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E J Bechara

Publications and source records attributed to E J Bechara.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

The prooxidant effect of 5-aminolevulinic acid in the brain tissue of rats: implications in neuropsychiatric manifestations in porphyrias.

5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a heme precursor accumulated during the clinical expression of acute intermittent porphyria, lead poisoning, and tyrosinosis, has been hypothesized to act as an endogenous source of oxyradicals. We now report oxidative effects on brain tissue of rats submitted to ALA treatment. Upon acute treatment (40 mg/kg body weight) increased total nonheme iron in the cortex (20%) was observed. After prolonged ALA administration (40 mg/kg body weight on alternate days during 2 weeks), the following indicators of oxidative stress were found to be significantly increased: CuZnSOD activity (67%) in total brain homogenate, total iron (68%) and ferritin (71%) in the cortex, ferritin in striatum (44%), protein carbonyls in homogenate of cerebral cortex (threefold) and 45Ca2+ uptake by cortical synaptosomes (45%). In addition, synaptic membranes prepared from whole brain assayed with the radioligand 3H-muscimol, revealed increased Kd values (twofold) of the high-affinity GABAergic receptor binding and formation of protein carbonyl groups, thiobarbituric acid reactive products, and conjugated dienes. In vitro, ALA produced similar effects upon the high affinity 3H-muscimol binding. No apparent alteration of either dopaminergic or serotonergic [3H]-ligand binding was observed. These results argue in favor of ALA-triggered oxidative stress in brain accompanied by iron metabolism alterations and GABAergic receptor damage, which may be implicated in the neuropsychiatric manifestations of the aforementioned porphyrias.

Aminolevulinic Acid↗
PubMed1996

Horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed conjugation of eugenol with basic amino acids.

L-Lysine is shown to yield an adduct with the quinone methide intermediate formed during the horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol). Adduct formation is evidenced by (i) lysine quenching of the characteristic quinone methide absorption band measured at 350 nm; arginine and gamma-aminobutyric acid, but not alanine or propionic acid showed similar behaviour (ii) lysine-promoted a 400 mV decrease of the eugenol oxidation voltammetric wave (1.00 V), concomitantly with an increase in current intensity and (iii) reverse phase HPLC isolation of the lysine eugenol adduct, followed by GC-MS analysis. The MS spectrum is consistent with a 2:1 lysine:eugenol adduct (MW = 455). If operative in vivo, binding of lysine to eugenol might lead to protein inactivation and possibly be involved in eugenol toxicity.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1996

Oxidative stress in acute intermittent porphyria and lead poisoning may be triggered by 5-aminolevulinic acid.

Highly reactive oxyradicals can be generated in vitro by iron-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of synthetic and naturally occurring substances capable of enolization in aqueous medium. Of biological interest are alpha-hydroxy- and alpha-aminocarbonyls such as carbohydrates, 5-aminolevulinic acid, and aminoacetone which tautomerize to the corresponding enediols and enolamines and yield oxyradicals initiated by electron transfer to dioxygen. Free radicals have been implicated in several normal and pathological processes. We briefly review our hypothesis of an in vivo prooxidant role of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), the heme precursor accumulated in several porphyric disorders (e.g., lead poisoning, acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), tyrosinosis). Accordingly, i) ALA undergoes transition metal-catalyzed oxidation to give O-2, H2O2 and HO.; ii) ALA induces iron release from ferritin, lipid peroxidation of cardiolipin-rich vesicles, single strand breaks in plasmid DNA, and guanosine oxidation in calf thymus DNA; iii) ALA causes Ca(2+)-mediated rat liver mitochondria permeabilization; iv) rats chronically treated with ALA exhibit increased glycolytic metabolism; v) brain extracts of ALA-treated rats reveal increased levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, direct chemiluminescence intensity, carbonyl proteins, ferritin, and "free iron" and gamma-aminobutyric acid-receptor dissociation constant, and vi) patients with AIP and lead-exposed workers present augmented erythrocytic levels of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. These data indicate the involvement of ALA-generated reactive species in the clinical manifestations (neuropathy, mental changes, muscle weakness, hepatoma) shared by the aforementioned inherited and acquired porphyric diseases.

Aminolevulinic Acid↗
PubMed1995

Hormonal regulation of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities in rat macrophages.

This study examined the effects of glycocorticoids, insulin, thyroxine, and epinephrine upon the activities of CuZn- and Mn-superoxide dismutases (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and upon hydrogen peroxide production in rat macrophages obtained from the intraperitoneal cavity. The experiments were performed in vivo under conditions causing hormonal dysfunctions: adrenal demedullation, dexamethasone treatment, thyroidectomy, administration of L-tri-iodothyronine (T3) and L-thyroxine (T4), and diabetes. Macrophages were also cultured for 24 hr in the presence of dexamethasone, thyroid hormones, and insulin as to evaluate possible interferences caused in vivo by changes in other hormones. The results indicated that these hormones do control the activities of the antioxidant enzymes and hydrogen peroxide production both in vivo and in vitro. Insulin increased the activities of CuZn-SOD, catalase, and GPX and reduced that of Mn-SOD. Thyroid hormones raised the activities of CuZn- and Mn-SOD and decreased that of GPX, whereas glucocorticoids reduced both Mn-SOD and GPX. The removal of the adrenal medulla caused a decrease of Mn-SOD and GPX activities in the macrophages. Hydrogen peroxide production was increased by insulin and reduced by thyroid hormones and glucocorticoids. The changes in antioxidant enzyme activities caused by these hormones in macrophages may indicate important mechanisms for the establishment of impaired immune function in endocrine pathologies.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

5-Aminolevulinic acid induces iron release from ferritin.

5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a heme precursor accumulated in acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) and lead poisoning, undergoes metal-catalyzed oxidation in air-equilibrated solutions buffered at neutral pH, yielding free radicals (O2, HO. and ALA.). The capacity of ALA to release iron from horse spleen and rat liver ferritin in vitro and to concomitantly initiate liposome lipid peroxidation was characterized. ALA induced iron release from ferritin in normally aerated solutions, in a dose (0.05-1 mM)- and time (0-120 min)-dependent manner; no reaction occurs under nitrogen. Superoxide dismutase partially inhibited (50% at 100 U/ml) iron release by 0.5 mM ALA, whereas the addition of catalase (50 U/ml) had no effect under these conditions. In phosphatidylcholine: cardiolipin (80:20) liposomes, and in the presence of 2 microM EDTA, ALA (0.025-1 mM) per se had a subtle effect on lipid peroxidation, while after addition of ferritin (0.25 mg/ml) there was a significant increase in lipid peroxidation as evaluated by dose-dependent formation of 2-thiobarbituric-reactive substances and diene conjugation. In vivo, iron accumulation in the liver of ALA-treated rats was observed. Altogether, these data demonstrate the ability of ALA-generated free radicals to release iron from ferritin and to affect iron metabolism in vivo. ALA-mediated iron release from ferritin, therefore, may aggravate oxidative damage to cell components and contribute to the pathology observed in AIP (eg., primary liver cancer) and lead poisoning.

Aminolevulinic Acid↗
PubMed1995

Permeabilization of the inner mitochondrial membrane by Ca2+ ions is stimulated by t-butyl hydroperoxide and mediated by reactive oxygen species generated by mitochondria.

The extent of swelling undergone by deenergized mitochondria incubated in KCl/sucrose medium in the presence of Ca2+ alone or Ca2+ and t-butyl hydroperoxide decreases by decreasing molecular oxygen concentration in the reaction medium; under anaerobiosis no swelling occurs. This swelling is also inhibited by the presence of exogenous catalase or by the Fe2+ chelator o-phenanthroline in a time-dependent manner. The production of protein thiol cross-linking that leads to the formation of protein aggregates induced by Ca2+ and t-butyl hydroperoxide does not occur when mitochondria are incubated in anaerobic medium or in the presence of o-phenanthroline. In addition, it is also shown that the yield of stable methyl radical adducts, obtained from rat liver mitochondria treated with t-butyl hydroperoxide and the spin trap DMPO, is reduced by addition of EGTA and increases by addition of Ca2+ ions. These data support the hypothesis that Ca2+ ions stimulate electron leakage from the respiratory chain, increasing the mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species.

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗
PubMed1995

The oxidation of cyclic sulfides by tetramethyldioxetane and the isobutanal/O2/peroxidase system: oxygen transfer versus electron transfer.

The oxidation of chlorpromazine (CPZ) by tetramethyldioxetane (TMD) and isobutanal (IBAL)/O2/horseradish peroxidase (HRP) system was investigated. The reaction with TMD proved to be of the oxygen transfer type, generating chlorpromazine-5-oxide (CPZO) and tetramethylethylene-oxide, and not by single-electron transfer, as previously reported. In contrast, the reaction of CPZ with IBAL/O2/HRP leads to formation of chlorpromazine cation radical, through reaction with active intermediates Compound I and II, following its dismutation and hydrolysis to CPZO. For comparison, 10-methylphenothiazine was also tested. Despite the fact that both systems are known to generate oxidizing triplet acetone, this species does not participate in the oxidation path in either case.

Aldehydes↗
PubMed1994

Singlet molecular oxygen production in the reaction of peroxynitrite with hydrogen peroxide.

Peroxynitrite and hydrogen peroxide are mediators of cytotoxicity. This study shows that the peroxynitrite anion reacts with hydrogen peroxide to release oxygen accompanied by emission of chemiluminescence (CL). Direct characterization of this light emission attributes it to the transition of singlet molecular oxygen to the triplet ground state. Chemiluminescence was monitored: (i) by dimol light emission in the red spectral region (> 610 nm) using a red-sensitive photomultiplier; and (ii) by monomol light emission in the infrared (1270 nm) with a liquid nitrogen-cooled germanium diode. These properties of photoemission and the enhancing effect of deuterium oxide on CL intensity as well as the quenching effect of sodium azide are diagnostic of molecular oxygen in the excited singlet state. For comparison, singlet molecular oxygen arising from the thermolysis of the water-soluble endoperoxide of 3,3'-(1,4-naphthylidene)dipropionate or from the hypochlorite/H2O2 system was also monitored. These novel observations identify a potential singlet oxygen-dependent mechanism contributing to cytotoxicity mediated by peroxynitrite and hydrogen peroxide.

Free Radicals↗
PubMed1994

Oxidative damage of mitochondria induced by 5-aminolevulinic acid: role of Ca2+ and membrane protein thiols.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by metal-catalyzed 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) aerobic oxidation have been shown to damage the inner membrane of isolated rat liver mitochondria by a Ca(2+)-dependent mechanism. The present work describes experiments indicating that this damage can be prevented, but not completely reversed by the additions of catalase, ADP, cyclosporin A and dithiothreitol, as judged by the extent of delta psi regeneration by the injured mitochondria. In contrast, the addition of EGTA, which removes free Ca2+ and, possibly, Fe2+ present both in the intra- and extramitochondrial compartments, causes a prompt and complete regeneration of delta psi, even after long periods of mitochondrial incubations in the presence of ALA. This reversibility suggests that protein alterations such as protein thiol cross-linkings, evidenced by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, are the main cause of increased membrane permeability promoted by ALA oxidation. The inhibition of protein aggregation and fast regeneration of delta psi promoted by EGTA suggest that the binding of Ca2+ to some membrane proteins plays a crucial role in the mechanism of both protein polymerization (pore assembly) and pore opening. The implication of these results with the molecular pathology of acute intermittent porphyria is also discussed.

Aminolevulinic Acid↗
PubMed1994

5-Aminolevulinic acid induces single-strand breaks in plasmid pBR322 DNA in the presence of Fe2+ ions.

5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a heme precursor accumulated in chemical and inborn porphyrias, has been demonstrated to produce reactive oxygen species upon metal-catalyzed aerobic oxidation and to cause oxidative damage to proteins, liposomes and subcellular structures. Exposure of plasmid pBR322 DNA to ALA (0.01-3 mM) in the presence of 10 microM Fe2+ ions causes DNA single-strand breaks (ssb), revealed by agarose gel electrophoresis as an increase in the proportion of the open circular form (75 +/- 7.5% at 3 mM ALA) at the expense of the supercoiled form. Addition of either anti-oxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (10 micrograms/ml) and catalase (20 micrograms/ml), or a metal chelator (DTPA, 2.5 mM), or a HO. scavenger (mannitol, 100 mM) inhibited the damage (by 30, 45, 55, and 81%, respectively), evidencing the involvement of O2-., H2O2 and HO. (by the Haber-Weiss reaction) in this process. Hydrogen peroxide (100 microM) or Fe2+ (10 microM) alone were of little effect on the extent of DNA ssb. The present data may shed light on the correlation reported between primary liver-cell carcinoma and intermittent acute porphyria.

Aminolevulinic Acid↗
PubMed1994

Catabolism of 5-aminolevulinic acid to CO2 by rat liver mitochondria.

5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA), the heme precursor accumulated in plasma and several organs of carriers of acute intermittent porphyria, hereditary tyrosinemia, and saturnism, was previously shown to yield reactive oxygen species upon metal-catalyzed aerobic oxidation and to cause the in vivo and in vitro impairment of rat liver mitochondrial functions. We have studied the uptake and catabolism of [5-14C]ALA to CO2 by isolated rat liver mitochondria (RLM) with the aim of determining whether possible ALA-driven oxidative injury to mitochondria can also occur into the matrix. Using silicone oil centrifugation of [5-14C]ALA-treated RLM, ALA was found to partition evenly into the intra- and extramatrix space of the mitochondrial preparations. The yield of evolved 14CO2 is very low (0.2%), responds to the concentration of added ADP, and is inhibited by malonate (75% at 2 mM), iproniazid (45% at 2 mM), beta-chloroalanine (36% at 1 mM), and aminooxyacetate (55% at 0.1 mM). With both iproniazid and aminooxyacetate, the percentage of inhibition is the same as that observed with the latter inhibitor alone. These data indicate that ALA decarboxylation by the Krebs cycle is a minor process and that it is initiated enzymically (transaminase) and not by metal-catalyzed ALA autoxidation.

Aminolevulinic Acid↗
PubMed1994

Antioxidant enzyme activities in the lymphoid organs and muscles of rats fed fatty acids-rich diets subjected to prolonged physical exercise-training.

Rats weighing 45-50 g were fed 3 diets for 8 wk: a balanced control diet (CD) consisting of 4% fat (polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acids [P/S] ratio 2.9/1) and two fat-rich diets: polyunsaturated (UD)--P/S 7.6/1 and saturated (SD) P/S 0.3/1. After 8 wk feeding on the respective diets, rats were subjected to swimming for 90 min at 30 degrees C daily, 5 d/wk for 8 wk. At the end of this period, the rats were killed and the lymphoid organs (LO--thymus, spleen, and mesenteric lymph nodes) and muscles (soleus and gastrocnemius) removed for the measurement of TBARs (Thiobarbituric Acid Reactant Substances) content and of the activities of antioxidant enzymes (CuZn- and Mn-Superoxide dismutase--SOD--, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase). To evaluate the changes in the sites of generation of reducing equivalents involved in the formation of free radicals, the activities of citrate synthase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were measured. The exercise-training clearly modified the enzyme activities and TBARs content of the lymphoid organs and skeletal muscles, but this effect was dependent upon the diet given to the rats. However, fatty acid rich diets had presented a more pronounced effect on the studied aspects than did physical activity. Although one could expect a summatory effect of polyunsaturated fatty acid-rich diet and exercise-training, swimming increased the activities of CuZn- and Mn-SOD in almost all tissues from the elevated level promoted by fat-rich diets.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities in muscle and lymphoid organs of sedentary and exercise-trained rats.

The effect of swimming-training upon the activities of the enzymes involved in the generation of reducing-equivalents (citrate synthase-mitochondria and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-cytosol) and of antioxidant enzymes (CuZn- and Mn-SOD, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) in the lymphoid organs (thymus, mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen) was examined. The skeletal muscles (soleus-red and gastrocnemius-white) were also studied. Although our data suggest an apparently random, organ-specific change in enzymatic activity, some interesting trends can be observed. Firstly, the increased citrate synthase and Mn-SOD activities observed in red, but not in white muscle, corroborate the well-known effect of endurance exercise-training on mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. Secondly, there was an inverse relationship between TBARs-monitored lipoperoxidation and glutathione peroxidase activity in all tissues studied, what is in accordance with the previous findings showing that such enzyme exerts the fine control of intracellular lipoperoxide concentration. Except in the case of the spleen, there was a trend for elevated glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, coadjuvant of glutathione peroxidase in the antioxidant response to physical exercise in all tissues. Thirdly, Mn-SOD and catalase were conspicuously associated to oxidative stress in the thymus, while glutathione and catalase could be linked to this parameter in the spleen. Fourthly, the lymph nodes seem to be more dependent on the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase/glutathione peroxidase pair for protection against damage promoted by physical exercise. Mn-SOD and catalase activities were lower in the lymph nodes after swimming training.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1994

5-Aminolevulinic acid mediates the in vivo and in vitro formation of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in DNA.

5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a heme precursor accumulated in chemical and inborn porphyrias, may behave as an endogenous pro-oxidant. In chronically treated rats (40 mg ALA/kg body wt every 2 days for 15 days) the steady-state level of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in liver DNA (94.5 +/- 23.3 residues/10(6) dG) was 4.5 times higher than in non-treated rats (21 +/- 7.5 residues/10(6) dG). In vitro exposure of calf thymus DNA to ALA (0.05-5 mM) in the presence of 10 microM Fe2+ caused the formation of 8-OHdG. The amount of 8-OHdG rose from 135 +/- 15 residues/10(6) dG in the control system to 1140 +/- 150 residues/10(6) dG after incubation with 5 mM ALA and 10 microM Fe2+. Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (5 mM) or mannitol (100 mM) inhibited the formation of 8-OHdG by 63 and 69% respectively, evidencing the involvement of both H2O2 and HO. in this process. Hydrogen peroxide (100 microM) or Fe2+ alone did not cause DNA oxidation. The present data support the hypothesis that ALA-generated reactive oxygen species can oxidize DNA and may be involved in the development of primary liver cell carcinoma in individuals with symptomatic acute intermittent porphyria.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗
PubMed1994

Control of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities in rat lymphoid organs by thyroid hormones.

This study examined the effect of experimental hyper- and hypothyroidism on the superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities of rat lymphoid organs (mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen and thymus) and muscles (soleus and gastrocnemius-white portion) for comparison. The capacity for the generation of reducing equivalents was also investigated: activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (pentose-phosphate pathway) and citrate synthase (Krebs cycle). Hyperthyroidism tended to enhance lipid peroxide content in all tissues. This effect may result from (1) a high capacity for the generation of reducing equivalents in cytosol and mitochondria and (2) a reduced activity of catalase in the lymphoid organs and of glutathione peroxidase in the muscles. The process of lipid peroxidation in these tissues caused by hyperthyroidism was probably slowed down by the augmentation of CuZn- and Mn-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) activities observed under this condition. Hypothyroidism tended to diminish lipid peroxidation and did not affect citrate synthase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities in the lymphoid organs and muscles. Low levels of thyroid hormones tended to diminish Mn-SOD and glutathione peroxidase activities. These findings show that the thyroid hormones might be able to regulate the activities of CuZn- and Mn-SOD, and catalase and glutathione peroxidase in the lymphoid organs and skeletal muscles.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities in the lymphoid organs of diabetic rats.

The effect of alloxan-induced diabetes on CuZn- and Mn-superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities, as well as the content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) were examined in rat lymphoid organs (mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), thymus and spleen) and, for comparison, red and white muscle fibres. The capacity for generation of reduced equivalents was also evaluated by measuring the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (pentose-phosphate pathway-cytosol) and citrate synthase (Krebs cycle-mitochondria). Diabetes raised the capacity for the generation of reducing equivalents in the lymphoid organs: in the mitochondria of the thymus and spleen and in the cytosol of the mesenteric lymph nodes and thymus. In muscles, diabetes reduced CuZn-SOD activity in soleus and raised the activity in gastrocnemius, and depressed the activities of catalase in soleus and of glutathione peroxidase in both soleus and gastrocnemius. In relation to the lymphoid organs, the spleen showed a decrease in the antioxidant enzyme activities (except for glutathione peroxidase), whereas the thymus showed an increased level (except for Mn-SOD), and the MLN presented a reduction in Mn-SOD and catalase activities and an increase in GPX activity caused by diabetes. The content of TBARs in the tissues followed the changes in GPX activity inversely: i.e. a decrease in the lymphoid organs (except in the spleen) and an increase in the muscles of diabetic rats compared with the control group. All these changes found in diabetic rats were reversed by insulin treatment and were not modified by the normalization of glycaemia.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The effect of chlorpromazine and Li2CO3 on the superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities of rat brain, liver and erythrocytes.

The effect of the antipsychotic agents chlorpromazine (CPZ) and Li2CO3 on superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx, EC 1.11.1.9) activities of brain, liver and erythrocyte of rats was investigated. The short-term treatment (7 days) either with CPZ (10 mg/kg body weight) or with Li2CO3 (2 mEq Li/kg body weight) did not affect enzymatic activities. In contrast, the long-term administration of CPZ (1 month) decreased the SOD activity in brain and erythrocytes while Li2CO3 had no effect. GPx activity and lipid peroxidation of brain and liver homogenates were not affected by either acute or chronic administration of these agents.

Animals↗