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Biomedical subjects

C W White

Publications and source records attributed to C W White.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Comparison of exhaled nitric oxide to spirometry during emergency treatment of asthma exacerbations with glucocorticoids in children.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is characterized as a chronic inflammatory process; however, there is no easily measured marker for airway inflammation. Such a marker, particularly in children, would be very helpful in the management of asthma even in the acute setting. OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to determine whether asthmatic children have (1) elevation of exhaled breath nitric oxide (ENO) during acute exacerbations when presenting to the emergency room, (2) reduction of ENO following glucocorticoid treatment, or (3) improvement in spirometry and clinical examination accompanying reduction of ENO levels. METHODS: Peak ENO levels were measured by chemiluminescence during exhalation into the NO analyzer. Ten asthmatic children (mean age 10 years) who presented to the Pediatric Special Care Unit at National Jewish Medical and Research Center in acute respiratory distress with an asthma exacerbation were studied. The subjects were recruited, after informed consent was obtained from the parent, on the basis of specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. Measurements of ENO in parts per billion (ppb) and spirometry, including percentiles of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%) and peak expiratory flow (PEF%), were performed before and after at least 5 days of glucocorticoid therapy. RESULTS: The mean ENO level in the asthmatic children prior to glucocorticoid treatment was 48 +/- 8ppb, and after glucocorticoid treatment the ENO level was 17 +/- 1ppb; (P < .002). Prior to glucocorticoid treatment, the mean FEV1% value was 68 +/- 3% compared with the postglucocorticoid treatment FEV1% value of 100 +/- 5%; (P < .0001). Prior to glucocorticoid treatment, the mean PEF% value was 81 +/- 7%, compared with the postglucocorticoid treatment PEF% value of 105 +/- 6%; (P < .02). CONCLUSIONS: The mean peak ENO level after glucocorticoid therapy was significantly less than that measured before treatment in children with acute asthma exacerbations. Concomitant with the decrease in ENO levels, there was improvement in the spirometry values and physical examination in the asthmatic children; thus, ENO is a sensitive marker for response to anti-inflammatory treatment in children.

Anti-Asthmatic Agents↗

Effect of oxygen on lung superoxide dismutase activities in premature baboons with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

We investigated the effects of gestational age and oxygen exposure on superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in distal fetal lung tissue in primate models of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. During the final third of fetal life, lung coppper-zinc SOD (Cu,ZnSOD) specific activity decreased, whereas lung manganese SOD (MnSOD) specific activity tended to increase. In the premature newborn (140 days, 78% of term gestation), lung total SOD and Cu,ZnSOD specific activities decreased after 6-10 days of ventilation with as needed [pro re nada (PRN)] or 100% oxygen compared with fetal control animals. Neither Cu,ZnSOD mRNA nor protein expression changed after either oxygen exposure at this gestation (140 days) relative to fetal control animals. At this age (6-10 days), lung MnSOD specific activity did not change in oxygen-exposed relative to fetal control animals, even though lung expression of MnSOD mRNA and protein increased after PRN or 100% oxygen exposure. In the very premature 125-day newborn (69% of term), lung Cu,ZnSOD specific activity and protein decreased, whereas Cu,ZnSOD mRNA increased, after 6-10 days of ventilation with PRN oxygen compared with fetal control animals. In fetal lung explants, hyperoxia also decreased expression of SOD activity acutely (16-h exposure, 125 and 140 days gestation). To conclude, expression of SOD activity in the premature primate lung did not increase in response to elevated oxygen tension, apparently due to effects occurring subsequent to the expression of these mRNAs.

Animals↗

Induction of thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase gene expression in lungs of newborn primates by oxygen.

Thioredoxin (TRX) is a potent protein disulfide oxidoreductase important in antioxidant defense and regulation of cell growth and signal transduction processes, among them the production of nitric oxide. We report that lung TRX and its reductase, TR, are specifically upregulated at birth by O2. Throughout the third trimester, mRNAs for TRX and TR were expressed constitutively at low levels in fetal baboon lungs. However, after premature birth (125 or 140 of 185 days gestation), lung TRX and TR mRNAs increased rapidly with the onset of O2 or air breathing. Lung TRX mRNA also increased in lungs of term newborns with air breathing. Premature animals (140 days) breathing 100% O2 develop chronic lung disease within 7-14 days. These animals had greater TRX and TR mRNAs after 1, 6, or 10 days of life than fetal control animals. In 140-day animals given lesser O2 concentrations (as needed) who do not develop chronic lung disease, lung TRX and TR mRNAs were also increased on days 1 and 6 but not significantly on day 10. In fetal distal lung explant culture, mRNAs for TRX and TR were elevated within 4 h in 95% O2 relative to 1% O2, and the response was similar at various gestations. In contrast, TRX protein did not increase in lung explants from premature animals (125 or 140 days) but did in those from near-term (175-day) fetal baboons after exposure to hyperoxia. However, lung TRX protein and activity, as well as TR activity, eventually did increase in vivo in response to hyperoxia (6 days). Increases in TRX and TR mRNAs in response to 95% O2 also were observed in adult baboon lung explants. When TRX redox status was determined, increased O2 tension shifted TRX to its oxidized form. Treatment of lung explants with actinomycin D inhibited TRX and TR mRNA increases in 95% O2, indicating transcriptional regulation by O2. The acute increase in gene expression for both TRX and TR in response to O2 suggests an important role for these proteins during the transition from relatively anaerobic fetal life to O2 breathing at birth.

Air↗

Protein kinase Cdelta-dependent induction of manganese superoxide dismutase gene expression by microtubule-active anticancer drugs.

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide can induce manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) gene expression in a variety of cells. Paclitaxel (taxol) shares many properties of lipopolysaccharide. Here we report that paclitaxel can induce MnSOD gene expression in human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Additional anticancer drugs, vinblastine and vincristine, also induced MnSOD gene expression. We have shown previously (Das, K. C., and White, C. W. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 14914-14920) that these drugs can activate protein kinase C (PKC). The PKC agonists thymeleatoxin (0.5 microM) and 12-deoxyphorbol 13-phenylacetate 20-acetate (dPPA; 10 nM) potently induced MnSOD gene expression. Calphostin C and GF109203X, both specific inhibitors of PKC, each inhibited MnSOD gene expression by anticancer agents. Down-regulation of PKC by prolonged treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) also inhibited induction of MnSOD by anticancer drugs, indicating an important role of PKC in MnSOD signaling by these agents. Of 11 PKC isoenzymes, only PKCdelta translocated to the cell membrane after stimulation with anticancer drugs. By contrast, dPPA, PMA, and thymeleatoxin caused translocation of PKCalpha, betaI, delta, and mu isotypes. Anticancer drug-stimulated cells also had increased total PKC activity in membrane and cytosolic fractions. Thus, paclitaxel, vinblastine, and vincristine each specifically activate PKCdelta, whereas PMA, thymeleatoxin, and dPPA activate multiple isoenzymes. PKCdelta was the only isoform activated by each agent in both groups of compounds effective in MnSOD induction.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

Benefit of aggressive lipid-lowering therapy: insights from the post coronary artery bypass graft study and other trials.

The importance of treating patients to lower cholesterol levels to lessen the risk of developing atherosclerosis is well accepted. However, the benefits of aggressive treatment for lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and a defined threshold at which lowering cholesterol is of little use are still questionable. Although definitive answers are still not available, interesting data come from follow-ups and reviews of epidemiologic and clinical trials completed decades ago. In the Seven Countries Study, a 25-year follow-up shows that while absolute levels of coronary artery disease mortality differed by geographic area, the relative increase in mortality due to a given increase in cholesterol was similar in all cultures except Japan. A new look at the Framingham Study reveals that mean serum cholesterol of persons developing coronary disease has been decreasing progressively for the last 3 decades. Most recently, average levels of total serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol for men are below the levels now recommended for treatment according to the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines. Clinical and angiographic intervention trials have now ascertained that lowering LDL cholesterol is effective in prevention and in secondary treatment of coronary atherosclerosis. Recent reviews of the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S), the Cholesterol and Recurrent Events (CARE) study, Holme's meta-analysis of 42 randomized cholesterol-lowering trials, Roussouw's meta-analysis of 14 angiographic trials, and the Harvard Atherosclerosis Reversibility Project retrospectively validate the effectiveness of treatment and point to those patient populations in which treatment is most effective. The Post Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (Post CABG) trial evaluated aggressive LDL cholesterol-lowering therapy versus moderate treatment goals, and definitively demonstrated that in patients with a moderate increase in serum cholesterol, aggressive lipid lowering compares very positively with a moderate strategy. The benefits of decreasing cholesterol to very low levels are not yet certain, although epidemiologic reviews strongly correlate lower cholesterol levels with lowered coronary artery disease mortality. Meta-analyses confirm that LDL cholesterol lowering is at least as effective in low-risk patients as in those at high risk. Review of the Post CABG trial comes closest to providing practitioners with clinical guidelines.

Age Factors↗

Detection of thioredoxin in human serum and biological samples using a sensitive sandwich ELISA with digoxigenin-labeled antibody.

Thioredoxin is a low molecular weight, redox active protein important in cellular proliferation, signal transduction and antioxidant function. Thioredoxin is secreted by normal as well as neoplastic cells and is potentially involved in paracrine cell communication as suggested by its co-cytokine activity. Thus, the thioredoxin level in biological fluids, cells and tissue homogenates could be an important indicator of physiological or pathophysiological conditions. Hence, an accurate and sensitive measurement is of paramount importance in studies involving thioredoxin. We present here an ultrasensitive enzyme linked immuno-absorbent assay (ELISA) for human thioredoxin using digoxigenin-labelled goat polyclonal anti-human thioredoxin. The assay could detect a minimum level of 15 pg/ml thioredoxin in human serum, cell culture media, and in cell and tissue samples. The assay was optimized for concentration of both antibodies, blocking agent, plates, incubation time and reaction volumes. Excellent linearity and reproducibility were obtained. The assay was applied to different baboon tissues and human serum samples. The intrassay coefficient of variation (CV) was between 6.0 to 14 and the interassay CV was from 1.6 to 11.1. Excellent parallelism of standards with serum samples, tissue homogenates or cell lysates was obtained. More than 90% recovery of human thioredoxin was observed in 10% human serum. The assay is easy to use, rapid, reproducible, but above all it is a quantitative, specific and sensitive way to measure thioredoxin in a variety of biological specimens.

Animals↗

Safety of coronary arteriography in clinically stable patients following coronary bypass surgery. Post CABG Clinical Trial Investigators.

The frequent use of diagnostic coronary arteriography and its importance in evaluating results of intervention in clinical trials emphasize the necessity of continued assessment of procedural risk. Several studies have described such risks, but they have often included a diverse group of patients with varying levels of clinical stability. Furthermore, this risk has not been well established in a population of patients with saphenous vein bypass grafts. There is need to define the risk of coronary arteriography in a group of patients who are both clinically similar and stable, and to evaluate the influence of improved technology and increased operator experience on the risk of the procedure. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-funded Post Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Trial offered the opportunity to evaluate the risk of elective diagnostic coronary arteriography in clinically stable patients studied at two points in time: pre-enrollment and 4-5 years after study entry. In this group of 2,635 angiograms from clinically stable patients over 5 years there were no deaths and the risk of myocardial infarction was 0.08%, while 0.7% had clinically important complications. Non-elective, urgent studies (311 angiograms) on unstable patients were more likely to include angioplasty and were associated with a risk of death of 0.6% and myocardial infarction of 1.3%. Complications did not vary with age or gender. Vascular trauma was more likely to occur using the brachial than the femoral artery entry sites. These results indicate that elective angiography on stable patients can be accomplished with a very low risk of mortality (0% in this study) or serious cardiovascular complication. This supports the safety and usefulness of angiography for clinical intervention trials.

Aged↗

Loss of lung mitochondrial aconitase activity due to hyperoxia in bronchopulmonary dysplasia in primates.

The premature primate exposed to hyperoxia provides a useful model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. A critical target in hyperoxic injury is the mitochondrial matrix enzyme aconitase. We hypothesized that this enzyme's activity would decline in the premature baboon lung during exposure to hyperoxia. Total aconitase activity was significantly decreased in the lungs of premature baboons of 140 days gestation with exposure to 100% oxygen for 6-10 days compared with as needed [pro re nada (PRN)] oxygen exposure and fetal controls (P = 0.0001). In activity gels, lungs from 100% oxygen-exposed animals (6-10 days) showed a nearly complete loss of mitochondrial aconitase activity relative to lungs from animals exposed only to PRN oxygen. Decreased lung aconitase activity was not a nonspecific effect of hyperoxia, causing mitochondrial damage or loss, because the activity of the mitochondrial respiratory enzyme cytochrome oxidase was not different in lungs of 100% oxygen-exposed relative to PRN oxygen-exposed newborns. In 125-day-gestation premature primates (age 6-10 days), lung total aconitase activity was correlated with inspired oxygen tension (r = 0.73 for fraction of inspired oxygen > 0.35), whereas, for animals of 140 days gestation, no such correlation was found. Thus the more premature animal's lung was more susceptible to loss of aconitase.

Aconitate Hydratase↗

Glucose modulates cell death due to normobaric hyperoxia by maintaining cellular ATP.

To determine whether glucose depletion is a principal determinant of hyperoxic cell death in vitro, human lung epithelial-like cells (A549) were exposed to hyperoxia (95% O2) in either 10, 30, or 50 ml of medium (Ham's F-12K). Glucose was depleted in the medium after 36, 60, or 96 h, respectively. Medium lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity increased only after glucose was depleted. To confirm that glucose depletion was critical to cell death, cells exposed to 95% O2 were supplemented with glucose at regular intervals to reestablish initial medium glucose concentrations. Other cells received no supplements. Without supplementation, glucose was depleted within 48 h, followed within 12 h by an almost complete loss of cell ATP and elevated medium LDH activity. Glucose-supplemented cells appeared normal microscopically and did not release LDH activity despite an extracellular pH of 6.5 due to fermentation. Additional experiments at sea-level pressure confirmed that glucose supplementation prevents extensive cell death in hyperoxia in cultured A549 cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Changes in pulmonary expression of hexokinase and glucose transporter mRNAs in rats adapted to hyperoxia.

Impairment of lung aconitase activity, citric acid cycle, and mitochondrial respiration by hyperoxia necessitates the elevation of glycolysis for energy production and of pentose shunt activity for reducing equivalents. The molecular mechanisms that allow increased glucose utilization are unknown. Adult male and female rats were adapted to sublethal hyperoxia, equivalent to 83% oxygen at sea level, or air for 7 days. Lung RNA and protein increased in hyperoxia (197 and 57%, respectively), whereas total DNA was unchanged. In hyperoxia, lung total hexokinase (HK) activity increased threefold, and mRNAs for HK-II and -III were specifically upregulated. HK-I mRNA was unchanged. mRNAs for HK-II and -III gradually increased during the first 72 h in hyperoxia. HK-II mRNA was significantly elevated at 72 h, preceding changes in lung cell populations. Although virtually absent in air, HK-II activity was highly expressed in hyperoxia. Among lung glucose transporters, specific expression of mRNAs for GLUT-4 (insulin dependent) and sodium-glucose cotransporter-1 was decreased, whereas that for GLUT-1 was minimally changed. Adaptation to hyperoxia involves coordinated changes in gene expression for the proteins regulating pulmonary glucose transport.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Cytokine-induced nitric oxide formation in normal but not in neoplastic murine lung epithelial cell lines.

Cytomix, a mixture of interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-1beta, induces nitric oxide (NO) production in lung epithelial cell lines. It is not known whether neoplastic transformation alters a cell's ability to form NO in response to cytokines. The present study investigated NO formation in two murine lines of immortalized "normal" (nontumorigenic) lung epithelial cells of alveolar type II origin, E10 and C10, and their sibling spontaneous transformants, E9 and A5. Nontumorigenic cells elaborated much more NO after cytomix exposure than did their tumorigenic counterparts. NO production was prevented by inhibiting protein synthesis and NO synthase and attenuated by dexamethasone. Northern and Western blot analyses of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) demonstrated cytomix-induced induction of iNOS only in nontumorigenic cells. The deficiency in NO production in tumorigenic cells was not associated with reduced iNOS mRNA stability or with differences in cytomix-induced nuclear factor-kappaB activation. Although cytomix caused a greater production of NO in E10 cells than in E9 cells, the same treatment induced equivalent proliferation in both cell lines. These results indicate a specific deficiency in cytokine-induced NO synthesis in transformed murine lung epithelial cells relative to their normal progenitor cells and provide a model for investigating iNOS regulation.

Animals↗

Activation of NF-kappaB by antineoplastic agents. Role of protein kinase C.

Paclitaxel can induce tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 gene expression, similar to lipopolysaccharides. Since lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of TNF is related to activation of NF-kappaB, we determined whether NF-kappaB could be activated by paclitaxel. In the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549, paclitaxel activated NF-kappaB in a dose-dependent manner with maximal activation after 2-4 h. Since paclitaxel could up-regulate TNF and interleukin-1 secretion and subsequent NF-kappaB activation could be caused by these cytokines, the effect of two other groups of anticancer drugs including vinca alkaloids (vinblastine and vincristine) and anthracyclines (daunomycin and doxorubicin), neither of which induce TNF or interleukin-1 gene expression, were examined. Like paclitaxel, vinblastine, vincristine, daunomycin, and doxorubicin each caused activation of NF-kappaB. Therefore, it is unlikely that activation of NF-kappaB caused by these agents or by paclitaxel is mediated via cytokine up-regulation. Furthermore, actinomycin D and cycloheximide, inhibitors of transcription and translation, respectively, did not inhibit paclitaxel-induced NF-kappaB activation. Several other transcription factors such as AP-1, AP-2, CREB, SP-1, or TFIID were not activated by antineoplastic agents demonstrating specificity of NF-kappaB activation. The involvement of both subunits in the NF-kappaB DNA binding complex was demonstrated by its abrogation by anti-p65 and by supershift by anti-p50 antibodies. Since protein phosphorylation is implicated in the activation of NF-kappaB, the effect of anticancer drugs on protein kinase C activity was measured. Vincristine, daunomycin, and paclitaxel significantly increased protein kinase C activity, and vinblastine and doxorubicin caused similar trends. Following treatment with antineoplastics (1-4 h), cytoplasmic IkappaBalpha degradation occurred concomitantly with translocation of p65 to the nucleus. Specific protein kinase C inhibitors (bisindolylmaleimide (GF109203X) and calphostin C) blocked the activation of NF-kappaB by each compound. Hence, protein kinase C activation may contribute to NF-kappaB activation by antineoplastic agents.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Comparison of exhaled nitric oxide, serum eosinophilic cationic protein, and soluble interleukin-2 receptor in exacerbations of pediatric asthma.

The hypotheses tested in this study were that during acute asthma exacerbations (1) exhaled nitric oxide concentrations [eNO] are a more sensitive, noninvasive indicator of asthma disease activity than serum markers of inflammation such as eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) or soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL2R), and (2) elevated [eNO] are reduced after treatment with glucocorticoids (GC). Peak eNO levels were measured by chemiluminescence during slow expiration. Seven asthmatic subjects (mean age 11 yrs; mean morning FEV1 65% predicted) receiving inhaled GC, and with no radiographic evidence of acute sinusitis, were studied before and after a course of oral GC. Measurements of [eNO], ECP and sIL2R levels, and FEV1% were obtained before and after a course of GC. Six atopic nonasthmatic subjects (mean age 12 years; mean FEV1 94% predicted) and seven normal subjects (mean age 13 years; mean FEV1 100% predicted) were studied. The mean peak [eNO] level (parts per billion: ppb) for the asthma subjects before treatment (52 +/- 5 ppb SEM) was greater than the value for both nonasthmatic atopic and normal subjects (16 +/- 2 ppb and 14 +/- 2 ppb SEM, respectively; P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in ECP or sIL2R values between asthmatic subjects and either atopic or normal subjects (P > 0.05). Baseline pre-GC treatment ECP levels in the asthmatic subjects were significantly higher (P < 0.002) than post-GC treatment values. The mean peak [eNO] level in the asthmatic subjects declined after oral GC treatment to 14 +/- 1 ppb (P < 0.0002) and was less than 2 ppb different from either control group (P > 0.75). We conclude that [eNO] is a more sensitive marker of asthma disease activity than ECP and sIL2R levels. In addition, [eNO] appears to be a more useful indicator of the beneficial response to GC therapy than these other measurements in pediatric asthma.

Acute Disease↗

Elevation of manganese superoxide dismutase gene expression by thioredoxin.

Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is a mitochondrial enzyme that dismutates potentially toxic superoxide radical into hydrogen peroxide and dioxygen. This enzyme is critical for protection against cellular injury due to elevated partial pressures of oxygen. Thioredoxin (TRX) is a potent protein disulfide reductase found in most organisms that participates in many thiol-dependent cellular reductive processes and plays an important role in antioxidant defense, signal transduction, and regulation of cell growth and proliferation. Here we describe induction of manganese superoxide dismutase by thioredoxin. MnSOD mRNA and activity were increased dramatically by low concentrations of TRX (28 microM). Elevation of MnSOD mRNA by TRX was inhibited by actinomycin D, but not cycloheximide, occurring both in cell lines and primary human lung microvascular endothelial cells. mRNAs for other antioxidant enzymes including copper-zinc superoxide dismutase and catalase were not elevated, demonstrating specificity of induction of MnSOD by TRX. Thiol oxidation by diamide or alkylation by chlorodinitrobenzene inhibited MnSOD induction, further indicating a requirement for reduced TRX. Because both oxidized and reduced thioredoxin (28 microM) induced MnSOD mRNA, the intracellular redox status of externally added Escherichia coli oxidized TRX was determined. About 45% of internalized E. coli TRX was reduced, with 8% in fully reduced form and about 37% in partially reduced form. However, when TRX reductase and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADPH) were added to the extracellular medium with TRX, more than 80% of E. coli TRX was found to be in a fully reduced state in human adenocarcinoma (A549) cells. Although lower concentrations of oxidized TRX (7 microM) did not induce MnSOD mRNA, this concentration of TRX, when reduced by NADPH and TRX reductase, increased MnSOD mRNA six-fold. In additional studies, MCF-7 cells stably transfected with the human TRX gene had elevated expression of MnSOD mRNA relative to vector-transfected controls. Thus, both endogenously produced and exogenously added TRX elevate MnSOD gene expression. These findings suggest a novel mechanism involving reduced TRX in regulation of MnSOD.

Blotting, Western↗

Failure of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1 to elicit superoxide production in the mitochondrial matrices of mammalian cells.

Subversion of mitochondrial electron transport to the production of O2.- has been proposed as a mechanism of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-mediated cell killing and to a lesser extent interleukin-1 (IL-1) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) cytotoxicity. We utilized the O2.- -sensitive aconitases to measure changes in steady-state 02.- levels in the mitochondrial matrix and cytoplasm of cultured mammalian cells in response to these inflammatory mediators. TNF alpha did not measurably affect aconitase activity, and thus mitochondrial 02.- production, in either cultured human A549 cells or murine L929 cells while TNF alpha clearly caused cytotoxicity as revealed by impaired mitochondrial respiration. IL-1 alpha and Escherichia coli LPS also failed to affect the aconitase activity in A549 cells. Neither the O2.- scavenger Mn(III) TMPyP nor the H2O2 scavenger catalase protected L929 cells against the cytotoxicity of TNF alpha. In conclusion, TNF, IL-1, and LPS do not appear to exert cytotoxicity, or MnSOD gene induction effects, by eliciting mitochondrial O2.- production.

Aconitate Hydratase↗

Superoxide scavenging by Mn(II/III) tetrakis (1-methyl-4-pyridyl) porphyrin in mammalian cells.

The superoxide dismutase mimic Mn(II/III) tetrakis (1-methyl-4-pyridyl) porphyrin (Mn(II/III)TMPyP) was examined for its superoxide radical (O2.-)-scavenging ability in cultured mammalian cells. Mn(III)TMPyP (< 5 microM) added to culture media relieved growth inhibition and decreased the inactivation of the O2(.-)-sensitive enzyme aconitase in cells exposed to the O2(.-)-generating phenazine pyocyanine. Treatment of cells with Mn(III)TMPyP did not measurably affect cellular O2.- production as revealed by rates of cyanide-resistant respiration with or without added pyocyanine. In contrast, Mn(II/III)TMPyP enhanced O2.- production in cells when the redox-active naphthoquinone menadione was present as measured by both increased cyanide-resistant respiration rates and aconitase inactivation. In vitro, Mn(II/III)TMPyP catalyzed the oxidation of ascorbate, and menadione enhanced this effect. Mn(III)TMPyP did not protect aconitase when O2.- production was elicited in mitochondria by antimycin A and the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone. The results support a reductant-O2.-:oxidoreductase mechanism for O2.- scavenging by Mn(II/III)TMPyP in the mammalian cytosol as proposed for its action in Escherichia coli, but also indicate that Mn(II/III)TMPyP can either scavenge or produce O2.- in cells depending upon the prevailing pathways of Mn(II/III)TMPyP oxidation-reduction.

Aconitate Hydratase↗