Young-Nam Cha

A Quantitative Nitroblue Tetrazolium Assay for Determining Intracellular Superoxide Anion Production in Phagocytic Cells

Abstract Conventionally, a semi‐quantitative microscopic nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assay is used to determine the production of superoxide anion (O2 −) in various phagocytic cells. This microscopic assay is conducted by counting the cells containing blue NBT formazan deposits, which are formed by reduction of the membrane permeable, water‐soluble, yellow‐colored, nitroblue tetrazolium (Y‐NBT) by O2 −. However, this assay is semi‐quantitative and is prone to observer bias. In the present study, we modified the NBT assay by dissolving the blue formazan particles using 2 M potassium hydroxide and dimethylsulfoxide and then measured its absorbance using a microplate reader at 620 nm. The absorbance of dissolved NBT increased in proportion to cell number (r=0.9907), incubation time, and stimulus concentration. To test the usefulness of this modified assay, we compared the abilities of a number of types of phagocytic cells to produce O2 −. The cells examined included murine macrophage cell lines (RAW 264.7 and J774), freshly prepared murine peritoneal macrophages and neutrophils, a human myeloid cell line (PLB‐985), and freshly prepared human peripheral blood neutrophils. In addition, we demonstrate that nitric oxide produced by RAW 264.7 cells does not interfere with the modified colorimetric NBT assay. Taken together, our results indicate that the modified colorimetric NBT assay is simple, sensitive, and quantitative, and that it can be used to determine the amounts of intracellular O2 − produced by phagocytic cells. Thus, this assay is sensitive enough to measure, quantitatively, even the small amounts of O2 − produced in monocytes and macrophages that are not detectable by the conventional microscopic NBT assay.

CYP2C19 genotype and phenotype determined by omeprazole in a Korean population.

Omeprazole (20 mg orally) was given to 103 healthy Korean subjects and blood was taken 3 h after administration. The plasma concentration ratio of omeprazole and hydroxyomeprazole, used as an index of CYP2C19 activity, was bimodally distributed. Thirteen subjects (12.6%) were identified as poor metabolizers (PMs) with an omeprazole hydroxylation ratio of 6.95 or higher. Among the 206 CYP2C19 alleles, CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*3 were found in 43 alleles (21%) and 24 alleles (12%), respectively. Twelve subjects (12%) carried two defect alleles (*2/*2, *2/*3 or *3/*3), 43 subjects (42%) were heterozygous for a mutated (*2 or *3) and a wild type (*1) allele, and the remaining 48 subjects (47%) were homozygous for the wild type allele. The distributions of the metabolic ratio between these three genotype groups were significantly different (Kruskal-Wallis test: p < 0.0001). The genotypes of 19 additional Korean PMs has been identified in a previous mephenytoin study. From a total of 32 PMs, 31 were genotypically PMs by analysis of the CYP2C19*2 and *3 alleles and only one PM subject was found to be heterozygous for the *1 and *2 alleles. At present it cannot be judged whether this subject has a defective allele with a so-far unidentified mutation or a true wild type allele. We thus confirm a high incidence (12.6%) of PMs of omeprazole in Koreans and of the 32 Korean PMs 97% could be identified by the genotype analysis.

Role of Nrf2-mediated heme oxygenase-1 upregulation in adaptive survival response to nitrosative stress

Nitrosative stress caused by reactive nitrogen species such as nitric oxide and peroxynitrite overproduced during inflammation leads to cell death and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many human ailments. However, relatively mild nitrosative stress may fortify cellular defense capacities, rendering cells tolerant or adaptive to ongoing and subsequent cytotoxic challenges, a phenomenon known as ‘preconditioning’ or ‘hormesis’. One of the key components of cellular stress response is heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), the rate limiting enzyme in the process of degrading potentially toxic free heme into biliverdin, free iron and carbon monoxide. HO-1 is upregulated by a wide array of stimuli and has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other cytoprotective functions. This review is intended to provide readers with a welldocumented account of the research done in the area of cellular adaptive survival response against nitrosative stress with special focus on the role of HO-1 upregulation, especially through activation of the transcription factor, Nrf2.

Debrisoquine and S-mephenytoin hydroxylation phenotypes and genotypes in a Korean population

One hundred and fifty-two healthy Korean volunteers were phenotyped with debrisoquine and mephenytoin and genotyped with respect to CYP2D6. The debrisoquine metabolic ratio (MR) varied between 0.09 and 6.3, and all subjects were thus classified as extensive metabolizers of debrisoquine. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based amplification of genomic DNA with primers specific for the C188-->T mutation present in exon 1 of the CYP2D6*10B allele was performed and revealed an allele frequency of 0.51 in this Korean population. Forty-three subjects (28%) were homozygous for CYP2D6*10B, 69 subjects (45%) were heterozygous for this allele, while in 40 subjects (26%) no exon 1 mutation could be found. All subjects except one homozygous for the wild type allele had MRs below 0.75 whereas the MR was higher than 0.99 in all subjects homozygous for the CYP2D6*10B allele. The MRs in the three genotype groups were significantly different (p < 0.0001; Kruskal-Wallis test). Eco RI RFLP analysis of DNA from six subjects with debrisoquine MRs < or = 0.11 revealed that only one (MR 0.09) carried a duplicated CYP2D6*Z-gene (CYP2D6*2X2) as indicated by the Eco RI 12.1 kb haplotype. It is concluded that, as shown earlier for Chinese and Japanese populations, the CYP2D6*10B-allele containing the C188-->T mutation is the major cause of diminished CYP2D6 activity in Koreans. In this Korean population, the MR of debrisoquine was shifted towards higher values (lower CYP2D6 activity) compared with Caucasian populations but the shift appeared to be less pronounced than earlier shown for Chinese. Twenty-four subjects (16%) were poor metabolizers of S-mephenytoin as indicated by the S/R mephenytoin ratio of about 1. Twenty-three of these were genotyped with respect to the defect CYP2C19-alleles CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*3. Of the 46 poor metabolizer alleles, 32 (70%) were CYP2C19*2 and the remaining 14 (30%) were CYP2C19*3. Thus, the defect CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*3-alleles explained 100% of the 23 Korean poor metabolizers of S-mephenytoin.

Carbon Monoxide Produced by Heme Oxygenase-1 in Response to Nitrosative Stress Induces Expression of Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase in PC12 Cells via Activation of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase and Nrf2 Signaling

Induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression has been associated with adaptive cytoprotection against a wide array of toxic insults, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unresolved. In this study, we investigated the potential role of carbon monoxide (CO), one of the by-products of the HO-1 reaction, in the adaptive survival response to peroxynitrite-induced PC12 cell death. Upon treatment of rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells with the peroxynitrite generator 3-morpholinosydnonimine hydrochloride (SIN-1), the cellular GSH level decreased initially, but was gradually restored to the basal level. This was accompanied by increased expression of the catalytic subunit of glutamate-cysteine ligase (GCLC), the rate-limiting enzyme in GSH biosynthesis. The SIN-1-induced GCLC up-regulation was preceded by induction of HO-1 and subsequent CO production. Inhibition of HO activity by zinc protoporphyrin IX or knockdown of HO-1 gene expression by small interfering RNA abrogated the up-regulation of GCLC expression and the subsequent GSH restoration induced by SIN-1. In contrast, additional exposure to the CO-releasing molecule (CO-RM) restored the GSH level previously reduced by inhibition of CO production using zinc protoporphyrin IX. Furthermore, CO-RM treatment up-regulated GCLC expression through activation of Nrf2. The CO-RM-induced activation of Nrf2 was under the control of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway. In conclusion, CO produced by HO-1 rescues PC12 cells from nitrosative stress through induction of GCLC, which is mediated by activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt and subsequently Nrf2 signaling.

Phenotypes of flavin-containing monooxygenase activity determined by ranitidine N-oxidation are positively correlated with genotypes of linked FM03 gene mutations in a Korean population.

A non-invasive urine analysis method to determine the in-vivo flavin-containing mono-oxygenase (FMO) activity catalysing N-oxidation of ranitidine (RA) was developed and used to phenotype a Korean population. FMO activity was assessed by the molar concentration ratio of RA and RANO in the bulked 8 h urine. This method was used to determine the FMO phenotypes of 210 Korean volunteers (173 men and 37 women, 110 nonsmokers and 100 smokers). Urinary RA/RANO ratio, representing the metabolic ratio and the reciprocal index of FMO activity, ranged from 5.67-27.20 (4.8-fold difference) and was not different between men and women (P = 0.76) or between smokers and nonsmokers (P = 0.50). The frequencies of RA/RANO ratios were distributed in a trimodal fashion. Among the 210 Korean subjects, 93 (44.3%) were fast metabolizers, 104 (49.5%) were intermediate metabolizers and 13 (6.2%) were slow metabolizers. Subsequently, the relationship between the ranitidine N-oxidation phenotypes and FMO3 genotypes, determined by the presence of two previously identified mutant alleles (Glu158Lys: FMO3/Lys158 and Glu308Gly: FMO3/Gly308 alleles) commonly found in our Korean population was examined. The results showed that subjects who were homozygous and heterozygous for either one or both of the FMO3/Lys158 and FMO3/Gly308 mutant alleles had significantly lower in-vivo FMO activities than those with homozygous wild-type alleles (FMO3/Glu158 and FMO3/Glu308) (P < 0.001, Mann-Whitney U-test). Furthermore, the FMO activities of subjects with either FMO3/Lys158 or FMO3/Gly308 mutant alleles were almost identical to those having both FMO3 mutant alleles (FMO3/Lys158 and FMO3/Gly308). These two mutant alleles located, respectively, at exons 4 and 7 in the FMO3 gene appeared to be strongly linked by cis-configuration in Koreans. Therefore, we concluded that presence of FMO3/Lys158 and FMO3/Gly308 mutant alleles in FMO3 gene is responsible for the low ranitidine N-oxidation (FMO3 activity) in our Korean population.

Role of Heme Oxygenase-1 in Vascular Disease

Great attention has been placed on the protective role of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) for several vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. HO-1, by exerting anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidant effects on the vasculature, protects against atherosclerosis. The precise underlying mechanisms for HO-1-based protection are not yet completely understood, but appear to involve the protective effects of HO-1 by-products, carbon monoxide (CO), biliverdin/bilirubin and free iron. Among the HO-1 by-products, CO has been shown to mimic some protective actions of HO-1, specifically, in vascular system. There is evidence supporting that HO-1-derived CO also interacts with other gaseous molecules, such as nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) that may relate to either vascular protection or injury. CO, NO and H2S not only exert comparable biological actions but also compete with and are antagonists with each other for maintaining vascular homeostasis. This review will highlight the protective roles of HO-1/CO in vascular injury/disease, and emphasize the potential roles of CO in possible interplay among three gaseous molecules, which may be important to explore the overall protective roles of HO-1/CO system in the pathogenesis of human vascular disease.

4-Hydroxyestradiol Induces Anchorage-Independent Growth of Human Mammary Epithelial Cells via Activation of IκB Kinase: Potential Role of Reactive Oxygen Species

Estrogen is converted by cytochrome P450 1B1 to 4-hydroxyestradiol (4-OHE(2)), a putative carcinogenic metabolite of estrogen. This catechol estrogen metabolite is oxidized further to produce a reactive quinone via semiquinone. Redox cycling between 4-OHE(2) and its quinoid generates reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS not only causes oxidative DNA damage but also promotes neoplastic transformation of initiated cells. In the present study, 4-OHE(2) induced anchorage-independent colony formation in human mammary epithelial cells (MCF-10A). MCF-10A cells treated with 4-OHE(2) exhibited increased accumulation of intracellular ROS. The antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine inhibited the neoplastic transformation induced by 4-OHE(2). ROS overproduced by 4-OHE(2) increased the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and its DNA binding through induction of IkappaB kinase alpha (IKKalpha) and IKKbeta activities. The inhibition of the IKK activities with Bay 11-7082 significantly reduced the anchorage-independent growth induced by 4-OHE(2). The 4-OHE(2)-induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and Akt resulted in enhanced IKK activities and phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha, thereby inducing NF-kappaB activation and anchorage-independent growth of MCF-10A cells. In conclusion, ROS, concomitantly overproduced during redox cycling of 4-OHE(2), activates IKK signaling, which may contribute to neoplastic transformation of MCF-10A cells.

Taurine chloramine produced from taurine under inflammation provides anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects

Taurine is one of the most abundant non-essential amino acid in mammals and has many physiological functions in the nervous, cardiovascular, renal, endocrine, and immune systems. Upon inflammation, taurine undergoes halogenation in phagocytes and is converted to taurine chloramine (TauCl) and taurine bromamine. In the activated neutrophils, TauCl is produced by reaction with hypochlorite (HOCl) generated by the halide-dependent myeloperoxidase system. TauCl is released from activated neutrophils following their apoptosis and inhibits the production of inflammatory mediators such as, superoxide anion, nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukins, and prostaglandins in inflammatory cells at inflammatory tissues. Furthermore, TauCl increases the expressions of antioxidant proteins, such as heme oxygenase 1, peroxiredoxin, thioredoxin, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase in macrophages. Thus, a central role of TauCl produced by activated neutrophils is to trigger the resolution of inflammation and protect macrophages and surrounding tissues from being damaged by cytotoxic reactive oxygen metabolites overproduced during inflammation. This is achieved by attenuating further production of proinflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen metabolites and also by increasing the levels of antioxidant proteins that are able to scavenge and diminish the production of cytotoxic oxygen metabolites. These findings suggest that TauCl released from activated neutrophils may be involved in the recovery processes of cells affected by inflammatory oxidative stresses and thus TauCl could be used as a potential physiological agent to control pathogenic symptoms of chronic inflammatory diseases.

15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 upregulates the expression of heme oxygenase-1 and subsequently matrix metalloproteinase-1 in human breast cancer cells: possible roles of iron and ROS

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has recently been found to be involved in angiogenesis and metastasis. In this study, we investigated whether HO-1 could potentiate the metastatic potential of human breast cancer cells. Treatment of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells with 30 microM of 15-deoxy-Delta12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) increased the expression of HO-1, which preceded the induction of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The 15d-PGJ2-induced upregulation of MMP-1 was abrogated by the HO-1 inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP) as well as introduction of HO-1 short interfering RNA. In addition, HO-1 inducers, such as cobalt protoporphyrin IX and hemin, upregulated the expression of MMP-1. Overexpression of HO-1 in the MCF-7 cells caused the induction of MMP-1 expression. Treatment with the HO-1 inhibitor ZnPP abolished the migrative phenotype of 15d-PGJ2-treated MCF-7 cells. MCF-7 cells treated with 15d-PGJ2 exhibited intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which was abolished by ZnPP. We hypothesize that excess iron, released as a consequence HO-1 activity induced by 15d-PGJ2, is transiently available for the stimulation of intracellular ROS generation and subsequently MMP-1 expression. 15d-PGJ2-mediated upregulation of MMP-1 expression was blocked by the iron chelator desferrioxamine and the Fe2+-specific chelator 1,10-phenanthroline. The iron chelators as well as the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine abrogated ROS formation by 15d-PGJ2. In conclusion, 15d-PGJ2 upregulates MMP-1 expression via induction of HO-1 and subsequent production of iron capable of generating ROS, which may contribute to increased metastasis and invasiveness of the human breast cancer cells.