha.

The Use of Transdermal Fentanyl in Cancer Pain—A Compliance Study of Outpatients in Taiwan

The aim of this study is to investigate cancer patients’ response and side effects associated with transdermal therapeutic fentanyl (TTS-F), whose pain was hardly controlled by nonweak/weak opioids in Taiwan. From 2005 to 2006, 822 outpatients received TTS-F to collect pain assessment forms and diaries for 4 weeks. Most (78.7%) patients were initially prescribed 25 μg/h TTS-F. Doses were adjusted weekly at clinicians’ discretion, according to pain assessment and side effects. Patients receiving 50 μg/h, 75 μg/h, and > 75 μg/h TTS-F had increased from 17.5% to 32.1%, 1.8% to 3.4%, and 1.9% to 2.2%, respectively, by week 2; further small increases were found in weeks 3 and 4. Pain palliation improved from 60.6% during week 1 to 78.6% at week 4. The common adverse effects were nausea/vomiting. Patient’s compliance was >90%. This study found that the TTS-F is effective and well tolerated.