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Biomedical subjects

J F Turrens

Publications and source records attributed to J F Turrens.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Spontaneous lung chemiluminescence upon paraquat administration.

In vivo rat lung chemiluminescence was measured at different times after a single injection of either 30 or 60 mg paraquat/kg b.w. The lungs were isolated to determine myeloperoxidase (index of polymorphonuclear leukocytes), lung wet weight (lung edema) and malondialdehyde (lipid peroxidation). The highest chemiluminescence was reached 30 hours after injection of 30 mg/kg or 6 hours after a 60 mg/kg dose. The peak chemiluminescence was coincident with the maximum concentration of myeloperoxidase and lung wet weight suggesting that most chemiluminescence was the consequence of polymorphonuclear activation after migration to the injured areas.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Possible role of the NADH-fumarate reductase in superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide production in Trypanosoma brucei.

Mitochondrial membranes from Trypanosoma brucei procyclic trypomastigotes generated superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide in a 2:1 ratio when supplemented with NADH. Fumarate inhibited hydrogen peroxide formation (Ki = 16 microM) with the same affinity as it stimulated NADH-fumarate reductase activity. Superoxide anion production was also 65% inhibited by fumarate (Ki = 20 microM). The KM for NADH of the NADH-fumarate reductase (60 microM) was also similar to that for hydrogen peroxide generation in the absence of fumarate (30 microM). These results suggest that the NADH-fumarate reductase is involved as a source for free radical generation in T. brucei mitochondria.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Inhibition of growth and respiration of Leishmania mexicana by the antitumor agent lonidamine.

1. The antitumor drug lonidamine inhibited growth of promastigotes of Leishmania mexicana in axenic culture. 2. Fifty percent inhibition was attained at 0.42 mM, and was reflected mainly in an increase in lag time, with less effect on final cell yield. 3. The drug was leishmanistatic, since when a non-growing culture in the presence of 0.5 mM lonidamine was centrifuged and the cells resuspended in fresh medium, growth started and reached the control value. 4. Both coupled and FCCP-uncoupled respiration of intact promastigotes were inhibited by lonidamine; 50% inhibition was attained at 0.5 and 0.4 mM, respectively. 5. The results suggested that the mechanism of inhibition of growth of L. mexicana is, as proposed in the case of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes and Trypanosoma brucei procyclic trypomastigotes, through inhibition of the energy metabolism.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

The mechanism by which oxygen and cytochrome c increase the rate of electron transfer from cytochrome a to cytochrome a3 of cytochrome c oxidase.

When cytochrome c oxidase is isolated from mitochondria, the purified enzyme requires both cytochrome c and O2 to achieve its maximum rate of internal electron transfer from cytochrome a to cytochrome a3. When reductants other than cytochrome c are used, the rate of internal electron transfer is very slow. In this paper we offer an explanation for the slow reduction of cytochrome a3 when reductants other than cytochrome c are used and for the apparent allosteric effects of cytochrome c and O2. Our model is based on the conventional understanding of cytochrome oxidase mechanism (i.e. electron transfer from cytochrome a/CuA to cytochrome a3/CuB), but assumes a relatively rapid two-electron transfer between cytochrome a/CuA and cytochrome a3/CuB and a thermodynamic equilibrium in the "resting" enzyme (the enzyme as isolated) which favors reduced cytochrome a and oxidized cytochrome a3. Using the kinetic constants that are known for this reaction, we find that the activating effects of O2 and cytochrome c on the rate of electron transfer from cytochrome a to cytochrome a3 conform to the predictions of the model and so provide no evidence of any allosteric effects or control of cytochrome c oxidase by O2 or cytochrome c.

Cytochrome a Group↗
PubMed1986

Inhibitors of the mitochondrial cytochrome b-c1 complex inhibit the cyanide-insensitive respiration of Trypanosoma brucei.

The cyanide-insensitive respiration of bloodstream trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma brucei (75 +/- 8 nmol O2 min-1(mg protein)-1) is completely inhibited by the mitochondrial ubiquinone-like inhibitors 2-hydroxy-3-undecyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (UHNQ) and 5-n-undecyl-6-hydroxy-4,7-dioxobenzothiazole (UHDBT). The Ki values for UHDBT (30 nM) and UHNQ (2 microM) are much lower than the reported Ki for salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM) (5 microM), a widely used inhibitor of the cyanide-insensitive oxidase. UHNQ also stimulated the glycerol-3-phosphate-dependent reduction of phenazine methosulfate, demonstrating that the site of UHNQ inhibition is on the terminal oxidase of the cyanide-insensitive respiration of T. brucei. These results suggest that a ubiquinone-like compound may act as an electron carrier between the two enzymatic components of the cyanide-insensitive glycerol-3-phosphate oxidase.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Inhibitory action of the antitumor agent lonidamine on mitochondrial respiration of Trypanosoma cruzi and T. brucei.

The antitumor and antispermatogenic agent lonidamine inhibits Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes growth in culture with an ID50 around 80 microM. The main site of action appears to be the mitochondria, where the rate of uncoupled respiration was inhibited in 50% at a similar lonidamine concentration (50 microM). Hexokinase (the other point where lonidamine inhibits tumor energy metabolism) was not sensitive to this drug. Lonidamine also inhibited uncoupled respiration in T. brucei procyclic trypomastigotes, suggesting a common mechanism of action with T. cruzi. When lonidamine was added to T. brucei trypomastigotes, there was little effect on the CN-insensitive respiration, demonstrating that at least in T. brucei glycolysis is not affected by the drug.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Fumarate reductase and other mitochondrial activities in Trypanosoma cruzi.

Subcellular fractions obtained from Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes broken by freezing and thawing were assayed for fumarate reductase activity with reduced methyl viologen as electron donor and fumarate as electron acceptor under anaerobic conditions. Two distinct activities were detected: one in the mitochondrial membranes, 115 mU(mg protein)-1, accounting for 96% of the total and the other in the cytosol, 3 mU(mg protein)-1, accounting for 3% of the total. The activity of membrane-bound fumarate reductase correlated statistically with either the activity or the amount of mitochondrial markers such as succinate and NADH dehydrogenases, cytochromes b + c558, cytochrome a611 and 5,7-diene sterols in the obtained subcellular fractions (580 X g, 12 000 X g, and 105 000 X g sediments and supernatant). Mitochondrial fumarate reductase was inhibited by succinate, malonate, cyanide, and 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA); whereas the soluble enzyme was inhibited by succinate and not by TTFA. The 12 000 X g sediment (mitochondrial membranes) showed after dithionite addition, absorption maxima at 611, 560 and 530 nm accounting for the presence of cytochrome b560, c558 and a611. A CO-binding cytochrome o was also detected. A scheme of the T. cruzi mitochondrial respiratory chain is presented.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

The potential of antispermatogenic drugs against trypanosomatids.

In recent years, two antispermatogenic drugs - gossypol and lonidamine (Fig. I) - have been reported to inhibit the growth of Trypanosoma cruzi in culture. In this article, Julio Turrens discusses the biochemical similarities between trypanosomatids and spermatozoa. and the potential o f these antispermatogenic drugs against the parasites.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1986

Increased spontaneous chemiluminescence from liver homogenates and isolated hepatocytes upon inhibition of O2- and H2O2 utilization.

The intracellular steady-state concentrations of hydrogen peroxide or superoxide anion were increased by inhibiting either catalase, glutathione peroxidase, or superoxide dismutase activities. Catalase was inhibited with aminotriazole while glutathione peroxidase activity was blocked by eliminating reduced glutathione after addition of either iodoacetamide diethylmaleate or phorone. The concentration of aminotriazole that stimulated chemiluminescence in 50% (60 mM) was very similar to the Ki for catalase activity (70 mM). Cyanide, an inhibitor of both catalase and superoxide dismutase, stimulated chemiluminescence in 50% at a concentration (0.15 mM) which is much closer from the Ki for superoxide dismutase (0.25 mM) than from the Ki for catalase (15 microM). The superoxide dismutase inhibitor diethyldithiocarbamate also increased chemiluminescence six- to ten-fold. Depletion of reduced glutathione stimulated spontaneous chemiluminescence when its concentration decreased below 4.5 mumol X g liver-1. The results shown herein suggest that the changes in the intracellular steady-state concentration occurring after inhibition of any antioxidant enzyme are responsible for the increased spontaneous chemiluminescence. Spontaneous chemiluminescence from intact cells may be used as a noninvasive method for monitoring intracellular free radical metabolism.

Amitrole↗
PubMed1985

Effect of tingenone, a quinonoid triterpene, on growth and macromolecule biosynthesis in Trypanosoma cruzi.

Tingenone and horminone, two natural quinonoid substances, inhibited the in vitro growth of Trypanosoma cruzi, 30 microM drug concentration producing total inhibition of growth. Tingenone inhibited total uptake and incorporation of [3H]thymidine, [3H]uridine, L-[3H]leucine into parasite macromolecules. Other quinonoids assayed were either less effective (abruquinone A) or even quite inactive (visminone B and ferruginin B). Investigation of several mechanisms for the cytotoxic action of tingenone pointed to the interaction with DNA as the most likely factor involved. Tingenone also inhibited the growth of Crithidia fasciculata, but the drug was significantly less active on this organism than on T. cruzi.

Abietanes↗
PubMed1985

Ubisemiquinone is the electron donor for superoxide formation by complex III of heart mitochondria.

Much evidence indicates that superoxide is generated from O2 in a cyanide-sensitive reaction involving a reduced component of complex III of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, particularly when antimycin A is present. Although it is generally believed that ubisemiquinone is the electron donor to O2, little experimental evidence supporting this view has been reported. Experiments with succinate as electron donor in the presence of antimycin A in intact rat heart mitochondria, which contain much superoxide dismutase but little catalase, showed that myxothiazol, which inhibits reduction of the Rieske iron-sulfur center, prevented formation of hydrogen peroxide, determined spectrophotometrically as the H2O2-peroxidase complex. Similarly, depletion of the mitochondria of their cytochrome c also inhibited formation of H2O2, which was restored by addition of cytochrome c. These observations indicate that factors preventing the formation of ubisemiquinone also prevent H2O2 formation. They also exclude ubiquinol, which remains reduced under these conditions, as the reductant of O2. Since cytochrome b also remains fully reduced when myxothiazol is added to succinate- and antimycin A-supplemented mitochondria, reduced cytochrome b may also be excluded as the reductant of O2. These observations, which are consistent with the Q-cycle reactions, by exclusion of other possibilities leave ubisemiquinone as the only reduced electron carrier in complex III capable of reducing O2 to O2-.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Modulation of oxidant lung injury by using liposome-entrapped superoxide dismutase and catalase.

Increased cellular generation of partially reduced species of oxygen mediates the toxicity of hyperoxia to cultured endothelial cells and rats exposed to 95-100% oxygen. Liposomal entrapment and intracellular delivery of superoxide dismutase (SOD) to cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells increased the specific activity of cellular SOD up to 15-fold. The liposome-mediated augmentation of SOD activity persisted in cell monolayers and rendered these cells resistant to oxygen-induced injury in a cell SOD activity-dependent manner. Addition of free SOD to culture medium had no effect on cell SOD activity or resistance to oxygen toxicity. SOD and catalase-containing liposomes injected i.v. into rats increased lung-associated enzyme specific activities two- to fourfold. Liposome entrapment of both SOD and catalase significantly increased the circulating half-lives of these enzymes and was critical for prevention of in vivo oxygen toxicity. Free SOD and catalase injected i.v. in the absence or presence of control liposomes did not increase corresponding lung enzyme activities or survival time in 100% oxygen. These studies show that O2- and H2O2 are important mediators of oxygen toxicity and that intracellular delivery of oxygen protective enzymes can reduce tissue injury owing to overproduction of partially reduced oxygen species.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Protection against oxygen toxicity by intravenous injection of liposome-entrapped catalase and superoxide dismutase.

Survival of rats exposed to 100% oxygen was increased from 69.5 +/- 1.5 to 118.1 +/- 9.9 h (mean +/- SEM, P less than 0.05) when liposomes containing catalase and superoxide dismutase were injected intravenously before and during exposure. The increased survival time in 100% oxygen was also associated with significantly less fluid in the pleural cavity. Rats injected with catalase- and superoxide dismutase-containing liposomes, which had increased survival in 100% oxygen, had increased lung wet weight upon autopsy compared with saline-injected controls (2.9 +/- 0.2 g/lung vs. 4.8 +/- 0.4 g/lung, mean +/- SE, P less than 0.05). Intravenous injection of control liposomes along with catalase and superoxide dismutase in the suspending buffer decreased the mean pleural effusion volume 89% and had no significant effect on survival time. Lung catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were increased 3.1- and 1.7-fold, respectively, 2 h after a single intravenous injection of liposomes containing catalase or superoxide dismutase. Superoxide dismutase activity was also significantly greater than controls in both air- and 100% oxygen-exposed rat lungs, when enzyme activity was assayed 24 h after cessation of injection of control and oxygen-exposed rats with enzyme-containing liposomes every 12 h for 36 h. Free superoxide dismutase and catalase injected intravenously in the absence of liposomes did not increase corresponding lung enzyme activities, affect pleural effusion volume, lung wet weight, or extend the mean survival time of rats exposed to 100% oxygen. The clearance of liposome-augmented 125I-labeled catalase from lung and plasma obeyed first order kinetics according to a one-compartment model. When clearance of liposome-augmented catalase activity or radioactivity were the parameters used for pharmacokinetic studies, the half-life of augmented lung catalase was 1.9 and 2.6 h, respectively. The half-life of liposome-entrapped catalase and superoxide dismutase activity in the circulation was 2.5 and 4 h, respectively, while intravenously injected catalase and superoxide dismutase had a circulation half-life of 23 and 6 min, respectively.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Biochemical and ultrastructural alterations produced by miconazole and econazole in Trypanosoma cruzi.

Miconazole and econazole, two fungicide imidazole derivatives, completely inhibited growth of Trypanosoma cruzi (Tulahuen strain) at concentrations of about 20 muM. Culturing of T. cruzi in the presence of lower doses of imidazole derivatives produced: decrease of 5,7-diene sterol content in epimastigotes (including ergosterol); disappearance of the nuclear chromatin, vacuolization and decrease in the electron density of the cytoplasm; selective surface alterations as revealed by an increased response to wheat-germ- and phytohemagglutinin. At variance with the effect of miconazole on Candida (De Nollin et al. (1977) Antimicrobial. Agents Chemother. 11, 500-513), miconazole and econazole, under the experimental conditions used, did not increase the rate of hydrogen peroxide generation by T. cruzi.

Agglutination↗