Biomedical subjects

Ulf T Brunk

Publications and source records attributed to Ulf T Brunk.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

Lipofuscin.

Over time, postmitotic cells accumulate a non-degradable intralysosomal substance, lipofuscin, which forms due to iron-catalyzed oxidation/polymerization of protein and lipid residues. Lipofuscin is often considered a hallmark of aging, showing an accumulation rate that inversely correlates with longevity. There is an emerging impression that lipofuscin, although still typically considered a harmless wear-and-tear product, may have multiple negative effects. By interfering with the important autophagic process, by which most worn out cellular components are degraded, it may prevent cellular renewal and advance the accumulation of damaged cellular constituents. Due to binding of transition metals, such as iron and copper, lipofuscin also seems to sensitize lysosomes and cells to oxidative stress. Of importance for the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration, lipofuscin deposition interferes with the phagocytic activity of retinal pigment epithelial cells and also sensitizes their lysosomes to blue light.

Aging↗

PubMed2004

Aging as a catabolic malfunction.

Cellular degradative processes, which include lysosomal (autophagic) and proteasomal degradation, as well as catabolism of proteins by cytosolic and mitochondrial proteases, provide for a continuous turnover of cellular components, such as damaged or obsolete biomolecules and organelles. Inherent insufficiency of these degradative processes results in progressive accumulation within long-lived postmitotic cells of biological 'garbage' (waste material), such as various oxidized proteins, functionally effete mitochondria, and lipofuscin (age pigment), an intralysosomal, polymeric, undegradable material. There is increasing evidence that lipofuscin hampers lysosomal degradative capacity, thus promoting the aggravation of accumulated damage at old age. Being rich in redox-active iron, lipofuscin granules also may exacerbate oxidative stress levels in senescent cells. Thus, increasing the efficiency of cellular degradative pathways and preventing involvement of iron in oxidant-induced lysosomal and cellular damage may be potential strategies for anti-aging interventions.

Aging↗

PubMed2004

Myocyte aging and mitochondrial turnover.

Cardiac myocytes, skeletal muscle fibers, and other long-lived postmitotic cells show dramatic age-related alterations that mainly affect mitochondria and the lysosomal compartment. Mitochondria are primary sites of reactive oxygen species formation that causes progressive damage to mitochondrial DNA and proteins in parallel to intralysosomal lipofuscin accumulation. There is amassing evidence that several various mechanisms may contribute to age-related accumulation of damaged mitochondria following initial oxidative injury. Such mechanisms may include clonal expansion of defective mitochondria, decreased propensity of altered mitochondria to become autophagocytosed (due to mitochondrial enlargement or decreased membrane damage associated with weakened respiration), suppressed autophagy because of heavy lipofuscin loading of lysosomes, and decreased efficiency of Lon protease.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Heterogeneous expression of apolipoprotein-E by human macrophages.

Apolipoprotein-E (apoE) is expressed at high levels by macrophages. In addition to its role in lipid transport, macrophage-derived apoE plays an important role in immunoregulation. Previous studies have identified macrophage subpopulations that differ substantially in their ability to synthesize specific cytokines and enzymes, however, potential heterogeneous macrophage apoE expression has not been studied. Here we examined apoE expression in human THP-1 macrophages and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM). Using immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry methods we reveal a striking heterogeneity in macrophage apoE expression in both cell types. In phorbol-ester-differentiated THP-1 macrophages, 5% of the cells over-expressed apoE at levels more than 50-fold higher than the rest of the population. ApoE over-expressing THP-1 macrophages contained condensed/fragmented nuclei and increased levels of activated caspase-3 indicating induction of apoptosis. In MDM, 3-5% of the cells also highly over-expressed apoE, up to 50-fold higher than the rest of the population; however, this was not associated with obvious nuclear alterations. The apoE over-expressing MDM were larger, more granular, and more autofluorescent than the majority of cells and they contained numerous vesicle-like structures that appeared to be coated by apoE. Flow cytometry experiments indicated that the apoE over-expressing subpopulation of MDM were positive for CD14, CD11b/Mac-1 and CD68. These observations suggest that specific macrophage subpopulations may be important for apoE-mediated immunoregulation and clearly indicate that subpopulation heterogeneity should be taken into account when investigating macrophage apoE expression.

Apolipoproteins E↗

PubMed2004

Aging of cardiac myocytes in culture: oxidative stress, lipofuscin accumulation, and mitochondrial turnover.

Oxidative stress is believed to be an important contributor to aging, mainly affecting long-lived postmitotic cells such as cardiac myocytes and neurons. Aging cells accumulate functionally effete, often mutant and enlarged mitochondria, as well as an intralysosomal undegradable pigment, lipofuscin. To provide better insight into the role of oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, and lipofuscinogenesis in postmitotic aging, we studied the relationship between these parameters in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. It was found that the content of lipofuscin, which varied drastically between cells, positively correlated with mitochondrial damage (evaluated by decreased innermembrane potential), as well as with the production of reactive oxygen species. These results suggest that both lipofuscin accumulation and mitochondrial damage have common underlying mechanisms, likely including imperfect autophagy and ensuing lysosomal degradation of oxidatively damaged mitochondria and other organelles. Increased size of mitochondria (possibly resulting from impaired fission due to oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA, membranes, and proteins) also may interfere with mitochondrial turnover, leading to the appearance of so-called "giant" mitochondria. This assumption is based on our observation that pharmacological inhibition of autophagy with 3-methyladenine induced only moderate accumulation of large (senescent-like) mitochondria but drastically increased numbers of small, apparently normal mitochondria, reflecting their rapid turnover and suggesting that enlarged mitochondria are poorly autophagocytosed. Overall, our findings emphasize the importance of mitochondrial turnover in postmitotic aging and provide further support for the mitochondrial-lysosomal axis theory of aging.

Adenine↗

PubMed2004

Lysosomal redox-active iron is important for oxidative stress-induced DNA damage.

Data show that specifically chelating lysosomal redox-active iron can prevent most H(2)O(2)-induced DNA damage. Lysosomes seem to contain the major pool of redox-active labile iron within the cell. Under oxidative stress conditions, this iron may then relocate to the nucleus and play an important role for DNA damage by taking part in Fenton reactions.

Cell Line, Tumor↗

PubMed2003

Endosomal and lysosomal effects of desferrioxamine: protection of HeLa cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced DNA damage and induction of cell-cycle arrest.

The role of endosomal/lysosomal redox-active iron in H2O2-induced nuclear DNA damage as well as in cell proliferation was examined using the iron chelator desferrioxamine (DFO). Transient transfections of HeLa cells with vectors encoding dominant proteins involved in the regulation of various routes of endocytosis (dynamin and Rab5) were used to show that DFO (a potent and rather specific iron chelator) enters cells by fluid-phase endocytosis and exerts its effects by chelating redox-active iron present in the endosomal/lysosomal compartment. Endocytosed DFO effectively protected cells against H2O2-induced DNA damage, indicating the importance of endosomal/lysosomal redox-active iron in these processes. Moreover, exposure of cells to DFO in a range of concentrations (0.1 to 100 microM) inhibited cell proliferation in a fluid-phase endocytosis-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis of cells exposed to 100 microM DFO for 24 h showed that the cell cycle was transiently interrupted at the G2/M phase, while treatment for 48 h led to permanent cell arrest. Collectively, the above results clearly indicate that DFO has to be endocytosed by the fluid-phase pathway to protect cells against H2O2-induced DNA damage. Moreover, chelation of iron in the endosomal/lysosomal cell compartment leads to cell cycle interruption, indicating that all cellular labile iron is propagated through this compartment before its anabolic use is possible.

Cell Cycle↗

PubMed2003

Prevention of oxidant-induced cell death by lysosomotropic iron chelators.

Intralysosomal iron powerfully synergizes oxidant-induced cellular damage. The iron chelator, desferrioxamine (DFO), protects cultured cells against oxidant challenge but pharmacologically effective concentrations of this drug cannot readily be achieved in vivo. DFO localizes almost exclusively within the lysosomes following endocytic uptake, suggesting that truly lysosomotropic chelators might be even more effective. We hypothesized that an amine derivative of alpha-lipoamide (LM), 5-[1,2] dithiolan-3-yl-pentanoic acid (2-dimethylamino-ethyl)-amide (alpha-lipoic acid-plus [LAP]; pKa = 8.0), would concentrate via proton trapping within lysosomes, and that the vicinal thiols of the reduced form of this agent would interact with intralysosomal iron, preventing oxidant-mediated cell damage. Using a thiol-reactive fluorochrome, we find that reduced LAP does accumulate within the lysosomes of cultured J774 cells. Furthermore, LAP is approximately 1000 and 5000 times more effective than LM and DFO, respectively, in protecting lysosomes against oxidant-induced rupture and in preventing ensuing apoptotic cell death. Suppression of lysosomal accumulation of LAP (by ammonium-mediated lysosomal alkalinization) blocks these protective effects. Electron paramagnetic resonance reveals that the intracellular generation of hydroxyl radical following addition of hydrogen peroxide to J774 cells is totally eliminated by pretreatment with either DFO (1 mM) or LAP (0.2 microM) whereas LM (200 microM) is much less effective.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Intralysosomal iron: a major determinant of oxidant-induced cell death.

As a result of continuous digestion of iron-containing metalloproteins, the lysosomes within normal cells contain a pool of labile, redox-active, low-molecular-weight iron, which may make these organelles particularly susceptible to oxidative damage. Oxidant-mediated destabilization of lysosomal membranes with release of hydrolytic enzymes into the cell cytoplasm can lead to a cascade of events eventuating in cell death (either apoptotic or necrotic depending on the magnitude of the insult). To assess the importance of the intralysosomal pool of redox-active iron, we have temporarily blocked lysosomal digestion by exposing cells to the lysosomotropic alkalinizing agent, ammonium chloride (NH(4)Cl). The consequent increase in lysosomal pH (from ca. 4.5 to > 6) inhibits intralysosomal proteolysis and, hence, the continuous flow of reactive iron into this pool. Preincubation of J774 cells with 10 mM NH(4)Cl for 4 h dramatically decreased apoptotic death caused by subsequent exposure to H(2)O(2), and the protection was as great as that afforded by the powerful iron chelator, desferrioxamine (which probably localizes predominantly in the lysosomal compartment). Sulfide-silver cytochemical detection of iron revealed a pronounced decrease in lysosomal content of redox-active iron after NH(4)Cl exposure, probably due to diminished intralysosomal digestion of iron-containing material coupled with continuing iron export from this organelle. Electron paramagnetic resonance experiments revealed that hydroxyl radical formation, readily detectable in control cells following H(2)O(2) addition, was absent in cells preexposed to 10 mM NH(4)Cl. Thus, the major pool of redox-active, low-molecular-weight iron may be located within the lysosomes. In a number of clinical situations, pharmacologic strategies that minimize the amount or reactivity of intralysosomal iron should be effective in preventing oxidant-induced cell death.

Ammonium Chloride↗

PubMed2003

3-Aminopropanal, formed during cerebral ischaemia, is a potent lysosomotropic neurotoxin.

Cytotoxic polyamine-derived amino aldehydes, formed during cerebral ischaemia, damage adjacent tissue (the so-called 'penumbra') not subject to the initial ischaemic insult. One such product is 3-aminopropanal (3-AP), a potent cytotoxin that accumulates in ischaemic brain, although the precise mechanisms responsible for its formation are still unclear. More relevant to the present investigations, the mechanisms by which such a small aldehydic compound might be cytotoxic are also not known, but we hypothesized that 3-AP, having the structure of a weak lysosomotropic base, might concentrate within lysosomes, making these organelles a probable focus of initial toxicity. Indeed, 3-AP leads to lysosomal rupture of D384 glioma cells, a process which clearly precedes caspase activation and apoptotic cell death. Immunohistochemistry reveals that 3-AP concentrates in the lysosomal compartment and prevention of this accumulation by the lysosomotropic base ammonia, NH(3), protects against 3-AP cytotoxicity by increasing lysosomal pH. A thiol compound, N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)glycine, reacts with and neutralizes 3-AP and significantly inhibits cytoxocity. Both amino and aldehyde functions of 3-AP are necessary for toxicity: the amino group confers lysosomotropism and the aldehyde is important for additional, presently unknown, reactions. We conclude that 3-AP exerts its toxic effects by accumulating intralysosomally, causing rupture of these organelles and releasing lysosomal enzymes which initiate caspase activation and apoptosis (or necrosis if the lysosomal rupture is extensive). These results may have implications for the development of new therapeutics designed to lessen secondary damage arising from focal cerebral ischaemia.

Acridine Orange↗

PubMed2003

Mitochondrial recycling and aging of cardiac myocytes: the role of autophagocytosis.

The mechanisms of mitochondrial alterations in aged post-mitotic cells, including formation of so-called 'giant' mitochondria, are poorly understood. To test whether these large mitochondria might appear due to imperfect autophagic mitochondrial turnover, we inhibited autophagocytosis in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes with 3-methyladenine. This resulted in abnormal accumulation of mitochondria within myocytes, loss of contractility, and reduced survival time in culture. Unlike normal aging, which is associated with slow accumulation of predominantly large defective mitochondria, pharmacological inhibition of autophagy caused only moderate accumulation of large (senescent-like) mitochondria but dramatically enhanced the numbers of small mitochondria, probably reflecting their normally more rapid turnover. Furthermore, the 3-methyladenine-induced accumulation of large mitochondria was irreversible, while small mitochondria gradually decreased in number after withdrawal of the drug. We, therefore, tentatively conclude that large mitochondria selectively accumulate in aging post-mitotic cells because they are poorly autophagocytosed. Mitochondrial enlargement may result from impaired fission, a possibility supported by depressed DNA synthesis in large mitochondria. Nevertheless, enlarged mitochondria retained immunoreactivity for cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, implying that mitochondrial genes remain active in defective mitochondria. Our findings suggest that imperfect autophagic recycling of these critical organelles may underlie the progressive mitochondrial damage, which characterizes aging post-mitotic cells.

Adenine↗

PubMed2003

Aging of cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells: oxidative reactions, lipofuscin formation and blue light damage.

This report reviews our experimental work on cultured retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, fed native or UV-irradiated photoreceptor outer segments (POS). We showed that significantly more lipofuscin (LF) was formed in cells cultured in 40% oxygen than in cells cultured in 8% oxygen, indicating an involvement of oxidative mechanisms in LF formation. The antioxidants alpha-tocopherol, lycopene, zeaxanthin and lutein significantly reduced LF formation. RPE cells high in melanin content exhibited significantly less formation of LF than cells low in or devoid of melanin, suggesting that melanin acts as an effective antioxidant. The phagocytic capacity of LF-loaded RPE cells was significantly reduced compared to that of unloaded control cells, indicating that LF-loaded RPE cells may be unable to serve the photoreceptors sufficiently regarding phagocytosis of shed outer segment tips. Blue light irradiation destabilized lysosomal membranes in LF-loaded RPE cells and significantly reduced the viability of such cells compared to unloaded, irradiated control cells. These results may be of significance in relation to the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Animals↗

PubMed2003

3-Aminopropanal is a lysosomotropic aldehyde that causes oxidative stress and apoptosis by rupturing lysosomes.

During cerebral ischemia and following trauma, potent cytotoxic polyamine-derived aminoaldehydes form, diffuse, and damage adjacent tissues not directly subjected to the initial insult. One such aldehyde is 3-aminopropanal (3-AP). The mechanisms by which such a small aldehydic compound is excessively cytotoxic have been unclear until recently when we showed that 3-AP, having the structure of a weak lysosomotropic base, concentrates within the acidic vacuolar compartment and causes lysosomal rupture that, in turn, induces caspase activation and apoptotic cell death. Here, using cultured J774 cells and 3-AP as a way to selectively burst lysosomes, we show that moderate lysosomal rupture induces a transient wave of oxidative stress. The start of this oxidative stress period is concomitant with a short period of enhanced mitochondrial membrane potential that later fades and is replaced by a decreased potential before the oxidative stress diminishes. The result of the study suggests that oxidative stress, which has often been described during apoptosis induced by agonists other than oxidative stress per se, may be a consequence of lysosomal rupture with direct and/or indirect effects on mitochondrial respiration and electron transport causing a period of passing enhanced formation of reactive oxygen species.

Acridine Orange↗

PubMed2003

Lysosomal enzymes promote mitochondrial oxidant production, cytochrome c release and apoptosis.

Exposure of mammalian cells to oxidant stress causes early (iron catalysed) lysosomal rupture followed by apoptosis or necrosis. Enhanced intracellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), presumably of mitochondrial origin, is also observed when cells are exposed to nonoxidant pro-apoptotic agonists of cell death. We hypothesized that ROS generation in this latter case might promote the apoptotic cascade and could arise from effects of released lysosomal materials on mitochondria. Indeed, in intact cells (J774 macrophages, HeLa cells and AG1518 fibroblasts) the lysosomotropic detergent O-methyl-serine dodecylamide hydrochloride (MSDH) causes lysosomal rupture, enhanced intracellular ROS production, and apoptosis. Furthermore, in mixtures of rat liver lysosomes and mitochondria, selective rupture of lysosomes by MSDH promotes mitochondrial ROS production and cytochrome c release, whereas MSDH has no direct effect on ROS generation by purifed mitochondria. Intracellular lysosomal rupture is associated with the release of (among other constituents) cathepsins and activation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2). We find that addition of purified cathepsins B or D, or of PLA2, causes substantial increases in ROS generation by purified mitochondria. Furthermore, PLA2 - but not cathepsins B or D - causes rupture of semipurified lysosomes, suggesting an amplification mechanism. Thus, initiation of the apoptotic cascade by nonoxidant agonists may involve early release of lysosomal constituents (such as cathepsins B and D) and activation of PLA2, leading to enhanced mitochondrial oxidant production, further lysosomal rupture and, finally, mitochondrial cytochrome c release. Nonoxidant agonists of apoptosis may, thus, act through oxidant mechanisms.

Amides↗

PubMed2002

Lipofuscin: mechanisms of age-related accumulation and influence on cell function.

The accumulation of lipofuscin within postmitotic cells is a recognized hallmark of aging occurring with a rate inversely related to longevity. Lipofuscin is an intralysosomal, polymeric substance, primarily composed of cross-linked protein residues, formed due to iron-catalyzed oxidative processes. Because it is undegradable and cannot be removed via exocytosis, lipofuscin accumulation in postmitotic cells is inevitable, whereas proliferative cells efficiently dilute it during division. The rate of lipofuscin formation can be experimentally manipulated. In cell culture models, oxidative stress (e.g., exposure to 40% ambient oxygen or low molecular weight iron) promotes lipofuscin accumulation, whereas growth at 8% oxygen and treatment with antioxidants or iron-chelators diminish it. Lipofuscin is a fluorochrome and may sensitize lysosomes to visible light, a process potentially important for the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration. Lipofuscin-associated iron sensitizes lysosomes to oxidative stress, jeopardizing lysosomal stability and causing apoptosis due to release of lysosomal contents. Lipofuscin accumulation may also diminish autophagocytotic capacity by acting as a sink for newly produced lysosomal enzymes and, therefore, interfere with recycling of cellular components. Lipofuscin, thus, may be much more directly related to cellular degeneration at old age than was hitherto believed.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2002

Lysosomal destabilization in p53-induced apoptosis.

The tumor suppressor wild-type p53 can induce apoptosis. M1-t-p53 myeloid leukemic cells have a temperature-sensitive p53 protein that changes its conformation to wild-type p53 after transfer from 37 degrees C to 32 degrees C. We have now found that these cells showed an early lysosomal rupture after transfer to 32 degrees C. Mitochondrial damage, including decreased membrane potential and release of cytochrome c, and the appearance of apoptotic cells occurred later. Lysosomal rupture, mitochondrial damage, and apoptosis were all inhibited by the cytokine IL-6. Some other compounds can also inhibit apoptosis induced by p53. The protease inhibitor N-tosyl-l-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone inhibited the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochrome c release, the Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin inhibited only cytochrome c release, and the antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole inhibited only the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. In contrast to IL-6, these other compounds that inhibited some of the later occurring mitochondrial damage did not inhibit the earlier p53-induced lysosomal damage. The results indicate that apoptosis is induced by p53 through a lysosomal-mitochondrial pathway that is initiated by lysosomal destabilization, and that this pathway can be dissected by using different apoptosis inhibitors. These findings on the induction of p53-induced lysosomal destabilization can also help to formulate new therapies for diseases with apoptotic disorders.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Alpha-tocopheryl succinate, an agent with in vivo anti-tumour activity, induces apoptosis by causing lysosomal instability.

Certain vitamin E analogues, such as alpha-tocopheryl succinate (alpha-TOS), exhibit in vivo anti-tumour activity and, in vitro, induce apoptosis of cultured tumour cells. In the present study we report that these effects may be explained, at least in part, by destabilization of lysosomal membranes. alpha-TOS, but not alpha-tocopheryl acetate or alpha-tocopherol (alpha-TOH), induced early lysosomal destabilization followed by apoptosis. Similar effects were observed with beta-TOS, whereas beta-TOH was inactive. Cathepsin D-deficient cells were more resistant to alpha-TOS than their normal counterparts, and featured delayed caspase activation. Possible detergent and lysosomotropic effects of alpha- and beta-TOS were suggested by their haemolytic activity in an in vitro test and their release of beta-galactosidase from isolated lysosomes, whereas the non-succinylated analogues were inactive. The pro-apoptotic activity of alpha-TOS was pH-dependent, being greater at lower pH, typical of the interstitium of solid tumours. These findings indicate that lysosomal destabilization may partially or fully explain the induction of apoptosis in cultured cells by alpha-TOS and the mechanism whereby this agent exerts in vivo anti-tumour effects.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed2002

Decreased apoptotic response of inclusion-cell disease fibroblasts: a consequence of lysosomal enzyme missorting?

To better understand the role of lysosomes in apoptosis, we compared the responses to apoptotic stimuli of normal fibroblasts with those of inclusion cells (I-cells), i.e., fibroblasts with impaired function of lysosomal enzymes due to their missorting and ensuing nonlysosomal localization. Although both cell types did undergo apoptosis when exposed to the lysosomotropic detergent MSDH, the redox-cycling quinone naphthazarin, or the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine, I-cells exerted a markedly decreased response to these agonists than did normal fibroblasts. Furthermore, leupeptin and pepstatin A (inhibitors of cysteine and aspartic proteases, respectively) suppressed staurosporine-induced apoptosis of normal fibroblasts, whereas survival of I-cells was unaffected. These findings give further support for the involvement of lysosomal enzymes in apoptosis and suggest I-cells as a suitable model for studying the role of lysosomes in programmed cell death.

Apoptosis↗