Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Orrenius

Publications and source records attributed to S Orrenius.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Apoptosis induced by a human milk protein.

To the breast-fed infant, human milk is more than a source of nutrients; it furnishes a wide array of molecules that restrict microbes, such as antibodies, bactericidins, and inhibitors of bacterial adherence. However, it has rarely been considered that human milk may also contain substances bioactive toward host cells. While investigating the effect of human milk on bacterial adherence to a human lung cancer cell line, we were surprised to discover that the milk killed the cells. Analysis of this effect revealed that a component of milk in a particular physical state--multimeric alpha-lact-albumin--is a potent Ca(2+)-elevating and apoptosis-inducing agent with broad, yet selective, cytotoxic activity. Multimeric alpha-lactalbumin killed all transformed, embryonic, and lymphoid cells tested but spared mature epithelial elements. These findings raise the possibility that milk contributes to mucosal immunity not only by furnishing antimicrobial molecules but also by policing the function of lymphocytes and epithelium. Finally, analysis of the mechanism by which multimeric alpha-lactalbumin induces apoptosis in transformed epithelial cells could lead to the design of antitumor agents.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

The role of intracellular oxidants in apoptosis.

Apoptotic cell death is a complex process whose biochemistry is poorly understood. Direct exposure of various cell types of oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide or lipid hydroperoxides can directly induce apoptosis, while in many experimental models pretreatment of cells with antioxidants has been shown to protect against this form of cell death. Recent experimental evidence suggests that multiple forms of thymocyte apoptosis can be inhibited by free radical spin traps, spin probes and thiol reductants, and that this inhibition correlates with a lower oxidative burden within the treated cells. Possible sites of production of these oxidants include mitochondrial electron transport and phospholipase A2-activated arachidonic acid metabolism, while intracellular targets may include redox sensitive transcription factors and inhibitory proteins that must be tagged for proteolysis before apoptosis can commence.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Involvement of multiple proteases during Fas-mediated apoptosis in T lymphocytes.

The mechanism of Fas antigen-mediated apoptosis is at present unclear. We show here that the 100,000 x g supernatant from cell lysates prepared from anti-Fas-stimulated JUR-KAT T cells, induces chromatin fragmentation in isolated nuclei with concomitant morphological changes typically seen in apoptosis. The formation of this apoptotic nuclei promoting activity (ANPA) in JURKAT T cells after Fas antigen ligation was blocked by the serine protease inhibitors, TPCK and DCI, and by the interleukin 1-beta-converting enzyme inhibitor, VAD-FMK. In addition, chromatin degradation and morphological changes mediated by the ANPA in isolated nuclei were inhibited by TPCK, but not by DCI or VAD-FMK. These results suggest that Fas-mediated apoptosis in T cells involves the activation of a cascade of proteases.

Antigens, Surface↗
PubMed1995

Isolation and partial characterization of a protease involved in Fas-induced apoptosis.

Protease involvement has been implicated in the signalling process of activation-induced apoptosis. Here we report the isolation of a protease from Jurkat T cells undergoing Fas-induced apoptosis. Although the protease probably is a serine protease, it seems to be distantly related to members of the ICE/ced-3/Ich-1(nedd-2) family. In a cell-free system using isolated thymocyte nuclei, the protease rapidly induces DNA fragmentation and morphological changes typically seen in apoptosis. Our results clearly show protease activation downstream to Fas-ligation and implicate an important role for the isolated protease in signalling of Fas-induced apoptosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Adenosine inhibits protein synthesis in isolated rat hepatocytes. Evidence for a lack of involvement of intracellular calcium in the mechanism of inhibition.

Extracellularly added adenosine and ATP are potent inhibitors of protein synthesis in liver cells. In this study, the possible involvement of Ca2+ in the mechanism of inhibition of protein synthesis by adenosine was investigated. Stimulation of freshly isolated hepatocytes with adenosine or ATP, at concentrations that impaired protein synthesis, induced an increase in the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). However, there was no correlation between the increase in [Ca2+]i and inhibition of radiolabelled leucine incorporation into proteins. Thus, the stimulation of hepatocytes with the V1-receptor agonist, vasopressin, or with the nucleotide triphosphates, UTP and GTP, elicited changes in [Ca2+]i similar to those observed after ATP or adenosine addition, but did not affect protein synthesis. ATP produced near complete discharge of Ca2+ from the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-sensitive Ca2+ pool in isolated hepatocytes, whereas adenosine only had a partial effect. Depletion of the hormone-sensitive Ca2+ pool by adenosine was transient. In contrast, prolonged depletion of internal Ca2+ by thapsigargin resulted in the inhibition of protein synthesis in hepatocytes. However, the inhibition of radiolabelled leucine incorporation into proteins by thapsigargin was further augmented by the additional presence of adenosine. These results show that the inhibition of protein synthesis by adenosine in isolated hepatocytes is not mediated by an increase in [Ca2+]i or depletion of internal pool(s) sensitive to inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate or thapsigargin.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1995

Nitrone spin traps and a nitroxide antioxidant inhibit a common pathway of thymocyte apoptosis.

Oxidative stress has recently been suggested to be a mediator of apoptotic cell death [Buttke and Sandstrom (1994) Immunology Today 15, 7-10], although evidence that this phenomenon is a widespread component of apoptosis is lacking. When rat thymocytes were exposed to the glucocorticoid methylprednisolone (MPS), a progressive increase in intracellular peroxides and a decrease in glutathione (GSH) were observed to accompany the onset of apoptosis. Using Percoll density gradients to isolate subpopulations of thymocytes at different stages of apoptosis, the increase in peroxide content was found to be restricted to apoptotic cells, while a significant depletion of GSH and reduced protein thiol was detected in both pre-apoptotic and fully apoptotic cells. To investigate the biological significance of these redox changes, the free radical spin traps 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxide (DMPO) and 3,3,5,5-tetramethyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxide (TMPO), and the related nitroxide-radical antioxidant 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyl-1-oxyl (TEMPO) were tested as inhibitors of thymocyte apoptosis. The cell shrinkage and DNA fragmentation induced by four different initiators of apoptosis were reduced by each compound. TEMPO inhibition of both etoposide- and MPS-induced thymocyte DNA fragmentation was also found to correlate with an increase in intracellular GSH, providing support for the proposal that its antioxidant properties were responsible for the observed protective activity. We conclude that some form of intracellular oxidation (here measured indirectly by changes in intracellular GSH and peroxide levels) is required during thymocyte apoptosis even when this process is initiated by an agent that does not exert a direct oxidant action.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Reevaluation of the role of de novo protein synthesis in rat thymocyte apoptosis.

In this study, the role of de novo protein synthesis in rat thymocytes undergoing apoptosis after treatment with methylprednisolone (MPS), ionomycin, or thapsigargin was evaluated using several inhibitors of protein synthesis (cycloheximide, emetine, and puromycin). Cycloheximide (1 microgram/ml) inhibited DNA cleavage in rat thymocytes treated with thapsigargin, MPS, and ionomycin by 91, 94, and 96%, respectively, and reduced [3H]leucine incorporation into cellular proteins by 87, 85, and 84%, respectively. Emetine (300 nM) inhibited protein synthesis in thymocytes to an equivalent level but reduced DNA cleavage by only 49, 43, and 57% in cells treated with thapsigargin, MPS, or ionomycin, respectively. More than threefold higher concentrations of emetine (1 microM) were required to suppress DNA fragmentation to a similar extent as observed with cycloheximide. Puromycin at a concentration (5 micrograms/ml) that reduced [3H]leucine incorporation by > 80% enhanced DNA cleavage in thymocytes treated with thapsigargin, MPS, or ionomycin. By itself, puromycin (0.1-5 micrograms/ml), but not cycloheximide or emetine, induced DNA fragmentation in thymocytes with the concomitant inhibition of protein synthesis. An analogue of puromycin, puromycin aminonucleoside, which has no effect on protein synthesis, did not induce DNA fragmentation in thymocytes and did not prevent thymocyte apoptosis triggered by other agents. Both cycloheximide and emetine dose-dependently reduced thymocyte DNA cleavage induced by puromycin despite marked inhibition of protein synthesis by puromycin itself. At high concentration, puromycin (50 micrograms/ml) was less efficient in causing DNA cleavage when added alone and markedly inhibited chromatin degradation induced by thapsigargin, MPS, or ionomycin. Prolonged treatment (24 h) of thymocytes with any one of the different translational inhibitors resulted in extensive DNA fragmentation. Similarly, the protective effect of these inhibitors on DNA degradation in thymocytes induced by thapsigargin, MPS, or ionomycin diminished after 24 h. The present study demonstrates a lack of correlation between inhibition of protein synthesis and prevention of DNA fragmentation in thymocyte apoptosis and suggests that the effects of translational inhibitors on thymocyte apoptosis are nonspecific, and that they may delay the onset of apoptosis rather than prevent it.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Cellular events in Fas/APO-1-mediated apoptosis in JURKAT T lymphocytes.

In the present study we investigated the Fas-mediated cellular events using the human leukemic T cell line, JURKAT. Ligation of the Fas receptor with a monoclonal antibody (IgM) resulted in the rapid (within 3 h) induction of apoptosis and was characterized by a sequence of distinct morphological and biochemical events. Thus, plasma membrane blebbing, condensation of the chromatin, and formation of high-molecular-weight (HMW) DNA fragments were the earliest events observed (by 45 min). They were followed by cleavage of DNA into oligonucleosomal-length fragments (laddering pattern) and the formation of apoptotic bodies, and finally, rounding of the apoptotic cells and complete cleavage of DNA into oligonucleosomal-length fragments occurred. The mitochondria remained structurally intact up to the stage of oligonucleosomal-length DNA cleavage, and the ability of the cells to exclude trypan blue was not compromised throughout the time course of the experiments. In contrast to many other model systems, apoptosis in JURKAT cells after anti-Fas treatment did not require the presence of extracellular Ca2+ or Mg2+ and was only partially inhibited by Zn2+. In addition, Fas-mediated apoptosis was unaffected by the presence of free radical scavengers or inhibitors of protein phosphatases, protein kinases, and nitric oxide synthesis. However, the serine protease inhibitors, N-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK) and 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin (DCI) prevented anti-Fas-induced apoptosis in JURKAT cells. Low concentrations of these inhibitors blocked oligonucleosomal-length, but not HMW, DNA fragmentation. The latter required a higher concentration of TPCK or DCI to block. In addition, low concentrations of DCI also prevented Fas-mediated plasma membrane blebbing. In summary, our results suggest that proteolysis plays a central role in Fas-mediated apoptosis and that distinct proteolytic enzymes are involved in HMW DNA fragmentation, and oligonucleosomal-length DNA fragmentation, as well as in plasma membrane blebbing.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1995

Multiple proteases are involved in thymocyte apoptosis.

To investigate the involvement of proteases in apoptosis, rat thymocytes were treated with the glucocorticoid hormone methylprednisolone or the topoisomerase II inhibitor etoposide in the presence of selective substrate inhibitors of either interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme (ICE), (Z-Val-Ala-Asp-chloromethylketone, VADcmk) or Ca(2+)-regulated serine protease (Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-chloromethylketone, AAPFcmk). VADcmk protected from lamin proteolysis, chromatin fragmentation, cell shrinkage, and formation of apoptotic nuclei in both methylprednisolone- and etoposide-treated thymocytes when present during the initiation of the apoptotic process. AAPFcmk prevented lamin breakdown, chromatin fragmentation, and apoptotic morphological changes in thymocytes treated with methylprednisolone, but not with etoposide. Both MPS- and etoposide-treated thymocytes exhibited enhanced ICE-like protease activity which was maximal 1 h after treatment. This increase in proteolytic activity was blocked by VADcmk, but not AAPFcmk. Our findings suggest that ICE-like protease activity is critically involved in the early phase of both methylprednisolone- and etoposide-induced apoptosis in thymocytes, whereas the Ca(2+)-regulated serine protease is an obligatory component of the proteolytic cascade in methylprednisolone-induced apoptosis.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones↗
PubMed1995

Diverse mechanisms of calcium mobilization by peroxisome proliferators in rat hepatocytes.

The ability of six peroxisome proliferators to modulate Ca2+ homeostasis was studied in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. Clofibrate and bifonazole (0.5 mM) caused a transient increase in cytosolic-free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) by releasing the intracellular inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-sensitive Ca2+ pool. However, the mobilization of this pool by clofibrate was only transient; a subsequent exposure of the cells to the endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin resulted in a second release of the same Ca2+ store, indicating that this pool could refill from the cytosol, independently of extracellular Ca2+. By contrast, bifonazole-exposed hepatocytes no longer responded to a stimulation by thapsigargin. Bifonazole also strongly inhibited Ca2+ influx. Ciprofibrate and nafenopin (0.5 mM) produced increases in [Ca2+]i that were sustained, even in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. The [Ca2+]i response was not due to release of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-sensitive Ca2+ pool and was not inhibited by prior treatment with the protonophore carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy) phenylhydrazone, but was slightly antagonized by prior exposure to the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin. Pretreating the cells with nafenopin completely abolished the response elicited by ciprofibrate, and vice versa. By contrast to the other peroxisome proliferators, WY-14,643 and bezafibrate (1 mM) increased cytosolic free Ca2+ only by approximately 30 nM. In conclusion, the structurally diverse peroxisome proliferators tested in this study all produced changes in [Ca2+]i in hepatocytes but through the redistribution of different internal Ca2+ pools. Further studies are needed to determine whether any of the observed Ca2+ changes have a role in the pleiotropic effects elicited by peroxisome proliferators.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Effects of N-acetyl-L-cysteine on T-cell apoptosis are not mediated by increased cellular glutathione.

Thiol-containing antioxidants such as N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) are known to inhibit apoptosis, although it is unclear whether this effect is direct or mediated through modulation of intracellular glutathione (GSH). In the present study, NAC treatment of the murine T-cell hybridoma DO-11.10 was found to inhibit apoptosis triggered by anti-CD3 antibody but enhance the process when induced by 6-alpha- methylprednisolone. HPLC measurements showed that these effects were not correlated with the levels of GSH or glutathione disulfide (GSSG) in the cells. Similar effects on DNA fragmentation were obtained when the experiments were repeated in the presence either of a specific inhibitor of GSH biosynthesis (buthionine sulfoximine) or the isomer N-acetyl-D-cysteine which cannot be enzymatically converted into GSH. We conclude that NAC can have divergent effects on apoptosis independent of changes in either the amount or redox state of intracellular GSH.

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed1995

Signalling mechanisms and oxidative stress in apoptosis.

A variety of stimuli can induce cells to undergo apoptotic death. One of the most reproducible inducers is mild oxidative stress, be it via exposure to hydrogen peroxide, redox-cycling quinones or thiol-alkylating agents. Oxidative modifications of proteins and lipids have also been observed in cells undergoing apoptosis in response to non-oxidative stimuli such as glucocorticoids or topoisomerase II inhibitors. This suggests that some unidentified oxidative changes occur during apoptosis in many, if not all, cases. However, recent experiments demonstrating apparently normal apoptosis even when cells are cultured at low oxygen tensions show that reactive oxygen species cannot be essential mediators of this type of cell death. Experiments revealing that apoptosis is typically accompanied by a depletion of intracellular reduced glutathione (GSH) are also discussed. As GSH depletion will lower a cell's capacity to buffer against endogenous oxidants, we propose that it contributes to the increased oxidative damage commonly observed to accompany apoptosis. In addition, it may set a time limit on continued mitochondrial function (and thus indirectly on total ATP levels and membrane integrity) in apoptotic cells, and thereby explain the often observed 'secondary necrosis' of cells undergoing apoptosis in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Antioxidant inhibition of thymocyte apoptosis by dihydrolipoic acid.

Recent findings suggest that intracellular oxidants are involved in the induction of apoptosis, and that this type of cell death can be inhibited by various thiol-containing antioxidants such as N-acetyl cysteine. To study the effects of a physiologically important thiol reductant, rat thymocytes were preincubated with either lipoic acid, dihydrolipoic acid, or lipoamide and then exposed to methylprednisolone or etoposide, two stimuli known to induce apoptosis in these cells. Dihydrolipoic acid and lipoamide both exerted an inhibitory effect on apoptosis induced by the two stimuli, while lipoic acid was inactive. Inhibition of apoptosis was evident as (a) reduced formation of condensed, pyknotic nuclei; (b) a prevention of cell shrinkage; and (c) decreased chromatin degradation. Furthermore, the depletion of reduced glutathione that occurs as thymocytes undergo apoptosis was also prevented in the presence of DHLA. Investigation of the pattern of chromatin fragmentation revealed that DNA in the antioxidant-loaded thymocytes remained above 50 kb pairs in size, indicating that inhibition by DHLA was operative at an early step in the apoptotic pathway. These results suggest that intracellular oxidation is an obligate, early component of thymocyte apoptosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Glutamate-induced neuronal death: a succession of necrosis or apoptosis depending on mitochondrial function.

During ischemic brain injury, glutamate accumulation leads to overstimulation of postsynaptic glutamate receptors with intracellular Ca2+ overload and neuronal cell death. Here we show that glutamate can induce either early necrosis or delayed apoptosis in cultures of cerebellar granule cells. During and shortly after exposure to glutamate, a subpopulation of neurons died by necrosis. In these cells, mitochondrial membrane potential collapsed, nuclei swelled, and intracellular debris were scattered in the incubation medium. Neurons surviving the early necrotic phase recovered mitochondrial potential and energy levels. Later, they underwent apoptosis, as shown by the formation of apoptotic nuclei and by chromatin degradation into high and low molecular weight fragments. These results suggest that mitochondrial function is a critical factor that determines the mode of neuronal death in excitotoxicity.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Apoptosis: molecular mechanisms and implications for human disease.

Apoptosis is a highly regulated process of cell death with characteristic morphological changes that are distinct from necrosis. The biochemical machinery responsible for apoptotic cell death appears to be constitutively expressed in most, if not all, cells and can be triggered by a variety of signals, including sustained increases in the intracellular Ca2+ level. Apoptosis is the main mechanism of cell deletion during development, normal cell turnover, hormone-induced tissue atrophy, and pathological processes such as T-cell depletion in HIV/AIDS and neurodegenerative disease. The aim of this review is to briefly summarize current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis and its role in human disease.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1995

Lack of Ca2+ involvement in thymocyte apoptosis induced by chelation of intracellular Zn2+.

BACKGROUND: Chelation of intracellular Zn2+ with N, N, N', N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN) triggers apoptosis predominantly in mature thymocytes. A rise in intracellular-free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) has been associated with induction of thymocyte apoptosis by a variety of agents. Zn2+ can affect intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, so the aim of this study was to investigate whether TPEN-induced apoptosis is mediated by Ca2+ signalling. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The possible role of Ca2+ in TPEN-induced apoptosis was investigated. Apoptotic markers used were DNA cleavage into oligonucleosomal fragments and formation of apoptotic nuclei. The change in [Ca2+]i in thymocytes after TPEN treatment was monitored using the fluorescence Ca2+ indicator dye, fura-2. The requirement of an increase in [Ca2+]i for TPEN-induced apoptosis was examined in thymocytes preloaded with the intracellular Ca2+ buffer, bis-(o-aminophenoxy)-ethane-N, N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, or incubated in nominally Ca(2+)-free medium supplemented with EGTA. The effect of an increase in [Ca2+]i on TPEN-induced DNA fragmentation was studied by using thapsigargin or ionomycin to elevate [Ca2+]i in thymocytes. RESULTS: No increase in [Ca2+]i could be detected before DNA fragmentation in thymocytes during TPEN treatment. Buffering intracellular Ca2+ with bis-(o-aminophenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid or incubating cells in nominally Ca(2+)-free medium with EGTA had little effect on TPEN-induced DNA fragmentation and formation of apoptotic nuclei. Increasing thymocyte [Ca2+]i with thapsigargin or ionomycin administration during TPEN treatment resulted in an additive effect on TPEN-induced DNA fragmentation in thymocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that TPEN induces apoptosis in thymocytes by Ca(2+)-independent mechanisms and that apoptosis triggered by Zn2+ chelation and [Ca2+]i elevation affects distinct thymocyte subpopulations.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Different prooxidant levels stimulate growth, trigger apoptosis, or produce necrosis of insulin-secreting RINm5F cells. The role of intracellular polyamines.

Increasing concentrations (1-100 microM) of the redox cycling quinone, 2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (DMNQ), stimulated growth, triggered apoptosis, or caused necrosis of pancreatic RINm5F cells, depending on the dose and duration of the exposure. Following the exposure of RINm5F cells to 10 microM DMNQ, ornithine decarboxylase activity and polyamine biosynthesis increased. This was accompanied by enhanced cell proliferation. Conversely, exposure to 30 microM DMNQ for 3 h resulted in the inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase, intracellular polyamine depletion, and apoptotic cell killing. Pretreatment of the cultures with the phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, restored polyamine levels and prevented apoptosis. Exposure to the same DMNQ concentration for only 1 h, with subsequent re-incubation in growth medium, neither caused polyamine depletion nor resulted in apoptosis. Finally, exposure to an even higher DMNQ concentration (100 microM) for either 1 or 3 h caused rapid intracellular Ca2+ overload, ATP, NAD+, and glutathione depletion, and extensive DNA single strand breakage, which resulted in necrotic cell death. Our results show that a disturbance of polyamine biosynthesis occurred prior to cell growth or apoptosis elicited by oxidative stress. In addition, we show that effects as opposite as cell proliferation and deletion, by either apoptosis or necrosis, can be induced, in the same system, by varying the exposure to a prooxidant.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗