Reactive oxygen species in NMDA receptor-mediated glutamate neurotoxicity

In search of endogenous protective substances that inhibit neurotoxic action of glutamate and nitric oxide (NO), we found that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), acting on TrkB receptor tyrosine kinase, inhibited neurotoxicity induced by glutamate and NO donors in cultured cortical neurons. In co-cultures of the mesencephalon and striatum, projection of mesencephalic dopamine neurons to the striatum attenuated N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-induced cytotoxicity in dopamine neurons themselves. Growth factors such as neurotrophins, which the target cells in the striatum would synthesize and secrete, may offer the protection of dopamine neurons against glutamate neurotoxicity.     

Reactive oxidant species in piriform cortex extracellular fluid during seizures induced by systemic kainic acid in rats

Kainic acid (KA) administered systemically to rats produces seizures and brain damage. We measured an increase in reactive oxidant species (ROS) during KA-induced seizures in the extracellular fluid (ECF) of the piriform cortex, a brain region known to be subsequently damaged. Intracerebral microdialysis samples were collected and assayed for isoluminol-dependent chemiluminescence before and after injection of KA (16 mg/kg, ip). Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) concentrations were calculated from catalase-sensitive chemiluminescence, the difference between total and catalase-resistant chemiluminescence. During generalized tonic-clonic seizures, both total and catalase-resistant chemiluminescence increased significantly in samples from brain ECF. Catalase-resistant chemiluminescence, most likely produced by ascorbic acid, increased for a full hour during sustained seizure activity. H₂O₂ concentrations showed a trend towards elevation during seizures. Increased ROS suggest that oxidative stress occurs in brain ECF during sustained seizure activity.     

Polymorphic karyotypes in related Acremonium strains

Summary A restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis was performed on six related Acremonium strains. With respect to the restriction fragment pattern, all strains of A. chrysogenum were indistinguishable from each other but showed distinctive differences from those of A. strictum, A. flavum and Cephalosporium polyvaleurum. Using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, we obtained different chromosome patterns from most of the Acremonium strains. Remarkably, the pattern varies in three related A. chrysogenum strains which also differ in their rate of cephalosporin C biosynthesis. The electrophoretic karyotyping was confirmed by the location of rDNA genes on separate chromosomes. Our data indicate that chromosome translocations in industrial strains may be responsible for increased -lactam synthesis.     

Responses of antioxidant systems in the hepatocytes of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) to the toxicity of microcystin-LR.

The freshwater, bloom-forming cyanobacterium (blue-green alga) Microcystis aeruginosa produces a peptide hepatotoxin, which causes the damage of animal liver. Recently, toxic Microcystis blooms frequently occur in the eutrophic Dianchi Lake (300 km2 and located in the South-Western of China). Microcystin-LR from Microcystis in Dianchi was isolated and purified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and its toxicity to mouse and fish liver was studied (Li et al., 2001). In this study, six biochemical parameters (reactive oxygen species, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxide and glutathione S-transferase) were determined in common carp hepatocytes when the cells were exposed to 10 microg microcystin-LR per litre. The results showed that reactive oxygen species (ROS) contents increased by more than one-time compared with the control after 6 h exposure to the toxin. In contrast, glutathione (GSH) levels in the hepatocytes exposed to microcystin-LR decreased by 47% compared with the control. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxide (GSH-Px) increased significantly after 6 h exposure to microcystin-LR, but glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity showed no difference from the control. These results suggested that the toxicity of microcystin-LR caused the increase of ROS contents and the depletion of GSH in hepatocytes exposed to the toxin and these changes led to oxidant shock in hepatocytes. Increases of SOD, CAT and GSH-Px activities revealed that these three kinds of antioxidant enzymes might play important roles in eliminating the excessive ROS. This paper also examined the possible toxicity mechanism of microcystin-LR on the fish hepatocytes and the results were similar to those with mouse hepatocytes.     

Type 1 diabetic mice are protected from acetaminophen hepatotoxicity.

Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic (DB) mice challenged with single ordinarily lethal doses of acetaminophen (APAP), carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), or bromobenzene (BB) were resistant to all three hepatotoxicants. Mechanisms of protection against APAP hepatotoxicity were investigated. Plasma alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and liver histopathology revealed significantly lower hepatic injury in DB mice after APAP administration. HPLC analysis of plasma and urine revealed lower plasma t1/2, increased volume of distribution (Vd), and increased plasma clearance (CLp) of APAP in the DB mice and no difference in APAP-glucuronide, a major metabolite in mice. Interestingly, covalent binding of 14C-labeled APAP to liver target proteins; arylation of APAP to 58, 56, and 44 kDa acetaminophen binding proteins (ABPs); and glutathione (GSH) depletion in the liver did not differ between nondiabetic (non-DB) and DB mice in spite of downregulated hepatic microsomal CYP2E1 and 1A2 proteins in the DB mice, known to be involved in bioactivation of APAP. Compensatory cell division measured via 3H-thymidine pulse labeling and immunohistochemical staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) indicated earlier onset of S-phase in the DB mice after exposure to APAP. Antimitotic intervention of liver cell division by colchicine (CLC) after administration of APAP led to significantly higher mortality in the DB mice suggesting a pivotal role of liver cell division and tissue repair in the protection afforded by diabetes. In conclusion, the resistance of DB mice against hepatotoxic and lethal effects of APAP appears to be mediated by a combination of enhanced APAP clearance and robust compensatory tissue repair.     

Pharmacodynamic differences between species exemplified by the novel anticancer agent CHS 828

When a candidate drug enters clinical trials, decisions regarding dosing are mainly based on animal data. Occasionally, toxicity problems are faced in the clinic because of unexpected species differences in pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics between humans and preclinical species. Fludarabine and topotecan are examples of such drugs. In the first clinical trials of the new agent CHS 828, the maximum tolerated dose was reached earlier than expected from animal data. This paper discusses the issue of species differences in the development of anticancer drugs, and preclinical models for detection and quantification of such differences. Pharmacokinetic and hematological toxicity data of CHS 828 from studies in rats and humans are presented. In vitro sensitivity to CHS 828 and some established cytotoxic agents was measured in lymphocytes from humans and rats and in a panel of human and rodent cell‐lines. 10–100 times higher CHS 828 exposure was tolerated by rats than by patients. In both in vitro cell systems, CHS 828 showed higher potency in human cells compared to rodent cells. A species difference was evident also for fludarabine, but not for doxorubicin and cisplatin. CHS 828 pharmacokinetics were similar across species. In conclusion, the lower tolerance of CHS 828 in humans than in rats could be detected in vitro in cultures of peripheral lymphocytes. Preclinical studies of species differences could help the interpretation of in vivo effect studies as well as the choice of starting dose for clinical trials. We suggest peripheral lymphocytes from different species as a potential model system for such studies. Drug Dev. Res. 61:218–226, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

长江中下游地区菱属植物的DNA分子鉴别

目的 对野生菱和栽培菱种rDNA ITS片段进行分析，探讨该片段在两大群体中的系统学及鉴别研究意义。方法 对菱的rDNA ITS区进行了PCR扩增、测序，运用clustal、Mega 2．0等软件对ITs区进行序列分析鉴别。结果 获得rDNAI TS1、ITS2和5．8S rDNA完整序列，10个居群菱的ITS1与ITS2序列的长度分别为234～236 bp和220～221 bp，5．8S区均为164bp，不同居群的碱基差异为0．22％～2．94％。变异位点数为16个，信息位点数6个。用NJ法根据ITS序列数据构建系统发生树。结论 尽管菱属各居群间rDNA ITS的差异百分率较小，其亲缘关系较近，但根据ITS序列的特征可以很好地鉴别野生菱、栽培菱，菱属植物有可能都起源于同一种野生类居群。     

SOD对电离辐射诱导不同肿瘤细胞ROS水平和凋亡的影响

目的 研究ROS产生与电离辐射诱导细胞凋亡的关系，探讨SOD对：H22肝癌、Lewis肺癌、Hela宫颈癌细胞辐射敏感性的影响及机制。方法利用化学比色法测定肿瘤细胞中的ROS的水平，利用流式细胞仪测定肿瘤细胞凋亡。结果X线照射三种肿瘤细胞可通过产生ROS而诱发其凋亡，应用SOD在照射16h后对Lewins细胞的ROS水平无明显影响，而H22细胞和Hela细胞的ROS水平明显降低。SOD对：Hela宫颈癌细胞具有辐射保护作用，对Lewis肺癌细胞具有辐射增敏作用，对H22肝癌荷瘤小鼠肿瘤细胞辐射增敏性无明显影响。结论SOD通过改变肿瘤细胞的：ROS水平和参与其凋亡的分子生物学机制影响肿瘤细胞的辐射增敏性。