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Biomedical subjects

A Boveris

Publications and source records attributed to A Boveris.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Production of nitric oxide by mitochondria.

The production of NO. by mitochondria was investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance using the spin-trapping technique, and by the oxidation of oxymyoglobin. Percoll-purified rat liver mitochondria exhibited a negligible contamination with other subcellular fractions (1-4%) and high degree of functionality (respiratory control ratio = 5-6). Toluene-permeabilized mitochondria, mitochondrial homogenates, and a crude preparation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) incubated with the spin trap N-methyl-D-glucamine-dithiocarbamate-FeII produced a signal ascribed to the NO. spin adduct (g = 2.04; aN = 12.5 G). The intensity of the signal increased with time, protein concentration, and L-Arg, and decreased with the addition of the NOS inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine. Intact mitochondria, mitochondrial homogenates, and submitochondrial particles produced NO. (followed by the oxidation of oxymyoglobin) at rates of 1.4, 4.9, and 7.1 nmol NO. x (min.mg protein)-1, respectively, with a Km for L-Arg of 5-7 microM. Comparison of the rates of NO. production obtained with homogenates and submitochondrial particles indicated that most of the enzymatic activity was localized in the mitochondrial inner membrane. This study demonstrates that mitochondria are a source of NO., the production of which may effect energy metabolism, O2 consumption, and O2 free radical formation.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Primary role of Kupffer cell-hepatocyte communication in the expression of oxidative stress in the post-ischaemic liver.

It has been reported that hepatocyte metabolism and function can be modulated by the activated Kupffer cell through the release of different biomolecules like cytokines, eicosanoids, oxygen free radicals and enzymes. In relation to these paracrine factors involved in circuits of intercellular communication, the existence of a hepatic oxygen sensor located in the Kupffer cell has been postulated. According to this postulate the oxygen metabolism of the liver parenchymal cells could be under the control of the Kupffer cells. In order to study the role of the Kupffer cell in the reperfusion syndrome of the liver, a lobular ischaemia-reperfusion model was performed in rats with or without previous treatment with gadolinium chloride to block Kupffer cell function. Spontaneous chemiluminescence of the liver surface, oxygen uptake by tissue slices and tertbutyl hydroperoxide-initiated chemiluminescence determinations were performed to evaluate the oxygen metabolism and the oxy-radical generation by the liver. The lower basal photoemission, in parallel with a lower basal oxygen uptake registered in the hepatic lobes from the animals pretreated with gadolinium chloride clearly indicates that the gadolinium chloride-dependent functional inhibition of Kupffer cell leads to a downregulation of oxygen metabolism by the liver. Moreover, the intensity of oxidative stress exhibited by the postischaemic lobes appears to be closely linked with the Kupffer cell activity. On the basis of the data obtained we propose that a paracrine circuit between activated Kupffer cell and hepatocytes is an early key event in the induction of postischaemic oxidative stress in the liver. Furthermore the interference with the mitochondrial electron flow by some biomolecules released from the activated Kupffer cell, such as tumour necrosis factor, interleukins, eicosanoids, etc., would increase the rate of generation of reactive oxygen species by the inhibited mitochondrial respiratory chain.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Nitric oxide regulates oxygen uptake and hydrogen peroxide release by the isolated beating rat heart.

Isolated rat heart perfused with 1.5-7.5 microM NO solutions or bradykinin, which activates endothelial NO synthase, showed a dose-dependent decrease in myocardial O2 uptake from 3.2 +/- 0.3 to 1.6 +/- 0.1 (7.5 microM NO, n = 18, P < 0.05) and to 1.2 +/- 0.1 microM O2.min-1.g tissue-1 (10 microM bradykinin, n = 10, P < 0.05). Perfused NO concentrations correlated with an induced release of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the effluent (r = 0.99, P < 0.01). NO markedly decreased the O2 uptake of isolated rat heart mitochondria (50% inhibition at 0.4 microM NO, r = 0.99, P < 0.001). Cytochrome spectra in NO-treated submitochondrial particles showed a double inhibition of electron transfer at cytochrome oxidase and between cytochrome b and cytochrome c, which accounts for the effects in O2 uptake and H2O2 release. Most NO was bound to myoglobin; this fact is consistent with NO steady-state concentrations of 0.1-0.3 microM, which affect mitochondria. In the intact heart, finely adjusted NO concentrations regulate mitochondrial O2 uptake and superoxide anion production (reflected by H2O2), which in turn contributes to the physiological clearance of NO through peroxynitrite formation.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Biochemistry of free radicals: from electrons to tissues.

Free radicals are chemical species with an unpaired electron in the outer valence orbitals. The unpaired electron makes them paramagnetic (physics) and relatively reactive (chemistry). The free radicals that are normal metabolites in aerobic biological systems have varied reactivities, ranging from the high reactivity of hydroxyl radical (t1/2 = 10(-9) s) to the low reactivity of melanins (t1/2 = days). The univalent reduction of oxygen that takes place in mammalian organs produces superoxide radicals at a rate of about 2% of the total oxygen uptake. The primary production of superoxide radicals sustains a free radical chain reaction involving a series of reactive oxygen species (hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl and peroxyl radical and singlet oxygen). Nitric oxide is almost unreactive as free radical except for its termination reaction with superoxide radical to yield the strong oxidant peroxynitrite. Nitric oxide also reacts with ubiquinol in a redox reaction, with cytochrome oxidase competitively with oxygen, and oxymyoglobin and oxyhemoglobin displacing oxygen. Septic shock and endotoxemia produce muscle dysfunction and oxidative stress due to increased steady state concentrations of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

In situ rat brain and liver spontaneous chemiluminescence after acute ethanol intake.

The influence of acute ethanol administration on the oxidative stress status of rat brain and liver was assessed by in situ spontaneous organ chemiluminescence (CL). Brain and liver CL was significantly increased after acute ethanol administration to fed rats, a response that is time-dependent and evidenced at doses higher than 1 g/kg. Ethanol-induced CL development is faster in liver compared with brain probably due to the greater ethanol metabolic capacity of the liver, whereas the net enhancement in brain light emission at 3 h after ethanol treatment is higher than that of the liver, which could reflect the greater susceptibility of brain to oxidative stress. The effect of ethanol on brain and liver CL seems to be mediated by acetaldehyde, due to its abolishment by the alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor 4-methylpyrazole and exacerbation by the aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor disulfiram. In brain, these findings were observed in the absence of changes in the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. However, the content of brain glutathione was significantly decreased by 31%, by ethanol, thus establishing an enhanced oxidative stress in this tissue.

Alcohol Deterrents↗
PubMed1997

Chemiluminescence and antioxidant levels during peroxisome proliferation by fenofibrate.

Fenofibrate, the hypolipidemic drug and peroxisome proliferator, was given to mice (0.23% w/w in the diet) during 1-3 weeks and H2O2 and TBARS steady state concentrations, liver chemiluminescence and antioxidant levels were measured. Administration of fenofibrate during 2 weeks induced an increase of 89% in H2O2 steady state concentration. Spontaneous chemiluminescence was decreased by 57% during fenofibrate treatment, while no significant effect was observed on TBARS concentration. Hydroperoxide-initiated chemiluminescence was decreased by 56% after 15 days of fenofibrate treatment, probably due to an increase in endogenous antioxidant levels. Total and oxidized glutathione increased gradually after fenofibrate administration, obtaining maximal increases of 67% and 58% respectively, after 22 days of treatment. An increase of 55% was found in ubiquinol levels in treated mice, as compared with the controls. alpha-tocopherol content was decreased by 51% in the liver of fenofibrate-treated mice. According to our findings, the high rate of H2O2 production associated with peroxisome proliferation, would not lead to an increase in lipid peroxidation. This can be explained by the presence of high levels of ubiquinols, which act as an antioxidant. The increased production of H2O2, would lead to DNA damage directly, and not through lipid peroxidation processes.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Early redox changes during rat thymocyte apoptosis.

Methylprednisolone (glucocorticoid hormone, MPS), etoposide (epipodophyllotoxin inhibitor of a topoisomerase II), and thapsigargin (inhibitor of the endoplasmic reticular Ca2+-ATPase) were used as apoptosis-inducing agents in rat thymocytes. Early redox changes were determined during the early phase of induced apoptosis. The three agents induced apoptosis as assessed by DNA laddering after agarose gel electrophoresis and by quantitative DNA fragmentation. Intracellular H2O2 steadystate concentrations after 30 min of incubation were 40, 48, 25, and 75 nM for control and MPS-, etoposide-, and thapsigargin-treated thymocytes, respectively. After 30 min of MPS and thapsigargin exposure, increased DCFH oxidation was clear compared with control cells, but no increase in dichlorofluorescein (DCF) was observed in etoposide-treated thymocytes. DCF fluorescence correlated linearly with the intracellular H2O2 concentration after 30 min of incubation. The amounts of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances produced after 3 h of incubation and expressed as pmol/mg protein were 105+/-23, 120+/-18, 350+/-17, and 98+/-24 pmol/mg protein for untreated and MPS-, thapsigargin-, and etoposide-treated thymocytes, respectively. Common and marked reductions in intracellular glutathione of 46, 73, 58, and 39% were observed after 2 h of incubation with MPS-, thapsigargin-, and etoposide-treated cells and in untreated cells, respectively. A simultaneous increase in oxidized glutathione, compared with untreated cells, was evident in MPS (66%) and was stronger in thapsigargin-exposed cells (250%). A 55% decrease in GSSG in etoposide-treated cells was found. It is concluded that redox changes occur during the early phase of induced apoptosis in rat thymocytes and are not always associated with an oxidative stress. Rather, this situation is closely related with the type of stimuli.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Antioxidant adaptive response in human blood mononuclear cells exposed to UVB.

Human blood mononuclear cells exposed to UVB radiation develop increased antioxidant enzyme activities. Catalase (5.50 +/- 0.65 pmol (mg protein)-1), CuZn-superoxide dismutase (16.7 +/- 2.1 pmol (mg protein)-1), Mn-superoxide dismutase (11.3 +/- 1.7 pmol (mg protein)-1), Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase (13.2 +/- 1.5 mU (mg protein)-1) and Se-independent glutathione peroxidase (3.30 +/- 0.52 mU (mg protein)-1) activities increase by 1.3-1.5-fold from the control activities after exposure to 0.3 W m-2 of 280-315 nm light for 15 min and a 3 h dark incubation period. DT-diaphorase activity (2.86 +/- 0.21 mumol DCPIP min-1 (mg protein)-1) increases threefold from the indicated control values. In contrast, cytochrome oxidase (0.36 +/- 0.04 min-1 (k') (mg protein)-1) and succinate dehydrogenase (3.06 +/- 0.25 mumol DCPIP min-1 (mg protein)-1) activities remain unchanged during the same irradiation and incubation period. The treatment of cells with cycloheximide prevents the response triggered by UVB exposure. These findings suggest that an inducible antioxidant defence mechanism operates on photo-oxidative stress and that both superoxide dismutase and DT-diaphorase may display a concerted antioxidant role.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1997

Oxidative stress and in vivo chemiluminescence in mouse skin exposed to UVA radiation.

Mouse skin was exposed to UVA radiation (320-400 nm). The in vivo chemiluminescence of the skin was measured after irradiation. Chemiluminescence showed a maximum 13-fold increase (control emission, 10 +/- 1 cps cm-2) after 45-60 min of exposure to UVA, with no further increase with 60 min additional exposure. Spectral analysis of the emitted chemiluminescence showed that the principal species emitted in the 400-500 nm range. Topical application with alpha-tocopherol (10% v/w) and beta-carotene (1 mM) greatly reduced the UVA-induced skin chemiluminescence. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels were increased by 130% in skin homogenates after 2 h of exposure to UVA (control value, 77 +/- 14 nmol malonaldehyde equivalents (g tissue)-1). The activities of antioxidant enzymes in skin homogenates were decreased after 2 h of irradiation: the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (control value, 181 +/- 10 U SOD (g tissue)-1) was decreased by 40% and the catalase activity (control value, 1.34 +/- 0.14 pmol (g tissue)-1) was decreased by 45%. In vivo chemiluminescence appears to be a suitable method for following the kinetics of the oxidative stress processes and for testing the effect of topical application with antioxidant and photoprotective agents.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1997

Oxygen dependence of mitochondrial function measured by high-resolution respirometry in long-term hypoxic rats.

Respiration and oxidative phosphorylation were investigated in tightly coupled mitochondria isolated from liver and heart of rats submitted to a simulated altitude of 4,400 m for 14-15 mo and their corresponding controls at sea level. High-resolution respirometry was utilized to determine the apparent Michaelis-Menten constant for ADP and O2 (K(m)-ADP and K(m)-O2, respectively), the latter under active and resting states of mitochondrial respiration. The K(m)-O2 in mitochondria isolated from normoxic rats was higher for active (state 3) than for resting (state 4) respiration; the values decreased from 1.5 and 1.7 to 0.25 and 0.30 microM in heart and liver mitochondria, respectively. The K(m)-O2 values found in the active state suggest a role for the normally occurring intracellular PO2 range reported in the literature in the regulation of cellular respiration. No changes were found in the ADP or O2 dependence of respiration in the mitochondria isolated from long-term acclimatized rats compared with their controls, indicating that the intrinsic properties and the efficiency of mitochondria do not change as a consequence of adaptation to hypoxia.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1997

Effects of respiratory burst inhibitors on nitric oxide production by human neutrophils.

Human neutrophils (PMN) activated by N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) simultaneously release nitric oxide (.NO), superoxide anion (O2.-) and its dismutation product, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). To assess whether .NO production shares common steps with the activation of the NADPH oxidase, PMN were treated with inhibitors and antagonists of intracellular signaling pathways and subsequently stimulated either with fMLP or with a phorbol ester (PMA). The G-protein inhibitor, pertussis toxin (1-10 micrograms/ml) decreased H2O2 yield without significantly changing .NO production in fMLP-stimulated neutrophils; no effects were observed in PMA-activated cells. The inhibition of tyrosine kinases by genistein (1-25 micrograms/ml) completely abolished H2O2 release by fMLP-activated neutrophils; conversely, .NO production increased about 1.5- and 3-fold with fMLP and PMA, respectively. Accordingly, orthovanadate, an inhibitor of phosphotyrosine phosphatase, markedly decreased .NO production and increased O2.- release. On the other hand, inhibition of protein kinase C with staurosporine and the use of burst antagonists like adenosine, cholera toxin or dibutyryl-cAMP diminished both H2O2 and .NO production. The results suggest that the activation of the tyrosine kinase pathway in stimulated human neutrophils controls positively O2.- and H2O2 generation and simultaneously maintains .NO production in low levels. In contrast, activation of protein kinase C is a positive modulator for O2.- and .NO production.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1996

Nitric oxide inhibits electron transfer and increases superoxide radical production in rat heart mitochondria and submitochondrial particles.

Nitric oxide (.NO) released by S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) inhibited enzymatic activities of rat heart mitochondrial membranes. Cytochrome oxidase activity was inhibited to one-half at an effective .NO concentration of 0.1 microM, while succinate- and NADH-cytochrome-c reductase activities were half-maximally inhibited at 0.3 microM .NO. Submitochondrial particles treated with .NO (either from GSNO or from a pure solution) showed increased O(-)(2) and H202 production when supplemented with succinate alone, at rates that were comparable to those of control particles with added succinate and antimycin. Rat heart mitochondria treated with .NO also showed increased H2O2 production. Cytochrome spectra and decreased enzymatic activities in the presence of .NO are consistent with a multiple inhibition of mitochondrial electron transfer at cytochrome oxidase and at the ubiquinone-cytochrome b region of the respiratory chain, the latter leading to the increased O2- production. Electrochemical detection showed that the buildup of a .NO concentration from GSNO was interrupted by submitochondrial particles supplemented with succinate and antimycin and was restored by addition of superoxide dismutase. The inhibitory effect of .NO on cytochrome oxidase was also prevented under the same conditions. Apparently, mitochondrial O2- reacts with .NO to form peroxynitrate and, by removing .NO, reactivates the previously inhibited cytochrome oxidase. It is suggested that, at physiological concentrations of .NO, inhibition of electron transfer, .NO-induced O2- production, and ONOO- formation participate in the regulatory control of mitochondrial oxygen uptake.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Reperfusion damage to the bile canaliculi in transplanted human liver.

In 19 patients who have undergone orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), the trend and degree of cholestasis was statistically monitored in terms of plasma levels of L-gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and total bilirubin. In addition, the ultrastructure of the bile canaliculus was examined during the entire OLT procedure, i.e., during explantation, cold ischemia, and after 60 to 90 minutes of organ reperfusion. Cholestasis was evident from the second day after surgery, with a peak after approximately 10 to 16 days. Defined, small changes in the functional state of actin filaments were noted in the bile canalicular area after prolonged ischemia. But the morphological status of the bile canaliculi changed dramatically after reperfusion. In fact, the mean area and perimeter of the canaliculi had increased significantly, and there was a marked loss in the number of bile microvilli per unit of canalicular area. The bile canaliculus appears to be one of the liver structures most susceptible to ischemia-reperfusion damage. A series of biochemical changes occurring during ischemia and after reoxygenation of the transplanted liver, especially, would provide a reason for the observed early morphological damage of the bile canaliculus, which, in turn, would explain the cholestasis of these patients in the first posttransplantation period.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1995

Hydrogen peroxide metabolism during peroxisome proliferation by fenofibrate.

Fenofibrate, the hypolipidemic drug and peroxisome proliferator, was given to mice (0.23% w/w in the diet) during 1-3 weeks and enzyme activities, H2O2 concentration, and H2O2 production rate were determined. A maximal increase of 150% in liver/body weight ratio was observed after 3 weeks of treatment. Acyl-CoA oxidase, catalase and uricase activities were increased by 712%, 506% and 41% respectively by treatment with fenofibrate. Se- and non Se-glutathione peroxidase and Mn-superoxide dismutase activities were increased by 331%, 188% and 130% respectively in the liver of 2 weeks-treated mice. Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase activity was not affected by fenofibrate treatment. H2O2 steady-state concentration showed an increase of 89% after 2 weeks of treatment. H2O2 production rates, and the steady-state concentrations of the intermediates HO, R and ROO, calculated using experimental data, were higher in the liver of fenofibrate-treated mice than in control animals. According to our findings, the imbalance between H2O2 production and its degradation by its metabolizing enzymes during peroxisome proliferation, would result in an increased level of H2O2 steady-state concentration, with the resulting oxidative stress which may lead to the generation of oxidative damage and to the induction of liver carcinogenesis.

Acyl-CoA Oxidase↗
PubMed1995

Mitochondrial sites of hydrogen peroxide production in reperfused rat kidney cortex.

Electron transport and production of O2-/H2O2 by the NADH dehydrogenase flavin-semiquinone (FMNH.) and ubisemiquinone (UQH.) were studied in a model of in vivo ischemia-reperfusion in rat kidney. H2O2 production rates were assessed in isolated mitochondria using either succinate, with and without antimycin, or malate-glutamate, with and without rotenone. Respiratory activities of isolated mitochondria and activity of NADH- and succinate-cytochrome c reductase and of NADH- and succinate-dehydrogenase in submitochondrial particles were measured to evaluate the electron flux throughout respiratory carriers. The mitochondrial H2O2 production rate was approximately 1.5- and 4-times increased in ischemic and ischemic-reperfused kidneys, respectively. Ischemia caused a marked decrease in the electron transport throughout the NADH-UQ segment with no significant changes either in the NADH dehydrogenase activity or in the electron flux trough the succinate-cytochrome oxidase segment. Reperfusion did not further affect the NADH-ubiquinone segment but markedly inhibited the succinate-supported oxygen consumption, succinate-cytochrome c reductase and succinate dehydrogenase activity. Our results show a redistribution of the electron flux with an increased rate of superoxide anion/hydrogen peroxide production at NADH dehydrogenase in mitochondria subjected to ischemia only. After 10 min reperfusion an impairment of the electron flow at succinate-cytochrome c segment is established and hydrogen peroxide production by UQH. increases up to maximal values becoming the major source of superoxide anion/hydrogen peroxide.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Effect of vitamins A and E on ischemia-reperfusion damage in rabbit heart.

The aim of this study was to test the effect of vitamins A and E in reducing oxyradical effects and myocardial damage after ischemia-reperfusion in the rabbit heart. Oxyradical effects were indirectly assessed by hydroperoxide initiated chemiluminescence and myocardial damage was evaluated by qualitative and quantitative electron microscopy. Left anterior coronary artery was ligated in control and vitamin-treated rabbits for 30 min and then reperfused for 10 min. Rabbits were pretreated with 150 mg vitamin E and 60,000 IU vitamin A 24 h before surgery. After 10 min of reperfusion full-thickness needle samples were obtained from five different myocardial areas (three ventricular and two septal areas) and used for the determination of hydroperoxide-initiated chemiluminescence and ultrastructural damage. In the control group, hydroperoxide-initiated chemiluminescence was 18,400 +/- 500 cpm/mg protein for the non-ischemic and non-reperfused ventricular areas, and 40,500 +/- 1,800 cpm/mg protein for ischemic-reperfused ventricular areas. In the vitamin-treated group, hydroperoxide-initiated chemiluminescence was decreased by 8% in the non ischemic and non reperfused ventricular areas and by 51-75% in the ventricular ischemic and reperfused areas. The two septal areas in the control group gave chemiluminescences of 6,800 +/- 1,200 cpm/mg protein (non ischemic-non reperfused) and 17,000 +/- 2,000 cpm/mg protein (ischemia-reperfusion). In the vitamin-treated group, chemiluminescence decreased by 4 and 58%, respectively. The ischemia-reperfused areas showed extensive edema, margination of nuclear chromatin and swollen mitochondria with disrupted cristae including rupture of the inner and outer mitochondrial membranes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗