Radical Production In Cells Research Articles

Diamond-Based Nanoscale Quantum Relaxometry for Sensing Free Radical Production in Cells.

Diamond magnetometry makes use of fluorescent defects in diamonds to convert magnetic resonance signals into fluorescence. Because optical photons can be detected much more sensitively, this technique currently holds several sensitivity world records for room temperature magnetic measurements. It is orders of magnitude more sensitive than conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting magnetic resonances. Here, the use of diamond magnetometry to detect free radical production in single living cells with nanometer resolution is experimentally demonstrated. This measuring system is first optimized and calibrated with chemicals at known concentrations. These measurements serve as benchmarks for future experiments. While conventional MRI typically has millimeter resolution, measurements are performed on individual cells to detect nitric oxide signaling at the nanoscale, within 10-20 nm from the internalized particles localized with a diffraction limited optical resolution. This level of detail is inaccessible to the state-of-the-art techniques. Nitric oxide is detected and the dynamics of its production and inhibition in the intra- and extracellular environment are followed.

Electron transfer activity of the nanodisc-bound mitochondrial outer membrane protein mitoNEET

MitoNEET is the first iron-sulfur protein found in mitochondrial outer membrane. Abnormal expression of mitoNEET in cells has been linked to several types of cancer, type II diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. Structurally, mitoNEET is anchored to mitochondrial outer membrane via its N-terminal single transmembrane alpha helix. The C-terminal cytosolic domain of mitoNEET binds a [2Fe–2S] cluster via three cysteine and one histidine residues. It has been shown that mitoNEET has a crucial role in energy metabolism, iron homeostasis, and free radical production in cells. However, the exact function of mitoNEET remains elusive. Previously, we reported that the C-terminal soluble domain of mitoNEET has a specific binding site for flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and can transfer electrons from FMNH2 to oxygen or ubiquinone-2 via its [2Fe–2S] cluster. Here we have constructed a hybrid protein using the N-terminal transmembrane domain of Escherichia coli YneM and the C-terminal soluble domain of human mitoNEET and assembled the hybrid protein YneM-mitoNEET into phospholipid nanodiscs. The results show that the [2Fe–S] clusters in the nanodisc-bound YneM-mitoNEET can be rapidly reduced by FMNH2 which is reduced by flavin reductase using NADH as the electron donor. Addition of lumichrome, a FMN analog, effectively inhibits the FMNH2-mediated reduction of the [2Fe–2S] clusters in the nanodisc-bound YneM-mitoNEET. The reduced [2Fe–2S] clusters in the nanodisc-bound YneM-mitoNEET are quickly oxidized by oxygen under aerobic conditions or by ubiquinone-10 in the nanodiscs under anaerobic conditions. Because NADH oxidation is required for cellular glycolytic activity, we propose that the mitochondrial outer membrane protein mitoNEET may promote glycolysis by transferring electrons from FMNH2 to oxygen or ubiquinone-10 in mitochondria.

Use of a cocktail of spin traps for fingerprinting large range of free radicals in biological systems.

It is well established that the formation of radical species centered on various atoms is involved in the mechanism leading to the development of several diseases or to the appearance of deleterious effects of toxic molecules. The detection of free radical is possible using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and the spin trapping technique. The classical EPR spin-trapping technique can be considered as a “hypothesis-driven” approach because it requires an a priori assumption regarding the nature of the free radical in order to select the most appropriate spin-trap. We here describe a “data-driven” approach using EPR and a cocktail of spin-traps. The rationale for using this cocktail was that it would cover a wide range of biologically relevant free radicals and have a large range of hydrophilicity and lipophilicity in order to trap free radicals produced in different cellular compartments. As a proof-of-concept, we validated the ability of the system to measure a large variety of free radicals (O-, N-, C-, or S- centered) in well characterized conditions, and we illustrated the ability of the technique to unambiguously detect free radical production in cells exposed to chemicals known to be radical-mediated toxic agents.

Ascorbate reduces superoxide production and improves mitochondrial respiratory chain function in human fibroblasts with electron transport chain deficiencies

The present paper attempts to ascertain the role of ascorbate on the generation of superoxide radicals in skin fibroblasts of patients with deficiency of mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymes. Fibroblast cell lines were grown with or without ascorbate for the last 48 h of their growth period. The amount of superoxide radical production in cells was measured by the reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium and the activities of respiratory chain enzymes were examined in isolated fibroblast mitochondria. The results indicated a significant inverse correlation between the amount of superoxide radicals and the specific activities of complexes I-III and II-III of the respiratory chain. The ascorbate treatment of fibroblasts from control subjects did not show any effect on either superoxide radical production or respiratory chain enzymes' activities. While in patient's fibroblasts, this vitamin significantly decreased the superoxide radicals and increased the specific activities of I-III and II-III complexes but not complex IV. These observations indicate that superoxide radicals are increased in patients with deficient respiratory chain enzymes in their fibroblasts and ascorbate can prevent the loss of these enzymes by acting on the selected sites in the respiratory chain, which are related to the production of free radicals.

The gold anti‐rheumatic drug auranofin governs T cell activation by enhancing oxygen free radical production

Gold-containing drugs continue to be used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, but their mode of action remains unknown. One model to explain gold action is that gold-containing compounds can alter free radical production in cells of the immune system, but direct evidence for this hypothesis has been lacking. In this study we show that auranofin can enhance the rapid flux of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which accompanies phytohemagglutinin activation of peripheral blood T cells. Blocking this enhancement by the addition of antioxidants can reverse the functional effects of the drug on T cell responses, which we have previously demonstrated. These results provide strong experimental support for a model in which gold anti-rheumatics act by modulating ROS production. Furthermore, our experiments suggest that auranofin may be a useful tool to investigate the postulated role of ROS in the intra cellular T cell signaling pathway.

Effect of benzyl viologen on the phospholipid fatty acid composition and some properties in hepatic microsomal membrane of rats

The effect of benzyl viologen (a stimulator of free radical production in cells) on lipid composition, fluidity and enzymes involved in both polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis and cholesterol metabolism was studied in liver microsomal membrane of adult rats. In viologen-treated animals, a significant decrease in the levels of free cholesterol and cholesteryl esters, accompanied to a decrease at the free cholesterol/phospholipid ratio, were observed. The levels of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase and acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) were also lower in viologen-treated rats than in controls. Linoleic and arachidonic acids were both severely lower while docosatetraenoic, docosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids were significantly higher as compared with controls. Furthermore, a decrease in monounsaturated/saturated ratio was found. In addition, the treatment evoked a depression in the fatty acid desaturation complex, with a diminish of delta 9, delta 6 and delta 5 desaturase activities in microsomal membrane. It was concluded that changes in phospholipid microsomal fatty acid and cholesterol content could be directly responsible for changes in membrane fluidity and function, and that extensive yield of docosahexaenoic acid may serve to maintain the physical characteristics of particular domains against oxidative stress caused by benzyl viologen treatment.

Effect of benzyl viologen on the fatty acid composition of rat liver

The influence of subacute treatment with benzyl viologen (a stimulator of free radical production in cells) on the fatty acid content of rat liver has been analyzed. Lipid storage, essentially characterized by lamellated inclusions, developed as we reported previously (Muriana et al., Exp. Pathol., 32 (1987) 65–72). A substantial increase in liver total lipid, phospholipids and triacylglycerols was found during viologen treatment in rats. The composition in fatty acids was profoundly influenced by the experimental conditions, but to different degrees in different lipid classes.

Inhibition of mouse hepatocyte intercellular communication by paraquat-generated oxygen free radicals

Intercellular communication through gap junctions functions in electrical synapsing, homeostasis, hormonal response, embryogenesis, and growth control. Many neurotoxicants, teratogens, and carcinogens are capable of inhibiting gap junctional intercellular communication and this effect may be related to their toxic activity. In addition, many of these toxic agents are capable of stimulating oxygen free radical production in cells. The purpose of this study was to determine if oxygen free radicals at noncytotoxic levels could inhibit intercellular communication in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes. Intercellular communication was evaluated in 24-hr-old cultures of male B6C3F1 Cr1BR mouse hepatocytes by microinjection of fluorescent Lucifer Yellow CH dye and visualization of dye spread to adjacent hepatocytes (dye-coupling). Dye-coupling was rapidly established in freshly plated primary cultured hepatocytes reaching a level of over 90% after 24 hr of culture. After 24 hr, dye-coupling paralleled hepatocyte survival. Treatment of hepatocyte cultures with noncytotoxic concentrations of paraquat (1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride; PQ) (3–5 m m), hydrogen peroxide (2–5 m m), glucose oxidase (0.1 U/ml), or xanthine oxidase (0.2 U/ml plus 1 m m xanthine) for exposure durations of 2–8 hr resulted in concentration-dependent decreases in dye-coupling. Addition of the antioxidants DPPD ( N,N-diphenyl- p-phenylenediamine; 25 μ m) and vitamin E ( d,l-α-tocopherol acetate; 100 μ m) decreased the inhibitory effect of PQ on dye-coupling. In contrast, addition of the catalase inhibitor 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole or the glutathione depletor diethylmaleate to PQ-treated cultures potentiated PQ-induced inhibition of dye-coupling. PQ stimulated NADPH-dependent mouse liver microsomal superoxide radical production. Thus, one effect of prooxidant compounds appears to be the inhibition of IC. This effect may be important in the sublethal toxicity of oxygen radical generating compounds.