Interactions between paraquat and ferric complexes in the microsomal generation of oxygen radicals

Transition metals may play a central role in the toxicity associated with paraquat. Studies were carried out to evaluate the interaction of paraquat with several ferric complexes in the promotion of oxygen radical generation by rat liver microsomes. In the absence of added iron, paraquat produced some increase in low level chemiluminescence by microsomes; there was a synergistic increase in light emission in the presence of paraquat plus ferric-ATP or ferric-citrate, but not paraquat plus either ferric-EDTA or ferric-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (ferric-DETAPAC). Synergistic interactions could be observed at a paraquat concentration of 100 microM and a ferric-ATP concentration of 3 microM. In the absence or presence of paraquat, microsomal light emission was not affected by catalase or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), indicating no significant role for hydroxyl radicals. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) did not affect chemiluminescence in the absence of paraquat but produced some inhibition in the presence of paraquat; this inhibition by SOD was most prominent in the absence of added iron and less pronounced in the presence of ferric-ATP or ferric-citrate. Although microsomal chemiluminescence is closely associated with lipid peroxidation, paraquat did not increase malondialdehyde production as reflected by production of thiobarbituric acid-reactive components. However, lipid peroxidation was sensitive to inhibition by SOD in the presence, but not in the absence, of paraquat, analogous to results with chemiluminescence. Paraquat synergistically increased microsomal hydroxyl radical production as measured by the production of ethylene from 2-keto-4-thiomethylbutyrate in the presence of ferric-EDTA or ferric-citrate. The interaction of paraquat with microsomes and ferric complexes resulted in an increase in oxygen radical generation. Various ferric complexes can increase the catalytic effectiveness of paraquat in promoting microsomal generation of oxygen radicals, although, depending on the reaction being investigated, the nature of the ferric complex is important.     

Different effects of paraquat on microsomal lipid peroxidation in mouse brain, lung and liver

Paraquat stimulates NADPH-Fe(2+)-dependent microsomal lipid peroxidation in mouse brain and strongly inhibits it in the liver. In lung microsomes, the lipid peroxidation was stimulated by paraquat at 10(-4) M, but not at higher doses. An antioxidant action of paraquat seemed to account, at least in part, for the lack of stimulation in lung microsomes, but it was inappropriate to explain the result in hepatic microsomes. There was no apparent correlation between the effects of paraquat on the lipid peroxidation and on the activity of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, the enzyme which initiates redox cycling of paraquat, resulting in generation of active oxygen species. In fact, the effect of paraquat on the lipid peroxidation was independent of paraquat radical production, an intermediate in the cycle. However, the inhibitory potency of N-ethylmaleimide on NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase activity paralleled that on the lipid peroxidation stimulated by paraquat in brain and lung. These findings indicate that the effect of paraquat on microsomal lipid peroxidation differs among the organs and that other factors, besides NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, might be involved in the stimulation of lipid peroxidation by paraquat.     

NADPH-dependent reaction of paraquat in mouse brain microsomes

When paraquat was incubated with mouse brain microsomes in the presence of NADPH, a Nash-reagent-reactive substance (NRRS) (but not formalin) was produced. It was found that NRRS production was decreased in a dose-dependent manner by N-ethylmaleimide, a sulfhydryl reagent, which also inhibited NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase in parallel with the decrease in NRRS production. NRRS production was reduced by radical scavengers (catechin, glutathione, mannitol, superoxide dismutase and catalase), or under anaerobic conditions. In addition, inhibitors of adrenal cortex mitochondrial cytochrome P-450 (metyrapone, aminoglutethimide and amphenone B) inhibited NRRS production without causing a significant decrease in NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase activity. These findings suggest that active oxygen species and the mixed-function oxidase system may play important roles in NRRS production from paraquat in brain microsomes.     

Inhibition of rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation by boldine.

The alkaloid boldine, found in the leaves and bark of boldo, was an effective inhibitor of rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation under a variety of conditions. The following systems all displayed a similar sensitivity to boldine: non-enzymatic peroxidation initiated by ferrous ammonium sulfate; iron-dependent peroxidation produced by ferric-ATP with either NADPH or NADH as cofactor; organic hydroperoxide-catalyzed peroxidation; and carbon tetrachloride plus NADPH-dependent peroxidation. Boldine inhibited the excess oxygen uptake associated with microsomal lipid peroxidation. Thus, boldine was effective in inhibiting iron-dependent and iron-independent microsomal lipid peroxidation, with 50% inhibition occurring at a concentration of about 0.015 mM. Boldine did not appear to react efficiently with superoxide radical or hydrogen peroxide, but was effective in competing for hydroxyl radicals with chemical scavengers. Concentrations of boldine which produced nearly total inhibition of lipid peroxidation had no effect on microsomal mixed-function oxidase activity nor did boldine appear to direct electrons from NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase away from cytochrome P450. Boldine completely protected microsomal mixed-function oxidase activity against inactivation produced by lipid peroxidation. The effectiveness of boldine as an anti-oxidant under various conditions, and its low toxicity, suggest that this alkaloid may be an attractive agent for further evaluation as a clinically useful anti-oxidant.     

Cytochrome P-450-dependent oxidase activity and hydroxyl radical production in micellar and membranous types of reconstituted systems

In view of conflicting results in the literature regarding the contribution of cytochrome P-450 to hydrogen peroxide production and formation of hydroxyl radicals in the microsomal electron transport chain, experiments were undertaken to evaluate this problem using reconstituted micellar and membranous systems containing NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and cytochrome P-450 LM2 purified from rabbit liver. It was found that P-450 LM2 increased the rate of NADPH consumption in the vesicular system, reconstituted with microsomal phospholipids, much more than in the micellar system, based on dilauroylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC) under otherwise similar conditions. At small amounts of Fe(III)-EDTA (1-5 microM), the enhanced oxidase activity was manifested in a much higher dependency on P-450 LM2 for the production of hydroxyl radicals, as determined by the oxidation of dimethylsulphoxide (Me2SO) or 2-keto-4-thiomethylbutyric acid (KMBA), in the vesicular than in the micellar system. In the presence of high amounts of Fe(III)-EDTA (10-50 microM), the relative increase due to P-450 LM2 was less pronounced in both types of reconstituted systems, although the increase in absolute terms was about the same as at small Fe(III)-EDTA concentrations. The data indicate that in the presence of no or small amounts of chelated iron in negatively-charged membranous systems, most of the hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anions necessary for generation of hydroxyl radicals, are produced by cytochrome P-450 LM2. This appears to be due to a higher affinity between the reductase and P-450 LM2 in this system. In reconstituted micellar systems or in the presence of high amounts of chelated iron, "uncoupling" at the level of the reductase appears to take place, with a resulting production of hydroxyl radicals and other forms of reactive oxygen species.     

Cytochrome P-450-dependent fragmentation of DNA in reconstituted membranes

Membrane vesicles containing various forms of rabbit liver microsomal cytochromes P-450 and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase were found to degrade plasmid DNA in an NADPH-requiring reaction. When cytochrome P-450 was replaced by cytochrome b5, only a negligible extent of DNA disintegration occurred. The complete inhibition of the process by hydroxyl radical scavengers, superoxide dismutase and catalase, indicated an iron-catalyzed Haber-Weiss reaction for the generation of hydroxyl radicals that subsequently react with the nucleic acid.     

Oxygen radical formation and DNA damage due to enzymatic reduction of bleomycin-Fe(III)

Aerobic incubations of bleomycin, FeCl₃, DNA, NADPH, and isolated liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase resulted in NADPH and oxygen consumption and malondialdehyde formation, indicating that the deoxyribose moiety of DNA was split. All parameters measured depended on the active enzyme, bleomycin and FeCl₃. In the absence of oxygen malondialdehyde formation was very low.When bleomycin, FeCl₃ and the reductase were incubated with methional ethene (ethylene) was formed, suggesting that during the enzyme-catalyzed redox cycle of bleomycin-Fe(III/II) hydroxyl radicals were formed. Ethene formation also depended on oxygen, NADPH, the enzyme, bleomycin, and FeCl₃.During aerobic incubations of bleomycin, FeCl₃, NADPH, and isolated liver nuclei oxygen and NADPH were consumed and malondialdehyde was formed. Oxygen and NADPH consumption and malondialdehyde formation depended on bleomycin and FeCl₃. In the absence of oxygen malondialdehyde was not formed. These results indicate that nuclear NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase redox cycles the bleomycin-Fe(III/II) complex and that the reduced complex activates oxygen, whereby hydroxyl radicals are formed which damage the deoxyribose of nuclear DNA.Dedicated to Professor Dr. med. Herbert Remmer on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

Generation of reactive oxygen species and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine formation from diesel exhaust particle components in L1210 cells.

The generation of the reactive oxygen species during the interaction of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) with NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (P450 reductase) was investigated by electron spin resonance using the spin-trap 5,5'-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO). Addition of DEP extract to an incubation mixture of mouse lung microsomes in the presence of NADPH resulted in a time-dependent NADPH oxidation and acetylated-cytochrome c reduction. Using purified P450 reductase as the enzyme source, superoxide radicals which were detected as the spin adduct (DMPO-OOH) while metabolized by P450 reductase were dependent upon both DEP and enzyme concentrations. The ELISA method using a specific monoclonal antibody revealed that DEP produced 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), which is formed from deoxyguanosine in DNA by hydroxyl radicals, in the culture medium of L1210 cells. Active oxygen scavengers such as superoxide dismutase and catalase effectively blocked the formation of 8-OHdG in culture medium, and deferoxamine, which inhibits hydroxyl radicals production by chelating iron, was also effective in inhibiting the DEP-produced 8-OHdG formation. These results indicate that DEP components produce 8-OHdG through the hydroxyl radical formation via superoxide by redox cycling of P450 reductase.     

Generation of hydroxyl radical by anticancer quinone drugs,carbazilquinone, mitomycin C,aclacinomycin A and adriamycin,in the presence of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase

The generation of hydroxyl free radicals in the system consisting of purified NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and anticancer quinone drugs, such as carbazilquinone, mitomycin C, aclacinomycin A and adriamycin, has been confirmed by two methods. In the spin trapping study, using N-tert-butyl-α-phenylnitrone as the spin trapping agent, four drugs generated hydroxyl radical-trapped signals, and the formation of the spin adduct was dependent on time and the enzyme concentration. Among the four drugs, the generation time of signal was in the order of carbazilquinone, aclacinomycin A, adriamycin and mitomycin C, but the magnitude of signal intensity was different. In both aclacinomycin A and adriamycin, the signal disappeared in a few minutes. Catalase completely inhibited the formation of the spin adduct, while superoxide dismutase did not significantly inhibit, but effected in some manner. The generation of hydroxyl radical was also confirmed by the ethylene production from methional. Among the four drugs, the order of the magnitude of ethylene production was different from that of signal intensity by ESR study. Catalase potently inhibited the ethylene production, while superoxide dismutase effected in some manner. From these results, the interactions of anticancer quinone drugs with NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and oxygen, and the possible relations of the enzymes to the radical related actions of these drugs are discussed.     

NADPH- and linoleic acid hydroperoxide-induced lipid peroxidation and destruction of cytochrome P-450 in hepatic microsomes

Temporal aspects of the effects of inhibitors on hepatic cytochrome P-450 destruction and lipid peroxidation induced by NADPH and linoleic acid hydroperoxide (LAHP) were compared. In the absence of added Fe2+, NADPH-induced lipid peroxidation in hepatic microsomes exhibited a slow phase followed by a fast phase. The addition of Fe2+ eliminated the slow phase, thus demonstrating that iron is a rate-limiting component in the reaction. EDTA, which complexes iron, and p-chloromercurobenzoate (pCMB), which inhibits NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, inhibited both phases of the reaction. Catalase as well as scavengers of hydroxyl radical, inhibited NADPH-induced lipid peroxidation almost completely. GSH also inhibited the NADPH-dependent reaction but only when added at the beginning of the reaction. In contrast with NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation, the autocatalytic reaction induced by LAHP was not biphasic, NADPH-dependent or iron-dependent, nor was it inhibited by hydroxyl radical scavengers, catalase or GSH. A synergistic effect on lipid peroxidation was observed when both NADPH and LAHP were added to microsomes. It is concluded that both the fast and slow phases of NADPH-dependent microsomal lipid peroxidation are catalyzed enzymatically and are dependent upon Fe2+, whereas LAHP-dependent lipid peroxidation is autocatalytic. Since the fast phase of enzymatic lipid peroxidation occurred during the fast phase of destruction of cytochrome P-450, it is postulated that iron made available from cytochrome P-450 is sufficient to promote optimal lipid peroxidation. Since catalase and hydroxyl radical scavengers inhibited NADPH-dependent but not LAHP-dependent lipid peroxidation, it is concluded that the hydroxyl radical derived from H2O2 is the initiating active-oxygen species in the enzymatic reaction but not in the autocatalytic reaction.     

Oxy radical formation during redox cycling of the bleomycin-iron (III) complex by NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase

Bleomycin was aerobically incubated with FeCl3, NADPH, isolated rat-liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 reductase and methional. The conversion of methional to ethene, which indicates oxy radicals, was determined. Ethene formation depended on oxygen, NADPH, FeCl3 and the enzyme. About equimolar concentrations of bleomycin and FeCl3 resulted in optimal ethene formation. Dimethyl sulfoxide, mannitol, glycerol, glutathione and glutathione disulfide inhibited ethene formation. These results indicate that oxy radicals are formed after reduction of the bleomycin-Fe-complex by NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase.     

NADH-dependent generation of reactive oxygen species by microsomes in the presence of iron and redox cycling agents.

NADH was found previously to catalyze the reduction of various ferric complexes and to promote the generation of reactive oxygen species by rat liver microsomes. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the ability of NADH to interact with ferric complexes and redox cycling agents to catalyze microsomal generation of potent oxidizing species. In the presence of iron, the addition of menadione increased NADPH- and NADH-dependent oxidation of hydroxyl radical (.OH) scavenging agents; effective iron complexes included ferric-EDTA, -diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid, -ATP, -citrate, and ferric ammonium sulfate. The stimulation produced by menadione was sensitive to catalase and to competitive .OH scavengers but not to superoxide dismutase. Paraquat, irrespective of the iron catalyst, did not increase significantly the NADH-dependent oxidation of .OH scavengers under conditions in which the NADPH-dependent reaction was increased. Menadione promoted H2O2 production with either NADH or NADPH; paraquat was stimulatory only with NADPH. Stimulation of H2O2 generation appears to play a major role in the increased production of .OH-like species. Menadione inhibited NADH-dependent microsomal lipid peroxidation, whereas paraquat produced a 2-fold increase. Neither the control nor the paraquat-enhanced rates of lipid peroxidation were sensitive to catalase, superoxide dismutase, or dimethyl sulfoxide. Although the NADPH-dependent microsomal system shows greater reactivity and affinity for interacting with redox cycling agents, the capability of NADH to promote menadione-catalyzed generation of .OH-like species and H2O2 or paraquat-mediated lipid peroxidation may also contribute to the overall toxicity of these agents in biological systems. This may be especially significant under conditions in which the production of NADH is increased, e.g. during ethanol oxidation by the liver.     

Role of hepatic microsomal and purified cytochrome P-450 in one-electron reduction of two quinone imines and concomitant reduction of molecular oxygen

The possible role of cytochrome P-450 in one-electron reduction of quinoid compounds as well as in the formation of reduced oxygen species was investigated in hepatic microsomal and reconstituted systems of purified cytochrome P-450 and purified NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase using electron spin resonance (ESR) methods. Two compounds were selected as model compounds: N-acetyl-parabenzoquinone imine (NAPQI) and 3,5-dimethyl-N-acetyl-para-benzoquinone imine (3,5-dimethyl-NAPQI). Both compounds could be reduced by oxyhaemoglobin, the semiquinones formed were detectable by ESR and did not reduce molecular oxygen. Both NAPQI and 3,5-dimethyl-NAPQI underwent one-electron reduction in microsomal systems and in fully reconstituted systems of cytochrome P-450 and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. In both incubation systems the semiquinone formation was diminished under aerobic circumstances and concomitant reduction of oxygen occurred, leading to the formation of hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl free radicals. Both the reduction of the quinone imines and the reduction of oxygen were found to be cytochrome P-450 dependent. Both activities of cytochrome P-450 may also be involved in the bioactivation of other compounds with quinoid structural elements, like many chemotherapeutic agents.     

Differential effects of the cytochrome P-450/reductase ratio on the oxidation of ethanol and the hydroxyl radical scavenging agent 2-keto-4-thiomethylbutyric acid (KMBA)

NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase catalyzes a low rate of oxidation of hydroxyl radical scavenging agents such as ethanol and 2-keto-4-thiomethylbutyric acid (KMBA), in a reaction markedly stimulated by the addition of ferric-EDTA. The effect of various ratios of cytochrome P-450 (phenobarbital-inducible isozyme)/reductase on the oxidation of ethanol and KMBA was determined: There was essentially no increase in KMBA oxidation over the range of ratios from 0.5 to 5 as compared to the reductase-catalyzed rate. High ratios actually caused some decrease in KMBA oxidation, which was especially notable under conditions of increased rates of hydroxyl radical generation (presence of increasing amounts of ferric-EDTA). This decrease at high P-450/reductase ratios could reflect tight coupling of reductase to P-450-PB, therefore decreasing electron transfer from reductase to ferric-EDTA, or could involve non-specific scavenging of .OH by P-450-PB. Indeed, native, but not boiled, P-450 inhibited KMBA oxidation by the xanthine oxidase system. By contrast, the oxidation of ethanol was stimulated at all concentrations of P-450-PB, and this increase was not sensitive to desferrioxamine. However, under conditions of high rates of .OH production, the ethanol oxidation profile tended to resemble the KMBA oxidation profile with respect to the effect of P-450-PB, whereas the two profiles were different under conditions of low rates of .OH production. These results suggest that P-450-PB does not catalyze the oxidation of .OH scavengers or promote the production of .OH, even at ratios of P-450/reductase approaching those found with intact microsomes and even in the presence of excess iron-EDTA, whereas ethanol is directly oxidized by P-450-PB, as are typical drug substrates. However, the P-450-PB-dependent oxidation of ethanol can be masked under conditions in which .OH production is increased.     

Interactions of diethylphenylphosphine with purified, reconstituted mouse liver cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase systems

Purified mouse liver cytochrome P-450 reconstituted with purified NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and phosphatidylcholine metabolized diethylphenylphosphine to diethylphenylphosphine oxide. NADPH was required for the reaction and the amount of oxide formed was time and cytochrome P-450 dependent. Purified phenobarbital-induced cytochrome P-450 produced more oxide per nmole enzyme than any of the purified uninduced cytochrome P-450s. the phosphine oxide was also formed in lesser amounts in incubation mixtures containing only NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and NADPH. Diethylphenylphosphine bound to oxidized purified phenobarbital-induced cytochrome P-450 and uninduced cytochrome P-450 with Ks values of 16 microM and 11-18 microM respectively. Diethylphenylphosphine was also a competitive inhibitor of p-nitroanisole O-demethylation catalyzed by a reconstituted phenobarbital-induced cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase system, with a Ki value of 5 microM. The phosphine oxide produced no observable optical difference spectrum with oxidized phenobarbital-induced cytochrome P-450 and caused no inhibition of p-nitroanisole O-demethylation.     

A correlation between hydroxyl radical generation and ethanol oxidation by liver, lung and kidney microsomes

A comparison of the abilities of microsomes from liver, kidney and lung to oxidize ethanol and to generate hydroxyl radicals was conducted to determine if these two variables correlated with one another. The oxidation of 2-keto-4-thiomethylbutyric acid (KTBA) to ethylene, and the production of formaldehyde from dimethylsulfoxide (Mc₂SO), served as chemical probes for the detection of the production of hydroxyl radicals by the microsomes. Liver microsomes oxidized ethanol at rates several-fold greater than those found with lung and kidney microsomes. This greater rate of ethanol oxidation by liver microsomes correlated with a greater rate of oxidation of the hydroxyl radical scavengers by the liver microsomes (liver > lung ≈ kidney). In all tissues, the addition of azide, an inhibitor of catalase, augmented the rate of oxidation of Me₂SO and KTBA. The addition of iron-EDTA (a OH-potentiating agent) increased the rates of oxidation of ethanol by the microsomes from the three tissues. This increase again correlated with an increase in the oxidation of Me₂SO and KTBA. The greater rate of oxidation of ethanol and the hydroxyl radical scavengers by liver microsomes may reflect the relative specific content of cytochrome P-450 (6- to 12-fold greater) and specific activity of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase (4-fold greater) in liver as compared to lung and kidney microsomes. Relative turnover numbers (units per nmole cytochrome P-450) demonstrated equivalent activities for liver and kidney, whereas lung had a higher turnover number for ethanol oxidation and hydroxyl radical generation. These data support the hypothesis that the oxidation of ethanol by microsomes may be mediated by the relative capacity of the microsomes to generate hydroxyl radicals during microsomal electron transport, which in turn may be related to the relative content and/or activities of the components of the electron transport chain.     

Activity of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase of the human heart, liver and lungs in the presence of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin and resveratrol: an in vitro study

NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase (P-450 reductase) plays a crucial role in the metabolism of many endogenic compounds and xenobiotics detoxication. The enzyme is also involved in the toxicity of some clinically important antitumour drugs (doxorubicin) and pesticides (paraquat). P-450 reductase activates them to their more toxic metabolites via one electron reduction which triggers free radical cascade. In some cases however, such transformation is essential to produce therapeutic effect in anticancer drugs. The main purpose of the paper was to evaluate the effect of three natural compounds found in human diet: (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), quercetin and resveratrol on P-450 reductase activity. The activity of the enzyme was determined spectrophotometrically by measurement of the rate of cytochrome c reduction at 550 nm, in vitro, using human heart, liver and lung microsomes. It was found that quercetin increased the P-450 reductase activity in human organs at all tested doses. The activity of microcosms in all organs was enhanced according to the concentrations of quercetin, which increased the activity in the order lung>heart>liver. Addition of EGCG to the reaction mixture enhanced the P-450 reductase activity in the following order: liver>heart>lung. However, no significant effect of resveratrol on P-450 reductase activity was observed. It seems that the presence of quercetin and EGCG in the diet may increase P-450 reductase activity during doxorubicin therapy with subsequent increased risk of toxicity. A beneficial effect may be obtained in anticancer therapy with bioreductive agents like tirapazamine.     

Ring- and N-Hydroxylation of 2-acetylaminofluorene by reconstituted mouse liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 enzyme system

The N- and ring-hydroxylation of 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) are examined with a reconstituted cytochrome P-450 enzyme system from liver microsomal fractions from both control and 3-methylcholanthrene (MC)-pretreated mice. Partial purification of cytochrome P-450 fraction is achieved by bacterial protease treatment of microsomes followed by Triton X-100 solubilization and ammonium sulfate precipitation. Both cytochrome P-450 and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase fractions are required for optimum oxidative activity. Hydroxylation activity is determined by the source of cytochrome P-450 fraction; cytochrome P-450 fraction from MC-pretreated mice is several fold more active than that from controls.     

Generation of free radicals during the reductive metabolism of nilutamide by lung microsomes: possible role in the development of lung lesions in patients treated with this anti-androgen.

The pulmonary metabolism of nilutamide, a nitroaromatic anti-androgen drug leading to pulmonary lesions in a few recipients, has been investigated in rats. Incubation of nilutamide (1 mM) with rat lung microsomes and NADPH under anaerobic conditions led to the formation of the nitro anion free radical, as indicated by ESR spectroscopy. The steady state concentration of this radical was not decreased by CO or SKF 525-A (two inhibitors of cytochrome P450), but was decreased by NADP+ (10 mM) or p-chloromercuribenzoate (0.47 mM) (two inhibitors of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase activity). Anaerobic incubations of [3H]nilutamide (0.1 mM) with rat lung microsomes and a NADPH-generating system resulted in the in vivo covalent binding of [3H]nilutamide metabolites to microsomal proteins; covalent binding required NADPH; it was decreased in the presence of NADP+ (10 mM), or in the presence of the nucleophile glutathione (10 mM), but was unchanged in the presence of carbon monoxide. Under aerobic conditions, in contrast, the nitro anion free radical was reoxidized by oxygen, and its ESR signal was not detected. Covalent binding was essentially suppressed. Instead, there was consumption of NADPH and oxygen, and production of superoxide anion and hydogen peroxide. We conclude that nilutamide is reduced by rat lung microsomes NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase into a nitro anion free radical. In anaerobiosis, the radical is reduced further to covalent binding species. In the presence of oxygen, in contrast, this nitro anion free radical undergoes redox cycling, with the generation of reactive oxygen species.     

Free radical production from normal and adriamycin-treated rat cardiac sarcosomes

The production of hydroxyl radicals in rat myocardial sarcosomes treated with adriamycin was demonstrated by the electron spin resonance technique of spin trapping. Using the spin trapping agent 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO), the formation of a hydroxyl radical spin adduct was observed in adriamycin-treated rat heart sarcosomes with NADPH as co-factor. Oxygen, NADPH and sarcosomal protein were absolute requirements for hydroxyl radical production. Hydroxyl radical spin adduct formation was not inhibited by the metal ion chelators diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid (DETAPAC) or desferrioxamine, or by addition of superoxide dismutase but could be inhibited by addition of catalase and high concentration of the hydroxyl radical scavengers mannitol and N-acetylcysteine. Hydroxyl radical production in adriamycin-treated rat myocardial sarcosomes appears to arise from the reductive metabolism of adriamycin by an NADPH-dependent quinone reductase--NADPH: cytochrome P450 reductase; the reduced quinone (semiquinone) reduces oxygen to hydrogen peroxide, probably via superoxide, although this was not detected. The hydrogen peroxide appears to react directly with adriamycin semiquinone, although involvement of traces of iron in a Fenton type of reaction cannot be excluded. From the observations it is suggested that adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity is an oxidative pathology arising from intracellular generation of relatively high levels of hydroxyl radicals.