Hydroperoxide-stimulated release of calcium from rat liver and AS-30D hepatoma mitochondria

The presence of 50 microM t-butyl hydroperoxide induces the oxidation of intramitochondrial pyridine nucleotides and release of accumulated Ca2+ from rat liver but not AS-30D hepatoma mitochondria in the presence of succinate (plus rotenone) as a respiratory substrate. The effects of t-butyl hydroperoxide are mediated by the activities of glutathione peroxidase and reductase, which are less than 20 and 50% as active, respectively, in hepatoma than in normal liver mitochondria. However, the differences in the activities of these enzymes are not responsible for the insensitivity of succinate-energized tumor mitochondria to t-butyl hydroperoxide, since Ca2+ release and pyridine nucleotide oxidation can be elicited when ascorbate plus tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine are used as alternative respiratory electron donors. In the presence of succinate alone, rat liver mitochondria generate malate exclusively, whereas AS-30D hepatoma mitochondria produce pyruvate and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate as well as malate due to the activity of a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent malic enzyme which is not present in normal rat liver mitochondria. These results indicate that the maintenance of pyridine nucleotides in their reduced form by malic enzyme is responsible for the lack of t-butyl hydroperoxide-induced Ca2+ efflux by tumor mitochondria respiring on succinate. This altered pattern of mitochondrial metabolism may also influence the regulation of other reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-sensitive activities in addition to that of Ca2+ transport.     

Biochemical properties of simian virus 40-transformed 3T3 cell mitochondria.

Mitrochondria isolated from simian virus 40-transformed 3T3 and nontransformed 3T3 cells were compared by various biochemical criteria. Transformed and nontransformed cell mitochondria had identical densities in linear sucrose and discontinuous bovine serum albumin gradients. The activities of several mitochondria-specific enzymes including cytochrome oxidase, adenylate kinase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-cytochrome c reductase, and NADH oxidase were similar in both cell types. However, the activity of the mitochondrial outer membrane enzyme, monoamine oxidase. In the virus-transformed cell mitochondria was reduced to 50% of that in nontransformed cell mitochondria.     

Picket-fence porphyrins as potential phototherapeutic agents

The synthetic "picket fence" porphyrin, tetra(o-acetamidophenyl)porphine (TAc), as a biological photosensitizer has been evaluated both in vitro and in vivo in mitochondria from the R3230AC mammary tumor. Studies in vitro, consisting of incubation of mitochondria with TAc at a concentration of 4.0 micrograms/ml followed by photolysis, result in the inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase, proton translocating ATPase, succinate dehydrogenase, and malate dehydrogenase. The diminution in activity of the first three enzymes is approximately 2-fold greater than that seen with Photofrin II under the same conditions. Although TAc exists as four isolable atropisomers, no differences among these different forms were observed in their photosensitized inhibition of mitochondrial enzymes. Administration to tumor-bearing rats of TAc i.p. at a dose of 25 mg/kg did result in accumulation of porphyrin within the mitochondria of the R3230AC tumor as determined by subsequent irradiation of isolated mitochondria. The potential utility of TAc and related porphyrins in cancer phototherapy is discussed.     

Mitochondrial toxicity of cationic photosensitizers for photochemotherapy

The triarylmethane derivative Victoria Blue-BO (VB-BO) and the chalcogenapyrylium (CP) dyes have potential for use in photochemotherapy, because they are taken up by the mitochondria of malignant cells and cause cell death. To clarify the mechanism of cell killing we examined the phototoxic effects of VB-BO and a series of three CP dyes on bioenergetic function in isolated rat liver mitochondria. Without photoirradiation, and irrespective of the respiratory substrate used, each of the compounds tested induced some uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. Visible irradiation of VB-BO produced an inhibition of mitochondrial respiration when glutamate plus malate, but not succinate, was used as the respiratory substrate. With photoirradiation VB-BO was also shown to inhibit rotenone-sensitive NADH-cytochrome c reductase activity, but it had no effect on succinate-cytochrome c reductase activity. These data indicate that photoactivation of VB-BO produces selective inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory complex I. Photoirradiation of the CP dyes inhibited both complex I and complex II initiated respiratory activity. With photoirradiation, the CP dyes also inhibited both NADH- and succinate-cytochrome c reductase activities, as well as other membrane-bound enzymes, cytochrome c oxidase and succinate dehydrogenase, but not the mitochondrial matrix enzyme, citrate synthetase, or the cytosolic enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase. alpha-Tocopherol protected bioenergetic activities against CP dye photodamage. These results suggest that mitochondrial photosensitization by CP compounds is mediated by the production of membrane-damaging singlet oxygen which causes nonspecific damage to membranes and membrane-bound enzymes.     

Comparative analysis of the reduction of oxaloacetate by human hepatoma and normal liver extracts

An apparent activation of the malate dehydrogenase activity is observed in the double-reciprocal plot at high oxaloacetate concentrations when human hepatoma extracts are analyzed. This phenomenon does not occur in healthy liver samples. In hepatoma extracts, the ratio of lactate dehydrogenase to malate dehydrogenase activities becomes five-fold higher than that of normal liver. Experiments performed with mixtures of both purified enzymes and, conversely, by using oxamate, a specific inhibitor of lactate dehydrogenase, reveal that the deviation in Michaelis-Menten behavior observed is due to the oxaloacetate reductase activity of lactate dehydrogenase instead of the presence of a novel malate dehydrogenase isoenzyme.     

Biochemical studies on mitochondria isolated from Normal and Neoplastic Tissues of the Mouse Mammary Gland.

Mitochondria isolated from spontaneous and transplanted mammary adenocarcinomas of two strains of mice were compared, by various biochemical criteria, to mitochondria from mammary glands of midpregnant or hormonally stimulated, cancer-free mice. The specific activities of several mitochondrial enzymes including cytochrome oxidase, alpha-glycerophosphate oxidase, and succinate dehydrogenase were twofold to threefold lower, whereas the activity of monoamine oxidase was two fold higher in tumor mitochondria. Malate dehydrogenase, adenylate kinase, and NADH oxidase showed similar levels of activity in tumor and midpregnant mammary gland mitochondria. In addition, mitochondrial polypeptide composition was analyzed by electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate-urea polyacrylamide gels. Midpregnant mammary gland and mammary tumor mitochondria were similar in polypeptide composition; however, several differences were observed. A high-molecular-weight polypeptide, present in mid-pregnant mammary gland mitochondria was absent from tumor mitochondria. Also, tumor mitochondria contained an additional high-molecular-weight polypeptide not found in the midpregnant mammary gland. There were numerous differences in the relative proportions of many polypeptides common to both tumor and midpregnant mammary gland mitochondria.     

Photodynamic inactivation of selected intracellular enzymes by hematoporphyrin derivative and their relationship to tumor cell viability in vitro

The photosensitivity of freshly dissociated R3230AC mammary adenocarcinoma cells was examined by measurement of the activities of selected intracellular enzymes after treatment with hematoporphyrin derivative (Hpd) and exposure to light in vitro. Enzymes selected as representative of the cytosolic cell compartment showed no loss in activity, whereas malate dehydrogenase, located in the mitochondrial matrix, displayed a modest decrease (approximately 15%) in activity. In contrast, cytochrome c oxidase and succinate dehydrogenase, enzymes associated with the mitochondrial membrane, demonstrated a very rapid and more marked inhibition of activities, approximately 45% and 25%, respectively. The time-course of inhibition of these mitochondrial membrane enzymes preceded the loss of cell viability, which displayed slower kinetics as seen by a more gradual and progressive pattern of loss in viability. These data suggest that the mitochondria are an early-affected and important intracellular site for Hpd photosensitization.     

Subcellular distribution of inorganic pyrophosphatase activity in various normal and neoplastic cell types

Inorganic pyrophosphatase (PPiase) activity was measured in cell fractions of rat, mouse, and human erythrocytes; normal rat liver; Novikoff hepatoma; Morris 3924A hepatoma; and mouse Ehrlich and Sarcoma 37 ascites tumors. Despite high intracellular activities, when precautions were taken to maintain cell integrity, only negligible activities were found on the surface of intact erythrocytes, Novikoff ascites hepatoma, Ehrlich carcinoma, and Sarcoma 37 cells. Suspensions of intact Ehrlich and Sarcoma 37 cells exhibited low PPiase activity, but this was only about 1 to 2% of the intracellular activity and was completely accounted for by activity present in the suspension medium. It is considered to be due to extrusion of the intracellular enzyme. Systematic fractionation of subcellular components revealed that 92% of the total PPiase activity of rat liver and 97.5% of that of Hepatoma 3924A were in the cytosol. The soluble activity consisted of a major form, accompanied by very low activities of two minor forms, all of which migrate toward the anode on electrophoresis. About 4.5% of the liver activity was present in the mitochondria in two forms, one remaining at the origin and one migrating toward the cathode. The same cytosolic isozymes were present in Hepatoma 3924A, and the cathodic form was present in mitochondria but in much reduced amount. No evidence was obtained for specific isozymes in nuclei or microsomes. Only negligible PPiase activities were found in cell membranes isolated by sucrose gradient centrifugation. These results discount the occurrence of PPiase activity as an ectoenzyme or in the plasma membrane of these cells and point to the cytosol as the major and mitochondria as a minor locus of intracellular PPiase activity.     

Superoxide dismutase and superoxide radical in Morris hepatomas

Total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn SOD) specific activities were measured in tissue homogenates and in isolated mitochondria from normal rat liver and three Morris hepatomas of different growth rates. Total SOD and Mn SOD specific activities were decreased in all tumor homogenates when compared to normal liver; the lowest activity was associated with the fastest growing tumor. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that total Mn SOD specific activity is decreased in all tumors. The Mn SOD specific activity was similar to the total SOD specific activity of isolated mitochondria, indicating that mitochondrial SOD is almost entirely manganese containing. This activity was decreased in the fast- and medium-growth-rate hepatomas but was slightly increased in the tumor with the slowest growth rate when compared to liver. The normal or higher than normal mitochondrial Mn SOD specific activity indicates that decreased mitochondrial SOD specific activity is not a characteristic of all tumors. Superoxide radical (O2-.) formation was measured in submitochondrial particles obtained by sonication of isolated mitochondria and subsequent washings to remove the SOD. The difficulty encountered in reducing the SOD activity suggests that at least part of the mitochondrial SOD might be associated with the mitochondrial membrane. In liver submitochondrial particles, O2-. was formed only when succinate and antimycin A were used together, as substrate and inhibitor of the electron transport chain, respectively. In the hepatomas studied for O2-. production (slow- and fast-growth rates), the formation of the radical was detected in the presence of succinate even when no inhibitor was present. Antimycin A stimulated the production of O2-. in normal rat liver and slow-growth-rate tumor, but not in fast-growth-rate tumor submitochondrial particles. Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide did not lead to the production of O2-. by normal liver or hepatoma submitochondrial particles. Mitochondrial membrane damage was seen in micrographs of the medium- and fast-growing hepatomas. This could be a consequence of low mitochondrial SOD concomitant with a flux of superoxide, if the radical is produced in vivo by these mitochondria.     

Comparison of thioredoxin reductases from Novikoff ascites hepatoma cells and normal liver of rats.

Adult rat liver contained variant forms of thioredoxin reductase with isoelectric points at pH 4.9 and at approximately pH 4.7 compared to pH 5.1 for the enzyme from Novikoff ascites hepatoma. Fetal and regenerating liver contained only the form with the isoelectric point at pH 4.9. All three enzymes precipitated with and were inhibited by a rabbit antibody to purified enzyme from Novikoff tumor.     

Physicochemical characterization of Novikoff hepatoma mitochondrial DNA.

Mitochondrial DNA's (mtDNA) isolated from rat liver and the Novikoff hepatoma grown as both solid tumors and cells in monolayer culture were examined by a variety of physicochemical techniques. Buoyant densities in analytical CsCl equilibrium gradients and thermal denaturation profiles revealed no significant differences in base composition among the mtDNA's isolated from liver, tumor, and hepatoma cells. Sedimentation in neurtral and alkaline CsCl showed no differences in mtDNA size. However, tumor and hepatoma cell mtDNA's were slightly smaller and more heterogeneous in size than liver mtDNA when molecular contour lengths were measured in the electron microscope. Based on chemical determinations, neoplastic mitochondria contained four to five times more DNA per mitochondrion than liver. Also, electron microscopy showed the proportion of mtDNA in complex forms (catenated dimers and oligomers) to be much higher in tumor (18%) and hepatoma cells (15%) than liver (4%).     

Characterization of nucleolar antigens of normal rat liver, regenerating rat liver, and Novikoff ascites hepatoma cells following in vitro translation of polyadenylic acid-containing messenger RNA

Nucleolar antigens of normal rat liver, regenerating liver, and Novikoff ascites hepatoma cells were transplanted in vitro from polyadenylic acid-containing messenger RNAs isolated from the respective tissues and immunoprecipitated with specific antinucleolar antibodies and Protein A. By two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of the translation products, five antigens were detected in normal rat liver. The antigens detected in 18-hr regenerating rat liver were the same as those of normal rat liver when immunoprecipitated with the anti-liver nucleolar antibodies. In the Novikoff tumor, 11 antigens were detected with anti-Novikoff nucleolar antibodies. Of these, two were not found in either normal or regenerating liver. Four major antigens were detectable in both Novikoff hepatoma and regenerating liver messenger RNA translation products with anti-Novikoff nucleolar antibodies. Two antigens were found in normal and regenerating liver that were not found in Novikoff hepatoma. In agreement with previous results, these immunoprecipitation analyses provide further evidence that some nucleolar antigens are present in Novikoff hepatoma that are not found in either normal or regenerating rat liver.     

Isolation of Arginine Acceptor-Proteins from Normal Rat Liver and Novikoff Hepatoma Supernatant

In the present report a procedure for the isolation of more specific arginine receptors from the soluble fraction of rat liver and Novikoff hepatoma is described. In normal rat liver the specific activity of these receptors from the soluble fraction of rat liver and Novikoff hepatoma is described. In normal rat liver the specific activity of these receptors is fifteen times greater than that of the other proteins whereas in the Novikoff it is only three to four times higher. Attempts to sub-fractionate this class of acceptors would seem to indicate a relative homogeneity.     

Differences in the buoyant density of mitochondria from hepatoma, Krebs ascitic tumor II and normal liver]

Mitochondria isolated from normal liver, experimental hepatoma, and Krebs II ascites tumor tissues in mice were examined by isopycnic centrifugation in a sucrose density gradient (25--50%). Normal liver mitochondria were shown to be characterized by two visible zones, while those of tumors were distributed homogeneously. Such a distribution pattern was also confirmed by the investigation of marker enzyme activities (glucose-6-phosphatase and cytochromoxidase). A comparison of homologous tissues (hepatoma--liver) has evidenced that hepatoma mitochondria are "lighter" even than the "light" fraction of normal ones, that seems to evidence the disturbances in the biogenesis of these organelles. The results obtained are in a good agreement with the data reported by S. A. Neifakh on alterations in the structure of tumor mitochondrial membranes.     

Luteolin,a Bioflavonoid,Attenuates Azoxymethane-Induced Effects on Mitochondrial Enzymes in Balb/c Mice

Colon cancer (CRC) is a serious health problem throughout the world. Development of novel drugs without sideeffects for this cancer is crucial. Luteolin (LUT), a bioflavonoid, has many beneficial effects such as antioxidant,anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative potential. was a potent chemical carcinogen used for the induction ofcolon cancer. Colon carcinogenesis was initiated by intraperitoneal injection of azoxymethane (AOM) to mice atthe dose of 15 mg/body kg weight in Balb/C mice for 3 weeks. Mice were treated with LUT at the dose of 1.2 mg/body kg weight orally. Mitochondrial enzymes such as isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), α-keto dehydrogenase(α-KDH), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and the activities of respiratory chain enzymes NADH dehydrogenaseand cytochrome c oxidase were found to be elevated in AOM-treated animals. Treatment with LUT decreased theactivities of all the parameters significantly. Hence, LUT might be a potent anticancer agent against colorectalcancer.     

Differential expression of key enzymes of energy metabolism in preneoplastic and neoplastic rat liver lesions induced by N-nitrosomorpholine and dehydroepiandrosterone

Preneoplastic liver foci and neoplasms of different morphological phenotypes were induced in rats with N-nitrosomorpholine (NNM; 120 mg/l in drinking water for 7 weeks) and the peroxisome proliferator dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA; 0.6% in the diet for up to 84 weeks). Preneoplastic glycogen storage foci (GSF) occurred mainly upon treatment with NNM, and amphophilic cell foci (APF) were mainly observed in rats treated with DHEA alone or in combination with NNM. The 2 types of lesions belong to 2 different cellular lineages, the glycogenotic/basophilic lineage and the amphophilic lineage, which are characterized by distinct patterns of alterations in key enzymes of energy metabolism. Whereas in GSF enzymes of glucose metabolizing pathways were modified (increase in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and pyruvate kinase, decrease in glucose-6-phosphatase), APF mainly demonstrated alterations in mitochondrial enzymes (increase in cytochrome c oxidase, succinate dehydrogenase and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) and, to a lower extent, in peroxisomal enzymes (increase in peroxisomal hydratase and acyl-CoA oxidase). The alterations in enzyme expression reflect an insulinomimetic effect in GSF and a thyromimetic effect in APF. Neoplasms resulting from APF show a more differentiated phenotype than those arising from GSF. We suggest that the different and in many aspects opposite effects of the 2 carcinogens on key enzymes of distinct pathways of energy metabolism modulate the process of neoplastic liver cell transformation and result in phenotypically different preneoplasias and neoplasias reflecting different cellular lineages. Int. J. Cancer (Pred. Oncol.): 79:232–240, 1998.© 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Oxidoreductase activity in the cells of stomach cancer]

NAD- and NADP-dependent dehydrogenases in gastric adenocarcinoma and undifferentiated cancer cells were studied comparatively. The activity of NADP-dependent malate dehydrogenase, glutamate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was found to be high in gastric adenocarcinoma, while there was noted a more high activity of succinate dehydrogenase and NAD-dependent malate dehydrogenase in undifferentiated cancer. Differences ni the activity of oxido-reductive enzymes in adrenocarcinoma and undifferentiated cancer are discussed from the standpoint of various histogenesis of these forms of gastric cancer.     

Characterization of murine hepatoma BW7756. I. Selected biochemical properties of liver and hepatoma.

Selected biochemical properties, based on hepatocellular function, were assessed in the mouse hepatoma BW7756 and host and/or normal mouse liver. These biochemical properties included (a) alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) production, (b) lipid composition, (c) isozyme patterns and enzyme activities, and (d) cyclic AMP levels. The tumor evidenced an exponential growth phase and vigorous production of AFP in the first 3 weeks following transplant. The concentration of AFP in the sera of tumor-bearing mice increases roughly with the growth of the hepatoma. The percentage of total lipid in the hepatoma was greater than in either normal or host liver; however, the liver displayed more phospholipid than the tumor, while more triglyceride was demonstrable in the hepatoma. Of the 17 isozyme patterns analyzed, seven--acid phosphatase, malate dehydrogenase, aspartate amino-transferase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, esterase, lactate dehydrogenase, and xanthine dehydrogenase--were different in the liver and the tumor. The cyclic AMP levels decreased in the tumor and the host spleen from day 10 to day 21; however, slight increases were noted in the tumor and host spleen and liver at day 28. These studies suggested 2--3 weeks posttransplantation as the optimal time for investigational use of this hepatoma.     

Vitamin B6 metabolism in McA-RH7777 cells

The metabolism of vitamin B6 in McA-RH7777 cells has been characterized with respect to pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) levels, and the activities of pyridoxine (PN) kinase (EC 2.1.7.35) and pyridoxine 5'-phosphate (PNP) oxidase (EC 1.4.3.5). PLP levels (12.4 +/- 4.4 ng/mg protein) were at the lower end of the range found for Morris hepatomas, carcinogen-induced rat hepatomas, and liver from rats fed a PN-deficient diet. PN kinase activity was about one-third of that found in normal rat liver. PNP oxidase appeared to be absent in high-speed supernatants of homogenates prepared from McA-RH7777 cells. The absence of PNP oxidase was supported by enzymatic and immunological data. These findings resemble those found previously for Morris hepatoma 7777. In contrast to rat liver, such preparations caused little or no release of volatile counts upon incubation with either [3H-C4']PN or [3H-C4']PNP. High-speed supernatants of homogenates prepared from both McA-RH7777 cells and Morris hepatoma 7777 were very much less capable than similar preparations from rat liver in converting [G-3H]PN to PLP and pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate. Despite the apparent absence of PNP oxidase, intact confluent or log-phase McA-RH7777 cells were capable of converting [G-3H]PN to PLP and pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate. These findings are discussed in terms of tumor nutrition and vitamin B6 metabolism in a rat hepatoma cell line.     

In vitro photosensitization of tumour cell enzymes by photofrin II administered in vivo

The ability of injected Photofrin II, a preparation enriched in hydrophobic dihaematoporphyrin ethers and esters, to photosensitize selected mitochondrial and cytosolic enzymes during illumination in vitro was examined. Preparations of R3230AC mammary tumours, obtained at designated times after a single dose of Photofrin II, displayed a time-dependent photosensitivity. Maximum inhibition of mitochondrial enzymes occurred at 24 hours post-treatment, whereas no inhibition of the cytosolic enzyme, pyruvate kinase, was observed over the 168 hour time course. At the selected 24 hour time point, mitochondrial enzyme photosensitisation was found to be drug dose (5.25 mg kg-1 Photofrin II) and light dose dependent, the rank order of inhibition being cytochrome c oxidase greater than F0F1 ATPase greater than succinate dehydrogenase greater than NADH dehydrogenase. We conclude that porphyrin species contained in Photofrin II accumulate in mitochondria of tumour cells in vivo and produce maximum photosensitisation at 24-72 hours after administration to tumour-bearing animals. The time course observed here with Photofrin II is similar to that seen previously with the more heterogenous haematoporphyrin derivative preparation in this in vivo-in vitro model.