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Biomedical subjects

C E Cross

Publications and source records attributed to C E Cross.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Oxidative DNA damage in human respiratory tract epithelial cells. Time course in relation to DNA strand breakage.

When human respiratory tract epithelial cells were exposed to 100 microM H2O2, there was rapid induction of DNA strand breakage and chemical modifications to all 4 DNA bases suggestive of attack by OH.. The major products were FAPy-adenine, FAPy-guanine, and 8-OH-guanine. Some of the base modifications were removed very quickly from the DNA (e.g., 8-OH-guanine), whereas others persisted for longer (e.g., thymine glycol), probably due to differential activity of different repair enzymes. By contrast, strand breaks continued to increase over the time course of the experiment, perhaps because strand breakage is also implicated in the repair process. One should therefore be cautious in using strand breakage as a sole measure of oxidative DNA damage, and when drawing conclusions about the pattern and biological significance of oxidative DNA damage in cells the relative persistence of different lesions must be considered.

Bronchi↗
PubMed1996

Destruction of tocopherols, carotenoids, and retinol in human plasma by cigarette smoke.

The mechanisms by which exposure to cigarette smoke dramatically increase the incidence and severity of atherosclerosis and the incidence of lung cancer, chronic obstructive airways disease, and emphysema are incompletely understood. Epidemiologic evidence has suggested a modifying role for antioxidant micronutrients, including tocopherols and carotenoids, in these disease processes. It has been suggested that oxidants in cigarette smoke could be involved. We exposed freshly obtained human plasma to the gas phase of cigarette smoke to assess its effects on tocopherols, carotenoids, and retinol. Exposure to cigarette smoke led to the depletion of most of the lipophilic antioxidants in 20 mL human plasma. The order of disappearance was lycopene > alpha-tocopherol > trans-beta-carotene++ > (lutein + zeaxanthin) = cryptoxanthin > gamma-tocopherol = retinol. However, despite a substantial loss of alpha-tocopherol, there was very little peroxidative damage to lipids, and no detectable change in the content of polyunsaturated fatty acid-rich cholesterol esters. We conclude that a wide spectrum of lipophilic micronutrients undergo degradation when exposed to gas-phase cigarette smoke. The relevance of these in vitro findings to possible cigarette smoke-induced depletions of respiratory tract lipophilic antioxidants remains to be clarified.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Cystic fibrosis in adults. From researcher to practitioner.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation currently tracks about 20,000 Americans with cystic fibrosis, an autosomal recessive genetic disease that leads to multisystem complications. With the institution of better therapeutic regimens over the past 2 decades, more patients with this disease are surviving to adulthood. Within the past decade, both clinical and basic science research in the field of cystic fibrosis has progressed at a rapid rate. The intent of this review is to introduce readers to the molecular, cellular, and systemic disorders of this disease. We discuss treatment strategies involving antibiotics, nutrition, immune-response mediators, chest physiotherapy, and sputum-active agents with respect to the airway dysfunction of cystic fibrosis. Other common complications, recent developments, transplantation, and gene therapy are also reviewed.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

DNA damage in human respiratory tract epithelial cells: damage by gas phase cigarette smoke apparently involves attack by reactive nitrogen species in addition to oxygen radicals.

Treatment of human respiratory tract tracheobronchial epithelial cells with gas-phase cigarette smoke led to dose-dependent DNA strand breakage that was highly correlated with multiple chemical modifications of all four DNA bases. The pattern of base damage suggests attack by hydroxyl radicals (OH.). However, by far the most important base damage in quantitative terms was formation of xanthine and hypoxanthine, presumably resulting from deamination of guanine and adenine respectively. Hence, DNA damage by cigarette smoke may involve reactive nitrogen species as well as reactive oxygen species.

Adenine↗
PubMed1995

DNA strand breakage and base modification induced by hydrogen peroxide treatment of human respiratory tract epithelial cells.

Treatment of human respiratory tract epithelial cells with H2O2 led to concentration-dependent DNA strand breakage that was highly-correlated with multiple chemical modifications of all four DNA bases, suggesting that damage is due to hydroxyl radical, OH. However, the major base damage occurred to adenine. Hence, conclusions made about the occurrence and the extent of oxidative DNA damage on the basis only of changes in 8-hydroxyguanine should be approached with caution.

Bronchi↗
PubMed1995

Nitric oxide rapidly scavenges tyrosine and tryptophan radicals.

By utilizing a pulse-radiolytic technique, we demonstrate for the first time that the rate constant for the reaction of nitric oxide (.NO) with biologically relevant tyrosine and tryptophan radicals (Tyr. and Trp. respectively) in amino acids, peptides and proteins is of the order of (1-2) x 10(9) M-1.s-1. We also show that .NO effectively interferes with electron-transfer processes between tryptophan and tyrosine residues in proteins subjected to pulse radiolysis. The near diffusion-controlled rates of these reactions, coupled with the increasingly recognized role of protein radicals in enzyme catalysis and oxidative damage, suggest that Tyr. and Trp. are likely and important targets for .NO generated in vivo.

Dipeptides↗
PubMed1995

Oxidative damage to extracellular fluids by ozone and possible protective effects of thiols.

Environmental levels of ozone (O3) frequently exceed air quality standards in many urban areas, and much research has been devoted to pathophysiological effects of O3 inhalation. Inhaled O3 will interact primarily with respiratory tract lining fluids (RTLF) and with constituents therein. It is believed that interaction of O3 with constituents in RTLF occurs by reactive absorption. We investigated interactions of O3 with human blood plasma, used as a model extracellular fluid representing RTLF, and studied oxidation of plasma antioxidants, proteins, and lipids. Plasma was exposed to various concentrations of O3 in humidified air, supplied at a continuous flow, in a system that mimics exposure of RTLF to inhaled O3 in vivo. Interaction of O3 with plasma appeared to be caused by reactive absorption of O3 by plasma. It was found that O3 reacts primarily with the aqueous antioxidants ascorbate and urate. Reactive absorption of O3 by plasma ascorbate and urate was found to be more efficient at low (2 ppm) O3 levels than at high (16 ppm) levels. We were also able to detect oxidative damage to plasma proteins and lipids after prolonged exposure to O3. Second, we investigated whether GSH or dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA) could prevent oxidative damage to plasma proteins and lipids by O3, under our exposure conditions. In contrast to plasma, RTLF contain relatively high amounts of GSH, which may contribute to antioxidant protection to respiratory tract epithelial cells. DHLA is an endogenous dithiol and has potent antioxidant properties. Addition of either GSH or DHLA to plasma (at concentrations up to 1 mM) prior to O3 exposure did not inhibit oxidation of plasma proteins and lipids during exposure to O3, nor did it attenuate depletion rates of ascorbate or urate. Our results indicate that added thiols cause increased reactive absorption of O3, rather than preventing reaction of O3 with other plasma constituents. Thiol supplementation could afford protection against O3-induced injury in vivo by increasing reactive absorption of O3 in the upper respiratory tract, thereby protecting the epithelia of lower airways and gas-exchanging portions of the lungs from exposure to toxic levels of O3.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid↗
PubMed1995

Tyrosine modification by reactive nitrogen species: a closer look.

Peroxynitrite (ONOO-) is a powerful oxidant and cytotoxic species formed by the rapid reaction between nitrogen monoxide (nitric oxide, .NO) and superoxide (O2.-). At neutral pH ONOO- is partly protonated and this protonated form, peroxynitrous acid (ONOOH), decomposes rapidly to nitrate, forming (an) intermediate(s) with reactivity similar to .OH and .NO2. Peroxynitrite can hydroxylate and nitrate aromatic rings, and aromatic nitration of phenols such as tyrosine by ONOOH is proposed to proceed via a radical mechanism, with intermediate formation of .NO2. Modification of tyrosine by .NO2 also involves nitration via a radical mechanism. Aromatic nitration of phenols by ONOO- has been shown to be enhanced by superoxide dismutase or Fe(3+)-EDTA, which were proposed to catalyze heterolytic cleavage of ONOOH to form a nitrating species similar to the nitronium ion (NO2+). We investigated possible mechanisms of tyrosine modification by various reactive nitrogen species, including ONOO-, 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), and .NO2. Reaction of tyrosine with ONOO- leads to formation of 3-nitrotyrosine and dityrosine, indicating intermediate formation of tyrosyl radicals. The pH dependence of formation of both 3-nitrotyrosine and dityrosine by ONOO- suggests that intermediate formation of ONOOH is required. Qualitatively similar results were obtained when ONOOH was generated continuously by H2O2 and NaNO2 at mildly acidic pH or with SIN-1, a compound which at neutral pH releases both .NO and O2.-, presumably producing ONOO-. However, relatively low yields of nitrotyrosine were obtained with SIN-1, possibly because of competing reactions of tyrosyl radicals with .NO or O2.-. Possible involvement of .NO2 in tyrosine modification by ONOO- was studied using hydroxyl radical scavengers, which can increase the radical yield during decomposition of ONOOH and thereby enhance generation of .NO2. Hydroxyl radical scavengers did not affect tyrosine modification by .NO2 directly and slightly inhibited tyrosine modification by authentic ONOO-. However, when ONOO- was produced at a slower rate, either by SIN-1 or by H2O2/NaNO2 at acidic pH, hydroxyl radical scavengers were found to significantly enhance tyrosine nitration. Our results suggest that ONOO- or ONOO(-)-generating systems induce nitration of tyrosine (or tyrosine residues in proteins) via intermediate formation of tyrosyl radicals and .NO2.

Free Radicals↗
PubMed1995

Oxidative damage by ozone and nitrogen dioxide: synergistic toxicity in vivo but no evidence of synergistic oxidative damage in an extracellular fluid.

Inhalation of ozone (O3) and/or nitrogen dioxide (.NO2) is associated with the development of inflammation in the respiratory tract and various alterations in pulmonary functions. Respiratory tract lining fluids (RTLFs) represent the first biological fluids coming into contact with these inhaled toxicants. Using plasma as a surrogate for RTLFs, we have previously shown that O3 [Cross, Motchnik, Bruener, Jones, Kaur, Ames and Halliwell (1992) FEBS Lett. 298, 269-272] and .NO2 [Halliwell, Hu, Louie, Duvall, Tarkington, Motchnik and Cross (1992) FEBS Lett. 313, 62-66] are both capable of depleting antioxidants and damaging proteins and lipids. O3 particularly damages proteins, whereas .NO2 induces the peroxidation of lipids and nitrates aromatic amino acids. It has been reported that O3 and .NO2 cause synergistic toxicity in rodents [Gielzleichter, Witschi and Last (1992) Tox. Appl. Pharmacol. 116, 1-9]. In the present chapter, we review evidence showing that combined exposure of these two oxidant gases to human plasma fails to exert synergistic oxidative damage to plasma constituents, and in fact, O3 and .NO2 antagonize each other's actions. We conclude that the potentiating effect of these two gases on morbidity and mortality in rodents represents a complex interactive biological effect rather than a simple synergistic oxidative effect in extracellular fluids.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Dietary antioxidants and cigarette smoke-induced biomolecular damage: a complex interaction.

Epidemiologic evidence suggests that cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, for carcinogenesis, and for cardiovascular disease. However, the precise mechanisms of these effects are incompletely understood. The gas phase of cigarette smoke contains abundant free radicals including nitric oxide. Hence, cigarette smoke may induce some of its damaging effects by free radical mechanisms. We report that exposure of plasma, a model for respiratory tract lining fluids, to gas-phase cigarette smoke causes depletion of antioxidants, including ascorbate, urate, ubiquinol-10, and alpha-tocopherol, and a variety of carotenoids, including beta-carotene. Gas-phase cigarette smoke induced some lipid peroxidation, as measured by cholesteryl linoleate hydroperoxide (18:2OOH) formation. Ascorbate was effective in preventing 18:2OOH formation. In contrast to the low concentrations of lipid hydroperoxides measured (< 1 mumol/L), protein carbonyl formation, a measure of protein modification, increased by approximately 400 mumol/L after nine puffs of cigarette smoke. Reduced glutathione inhibited protein carbonyl formation, whereas other plasma antioxidants, including ascorbate, were ineffective. alpha, beta-Unsaturated aldehydes (acrolein and crotonaldehyde) in cigarette smoke may react with protein -SH and -NH2 groups by a Michael addition reaction that results in a protein-bound aldehyde functional group. Gas-phase cigarette smoke is capable of converting tyrosine to 3-nitrotyrosine and dityrosine, indicating free radical mechanisms of protein damage by nitrogen oxides. Aldehydes and nitrogen oxides in cigarette smoke may be significant contributors to biomolecular damage, and endogenous antioxidants can attenuate some of these adverse effects.

Aldehydes↗
PubMed1995

Ingestion of acapsular Cryptococcus neoformans occurs via mannose and beta-glucan receptors, resulting in cytokine production and increased phagocytosis of the encapsulated form.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic yeast and a major cause of opportunistic infection in AIDS patients. It is commonly found in an acapsular form in the environment, and infection is likely to occur by inhalation. The lung provides a suitable environment for capsule synthesis, and once encapsulated, C. neoformans becomes resistant to phagocytosis. A stable acapsular mutant of the organism is readily ingested by murine macrophages in vitro, indicating entry via constitutively competent receptors. We demonstrate in this report that this process is inhibitable by particles derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae that are rich in mannan and beta-glucan, as well as more purified forms of these glycans. Furthermore, ingestion of the acapsular form of C. neoformans induces a range of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, which, as we have previously shown, enhance ingestion of serum-opsonized encapsulated C. neoformans in vitro. We demonstrate that ingestion of the acapsular form of the organism also enhances ingestion of the pathogenic encapsulated form. This is dependent on the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor by the macrophages, since addition of neutralizing antibodies to both cytokines inhibited the observed increase in ingestion. Together, these data demonstrate that ingestion of acapsular C. neoformans is mediated via mannose and beta-glucan receptors on the macrophage surface and that this process activates macrophages for enhanced phagocytosis of the encapsulated form via production of macrophage-derived cytokines.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Molecular mechanisms of damage by excess nitrogen oxides: nitration of tyrosine by gas-phase cigarette smoke.

Nitric oxide (nitrogen monoxide, .NO) plays important physiological roles, but an excess can be toxic. .NO is present in cigarette smoke (CS) at up to 500 ppm, and probably represents one of the greatest exogenous sources of .NO to which humans are exposed. We show here that gas-phase CS is capable of converting tyrosine to 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NO2-Tyr) and dityrosine, to an extent dependent on time of exposure and pH. Glutathione, ascorbic acid and uric acid decreased the CS-induced formation of 3-NO2-Tyr and dityrosine. We suggest that nitrogen oxides in CS can modify proteins in the respiratory tract and may contribute to CS toxicity.

Antioxidants↗