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L W Oberley

Publications and source records attributed to L W Oberley.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

The use of RT-PCR to distinguish between plasmid MnSOD transcripts and endogenous MnSOD mRNA.

We report here a convenient RT-PCR method to distinguish plasmid human MnSOD cDNA transcripts from the endogenous MnSOD gene products without engineering the cDNA insert. When a specific antisense primer for the carrier vector sequence was paired with a sense primer for the human MnSOD cDNA in RT-PCR analysis, a unique amplicon with the expected size was generated in MnSOD cDNA transfected cells but not in the wild type or vector control cells. The same primers were also used in genomic DNA-PCR to demonstrate genomic incorporation of cDNA in stably transfected cells. This method is convenient and specific in determining exogenous cDNA incorporation and expression in transfectants especially when transcripts of cDNA are difficult to separate from the endogenous mRNA by other methods.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Passage of X-ray-induced immortal, non-transformed phenotype by DNA-mediated transfection.

To better understand the molecular basis of X-ray-induced carcinogenesis, the immortalization step of this multistep process was examined. Primary rat embryo cells were X-irradiated in vitro and six clones were isolated. Three of these, one designated X-REF-23, were immortal and non-transformed. Transfection of high molecular weight DNA from rat X-REF-23 cells into primary mouse cells yielded two immortal and non-transformed mouse clones, 1K and 2I. Using a 2.3 kb rat-specific repetitive sequence as probe, 1K and 2I were demonstrated to contain rat DNA. This transfected DNA was not any of the known immortalization-associated proto-oncogenes. DNA from 1K was then transfected into primary mouse cells, with or without co-transfection of pSV2 neo DNA. Six immortal mouse clones were isolated and confirmed to contain rat sequences. In conclusion, the immortal phenotype can be transferred by DNA transfection.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Phenotypic changes induced in human breast cancer cells by overexpression of manganese-containing superoxide dismutase.

Human manganese containing superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) cDNA was transfected into a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) in order to examine the effect of increased functional MnSOD on the cellular phenotype. A MnSOD-overexpressing clone was compared to control vector-transfected cells and to wild type MCF-7 cells. Southern blotting indicated incorporation of MnSOD cDNA into genomic DNA in the MnSOD overexpressing cell line. The MnSOD overexpressing cell line showed a 5.7-fold increase in MnSOD activity compared to wild type MCF-7 cells. Similar increases in MnSOD immunoreactive protein and mRNA levels were observed by Western and Northern blotting as well as using RT-PCR. The plating efficiency of cells grown in different concentrations of serum (1 to 20%) was decreased in the MnSOD overexpressing cell line. The clonogenic fraction in soft agar culture was also decreased after MnSOD cDNA transfection. When inoculated in nude mice, tumor growth was markedly inhibited in MnSOD overexpressing cells compared to wild type MCF-7 cells or plasmid control cells. These results support the hypothesis that increased MnSOD expression suppresses the malignant phenotype of human breast cancer cells and suggests that the MnSOD gene is a tumor suppressor gene in human breast cancer.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Antioxidant enzyme levels as a function of growth state in cell culture.

Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) levels were monitored as a function of time in culture to determine whether these levels were altered at logarithmic growth versus when the cells exhibited density limitation of growth. For comparison, activities of the antioxidant enzymes copper, zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were also evaluated. Four cell lines were studied, two of which exhibited density limitation of growth and two of which did not. Each cell line showed a unique antioxidant enzyme profile. The two cell lines that showed density limitation of growth also demonstrated induction of MnSOD at the time when the cells stopped proliferating in culture, whereas the other two cell lines did not show induction of MnSOD. There was no strict correlation between density limitation of growth and activities of the other antioxidant enzymes. To determine whether SOD varied with various phases of the cell cycle, NIH/3T3 cells were synchronized using serum starvation, and then SOD activities were measured during quiescence (G0) and the phase of DNA synthesis (S-phase). MnSOD was decreased during S-phase compared with G0, whereas CuZnSOD was increased during S-phase compared with G0, demonstrating alteration of SOD activities with varying phases of the cell cycle. This study suggests the possibility that increased MnSOD may correlate with decreased cell proliferation and suggests significant alterations in SOD activities during the cell cycle.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1995

Co-localization of manganese superoxide dismutase and NADH diaphorase.

Manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn SOD), mitochondrial enzyme, defends against the toxic effects of superoxide radical (O2.-) in pathological processes by catalyzing the conversion of O2.- to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The activity of another enzyme, NADH diaphorase, forms the basis for a histochemical method used commonly to demonstrate nerve cell bodies in the enteric plexuses. We found identical patterns of localization of Mn SOD immunoreactivity and NADH diaphorase activity in brain, esophagus, stomach, colon, liver, and kidney. NADH diaphorase enzymatic activity co-migrated with complexes of Mn SOD on a non-denaturing gel. This suggests that the NADH diaphorase may in some way be related to Mn SOD.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Immunohistochemical localization of antioxidant enzymes during hamster kidney development.

Immunolocalization studies of hamster kidney development were performed using polyclonal antibodies to antioxidant enzymes, including antibodies to copper, zinc and manganese superoxide dismutases, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferases and their subunits. Antibodies to extracellular matrix proteins were also studied to determine the temporal sequence between expression of immunoreactive protein for basement membrane proteins, which serve as markers of embryonic induction of nephron development, and antioxidant enzyme expression in kidney development. Immunoreactive proteins for antioxidant enzymes were not detectable in the developing kidney until after extracellular matrix proteins had been deposited. However, immunoreactive proteins for the antioxidant enzymes copper, zinc and manganese superoxide dismutases, catalase, and alpha class glutathione S-transferase Ya subunit were detected in renal tubules before birth. mu class glutathione S-transferase subunits Yb1 and Yb2 stained transitional epithelium at high levels before birth. Our results indicate: (1) each type of kidney cell has a unique antioxidant enzyme profile, (2) antioxidant enzymes are expressed in different types of cell at different times during development, but antioxidant enzyme immunoreactive protein was not present until after immunoreactive proteins for extracellular matrix molecules were detected, and (3) certain antioxidant enzymes are present before birth, indicating that high oxygen tension present at birth is not crucial for induction of immunoreactive protein.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Immunolocalization of antioxidant enzymes in adult hamster kidney.

Immunoperoxidase and immunogold techniques were used to localize the following antioxidant enzyme systems in the adult hamster kidney at the light and ultrastructural levels: superoxide dismutases, catalases, peroxidases and glutathione S-transferases. Each cell type in the kidney showed specific patterns of labelling of these enzymes. For example, proximal and distal tubular and transitional epithelial cells showed significant staining for all of these enzymes, while glomerular cells and cells of the thin loop of Henle did not show significant staining at the light microscope level. In addition, high levels of glutathione peroxidase were found in smooth muscle cells of renal arteries. At the ultrastructural level, each enzyme was found in a specific subcellular location. Manganese superoxide dismutase was found in mitochondria, catalase was localized in peroxisomes, while copper, zinc superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase (liver and placental forms) were found in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. Glutathione peroxidase was found to have a broad intracellular distribution, with localization in mitochondria, peroxisomes, nucleus, and cytoplasm. Microvilli of tubular cells were labelled by antibodies to catalase, copper, zinc superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferases. Cell types that were negative by light microscopy immunoperoxidase studies showed definite labelling with immunogold post-embedding ultrastructural techniques (glomerular cells and cells of the loop of Henle), demonstrating the greater sensitivity of the latter technique. These observations demonstrate that there are large variations in the levels of antioxidant enzymes in different cell types, and that even within a distinct cell type, the levels of these enzymes vary in different subcellular locations. Our results demonstrate for the first time the overall antioxidant enzyme status of individual kidney cell types, thereby explaining why different cell types have differing susceptibilities to oxidant stress. Possible physiological and pathological consequences of these findings are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Immunogold analysis of antioxidant enzymes in human renal cell carcinoma.

Analysis of activities of the antioxidant enzyme manganese superoxide dismutase in human renal cell carcinomas often showed greatly altered enzyme levels (either elevated or depressed) compared to the cell of origin, the kidney proximal tubule. In order to better understand the variability observed, immunogold studies were performed on human renal cell carcinomas using a polyclonal antibody to human kidney manganese superoxide dismutase. For comparison, studies were also performed using antibodies to other antioxidant enzymes. For histologic studies, renal cell carcinomas were subclassified on the basis of light microscopy and ultrastructural analysis into clear cell, granular cell, or mixed clear and granular cell variants. In all three types of tumor, immunogold studies showed little staining using antibodies to copper, zinc superoxide dismutase or glutathione-dependent enzymes. However, intensity of labeling for manganese superoxide dismutase and catalase depended on the cell type(s) in the tumor. Clear cell variants demonstrated trace staining for manganese superoxide dismutase and catalase, while granular cell variants exhibited heavy staining for both of these enzymes. Mixed types of tumors showed clear cells with trace staining for all antioxidant enzymes examined, while granular cells again showed intense labeling for manganese superoxide dismutase and catalase. Using normal kidney proximal tubule as a comparison, immunogold ultrastructural analysis using antibody to manganese superoxide dismutase demonstrated infrequent small lightly labeled mitochondria in clear cell variants, while granular cell variants exhibited numerous medium-sized heavily labeled mitochondria. These data suggest that: 1) the variability in activity values for manganese superoxide dismutase may be due to heterogeneity of cell types in these tumors and 2) manganese superoxide dismutase immunoreactive protein was elevated in granular cells both because of an increase in number of mitochondria and because the labeling density in mitochondria was increased compared to mitochondria in clear cell types or in normal proximal tubular cells.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1994

In vitro modulation of antioxidant enzyme levels in normal hamster kidney and estrogen-induced hamster kidney tumor.

Antioxidant enzyme (AE) activities were studied in normal hamster kidney proximal tubules and in estrogen-induced hamster kidney cancer. In vivo, kidney tumor had lower activities of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), copper, zinc superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase than kidney proximal tubules. Differences in AE activities were, in general, maintained in tissue culture, with AE activities remaining low in tumor cells compared to normal cells. Normal proximal tubular cells showed significant induction of MnSOD activity as a function of time in culture or following exposure to diethylstilbestrol, a synthetic estrogen, while MnSOD activity remained low in tumor cells under these conditions. Our results suggest that antioxidant enzymes, particularly MnSOD, are regulated differently in estrogen-induced hamster kidney tumor cells than in normal kidney proximal tubular cells, demonstrating that cancers arising from hormonal influence have similar AE profiles to those previously described in cancers arising from viral or chemical etiologies.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Induction of MnSOD gene expression in a hepatic model of TNF-alpha toxicity does not result in increased protein.

The model of toxic liver injury was used to examine the role of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) expression in cellular resistance to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha toxicity. The effects of the hepatotoxin D-galactosamine (GalN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on hepatic and splenic TNF-alpha and MnSOD expression were studied. Treatment with GalN and LPS alone or in combination led to equivalent increases in hepatic and splenic TNF-alpha gene expression. Hepatic MnSOD mRNA levels were not affected by GalN or GalN with LPS but were increased 13-fold by LPS alone. Splenic MnSOD mRNA levels were increased twofold by GalN and 12-fold by either LPS alone or GalN plus LPS. The determination of MnSOD protein content, however, revealed no changes in hepatic or splenic steady-state levels of the protein with any of the treatments, despite the marked increases in MnSOD gene expression. Hepatic MnSOD enzyme activity was also unchanged by LPS or GalN plus LPS administration. Biosynthesis of MnSOD protein in rat hepatocytes isolated from an in vivo LPS-treated rat was unchanged compared with control. MnSOD mRNA levels were increased when GalN treatment was combined with uridine rescue, but again no change in protein was seen. The lack of any increase in MnSOD protein after GalN or LPS administration indicates that MnSOD upregulation is not involved in cellular resistance against TNF-alpha cytotoxicity in the liver in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Manganese superoxide dismutase and heat shock protein 70 are not necessary for suppression of apoptosis in human peripheral blood neutrophils.

We have previously shown that granulocyte (G-CSF) and granulocyte/macrophage (GM-CSF) colony-stimulating factors present in human bronchial epithelial cell conditioned medium (HBEC-CM) suppress apoptosis in neutrophils. In this study, we demonstrate that HBEC-CM also induces increased expression of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in neutrophils. However, treatment of neutrophils with recombinant GM-CSF and G-CSF, which suppressed apoptosis to equivalent degrees, did not induce MnSOD or HSP 70. Thus, we conclude that induction of stress proteins is associated with, but not necessary for, suppression of apoptosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Alterations of the p53 tumor-suppressor gene in transformed mouse liver cells.

Mutational inactivation of p53, a potential tumor-suppressor gene, has been found in many tumors of humans as well as rodents. The p53 status in normal and transformed mouse liver cell lines has, however, not been investigated. We examined possible point mutations and compared mRNA and protein expression of the p53 gene in normal vs. transformed mouse liver cells. The transformed cells studied included lines spontaneously transformed by sub-culture, virally transformed by simian virus 40 (SV40), and chemically transformed by N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) or methylcholanthrene epoxide (MC). A heterozygous G-->A point mutation at codon 241, position 1, of p53 was detected in MNNG-transformed cells after screening of 5 evolutionarily conserved regions where mutation hot-spots are clustered. The mutation causes a gly-->arg substitution. No mutations were found in normal or other transformed cells. The steady-state levels of p53 mRNA were decreased in chemically transformed (both MNNG- and MC-transformed) cells. Elevated levels of p53 protein were found in spontaneously transformed and SV40-transformed cells, an observation that may reflect a longer half-life of the protein, as has been shown in other transformed lines. The low level of the p53 protein in MC-transformed cells may result from transcriptional depression of the p53 gene. We conclude from these data that abnormal p53 status, such as point mutation or altered expression, may play a role during the malignant transformation of mouse liver cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Increased manganese superoxide dismutase expression suppresses the malignant phenotype of human melanoma cells.

Introduction of a normal human chromosome 6 into human melanoma cell lines results in suppression of tumorigenicity. This suggests that a gene(s) on chromosome 6 controls the malignant phenotype of human melanoma. Because antioxidants can suppress the tumor-promotion phase of carcinogenesis, and because the antioxidant enzyme manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) has been localized to a region of chromosome 6 frequently lost in melanomas, we have examined the effect of transfecting sense and antisense human MnSOD cDNAs into melanoma cell lines. Cell lines expressing abundant (+)-sense MnSOD-5 cDNAs significantly altered their phenotype in culture and lost their ability to form colonies in soft agar and tumors in nude mice. In contrast, the introduction of antisense MnSOD or +psv2neo had no effect on melanoma tumorigenicity. These findings indicate that stable transfection of MnSOD cDNA into melanoma cell lines exerts a biological effect that mimics that observed after introduction of an entire human chromosome 6.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Immunolocalization of manganese superoxide dismutase in normal and transgenic mice expressing the human enzyme.

The localization of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) was determined using immunohistochemistry of various tissues of normal and transgenic mice which express the human enzyme, with emphasis on studies of mouse kidney and lung. Mouse kidney and lung were studied using both frozen section analysis and paraffin sections following fixation in a variety of fixatives. Formalin fixation resulted in a loss of antigenicity, while fixation in zinc formalin or B5 fixative gave results similar to those from frozen sections. Immunoperoxidase studies using antibodies to MnSOD showed greater staining in transgenic kidney or lung than in identical tissues in normal mice when appropriate fixation was used. In contrast, equal immunostaining was obtained in kidney or lung from normal and transgenic mice when antibodies to catalase or copper zinc superoxide dismutase were utilized. Immunogold ultrastructural analysis of MnSOD localization for lung and kidney was also performed. As compared to normal mice, transgenic mice exhibited greater staining of the mitochondria of kidney interstitial fibroblasts and glomerular, endothelial, and smooth muscle cells. In the lungs of transgenic animals, all cells showed increased staining; smooth muscle cells demonstrated the most marked increase in immunolabelling. The results indicate that these transgenic mice overexpress MnSOD in their mitochondria, and that this occurs selectively in at least some mesenchymal tissues.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Lowered antioxidant enzymes in spontaneously transformed embryonic mouse liver cells in culture.

Normal embryonal mouse liver cells in culture were shown to undergo spontaneous transformation during prolonged subculture. The spontaneously transformed cells lost their anchorage dependence, as measured by a soft agar assay, and gave rise to tumors in nude mice. Accompanying this transformation, the antioxidant enzymes, copper- and zinc-containing superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase, decreased significantly in activity; the decline in enzymatic activity of CuZnSOD, MnSOD and CAT was due to a decline in the levels of immunoreactive protein. These spontaneously transformed high passage in vitro liver cells appeared similar in morphology, antioxidant enzyme activity and tumorigenicity to their counterparts transformed by N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and Simian virus 40. These data provide experimental evidence that changes in antioxidant enzymes are associated with spontaneous in vitro cellular transformation of mouse embryonal liver cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Depression of catalase gene expression after immortalization and transformation of mouse liver cells.

To understand the molecular basis of the remarkable decrease of catalase activity after immortalization and malignant transformation of mouse liver cells, expression of the catalase gene was studied in in vivo mouse liver cells and nontransformed normal mouse liver cell line as well as liver cell lines transformed by N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, SV40 virus or by conventional subcultivation. In vivo liver cells had much greater levels of catalase mRNA and immunoreactive protein than in vitro cell lines, which correlates with elevated enzyme activity. Among the cell lines, normal cells had in general higher mRNA levels and more catalase protein than that of the transformed cell lines, also correlating with enzyme activity. The down regulation of catalase gene expression seen in transformed lines may occur transcriptionally rather than posttranscriptionally as demonstrated by cycloheximide and/or actinomycin D treatment. The striking difference in catalase gene expression seen between liver tissue and liver cell lines was unlikely due to gross structural alterations in the catalase gene, but might be explained by a remarkable difference in methylation status of the catalase gene, as demonstrated by Southern blot analysis following HpaII digestion. Our results suggested that during cellular immortalization and malignant transformation, a change in the oxidant stress ultimately led to a cellular response that, in turn, led to down regulation of the catalase gene.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Decreased expression of manganese superoxide dismutase mRNA and protein after immortalization and transformation of mouse liver cells.

Altered levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), the enzyme that scavenges toxic superoxide anion produced during normal metabolism or after oxidative insult, have been implicated in multistage carcinogenesis of both rodents and humans. Using a mouse liver cell model, we report here that after cellular immortalization, both copper- and zinc-containing superoxide dismutase (Cu,ZnSOD) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) activities decreased dramatically and that cellular transformation further decreased MnSOD but not Cu,ZnSOD activity. Decreased enzyme activities seen in transformed cells (Tx) were due to decreased amounts of immunoreactive enzyme protein that results from decreased superoxide dismutase mRNA expression. This downregulation of gene expression may occur at the transcriptional level, as suggested by results with cycloheximide (Chx) and actinomycin D (AcD) treatments.

Animals↗