The effect of thyroxine on ascorbic acid oxidation.
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Human or mouse epidermal keratinocytes NHEK or Pam212 was less susceptible to ultraviolet (UV)-B irradiation than mouse neuroblastoma NAs1 cells in culture, undergoing apoptosis-like cell death as shown by cell fragmentation and cell membrane integrity disruption. UV susceptibility was appreciably reduced by the reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenger L-ascorbic acid-2-phosphate (Asc2P) endowed with long-lasting functions but not by L-ascorbic acid (Asc) for each cell type. DehydroAsc reduced UV susceptibility of Pam212 or NAs1 established cell lines but not of normal diploid NHEK cells destined to be thereafter submitted to cellular senescence. The susceptibility reduction may not be ascribed to extracellular Asc2P or DehAsc, which was removed by aspirating and/or rinsing upon irradiation after the intracellular channelyzer analysis and dead cell-specific DNA-intercalator ethidium homodimer/fluorometry, respectively. Thus, the three cell types differed in UV susceptibility partly because of their different ROS-scavenging abilities, which may be potently promoted by Asc2P or dehydroAsc but not Asc.
We studied effects on the levels and oxidant status of AA and GSH in the guinea pig liver. Group I received various doses of AA supplementation in a standard diet, Group II in a "western" high fat, high sugar, high cholesterol diet. Both diets were supplemented with 1 (Ia and IIa); 25, (Ib and IIb); and 1000, (Ic and IIc) mg AA per animal per day. The Group II animals were sacrificed during the 9th and 10th weeks, those in Group I during the 19th and 20th weeks. Liver AA levels were 30 and 26 micrograms/g in subgroups Ia and IIa, 367 and 282 micrograms/g in subgroups Ib and IIb, and 604 and 481 micrograms/g in subgroups Ic and IIc. In subgroups Ia and IIa most of the AA was detected as DHAA. DHAA and AA levels were related in a biphasic manner. GSSG content tended to increase with higher intakes of AA regardless of diet and ranged between 0.094 to 0.194 mumol/g. GSH levels were not affected by diet type or AA level. GSSG and DHAA levels were affected only by dietary AA. Changes in serum TBARS suggested a preventive effect of higher dietary ascorbate on lipid peroxidation, but only with a western type diet.
The addition of DL-alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) at the time of UV irradiation only marginally protects cells from UV-induced cytotoxicity. However, a protective effect of alpha-tocopherol emerged when it was added to the cells before UV irradiation, alpha-Tocopherol was progressively and dose-dependently incorporated into the cells. Washout experiments showed that the intracellular concentration of alpha-tocopherol decreased with an approximate half-life of 14-20 hours, due to the release from the cells and dilution by cell proliferation. Pretreatment of the cells with alpha-tocopherol significantly increased the resistancy against the cytotoxic action of UV irradiation and antioxidants such as sodium ascorbate, gallic acid, n-propyl gallate and caffeic acid. ESR spectroscopy showed that alpha-tocopherol enhanced the ascorbyl radical intensity, whereas it reduced caffeic acid radical intensity, without affecting the radical intensity of gallic acid and n-propyl gallate. Both control and treated cell lysates scavenged superoxide anion (generated by xanthine-xanthine oxidase reaction) and hydroxyl radical (generated by Fenton reaction) to a comparable extent. The present study suggests that the protective effect of alpha-tocopherol might be derived from its incorporation into the cell membranes rather than its scavenging activity.
Maturation and ripening of blackberry (Rubus sp.) fruit was accompanied by decreased activities of oxygen-scavenging enzymes [superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1), glutathione-peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.9), catalase (EC 1.11.1.6)] and enzymes in the ascorbate-glutathione cycle [ascorbate peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.11), monodehydroascorbate reductase (EC 1.6.5.4), dehydroascorbate reductase (EC 1.8.5.1), and glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2)]. Nonenzyme components in the ascorbate-glutathione cycle such as ascorbate (AsA), dehydroascorbate (DHAsA), glutathione (GSH), and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and the ratios of AsA/DHAsA, GSH/GSSG were also decreased. These decreases in antioxidant capacity were correlated with increases in the ratios of saturated to unsaturated fatty acid of polar lipids and free sterols to phospholipids, thus contributing to decreased fluidity, enhanced lipid peroxidation, and membrane deterioration, which may be associated with ripening and senescence in blackberry fruit.
Recycling of ascorbate from its oxidized forms is essential to maintain stores of the vitamin in human cells. Whereas reduction of dehydroascorbate to ascorbate is thought to be largely GSH-dependent, we reconsidered the possibility that the selenium-dependent thioredoxin system might contribute to ascorbate regeneration. We found that purified rat liver thioredoxin reductase functions as an NADPH-dependent dehydroascorbate reductase, with an apparent Km of 2. 5 mM for dehydroascorbate, and a kcat of 90 min-1. Addition of 2.8 microM purified rat liver thioredoxin lowered the apparent Km to 0.7 mM, without affecting the turnover (kcat of 71 min-1). Since thioredoxin reductase requires selenium, we tested the physiologic importance of this enzyme for dehydroascorbate reduction in livers from control and selenium-deficient rats. Selenium deficiency lowered liver thioredoxin reductase activity by 88%, glutathione peroxidase activity by 99%, and ascorbate content by 33%, but did not affect GSH content. NADPH-dependent dehydroascorbate reductase activity due to thioredoxin reductase, on the basis of inhibition by aurothioglucose, was decreased 88% in dialyzed liver cytosolic fractions from selenium-deficient rats. GSH-dependent dehydroascorbate reductase activity in liver cytosol was variable, but typically 2-3-fold that of NADPH-dependent activity. These results show that the thioredoxin system can reduce dehydroascorbate, and that this function is required for maintenance of liver ascorbate content.
The mechanism of ascorbate oxidation was studied in rat liver microsomes. A continuous consumption of the added ascorbate was observed, which was accompanied with a prompt appearance of ascorbyl free radical and dehydroascorbate. Microsomes sustained steady-state level of ascorbyl free radical and dehydroascorbate till ascorbate was present in the medium. Ascorbyl free radical formation was diminished when microsomes had been pretreated with heat or trypsine. It was also decreased by addition of quercetin, econazole or metal chelators, including the copper specific neocuproine. Enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, catalase) and nonenzymatic (dimethyl sulfoxide, mannitol) antioxidants did not modify the microsomal production of ascorbyl free radical. Investigation of the subcellular distribution of ascorbate oxidation showed that the microsomal fraction of liver had the highest activity. The decrease of ascorbate oxidation after protease treatment and the negligible increase upon permeabilization of microsomal vesicles showed that a membrane protein is responsible for the activity, which is exposed to the outer surface of the endoplasmic reticulum. The results indicate the presence of a primary enzymatic ascorbate oxidation in rat liver endoplasmic reticulum which is able to generate dehydroascorbate, an important source of the oxidizing environment in the endoplasmic reticulum.
Human erythrocytes regenerate ascorbate from its oxidized product, dehydroascorbate. The extent to which such ascorbate recycling occurs by a GSH-dependent mechanism was investigated. In the presence of glucose, erythrocytes took up over 90% of extracellular [14C]dehydroascorbate and rapidly converted it to [14C]ascorbate, which was trapped within the cells. Dehydroascorbate uptake and reduction was not associated with generation of a monoascorbyl free radical intermediate. Uptake and reduction of dehydroascorbate by glucose-depleted erythrocytes coordinately decreased GSH and raised GSSG concentrations in erythrocytes. This effect was reversed by D-glucose, but not by L-lactate. Conversely, depletion of cellular GSH decreased the ability of cells to recycle dehydroascorbate to ascorbate, as reflected in the extent to which cells were able to reduce extracellular ferricyanide. Monoascorbyl free radical was formed during the reduction of extracellular ferricyanide, indicating that one electron transfer steps were involved in this process. In GSH-depleted cells, addition of L-lactate as an energy source for glycolysis-dependent NADH regeneration did cause a partial recovery of the ability of cells to reduce ferricyanide. However, in resealed erythrocyte ghosts containing either 4 mM GSH or 400 mu M NADH, only the GSH-containing ghosts supported regeneration of ascorbate from added dehydroascorbate. These results suggest that in human erythrocytes ascorbate regeneration from dehydroascorbate is largely GSH dependent, and that it occurs through either enzymatic or nonenzymatic reactions not involving the monoascorbyl free radical.
Recently, it was reported that Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761), which is known to have antioxidant properties, also has antiarrhythmic effects on cardiac reperfusion-induced arrhythmias. In the present study, effects of EGb 761 on cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury were investigated from the point of view of recovery of mechanical function as well as the endogenous antioxidant status of ascorbate. Isolated rat hearts were perfused using the Langendorff technique, and 40 min of global ischemia were followed by 20 min of reperfusion. EGb 761 improved cardiac mechanical recovery and suppressed the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) during reperfusion. Furthermore, EGb 761 diminished the decrease of myocardial ascorbate content after 40 min of ischemia and 20 min of reperfusion. Interestingly, EGb 761 also suppressed the increase of dehydroascorbate. These results indicate that EGb 761 protects against cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury and suggest that the protective effects of EGb 761 depend on its antioxidant properties.
Rabbit muscle adenylate kinase (EC 2.7.4.3) is completely inhibited, or nearly so, at 2 mM ascorbate, concentrations that are found in tissues. Kinetically, the inhibitions show classic non-competitive inhibition patterns against both substrates. Ascorbate inhibitions reverse completely in the presence of low concentrations of sulfhydryl compounds, such as mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol, cysteine and glutathione. Dehydroascorbate inhibition is relatively poor and is also reversed by sulfhydryl compounds. Examination of the adenylate kinase inhibited by ascorbate with CD methodology showed no significant change in alpha-helix and beta-pleated sheet composition.
In this study we investigated the species involved in the process of hexokinase inactivation induced by ascorbic acid/Fe(II) in rabbit erythrocytes. Our results suggest a model in which divalent iron is first oxidized to the trivalent state and then triggers the oxidation of ascorbic acid. The H202 formed during this process accelerates the formation of dehydroascorbic acid, which appears to be necessary and sufficient to induce hexokinase inactivation. This model was validated by showing that: (a) H202-decomposing enzymes, unlike scavengers of the hydroxyl radicals, reduced the extent of hexokinase inactivation; (b) when H202 was used instead of ascorbate/Fe(II), it was unable, even at very high concentrations, to inhibit hexokinase activity; (c) replacing Fe(II) with either Fe(III) or H202 resulted in comparable levels of ascorbic acid-induced hexokinase inactivation; (d) expression of maximal hexokinase inhibiting activity was also triggered via enzyme-catalyzed oxidation of ascorbic acid or direct addition of dehydroascorbic acid; (e) the level of dehydroascorbic acid, which was actively generated in the external medium upon addition of ascorbic acid/Fe(II), increased as a function of time. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the process of hexokinase inactivation induced by ascorbic acid/Fe(II) is mediated by dehydroascorbate and that iron and H202 have the sole function of accelerating its formation.
THP-1 cells preferentially accumulate vitamin C in its oxidized form. The uptake displays first-order kinetics and leads to a build-up of an outward concentration gradient which is stable in the absence of extracellular vitamin. The transport is faster than reduction by extracellular glutathione or by added cytosolic extract, and glutathione-depleted cells show the same uptake rates as control cells. In addition, energy depletion or oxidation of intracellular sulfhydryls does not inhibit accumulation of ascorbate. The accumulation, however, always occurs in the reduced form. The affinity for dehydroascorbate is lower (Km 450 microM vs 60 microM) than for reduced ascorbate, but the maximal rate is more than 30 times higher (581 compared to 19 pmol.min-1 per 106 cells), and it is independent of sodium, whereas the uptake of ascorbate is not. The sodium gradient also allows accumulation of reduced ascorbate. Inhibitors of glucose transport by the GLUT-1 transporter also inhibit uptake of dehydroascorbate (DHA), but there are some inconsistencies, because the Ki-values are higher than reported for the isolated transporter and one inhibitor (deoxyglucose) is noncompetitive. The preferential uptake of the dehydro-form of the vitamin may be useful for situations where this short-lived metabolite is formed by oxidation in the environment.
The purified glutathione reductase was homogeneous on polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. It had an Mr of 79,000 and consisted of two subunits with a Mr of 40,000. The activity was maximum at pH 8.2 and 52 degrees C. It was specific for NADPH but not for NADH as the electron donor; the reverse reaction was not observed. The Km values for NADPH and GSSG were 14 and 55 microM respectively. The enzyme activity was markedly inhibited by thiol inhibitors and metal ions such as Hg2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+. Euglena cells contained total glutathione at millimolar concentration. GSH constituted more than 80% of total glutathione in Euglena under various growth conditions. Glutathione reductase was located solely in cytosol, as were L-ascorbate peroxidase and dehydroascorbate reductase, which constitute the oxidation-reduction cycle of L-ascorbate [Shigeoka et al. (1980) Biochem. J. 186, 377-380]. These results indicate that glutathione reductase functions to maintain glutathione in the reduced form and to accelerate the oxidation-reduction of L-ascorbate, which scavenges peroxides generated in Euglena cells.
The application of a technique for the direct spectrophotometric determination of ascorbate and dehydroascorbate in blood samples is described. The reliability of the test system and various disturbing factors are assessed. It is concluded that the technique possesses a high specificity and that interferences by various biochemicals and metabolic intermediates are low. The lowest ascorbate concentration detectable in plasma by this assay is estimated to be about 1 mumol/l.
The ability of vitamins C, E and K to inhibit enzymes directly has been investigated. It was found that vitamin E and some analogs and menadione (vitamin K3) inhibited several enzymes irreversibility at concentrations below one millimolar. Ascorbate inhibits rabbit muscle 6-phosphofructokinase (MPFK-1; EC 2.7.1.11), muscle type LDH (EC 1.1.1.27), and muscle AK (EC 2.7.4.3) at low concentrations that do not inhibit equivalent liver isozymes. Ascorbate Ki values for muscle-type LDH and heart-type LDH isozymes are 0.007 and 3 mM, respectively. The ascorbate Ki value for rabbit skeletal muscle PFK-1 is 0.16 mM; liver PFK-I is not inhibited by ascorbate. Dehydroascorbate does not inhibit any enzyme at ascorbate concentrations normally found in cells. All ascorbate inhibitions are completely reactivated or nearly so by L-ascorbate oxidase, CYS, GSH, or DTT. We propose a hypothesis that ascorbate facilitates glycogen storage in muscle by inhibiting glycolysis. The relationship between ascorbate metabolism and diabetes is discussed.
BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress plays an important role in liver ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Thus, enhancing the liver antioxidant capacity could be a promising therapeutic strategy. Ascorbate (AA) is considered the perfect antioxidant, but its therapeutic efficacy is greatly limited by its slow achievement of high intracellular levels. This might be circumvented by administering dehydroascorbate (DHA), which presents a several-fold greater uptake than AA, and undergoes rapid intracellular reduction to AA. Thus, our aim was to assess the protective role of DHA in liver I/R injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar rats (200-300 g bw) were pretreated iv with different doses of AA or DHA 20 min before liver ischemia, followed by 6 h reperfusion. Liver damage was assessed by biochemical and morphological indices. RESULTS: DHA pretreatment induced a rapid increase in liver ascorbate levels, significantly higher than findings for AA, without any significant reduction in glutathione levels. Liver damage during I/R in controls showed significant increases in serum transaminases and hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances with alterations of liver morphology. DHA administration induced a clear, significant protection against I/R injury, whereas liver damage was only moderately prevented by AA. CONCLUSIONS: DHA might represent a simple, effective therapeutic option to prevent liver damage associated with ischemia/reperfusion.
An increase in oxidative stress may contribute to the development of diabetic complications. The key aqueous-phase chain-breaking antioxidant ascorbate is known to be deficient in diabetes, and we have therefore investigated the effects of ascorbate supplementation on oxidative stress in the streptozotocin diabetic rat. Markers of lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde [MDA] and diene conjugates) were increased in plasma and erythrocytes of untreated diabetic animals, and levels of the antioxidants ascorbate and retinol were reduced. Plasma tocopherol was unchanged. Insulin treatment normalized MDA and ascorbate levels, although ascorbate metabolism remained disturbed, as indicated by increased levels of dehydroascorbate. High-dose ascorbate supplementation in the absence of insulin treatment restored plasma ascorbate to normal and increased plasma retinol and tocopherol levels. However, MDA and diene conjugate levels remained unchanged, possibly as a result of increased iron availability. High-dose ascorbate supplementation should be approached with caution in diabetes, as ascorbate may exert both antioxidant and prooxidant effects in vivo.
Ascorbate catabolism was investigated in murine and human cells unable to synthesize ascorbate due to the missing gulonolactone oxidase activity. In HepG2 cells the addition of ascorbate or dehydroascorbate resulted in high glucose production, while human erythrocytes, MCF7 cells and the cellular elements of the murine blood were able to metabolize ascorbate or dehydroascorbate to lactate. The oxidative agent menadione stimulated, while the transketolase inhibitor oxythiamine inhibited, the metabolism of dehydroascorbate in each of these three cell types. Our results suggest that ascorbate breakdown through the pentose phosphate pathway can reach the glycolytic/gluconeogenic route in different cells. In ascorbate synthesizing species the ascorbate-lactate route in peripheral cells may form a catabolic branch of an interorgan ascorbate cycle, where hepatocytes are responsible for ascorbate synthesis. The catabolic part of this cycle using exogenous ascorbate could be demonstrated even in humans cells.