Ochratoxin A reduces aflatoxin B1 induced DNA damage detected by the comet assay in Hep G2 cells

Mycotoxins aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) can be present together in food commodities. These food contaminants are considered to be genotoxins, acting by different mechanisms. The aim of this work was to characterize combined genotoxic in vitro effects of both mycotoxins in Hep G2 cells. For this purpose, cytotoxicity was first determined in isolated and combined treatments in order to determine the dose range of genotoxicity studies. Co-exposure of cells to OTA + AFB1 for 24 h resulted in additive effects. Genotoxicity was determined in Hep G2 cells by the modified comet assay with restriction enzymes (endo III and FPG). Significant reactive oxygen species formation was detected in both single and combined treatments. AFB1 was genotoxic after 3 h with external metabolic activation (S9 mix) and after 24 h without metabolic activation. Co-exposure to OTA significantly decreased DNA damage induced by AFB1, not only in breaks and apurinic sites but also in FPG-sensitive sites. The apparent contradiction between additive cytotoxic effects and antagonic genotoxic effects may be explained if AFB1 and OTA compete for the same CYPs, yielding more ROS but less AFB1 adducts.     

A polyphenol-enriched cocoa extract reduces free radicals produced by mycotoxins

Polyphenols are characterized by the presence of phenol units in the molecules. These compounds may show antioxidant ability by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) of the free radical type. A polyphenol enriched cocoa extract (PECE) was obtained from cocoa seeds with 28% of procyanidins which were mainly epicatechin oligomers. PECE was very active as free radical scavenger against 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and tris(2,4,6-trichloro-3,5-dinitrophenyl)methyl (HNTTM) radicals; and the tris(2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4-nitrophenyl)methyl (TNPTM) assay showed that the PECE might not be pro-oxidant. Thus it was considered a good candidate to be tested in in vitro models. It showed mild cytotoxic power on Hep G2 cells and induced ROS in a dose-dependent manner being weak oxidant only at high concentrations near the limit of solubility. The antioxidant properties were assayed in Hep G2 treated with the mycotoxins ochratoxin A (OTA) and/or aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The PECE was not effective against AFB1 but it increased the cell viability and reduced significantly the amounts of ROS in cells treated with OTA or mixtures of AFB1+OTA. These results are coherent with the role of oxidative pathways in the mechanism of OTA and indicate that polyphenols extracted from cocoa may be good candidates as antioxidant agents.     

Ochratoxin A induces oxidative DNA damage and G1 phase arrest in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro

Ochratoxin A is one of the most abundant food-contaminating mycotoxins worldwide, and its immunosuppressive effects in human caused more and more concern in biomedical field. In the present study, the toxicity of OTA on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMC) was explored by analyzing the involvement of oxidative pathway. It was found that OTA treatment led to the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the increase of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), an important biomarker of oxidative DNA stress. Moreover, we found that OTA treatment induced DNA strand breaks in hPBMC as evidenced by DNA comet tails formation and increased γ-H2AX expression. In addition, OTA could induce cell cycle arrest at G1 phase by down-regulating the expression of CDK4 and cyclinD1 protein, as well as apoptosis in hPBMC in vitro. Pre-treatment of hPBMC with antioxidant, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), could reduce OTA-induced ROS release and DNA damage, thus confirming the involvement of oxidative DNA damage in the OTA genotoxicity in hPBMC. NAC pre-treatment could also significantly prevent OTA-induced down-regulation of CDK4 and cyclinD1 expression in hPBMC. All the results demonstrated the involvement of oxidative pathway in OTA mediated cytotoxicity in human immune cells, which including the ROS accumulation-oxidative DNA damage-G1 arrest and apoptosis. Our results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms by which OTA might promote immunotoxicity.     

Catechins: natural free-radical scavengers against ochratoxin A-induced cell damage in a pig kidney cell line (LLC-PK1).

Besides aflatoxin B1, recent findings suggested that oxidative stress plays an important role in the toxicity of an other mycotoxin: ochratoxin A (OTA). The protective effect of two catechins (epigallocatechin gallate, EGCG, and epicatechin gallate, ECG) against OTA-induced cytotoxicity was investigated in a pig kidney cell line (LLC-PK1). The ability of the catechins to reduce ROS production and DNA fragmentation induced by OTA was also investigated. Our experiments proved the significant cytoprotective effects of the molecules in vitro from OTA-induced cell damage. In particular a 24h pre-treatment with EGCG or ECG restored cell viability with respect to OTA alone. Pre-treatment with EGCG at low concentration for 8 days protected cells from OTA-induced cell death. Moreover both catechins reduced OTA-induced ROS production. A reduction of OTA-induced DNA fragmentation was found for LLC-PK1 cells pre-treated with EGCG and ECG. The free-radical scavenging capacity of both catechins was tested with the Briggs-Rauscher oscillating method (pH approximately 2) and the TEAC assay (pH 7.4). The results show a good scavenging power according with inhibition of ROS production. Catechins could be useful to develop alimentary strategies for both humans and animals to prevent OTA-induced cytotoxicity.     

Ochratoxin A-induced cytotoxicity,genotoxicity and reactive oxygen species in kidney cells: An integrative approach of complementary endpoints

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a well-known nephrotoxic and potential carcinogenic agent but no consensus about the molecular mechanisms underlying its deleterious effects has been reached yet. The aim of this study is to integrate several endpoints concerning OTA-induced toxicological effects in Vero kidney cells in order to obtain additional mechanistic data, especially regarding the influence of reactive oxygen species (ROS). One innovative aspect of this work is the use of the superoxide dismutase mimic (SODm) MnTnHex-2-PyP as a mechanistic tool to clarify the involvement of oxidative stress in OTA toxicity. The results showed concentration and time-dependent cytotoxic effects of OTA (crystal violet, neutral red and LDH leakage assays). While the SODm mildly increased cell viability, trolox and ascorbic acid had no effect with regards to this endpoint. OTA induced micronuclei formation. Using the FPG modified comet assay, OTA modestly increased the % of DNA in tail, revealing the presence of oxidative DNA lesions. This mycotoxin increased apoptosis, which was attenuated by SODm. In addition, the SODm decreased the ROS accumulation observed in DHE assay. Taken together, our data suggest that ROS partially contribute to the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of OTA, although other mechanisms may be relevant in OTA-induced deleterious effects.     

Ochratoxin A: induction of (oxidative) DNA damage, cytotoxicity and apoptosis in mammalian cell lines and primary cells

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a nephrotoxic/-carcinogenic mycotoxin, produced by several Aspergillus- and Penicillium-strains. Humans are exposed to OTA via food contamination, a causal relationship of OTA to human endemic Balkan nephropathy is still under debate. Since DNA-adducts of OTA or its metabolites could not be identified unambiguously, its carcinogenic effectiveness might be related to secondary effects, such as oxidative cell damage or cell proliferation. In this study, OTA mediated induction of (oxidative) DNA damage, cytotoxicity (necrosis, growth inhibition, apoptosis) and modulation of glutathione were investigated in cell lines (V79, CV-1) and primary rat kidney cells. After 24 h incubation, viability of V79 cells was strongly decreased by OTA concentrations >2.5 micromol/L, whereas CV-1 cells were clearly less sensitive. Strong growth inhibition occurred in both cell lines (IC(50) approximately 2 micromol/L). Apoptosis, detected with an immunochemical test and with flow cytometry, was induced by >1 micromol/L OTA. Oxidative DNA damage, detected by comet assay after additional treatment with repair enzymes, was induced in all cell systems already at five-fold lower concentrations. Glutathione in CV-1 cells was depleted after 1 h incubation (>100 micromol/L). In contrast, an increase was measured after 24 h incubation (>0.5 micromol/L). In conclusion, OTA induces oxidative DNA damage at low, not yet cytotoxic concentrations. Oxidative DNA damage might initiate cell transformation eventually in connection with proliferative response following cytotoxic cell death. Both events might represent pivotal factors in the chain of cellular events leading into nephro-carcinogenicity of OTA.     

In vitro gene expression data supporting a DNA non-reactive genotoxic mechanism for ochratoxin A

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin often found in cereals and agricultural products. There is unequivocal evidence of renal carcinogenicity of OTA in male rats, although the mechanism of action is unknown. At present, available data support an epigenetic mechanism (DNA non-reactive) resulting from oxidative stress and cytotoxicity, because a direct OTA interaction with DNA has not been demonstrated. Genotoxic mechanism (DNA-reactive vs. DNA non-reactive) may have implications on human risk assessment. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to identify biological pathways modulated by OTA in vitro in a human renal cell line (HK-2) to contribute to the elucidation of the mechanism of OTA toxicity. For that purpose, cells were exposed to 50 microM OTA during 6 and 24 h, and gene expression profiles were analyzed using Affymetrix Human Genome U133 A 2.0 Gene Chips. Under the same experimental conditions, genotoxicity was evaluated by the modified comet assay using FPG and Endo III to detect oxidative DNA damage, and intracellular ROS level by the H(2)DCF assay. After 6 h, with slight cytotoxicity (83% survival), genes involved in mitochondrial electron transport chain were up-regulated; and after 24 h, with a more pronounced cytotoxicity (51% survival), genes implicated in oxidative stress response were also up-regulated. Increase in intracellular ROS level and oxidative DNA damage was evident at both exposure times being more pronounced with high cytotoxicity. On the contrary, up-regulation of genes implicated in DNA damage response, as cell cycle control or apoptosis, was not detected at any exposure time. In conclusion, these results support a DNA non-reactive mechanism of OTA genotoxicity.     

Heat shock proteins (Hsp 70) response is not systematic to cell stress: case of the mycotoxin ochratoxin A

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin routinely detected in improperly stored animal and human food supplies as well as in human sera worldwide. OTA has multiple toxic effects; however, the most prominent is nephrotoxicity. Thus, OTA is involved in the pathogenesis of human nephropathy in Balkan areas. In this study, we address the question of the appropriate functioning of the basal cellular defense mechanisms, after exposure to OTA, which, up to now, has not been investigated satisfactorily. In this context, we have monitored the effect of OTA on (i) the inhibition of cell viability, (ii) the oxidative damage using the GSH depletion, (iii) the inhibition of protein synthesis through the incorporation of [(3)H] Leucine and (iv) the induction of Hsp 70 gene expression as a parameter of cytotoxicity, oxidative damage and particularly as a protective and adaptative response. This study was conducted using the Human Hep G2 hepatocytes and monkey kidney Vero cells under exposure conditions ranging from non-cytotoxic to sub-lethal. Our results clearly showed that OTA inhibits cell proliferation, strongly reduces protein synthesis and induces the decrease of GSH in concentration-dependent manner in both Hep G2 and Vero cells. However, although cytotoxicity and oxidative damage (main inducers of Hsp expression) occur, no change was observed in Hsp 70 level under the multiple tested conditions. Inhibition of protein synthesis could not explain the absence of Hsp 70 response since concentrations, which did not influence protein synthesis, also failed to display the expected Hsp 70 response. Our data are consistent with recently published reports where considerable differences were noticed in the ability of relevant toxicants to induce Hsp. These results raised doubt about the universal character of Hsp induction which seems to be more complex than originally envisioned. It could be concluded that Hsp 70 induction is not systematic to cell stress.     

Aflatoxin B1 induces microglia cells apoptosis mediated by oxidative stress through NF-κB signaling pathway in mice spinal cords

Many studies have shown that aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) can cause cytotoxicity in numerous cells and organs induced by oxidative stress. However, the toxic effects and related mechanism of AFB1 on the microglia cells in the spinal cords have not been studied yet. Our results showed that AFB1 significantly reduced the number of microglia cells, increased the oxidants (malonaldehyde and hydrogen peroxide) but decreased the anti-oxidants (superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity) in a dose dependent manner in mice spinal cords. In addition, AFB1 significantly increased the oxidative stress, promoted apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in G2-M phase, and activated NF-κB phosphorylation in BV2 microglia cells. However, the addition of active oxygen scavenger N-acetylcysteine can significantly reduce the ROS production, improve cell cycle arrest, reduce apoptosis, and the expression of phosphorylated NF-κB in BV2 microglia cells. These results indicate that AFB1 induces microglia cells apoptosis through oxidative stress by activating NF-κB signaling pathway.     

Liriodenine inhibits the proliferation of human hepatoma cell lines by blocking cell cycle progression and nitric oxide-mediated activation of p53 expression.

Liriodenine was isolated from the leaves of Michelia compressa. This study was designed to assess cell cycle arrest, the production of nitric oxide (NO) and p53 expression in liriodenine-treated human hepatoma cell lines, including wild-type p53 (Hep G2 and SK-Hep-1). As evidenced by flowcytometric studies, liriodenine induced cell cycle G(1) arrest and inhibited DNA synthesis in Hep G2 and SK-Hep-1 cell lines. The p53, iNOS expression and intracellular NO level were markedly increased in Hep G2 cells after liriodenine treatment. A NO inhibitor, carboxy-PTIO inhibited the p53 expression induced by liriodenine. In addition, liriodenine could not induce obvious cytotoxicity in normal human IMR-90 cell line. These results demonstrate that NO production and p53 expression are critical factors in liriodenine-induced growth inhibition in human wild-type p53 hepatoma cells.     

Anticancer activity evaluation of the solanum glycoalkaloid solamargine. Triggering apoptosis in human hepatoma cells

Solamargine, an herbal and molluscicidal medicine derived from Solanum incanum, is a steroidal alkaloid glycoside. To characterize the anticancer mechanism of solamargine on human hepatoma cells (Hep3B), changes of cell morphology, DNA content, and gene expression of cells after solamargine treatment were studied. The appearance in solamargine-treated cells of chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, and a sub-G(1) peak in a DNA histogram suggests that solamargine induces cell death by apoptosis. The maximum number of dead Hep3B cells was detected within 2 hr of incubation with constant concentrations of solamargine, and no further cell death was observed after an extended incubation with solamargine, indicating that the action of solamargine was irreversible. To determine the susceptibility of cell phases to solamargine-mediated apoptosis, Hep3B cells were synchronized at defined cell cycles by cyclosporin A, colchicine, and genistein, followed by solamargine treatment. The IC(50) values of solamargine for control, G(0)/G(1)-, M-, and G(2)/M-synchronized Hep3B cells were 5.0, > 10, 3.7, and 3.1 microg/mL, implying that cells in the G(2)/M phases are relatively susceptible to solamargine-mediated apoptosis. In addition, a parallel up-regulation of tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)-I and -II on Hep3B cells was detected after solamargine treatment, and the solamargine-mediated cytotoxicity could be neutralized with either TNFR-I or -II specific antibody. Therefore, these results reveal that the actions of TNFR-I and -II on Hep3B cells may be independent, and both are involved in the mechanism of solamargine-mediated apoptosis.     

Apoptosis induction and cell cycle perturbation in human hepatoma hep G2 cells by 10-hydroxycamptothecin

10-Hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT), a DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor, is an antitumor alkaloid isolated from a Chinese tree, Camptotheca acuminata, and exhibits a remarkable antihepatoma effect. We studied HCPT to determine whether or not its anti-hepatoma activity occurs through apoptosis induction and cell cycle disturbance using the MTT method, DAPI staining, agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometric analysis. The results showed that HCPT inhibited proliferation of human hepatoma Hep G2, Bel-7402 and Bel-7404 cells at an optimal concentration of 0.1 microg/ml. This growth inhibition was dose and time dependent, and was accompanied by evidence of apoptotic changes and cell cycle perturbation in Hep G2 cells. Chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation were observed in Hep G2 cells by fluorescence microscopy. Agarose gel electrophoresis showed internucleosomal DNA fragmentation ('ladder pattern') of Hep G2 cells following treatment with HCPT, in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Flow cytometry showed that HCPT induced a massive hypodiploid cell population and arrested cells in G2/M phase (at low dose) or in S phase (at high dose) in Hep G2 cells. The results of this study suggest that the anti-hepatoma effect of HCPT may result from apoptosis induction and cell cycle disturbance.     

Cyclosporine A regulate oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in cardiomyocytes: mechanisms via ROS generation,iNOS and Hsp70

1. Previous study suggested that cyclosporine A (CsA) could partially reduce ischaemia/reperfusion-induced injury in isolated heart, but the mechanism was still unclear. In this study, the possible mechanisms of cyclosporine A in regulating oxidative stress-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis were examined. 2. Morphological (cell shrinkage, apoptotic body formation, and DNA fragmentation) and biochemical (annexin-V staining for exposed phosphatidylserine residues) evidences showed that both hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and hypoxia/reoxygenation could induce apoptotic change in the embryonal rat heart myoblast-derived cells (H9c2). These effects were inhibited by pre-treatment with CsA at concentration of 0.01-1.0 micro M for 24 h, but were increased with 10.0 micro M CsA. 3. While examining the mechanisms of CsA in protecting cardiomyocyte apoptosis, we found that the collapse of mitochondria membrane potential (DeltaPsim) induced by oxidative stress was partially reversed by CsA (0.01-1.0 micro M). 4. Compared to the control, CSA at the concentration of 0.1 and 10.0 micro M significantly increased the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) to 117.2+/-12.4% and 234.4+/-9.3%, respectively. Co-incubating with the antioxidant, ascorbic acid (10.0 micro M), could partially reduce the protective effect of CsA (0.01-1.0 micro M) and the toxic effect of 10.0 micro M CsA. 5. Pre-treatment with CsA at concentration of 0.01-1.0 micro M for 24 h produced up-regulation of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp 70), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and also induced NO production, indicating that these factors might be associated with the cell protective effects of CsA. 6. These results suggest that CsA could protect the oxidative stress-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis not only by preventing the loss of DeltaPsim in mitochondria, but also through ROS generation, Hsp70, and iNOS up-regulation.     

Structure-activity relationships imply different mechanisms of action for ochratoxin A-mediated cytotoxicity and genotoxicity

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a fungal toxin that is classified as a possible human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence for carcinogenicity in animal studies. The toxin is known to promote oxidative DNA damage through production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The toxin also generates covalent DNA adducts, and it has been difficult to separate the biological effects caused by DNA adduction from that of ROS generation. In the current study, we have derived structure-activity relationships (SAR) for the role of the C5 substituent of OTA (C5-X = Cl) by first comparing the ability of OTA, OTBr (C5-X = Br), OTB (C5-X = H), and OTHQ (C5-X = OH) to photochemically react with GSH and 2'-deoxyguanosine (dG). OTA, OTBr, and OTHQ react covalently with GSH and dG following photoirradiation, while the nonchlorinated OTB does not react photochemically with GSH and dG. These findings correlate with their ability to generate covalent DNA adducts (direct genotoxicity) in human bronchial epithelial cells (WI26) and human kidney (HK2) cells, as evidenced by the (32)P-postlabeling technique. OTB lacks direct genotoxicity, while OTA, OTBr, and OTHQ act as direct genotoxins. In contrast, their cytotoxicity in opossum kidney epithelial cells (OK) and WI26 cells did not show a correlation with photoreactivity. In OK and WI26 cells, OTA, OTBr, and OTB are cytotoxic, while the hydroquinone OTHQ failed to exhibit cytotoxicity. Overall, our data show that the C5-Cl atom of OTA is critical for direct genotoxicity but plays a lesser role in OTA-mediated cytotoxicity. These SARs suggest different mechanisms of action (MOA) for OTA genotoxicity and cytotoxicity and are consistent with recent findings showing OTA mutagenicity to stem from direct genotoxicity, while cytotoxicity is derived from oxidative DNA damage.     

Enantioselective cytotoxicity of isocarbophos is mediated by oxidative stress-induced JNK activation in human hepatocytes

Recent studies have shown the enantioselectivity of chiral pesticides in environmental fate, aquatic toxicity, endocrine disruption and cytotoxicity. Thus it is of significance to investigate the molecular mechanisms of chiral pesticides enantioselectivity in cytotoxicity. In the present study, we used Hep G2 cells as in vitro model to assay cytotoxicity of enantiomers of isocarbophos (ICP), a widely used chiral organophosphorus pesticide. The results of cell viability assay and cytoflow assay indicated an obvious enantioselective hepatocyte toxicity of ICP: (−)-ICP was about two times more toxic than (+)-ICP in Hep G2 cells. We found that (−)-ICP, but not (+)-ICP, up-regulated Bax protein expression and down-regulated Bcl-2 expression levels, which resulted in an increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio with the apoptosis co-ordination. Although (−)-ICP enantioselectively activated both ERK and JNK, only the specific inhibitor for JNK could completely reverse (−)-ICP-induced apoptosis of Hep G2 cells. It suggests that (−)-ICP-induced hepatocyte toxicity was more dominantly through the sustained activation of JNK pathway, but only partially via ERK cascade. Furthermore, (−)-ICP induced ROS production, while (+)-ICP had no effect on ROS generation. The antioxidant MnTBAP attenuated (–)-ICP-induced activation of JNK and ERK, indicating that the outcome from challenge with (−)-ICP enantiomer depends on the oxidative stress-induced activation of a series of signaling cascades that promote hepatocyte apoptosis. In conclusion, (−)-ICP enantioselectively causes the change of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, triggers the generation of intracellular ROS and sequentially induces sustainable activation of JNK, which in turn, results in a decrease in cell viability and an increase in cell apoptosis. Our observations provide further insight into enantiomers toxicity pathway which is able to differentiate between enantiomer activities at molecular level.     

Zinc inhibits aflatoxin B1-induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in human hepatocytes (HepG2 cells)

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) has strong carcinogenicity. Consumption of AFB1-contaminated agricultural products and the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma have received widespread attention. The aim of this paper was to investigate whether zinc supplementation could inhibit AFB1-induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in HepG2 cells and the mechanism of this inhibition. Our data suggest that zinc sources can relieve a certain degree of AFB1-induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity by protecting against apoptotic body formation and DNA strand breaks, affecting S phase cell cycle arrest, reducing 8-OHdG formation, inhibiting global DNA hypomethylation and regulating gene expression in antioxidation, zinc-association and apoptosis processes. Consequently, zinc stabilizes the integrity of DNA and improves cell survival.These data provides new insights into the protective role of zinc in alleviating AFB1-induced cytotoxicity and mediating epigenetic changes in hepatocytes, demonstrating that zinc sources have detoxification properties in mycotoxin-induced toxicity.     

EFFECTS OF OCHRATOXIN A ON CYTOTOXICITY AND CELL DIFFERENTIATION IN CULTURED RAT EMBRYONIC CELLS

In the present study, the effects of ochratoxin A (OTA) on cytotoxicity, cell differentiation, and other cell functions in the embryonic midbrain cells, which are dopaminergic, were compared to those in the limb bud cells, which are nondopaminergic, to assess the selectivity of OTA central action. Twelve-day rat embryo midbrain and limb bud cells were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium nutrient and Ham's F12 (1:1) mixture containing 10% Nuserum for 96 h in the presence of various concentrations of OTA. OTA significantly reduced the levels of protein, DNA and glutathione, and [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA in both embryonic midbrain and limb bud cells in a similar concentration-dependent manner. The IC50 values for cytotoxicity measured by neutral red uptake were 1.10 µ M in the midbrain cells and 1.05 µ M in the limb bud cells. The IC50 values of cell differentiation were 1.10 µ M in the midbrain cells and 1.0 µM in the limb bud cells. The addition of exogenous glutathione (32.5 µ M) did not change the OTA-induced fall in protein and DNA levels, or the IC50 values of cytotoxicity and differentiation in the midbrain and limb bud cells. Data show that OTA does not appear to exert a selective toxic dopaminergic cell action and that OTA-induced cytotoxicity and inhibition of cell differentiation were not prevented by exogenous glutathione.     

Cytotoxic effects of incense particles in relation to oxidative stress,the cell cycle and F-actin assembly

Epidemiological studies have suggested that combustion-derived smoke, such as that produced during incense burning, is a deleterious air pollutant. It is capable of initiating oxidative stress and mutation; however, the related apoptotic processes remain unclear. In order to elucidate the biological mechanisms of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced respiratory toxicology, alveolar epithelial A549 cells were exposed to incense particulate matter (PM), with and without antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC). The cross-linking associations between oxidative capacity, cell cycle events, actin cytoskeletal dynamics and intracellular calcium signals were investigated. An incense PM suspension caused significant oxidative stress in A549 cells, as shown by inhibition of the cell cycle at G1 and G2/M check-points, and the induction of apoptosis at Sub-G1. At the same time, alterations in the F-actin filamentous assemblies were observed. The levels of intracellular Ca²⁺ were increased after incense PM exposure. Antioxidant NAC treatment revealed that oxidative stress and F-actin remodelling was significantly mitigated. This suggests that ROS accumulation could alter cell cycle regulation and anomalous remodelling of the cortical cytoskeleton that allowed impaired cells to enter into apoptosis. This study has elucidated the integral patho-physiological interactions of incense PM and the potential mechanisms for the development of ROS-driven respiratory impairment.     

Hepatotoxic effect of ochratoxin A and citrinin,alone and in combination,and protective effect of vitamin E: In vitro study in HepG2 cell

Ochratoxin A (OTA) and citrinin (CTN) are the most commonly co-occurring mycotoxins in a wide variety of food and feed commodities. The major target organ of these toxins is kidney but liver could also be a target organ. The combined toxicity of these two toxins in kidney cells has been studied but not in liver cell. In this study HepG2 cells were exposed to OTA and CTN, alone and in combination, with a view to compare the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying OTA, CTN and OTA + CTN hepatotoxicity. OTA and CTN alone as well as in combination affected the viability of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. OTA + CTN, at a dose of 20% of IC₅₀ of each, produced effect almost similar to that produced by either of the toxins at its IC₅₀ concentration, indicating that the two toxins in combination act synergistically. The cytotoxicity of OTA + CTN on hepatocytes is mediated by increased level of intracellular ROS followed/accompanied by DNA strand breaks and mitochondria-mediated intrinsic apoptosis. Co-treatment of vitamin E (Vit E) with OTA, CTN and OTA + CTN reduced the levels of ROS and the cytotoxicity. But the genotoxic effect of OTA and OTA + CTN was not completely alleviated by Vit E treatment whereas the DNA damage as caused by CTN when treated alone was obviated, indicating that OTA induces DNA damage directly whereas CTN induces ROS-mediated DNA damage and OTA + CTN combination induces DNA damage not exclusively relying on but influenced by ROS generation. Taken together, these findings indicate that OTA and CTN in combination affect hepatocytes at very low concentrations and, thereby, pose a potential threat to public and animal health.     

Tephrosin-induced autophagic cell death in A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells

Anticancer effect of tephrosin (1) has been documented; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the cytotoxicity of tephrosin in cancer cells remain unclear. In the present paper, the proliferation inhibition rate of several cancer cells was tested using the MTT assay; cell cycle, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were determined by flow cytometry; poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage and heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) expression were evaluated by Western blotting; autophagy was examined by confocal microscopy and light chain 3 (LC3) conversion assay. The results showed that exposure of the cells to tephrosin induced significant proliferation inhibition in a dose-dependent manner, especially on A549 with G(2)/M being arrested. Tephrosin was not found to induce cell apoptosis as PARP cleavage was not detected after 24?h treatment, but the formation of acidic vesicular organelle of autophagy character was found, and autophagy was further confirmed by the increase in the ratio of LC3-II to LC3-I. It was observed that tephrosin induced ROS generation and Hsp90 expression inhibition. These results indicate that tephrosin induces A549 cancer cell death via the autophagy pathway, and the roles of ROS generation and Hsp90 expression inhibition in this process need further study in the future.