|
|
||||||||
From the Departments of 1 Human Biological Chemistry and Genetics, 2 Internal Medicine, and 3 Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston.
| Abstract |
|---|
|
|
|---|
METHODS. Cultured human RPE cells were exposed to 50 µM H2O2 for 20 minutes. Subsequently, the cells were washed and resuspended in the culture media. The cells were pelleted and lysed, and the levels of lipid peroxidation products including thiobarbituric acidreactive substances (TBARS), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione reductase, GST, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined and compared with levels in control cells. Total GSTs were purified by GSH-affinity chromatography, and the isozymes were separated by isoelectric focusing, characterized, and quantitated. hGST 5.8 was quantitated by an immunologic method as well as by determining activity toward its preferred substrate, 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE). Kinetic constants of hGST 5.8 purified from H2O2-treated cells were also determined and compared with those of control cells.
RESULTS. Exposure of RPE cells to 50 µM H2O2 for 20
minutes showed a significant increase in TBARS (1.8-fold) and
-glutamyl cysteine synthetase (
-GCS) activity (1.6-fold). A
significant increase (1.2-fold) was also observed in GPX activity
toward cumene hydroperoxide, but CAT and SOD activities remained
unchanged. There was no significant increase in GST activity toward
1-chloro-2, 4-dinitrobenzene but GST activity toward 4-HNE was
increased by 1.4- to 1.8-fold. The increase in GST activity toward
4-HNE was associated with a 2.8-fold increase in protein of the isozyme
hGST 5.8, which uses 4-HNE as the preferred substrate.
CONCLUSIONS. Results of these studies show that the induction of hGST 5.8, which is
involved in the detoxification of the lipid peroxidation products 4-HNE
and hydroperoxides, may be an early adaptive response of RPE cells
exposed to low levels of transient oxidative stress. It is suggested
that this isozyme may be crucial for protecting the RPE from low levels
of chronic oxidative stress. Observed increases in GPX and
-GCS
activities are consistent with this idea, because GPX activity is also
expressed by hGST 5.8, and
-GCS is the rate-limiting enzyme in
biosynthesis of GSH, the substrate for hGST
5.8.
| Introduction |
|---|
|
|
|---|
GPX and free radical scavengers such as tocopherols are perceived as the major deterrents for the propagation of the lipid peroxidation cascade initiated by ROIs. GSTs, comprising a multigene family of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes, also act as a defense against lipid peroxidation because of their GPX activity toward lipid hydroperoxides.13 14 We have identified a group of GSTs with exceptionally high activity for conjugating 4-HNE to GSH, in addition to their GPX activity.15 16 17 We believe this group of GST isozymes plays an important role in protection against low levels of chronic oxidative stress that may exert its toxic effects by amplification through the autocatalytic lipid peroxidation cascade.18 The GST isozymes belonging to this group are present in rat,6 human,19 and bovine20 ocular tissues. The protective role of these GST isozymes against lipid peroxidation in ocular tissues is suggested by our studies showing that their induction in lens epithelium attenuates the opacities of lenses in organ cultures caused by 4-HNE.5 6
The presence of these GST isozymes in retina19
20
perhaps
underscores their physiological role in this tissue that is unusually
rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE)
cells comprise a single layer of cells between the sensory retina and
choroid. This group of GSTs may be particularly important for RPE cells
because of their role in phagocytosis and degradation of spent rod and
cone outer segment membranes, the processes known to cause oxidative
stress. Therefore, in the present studies we have examined the
protective role of the antioxidant defense enzymes, including GSTs,
against relatively low levels of oxidative stress in RPE cells. Human
RPE cells in culture were exposed to short-term low levels of
H2O2, and the effect on the
levels of SOD, CAT, GPX, GST, glutathione reductase (GR), glucose
6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6PD),
-glutamyl cysteine synthetase
(
-GCS), and GSH was determined. To evaluate the role of specific GST
isozymes involved in the detoxification of lipid peroxidation products,
these isozymes were purified from the control and
H2O2-treated cells,
quantitated, and characterized for their kinetic properties toward the
products of lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, the effect of
H2O2 exposure on specific
isozymes of GSTs was determined. In the results of these studies, the
preferential induction of GST isozymes metabolizing the toxic products
of lipid peroxidation appeared to be an early adaptive response of RPE
cells to oxidative stress.
| Materials and Methods |
|---|
|
|
|---|
-, µ-, and
-class human
GSTs21
22
and the polyclonal antibodies against the
recombinant mGSTA4-4 raised in rabbit17
were used in these
studies. The IgG fractions from each of the antibodies were first
purified by diethylaminoethyl cellulose and subsequently by protein
Acolumn chromatography. The specificities of these antibodies toward
their respective antigens have been stringently established by us
previously.17
21
Cell Culture
Simian virus (SV) 40transformed fetal male RPE cells (Coriell
Institute, Camden, NJ) were chosen as a suitable model to investigate
the effect of low levels of oxidative stress. These cells exhibit
epithelioid morphology and are able to phagocytize rod outer segments,
a characteristic feature of RPE cells. Previous studies have shown that
these cells respond to oxidative stress in a fashion similar to that of
primary cultures of RPE cells.23
24
25
26
Thus, these cells
were chosen over the primary cultures that not only provide a limited
number of cells but also may not provide cellular consistency because
of possible variability associated with donor sources. The SV
40transformed fetal male RPE cells used in these studies were grown
in DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS, 1% P-S solution, 10 mM HEPES (pH
7.4), and 10 mM MEM nonessential amino acids in a humidified incubator
under 95% air and 5% CO2. The cells were
trypsinized and passaged every 5 days.
Exposure of Cells to H2O2
The cells were exposed to 50 µM H2O2 at
37 °C for 20 minutes in phenol redfree MEM medium. Thereafter, the
cells were washed twice with cold PBS and allowed to recover in the
original plating media for 3 hours. The cells were then centrifuged,
washed, lysed, and subjected to analyses for biochemical parameters and
purification of GST isozymes. The average time lag between the initial
contact by cells to H2O2
and the analysis for biochemical parameters was approximately 6 hours.
Enzyme Assays
GR and G-6PD activities were assayed according to the procedure
described by Beutler,27
and
-GCS activity was
determined by the method described by Seelig and
Meister.28
GSH was measured by the method of Beutler et
al.29
Aliquots of homogenates used for GSH determinations
did not contain ß-mercaptoethanol. GST activity toward CDNB was
determined according to the method of Habig et al.,30
and
the activity toward 4-HNE was determined spectrophotometrically at 224
nm, according to the procedure described by Alin et al.31
One unit of GST activity was defined as the amount of enzyme catalyzing
the conjugation of 1 micromole of the electrophilic substrate with GSH
per minute at 25°C for CDNB and at 30°C for 4-HNE. CAT activity was
assayed according to the procedure described by Holmes and
Masters,32
and SOD activity was determined by the method
described by Paoletti and Mocali.33
One unit of CAT
activity was defined as the amount of enzyme required to decompose
22.94 micromole of peroxide per milliliter per minute at 30°C. One
unit of SOD activity was defined as the amount of enzyme necessary to
decrease the reference rate to 50% of maximum inhibition at room
temperature. GPX activities of the GST isozymes toward lipid
hydroperoxides were determined as described by us
previously.34
Protein content was measured using the
method of Bradford35
with bovine serum albumin as
standard. The Km and
kcat values were calculated using
software to calculate nonlinear regression (Hyper, Algor Inc.,
Pittsburgh). Lipid peroxidation in the homogenates of control
and H2O2-treated RPE cells was measured by the
method described previously.36
Three separate experiments
with triplicate measurements in each were performed to determine the
effect of H2O2 on antioxidant defenses in RPE
cells (n = 9), and groups were compared using Students
two-tailed t-test.
Electrophoresis and Western Blot Analysis
SDS-ß-mercaptoethanolpolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was
performed using the buffer system described by Laemmli.37
The resolving and stacking gels contained 12.5% and 7.1% (wt/vol)
acrylamide, respectively. Western blot analyses was performed according
to the method of Towbin et al.38
with slight modification,
as described by us previously.22
Purification of GST Isozymes
The cells (control and
H2O2-treated) used for GST
purification were harvested from culture by scraping with a rubber
policeman and frozen at -80°C after washing with PBS, until enough
cells were obtained for the experiments. The cells were thawed, lysed
in 10 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) containing 1.4 mM
ß-mercaptoethanol (buffer A), and sonicated with a cell disrupter
(Sonifier Model W185D; Heat SystemsUltrasonics, Plainview, NY). The
purification of total GSTs from cells was performed according to the
method described by us previously.19
20
All purification
steps were performed at 4°C, and enzyme activity during the
purification was monitored with CDNB and 4-HNE as the substrates. The
cell homogenate prepared in buffer A, was centrifuged at
28,000g for 45 minutes, and the supernatant was dialyzed
overnight against buffer A (100 volumes, three changes). The dialyzed
supernatant was subjected to GSH-affinity
chromatography19
20
to obtain total purified GSTs. The
GSH-affinity column was pre-equilibrated with 22 mM potassium phosphate
buffer (pH 7.0) containing 1.4 mM ß-mercaptoethanol (buffer B) at a
flow rate of 5 ml/h, and this flow rate was maintained throughout the
affinity chromatography. The unbound proteins were thoroughly washed
out of the column with buffer B. Total GSTs were eluted with 10 mM GSH
in 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 9.6) containing 1.4 mM ß-mercaptoethanol and
were thoroughly dialyzed against buffer A. The individual GST isozymes
were separated by isoelectric focusing (IEF) in a column (LKB-8100;
LKB; Gaithersburg, MD) using ampholines in the pH range of 3.5 to 10,
and a 0% to 50% (wt/vol) sucrose density gradient, as described by us
previously.39
After IEF at 1600 V for 24 hours, 0.8-ml
fractions were collected and monitored for pH and GST activity with
CDNB as the substrate. The isozyme peaks obtained during IEF were
pooled separately and subjected to structural, kinetic and immunologic
characterization. The enzyme preparations used for kinetic studies were
dialyzed against buffer A, and those used for structural studies were
dialyzed against 0.1% aqueous acetic acid.
| Results |
|---|
|
|
|---|
-GCS, which is
the rate-limiting enzyme for GSH biosynthesis. No notable changes were
observed in the activities of GR or G-6PD. However, GPX activity of the
treated cells toward phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide and cumene
hydroperoxide increased by 1.4- and 1.2-fold, respectively. There was
no change in GST activity toward CDNB, but a significant increase in
GST activity toward 4-HNE (1.4-fold) was observed. These results
indicated a selective induction or activation of GST isozymes that use
4-HNE as the preferred substrate. This was consistent with the increase
in GPX activity, because 4-HNEmetabolizing GST isozymes are known to
express GPX activity toward lipid hydroperoxides.15
A
concordant increase in the activity of
-GCS, the rate-limiting
enzyme in biosynthesis of GSH, which is a substrate of GSTs, supports
the idea of a protective role of these enzymes against lipid
peroxidation.
|
, µ,
) show only minimal activity toward
4-HNE, but the specific activity of the minor isozyme hGST 5.8 toward
4-HNE is approximately 100 times higher than that of the
, µ, and
classes of GSTs. Although our results suggest that hGST 5.8 in RPE
cells is induced or activated, the extent of its induction cannot be
assessed by measuring only activity toward 4-HNE, because the major GST
isozyme of RPE cells, GST
, also expresses some activity toward
4-HNE. Therefore, to determine whether H2O2
exposure causes selective induction of 4-HNEmetabolizing GST isozymes
(hGST 5.8) we purified the total GST isozymes from equal amounts
(4.4 x 108) of control and
H2O2-treated RPE cells. The results showed that
the total amounts of GST protein in the control and treated cells was
not altered significantly (Table 2)
. This was consistent with the idea that only the minor GST isozyme
hGST 5.8, which constitutes approximately 4% of total GST protein, was
primarily affected by H2O2 exposure and that
there was little effect on the major GST isozymes of RPE. Total GST
activity toward CDNB purified from equivalent amounts of control and
treated cells was similar. However, total GST activity toward 4-HNE in
H2O2-treated cells was approximately 1.8 times
higher than that in the control cells.
|
, µ,
, or
classes of GSTs.15
The results presented in Figure 1B
(lane 4) showed that the GST isozyme
recognizing mGSTA4-4 antibodies (mGSTA4-4 is the mouse orthologue of
hGST 5.8) was selectively increased after exposure to
H2O2. The densitometric scan of the bands on an
imager (Model TM2000; Alpha, San Leandro, CA)
revealed a 2.8-fold induction of a protein cross-reacting with
antibodies against mGSTA4-4 in H2O2-treated
cells. These results further confirmed that hGST 5.8, which
specifically recognizes antibodies against mGSTA4-4, was selectively
induced by exposure to low levels of H2O2. A
2.8-fold increase in hGST 5.8 protein and only a 1.4-fold and 1.8-fold
increase in the GST activity toward 4-HNE in the cytosol (Table 1)
and
purified GSTs (Table 2)
, respectively, may appear to be inconsistent at
first glance. However, it may be that GST
, which constitutes more
than 90% of the total GSTs of RPE cells, also has minimal activity
toward 4-HNE (Table 2)
. Because GST
was not increased by
H2O2 exposure, a linear correlation between the
increase of hGST 5.8 protein and the activity toward 4-HNE may not be
expected.
|
and hGST 5.8 by western blot analysis. The minor
peak was recognized only by the antibodies against mGSTA4-4 and not by
those against GST
, GST
, or GST µ (Fig. 3)
, whereas the major peak was recognized only by the antibodies against
GST
. These results show that only GST
and hGST 5.8 were
expressed in RPE cells and that the µ and
classes were absent in
these cells. Kinetic properties of GST
were similar to those
reported for human GST
from other tissues and its activity toward
the commonly used substrate CDNB (18.3 U/mg protein) was highest among
all the substrates used in this study. In contrast, the activity of
hGST 5.8 toward 4-HNE (32.9 U/mg protein) was 4.6-fold higher than that
toward CDNB (7.14 U/mg protein). These results are consistent with our
previous observations19
20
on the substrate preferences of
this isozyme for 4-HNE.
|
|
, particularly in H2O2-treated cells.
The reason for the observed higher catalytic efficiency of hGST 5.8
isolated from H2O2-treated cells compared with
that isolated from control cells (Table 3) is not clear. It is possible
that H2O2 may also activate hGST 5.8. Further
studies are needed to explore this possibility. The
Km of hGST 5.8 for 4-HNE was found to be low
but was probably in the expected range of physiological concentration
of 4-HNE generated locally in cells during oxidative stress. A
selective increase in this isozyme after exposure to low levels of
H2O2 suggests that it plays an important role
in terminating the lipid peroxidation cascade (by reducing
hydroperoxides) as well as in detoxifying the toxic end products of
lipid peroxidation.
|
| Discussion |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Tate et al.41 have shown that the treatment of RPE cells with 250 and 500 µM H2O2 for 18 hours causes approximately 1.5-fold and 4-fold increases in CAT activity, respectively. Similarly, it has been shown that CAT activity increases by approximately twofold when RPE cells phagocytize bovine rod outer segments every other day for 2 weeks.42 Absence of any increase in CAT activity after short-term exposure of H2O2 during the present studies suggests that CAT induction may be a later event in the adaptive response of RPE cells to sustained high levels of oxidative stress. In RPE cells exposed to 50 µM H2O2 only for 20 minutes, a significant increase in MDA formation was observed, because lipid peroxidation initiated by a single ROI molecule can lead to an autocatalytic cascade of reactions resulting in accumulation of the toxic and stable products of lipid peroxidation. hGST 5.8 can limit the amplification of ROI toxicity in the lipid peroxidation cascade by its GPX activity. It also can detoxify 4-HNE, which is reported to disrupt cellular functions by inhibiting the key enzymes, affecting Ca2+ homeostasis, and inhibiting protein and DNA synthesis.2 Induction of 4-HNEmetabolizing GST isozyme in the epithelial cells of rat lens protects the lens from 4-HNEinduced opacity.6 The results of the present studies suggest that this GST isozyme may also act as a defense mechanism in RPE against the deleterious effect of lipid peroxidation.
Based on the results of present studies, we speculate that hGST 5.8 may be relevant to the cause and defense mechanisms against age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a degenerative disease of the macular photoreceptors, RPE, and Bruchs membrane that is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in people more than 50 years of age in the United States.43 Although the cause of AMD is not completely understood, recent studies suggest that oxidative stress may be a key factor in the pathogenesis of this disorder.44 It has been suggested that the RPE layer may play a critical role in the genesis and progression of AMD.45 The RPE cell is particularly susceptible to oxidative damage caused by high oxygen pressure from the underlying choriocapillaris, light exposure, and high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids in photoreceptor outer segments.44 46 The protective mechanisms in RPE against oxidative stress are therefore crucial to detoxifying ROIs, which include the superoxide radical (O2·-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the hydroxyl free radical (OH·-), and the stable end products of lipid peroxidation, particularly 4-HNE and its homologous alkenals. Although CAT and SOD may be important to the protection mechanisms against O2·- and H2O2, these mechanisms would be ineffective against the cumulative toxicity of the lipid peroxidation products because of the continuous generation of ROIs in RPE cells. Thus, the enzymes involved in the detoxification of lipid peroxidation products should be important in the hierarchy of antioxidant defense mechanisms. Previous studies47 showing the selective induction of 4-HNEmetabolizing GST isozyme in rat liver during enhanced lipid peroxidation are consistent with this idea.
Our earlier studies have shown that administration of low doses of dietary antioxidants such as curcumin and t-butylated hydroxytoluene induce hGST 5.8 orthologues in rat lens epithelium5 6 and their induction protects from the notable toxic effect (i.e., lens opacity) of 4-HNE. If 4-HNE and other lipid peroxidation products are also involved in the mechanisms of AMD, it is possible that modulation of hGST 5.8 in retina is a strategy to delay AMD. However, it must be noted that the direct relevance of these in vitro findings to clinical AMD is only suggested, not proven. Future studies comparing these enzymes in RPE from clinical AMD and age-matched control specimens are therefore required.
The significance of these results can also be discussed relative to the possible physiological role of 4-HNE. Although it is known that at higher concentrations (>20 µM) 4-HNE is toxic, at low concentrations (0.110 µM) it may involve the signal transduction pathways.48 49 At the estimated physiological concentrations, 4-HNE affects cell proliferation and differentiation. It modulates activities of phospholipase-C and ornithine decarboxylase and has been suggested to act as a signaling molecule.50 51 Constitutive expression of hGST 5.8 in RPE cells observed in present studies appears to be important for maintaining physiological levels of 4-HNE formed because of the ever-present oxidative stress. Enhanced oxidative stress in RPE caused by H2O2 exposure in the present studies, evident from the increased MDA formation, perhaps necessitates the induction of 4-HNEmetabolizing isozyme hGST 5.8 to prevent the accumulation of 4-HNE to toxic levels. The RPE cell model described in the present studies may therefore be useful for delineating the physiological role of 4-HNE.
| Footnotes |
|---|
Submitted for publication January 21, 1999; revised April 23, 1999; accepted June 3, 1999.
Commercial relationships policy: N.
Corresponding author: Yogesh C. Awasthi, Department of Human Biological Chemistry and Genetics, 7.138 Medical Research Building, Route 1067, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555. E-mail: ycawasth{at}utmb.edu
| References |
|---|
|
|
|---|
, µ, and
classes of isozymes of glutathione S-transferase in bovine lens, cornea, and retina Arch Biochem Biophys 266,416-426[Medline][Order article via Infotrieve]
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
M. Jin, J. Yaung, R. Kannan, S. He, S. J. Ryan, and D. R. Hinton Hepatocyte Growth Factor Protects RPE Cells from Apoptosis Induced by Glutathione Depletion Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., November 1, 2005; 46(11): 4311 - 4319. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. Ding, M. Scortegagna, R. Seaman, D. G. Birch, and J. A. Garcia Retinal Disease in Mice Lacking Hypoxia-Inducible Transcription Factor-2{alpha} Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., March 1, 2005; 46(3): 1010 - 1016. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. Ishibashi, J. Tian, and J. T. Handa Similarity of mRNA Phenotypes of Morphologically Normal Macular and Peripheral Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells in Older Human Eyes Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., September 1, 2004; 45(9): 3291 - 3301. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. A.C. 't Hoen, C. A.C. Van der Lans, M. Van Eck, M. K. Bijsterbosch, T. J.C. Van Berkel, and J. Twisk Aorta of ApoE-Deficient Mice Responds to Atherogenic Stimuli by a Prelesional Increase and Subsequent Decrease in the Expression of Antioxidant Enzymes Circ. Res., August 8, 2003; 93(3): 262 - 269. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Sharma, Y. Yang, A. Sharma, S. Dwivedi, V. L. Popov, P. J. Boor, S. S. Singhal, S. Awasthi, and Y. C. Awasthi Mechanisms and Physiological Significance of the Transport of the Glutathione Conjugate of 4-Hydroxynonenal in Human Lens Epithelial Cells Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., August 1, 2003; 44(8): 3438 - 3449. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
T. X. Weng, B. F. Godley, G. F. Jin, N. J. Mangini, B. G. Kennedy, A. S. L. Yu, and N. K. Wills Oxidant and antioxidant modulation of chloride channels expressed in human retinal pigment epithelium Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, September 1, 2002; 283(3): C839 - C849. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
N. K. Wills, T. Weng, L. Mo, H. L. Hellmich, A. Yu, T. Wang, S. Buchheit, and B. F. Godley Chloride Channel Expression in Cultured Human Fetal RPE Cells: Response to Oxidative Stress Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., December 1, 2000; 41(13): 4247 - 4255. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
||||
![]() |
J.-Z. Cheng, R. Sharma, Y. Yang, S. S. Singhal, A. Sharma, M. K. Saini, S. V. Singh, P. Zimniak, S. Awasthi, and Y. C. Awasthi Accelerated Metabolism and Exclusion of 4-Hydroxynonenal through Induction of RLIP76 and hGST5.8 Is an Early Adaptive Response of Cells to Heat and Oxidative Stress J. Biol. Chem., October 26, 2001; 276(44): 41213 - 41223. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |