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R Garcea

Publications and source records attributed to R Garcea.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

The effect of various aldehydes on the respiration of rat liver and hepatoma AH-130 cells.

Some aldehydes, produced during lipid peroxidation of liver lipids, are able to inhibit the respiration of mitochondria and of intact cells both in normal hepatocytes and in Yoshida hepatoma. In mitochondria, the respiratory stimulation produced by addition of ADP and dinitrophenol is decreased more in hepatoma than in normal liver. Two- to four-fold higher concentrations of aldehydes are needed to obtain the same degree of inhibition in normal liver mitochondria as in tumorous organs. The effect of aldehydes on intact cell respiration is absent or very low in hepatocytes, but it is consistently observed in hepatoma cells.

Aldehydes↗
PubMed1985

Early stimulation of polyamine biosynthesis during promotion by phenobarbital of diethylnitrosamine-induced rat liver carcinogenesis. The effects of variations of the S-adenosyl-L-methionine cellular pool.

A decrease of S-adenosyl-L-methionine liver content was observed between the 14th and the 35th day after the start of 2-acetylaminofluorene feeding in diethylnitrosamine-initiated rats according to the 'resistant-hepatocyte' model of hepatocarcinogenesis. The decrease was enhanced by phenobarbital given to the animals after the end of 2-acetylaminofluorene feeding. These changes were associated with an increase in ornithine decarboxylase activity and the spermidine:spermine ratio. S-adenosyl-L-methionine administration to rats caused a great fall in the percentage of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase-positive liver as well as in polyamine synthesis. An increase in ornithine decarboxylase activity, associated with a decrease in the liver S-adenosyl-L-methionine pool, also occurred in normal animals on the first day following a partial hepatectomy and was enhanced by phenobarbital. The association of 2-acetylaminofluorene feeding with partial hepatectomy resulted in a slower liver regeneration, while the decrease in S-adenosyl-L-methionine level and the increase in polyamine synthesis were observed over a longer period of time after partial hepatectomy. These changes were further prolonged in diethylnitrosamine-initiated rats in which gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase-positive foci developed. In these animals a high level of polyamine synthesis was still present when liver regeneration was complete. At this stage of the observation period the labeling index was very low in surrounding liver, but still high in the gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase-positive areas. Phenobarbital stimulated polyamine synthesis and cell growth and further prolonged the period of time during which a high ornithine decarboxylase activity and labeling index were present. These results indicate that the liver lipotrope content could be a rate-limiting factor for cell growth and liver neoplasia promotion and this could depend on the modulation of polyamine biosynthesis.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗
PubMed1984

Functional alterations of the endoplasmic reticulum and the detoxification systems during diethyl-nitrosamine carcinogenesis in rat liver.

The mixed-function oxidase system shows a number of variations in the liver of diethyl-nitrosamine (DEN) treated rats. These include a decrease of the cytochrome P450 content and of the aminopyrine demethylase activity both in the hyperplastic nodules and in the hepatoma. Processes of detoxification, such as the glutathione system, show some modifications. These alterations are in accordance with the decrease of glutathione peroxidase and the increase of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase during diethyl-nitrosamine carcinogenesis.

Aminopyrine N-Demethylase↗
PubMed1984

Further experiments on lipid peroxidation in transplanted and experimental hepatomas.

The results of experiments on the subject of lipid peroxidation in hepatomas are described. It is now clear that lipid peroxidation is strongly decreased in most highly dedifferentiated hepatomas. It seems evident that the extent of the decline is strictly related to the degree of dedifferentiation. The model of diethylnitrosamine carcinogenesis, according to the method by Solt, Medline and Farber, has been now adopted to study the stages of carcinogenesis. It was shown that a net decline in lipid peroxidation occurs as early as at the stage of reversible nodules and progresses until the development of clear hepatomas. This change is practically simultaneous with a decline in the efficiency of the enzymes of the drug metabolizing system and in the content of cytochrome P450-Glutathione content and metabolism show also important changes. In fact, a dramatic increase in gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase takes place very early during carcinogenesis, and is responsible for large decline in total glutathione during incubation of the homogenates. Glutathione peroxidase activity, on the contrary, is decreased, whereas glutathione reductase does not show significant changes. The supernatant of highly anaplastic tumors inhibits lipid peroxidation in normal liver homogenates, suggesting the presence of substances provided with antioxidant properties. These cannot be, however, related to a higher glutathione content. Supernatants from early nodules seem to be unable to block lipid peroxidation in normal liver homogenates. Preliminary experiments done to study the aldehyde pattern produced during lipid peroxidation, both in hepatomas and in nodules, confirm the presence of very poor lipid peroxidation and possibly of different peroxidation kinetics.

Aminopyrine N-Demethylase↗
PubMed1984

Modulatory mechanisms of chemical carcinogenesis: the role of the NADPH pool in the benzo(a)pyrene activation.

Human lymphocytes and human skin fibroblasts isolated in vitro from subjects carrying the Mediterranean variant of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) exhibit an 86-87% decrease of this enzymatic activity. This is coupled with 51% and 61% decreases of the NADPH/NADP+ ratio in the G6PD-deficient human lymphocytes (HL) and human skin fibroblasts (HSF), respectively. There also occurs a 63-67% decrease of the hexose monophosphate shunt (HMS) in the deficient cells. Incubation with 0.1 mM methylene blue stimulates the HMS of normal HL 15-fold and that of deficient lymphocytes only 2.4-fold. These figures are, respectively, 7 and 2.2 in the case of HSF. This behavior of G6PD-deficient HL and HSF is coupled with an increase of the resistance to the cell death induced by benzo(a)pyrene (BP). This effect is mimicked by the incubation of normal HSF with dehydroepiandrosterone (DEA) which strongly inhibits G6PD. In contrast, no differences between normal and deficient HSF occur as a result of the effect of methylnitrosourea (MNU), a carcinogen that does not need metabolic activation. The NADPH-cytochrome c (P450) reductase of G6PD-deficient HL and HSF homogenates becomes lower than that of controls when endogenous G6PD and exogenous glucose 6-phosphate (G6P) and NADP+ are used as a hydrogen donor system in place of NADPH. Normal and G6PD-deficient HL, having comparable BP-hydroxylating activities, in the presence of exogenous G6P, NADP+, and G6PD, were studied to determine the effect of the absence of exogenous G6PD in the reaction system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Benzo(a)pyrene↗
PubMed1984

Modulatory effect of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency on benzo(a)pyrene toxicity and transforming activity for in vitro-cultured human skin fibroblasts.

Human skin fibroblasts isolated in vitro from subjects carrying the Mediterranean variant of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase exhibit an 85% decrease of this enzymatic activity. There is a 26% and a 94% decrease of the hexose monophosphate shunt and of the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate ratio, respectively. Incubation with 0.1 mM methylene blue activates the hexose monophosphate shunt 7 times that of normal fibroblasts and only 2.2 times that of glucose 6-phosphate-deficient cells. This behavior is coupled with an increase of the resistance to cell death induced by benzo(a)pyrene, a carcinogen, the activation of which proceeds through a reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent arene oxide formation. In contrast, no difference between the normal and the deficient fibroblasts exists as regards the toxic effect of methylnitrosourea, a carcinogen that does not need metabolic activation. A growth-retarding effect of benzo(a)pyrene was observed in both normal and deficient cells during 9 days in vitro. This effect is lower in the fibroblasts carrying the Mediterranean glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase variant. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency protects human fibroblasts against the benzo(a)pyrene-induced in vitro transformation. This effect is mimicked by the incubation of normal fibroblasts with dehydroepiandrosterone, a strong inhibitor of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. The deficiency of this enzymatic activity, either genetically transmitted or induced by dehydroepiandrosterone, is coupled with a reduced rate of benzo(a)pyrene conversion to water-soluble metabolites by human skin fibroblasts.

Benzo(a)pyrene↗
PubMed1983

The subcellular distribution and properties of aldehyde dehydrogenase of hepatoma AH-130.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase subcellular distribution and activity were studied in the Yoshida hepatoma AH-130 and rat liver. NAD+- and NADP+-dependent dehydrogenase activities were lower in all hepatoma subfractions (except the cytosol) than in liver subfractions. In the presence of 0.025 mM substrate 78-80% of the liver NAD+- or NADP+-dependent aldehyde dehydrogenase was found in the mitochondria. With 10 mM substrate the enzyme activity was primarily in the mitochondria and microsomes. In the hepatoma a sharp increase of the soluble aldehyde dehydrogenase (either NAD+- or NADP+ dependent) was observed at all substrate concentrations. The Km of the different isoenzymes (either identified by their localization or coenzyme dependency) were of the same order for liver and hepatoma. However, a high Km enzyme was present in liver mitochondria outer membranes but not in hepatoma. Hepatoma acetaldehyde dehydrogenase was inhibited, as was the liver enzyme, by diethyldithiocarbamate. The return of activity was slower for the hepatoma and neonatal liver than for the adult liver enzyme.

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMed1982

Effect of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency on the benz(a)pyrene toxicity for in vitro cultured human skin fibroblasts.

Human skin fibroblasts, isolated in vitro, from donors carrying the Mediterranean variant of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, exhibit a sharp decrease of hexose monophosphate shunt and NADPH/NADP+ ratio when compared to the fibroblasts from normal donors. This behavior is coupled to an increase of the resistance to cell death and growth inhibition induced by benz(a)pyrene, whose activation proceeds through the NADPH-dependent arene oxide formation. No differences were observed in the toxic effects of methylnitrosourea, a carcinogen that does not need metabolic activation, on normal and variant fibroblasts.

Benzo(a)pyrene↗
PubMed1980

Phospholipid composition of inner and outer mitochondrial membranes isolated from Yoshida hepatoma AH-130.

Outer and inner membranes isolated from hepatoma AH-130 and rat liver mitochondria were used to study phospholipid composition. The phosphatidylethanolamine content increased and that of phosphatidylcholine decreased in ;whole mitochondria and isolated membranes. The ratio between the 2 phospholipids increased 47% and 117% in the inner and outer membranes respectively. A small decrease of diphosphatidylglycerol also occurred in the hepatoma mitochondria inner membrane. In contrast to the results of previous work, no sphingomyelin was found in hepatoma mitochondria and isolated membranes.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

The role of lipid-protein interactions in NADH-cytochrome c reductase (rotenone-insensitive) of rat liver mitochondria.

The phospholipid depletion of rat liver mitochondria, induced by acetoneextraction or by digestion with phospholipase A2 or phospholipase C, greatly inhibited the activity of NADH-cytochrome c reductase (rotenone-insensitive). A great decrease of the reductase activity also occurred in isolated outer mitochondrial membranes after incubation with phospholipase A2. The enzyme activity was almost completely restored by the addition of a mixture of mitochondrial phospholipids to either lipid-deficient mitochondria, or lipid-deficient outer membranes. The individual phospholipids present in the outer mitochondrial membrane induced little or no stimulation of the reductase activity. Egg phosphatidylcholine was the most active phospholipid, but dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine was almost ineffective. The lipid depletion of mitochondria resulted in the disappearance of the non-linear Arrhenius plot which characterized the native reductase activity. A non-linear plot almost identical to that of the native enzyme was shown by the enzyme reconstituted with mitochondrial phospholipids. Triton X-100, Tween 80 or sodium deoxycholate induced only a small activation of NADH-cytochrome c reductase (rotenone-insensitive) in lipid-deficient mitochondria. The addition of cholesterol to extracted mitochondrial phospholipids at a 1 : 1 molar ratio inhibited the reactivation of NADH-cytochrome c reductase (rotenone-insensitive) but not the binding of phospholipids to lipid-deficient mitochondria or lipid-deficient outer membranes. These results show that NADH-cytochrome c reductase (rotenone-insensitive) of the outer mitochondrial membrane requires phospholipids for its activity. A mixture of phospholipids accomplishes this requirement better than individual phospholipids or detergents. It also seems that the membrane fluidity may influence the reductase activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Phenobarbital stimulation of cytochrome P-450 and aminopyrine N-demethylase in hyperplastic liver nodules during LD-ethionine carcinogenesis.

Microsomes isolated from hyperplastic liver nodules and hepatomas, induced by DL-ethionine, exhibited a reduced cytochrome P-450 content and aminopyrine N-demethylase activity when compared to the organelles of control and surrounding non-nodular liver. Phenobarbital administration to rats caused an increase of microsomal protein, cytochrome P-450 and aminopyrine N-demethylase in all tissue tested. In the hepatoma the rise of cytochrome P-450 and aminopyrine N-demethylase/g of tissue was very low and it is compensated by a slight increase of microsomal protein. In hyperplastic nodules as well as in control and surrounding livers, cytochrome P-450 and aminopyrine N-demethylase increased more than microsomal protein. However, the phenobarbital-induced stimulation was significantly lower in hyperplastic nodules than in control and surrounding livers.

Aminopyrine N-Demethylase↗
PubMed1976

The influence of enrichment with cholesterol on the phagocytic activity of rat macrophages.

Prolonged treatment of rats with a cholesterol-rich diet induced hypercholesterolaemia and increased free cholesterol content of peritoneal macrophages. A 2-2 times increase in plasma membrane cholesterol was demonstrated in cholesterol-enriched macrophages. These cells showed a significant inhibition of phagocytosis. The inhibition was 37-0% and 81-7% for latex particles or lipid droplets, respectively.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed1976

Effect of a cholesterol-rich diet on cholesterol content and phagocytic activity of rat macrophages.

Treatment for 11-13 weeks with a cholesterol-rich diet induced increases in free and esterified serum cholesterol. There was also an increase in free cholesterol of peritoneal macrophages. A 2.2 times rise in the cholesterol to phospholipid ratio of plasma membranes occurred in cholesterol-enriched macrophages. No changes were observed in phagolysosomes. Cholesterol-enriched macrophages showed a 35.8% inhibition of latex particles phagocytosis. When lipid droplets were substituted for latex the inhibition was 81.7%.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Effect of cholesterol content on some physical and functional properties of mitochondria isolated from adult rat liver, fetal liver, cholesterol-enriched liver and hepatomas AH-130, 3924A and 5123.

The cholesterol to phospholipid ratio in mitochondria from hepatomas AH-130, 3924A and 5123 is higher than in the particles isolated from adult or fetal rat livers. Nearly all the cholesterol of hepatoma mitochondria is located in membranes. As in liver mitochondria, in the particles isolated from hepatoma AH-130 there is more cholesterol in the outer than in the inner membrane. In mitochondria from cholesterol-enriched liver and hepatomas, there occurs a decrease in extent of hypoosmotic and phosphate-induced swelling and a decrease of conformational changes linked to energy states. The phenomenon is more marked in particles which exhibit higher cholesterol to phospholipid ratios. A statistically significant negative correlation exists between the cholesterol to phospholipid ratio and extent of volume or conformational changes. No significant modifications of these parameters were found in fetal liver mitochondria. Cholesterol content does not influence K+ uptake by cholesterol-enriched or hepatoma mitochondria. Nor does cholesterol content affect the respiratory increment related to this uptake. As a consequence of K+ uptake, total mitochondrial water exchangeable with tritiated water rises 20% while sucrose-impermeable water rises 42-48% in both adult rat liver and hepatoma AH-130 mitochondria. Absorbance changes linked to ion uptake do not correspond merely to variations in mitochondrial water content. Water content is apparently not influenced by the cholesterol to phospholipid ratio. However, the ratio is significantly correlated to both extent and initial rate of absorbance decrease of mitochondrial suspensions during K+ uptake. The higher the ratio, the lower the extent and initial rate of absorbance decrease.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Functional and structural alterations of liver ergastoplasmic membranes during DL-ethionine hepatocarcinogenesis.

Different functional and structural properties of rat liver microsomes were studied during hepatocarcinogenesis induced by 0.25% DL-ethionine. During the first to fourth months of ethionine feeding, great decreases of cytochrome P-450 content, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent lipid peroxidation, and animopyrine demethylase activity occurred. No changes in the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-cytochrome c reductase activity were observed. These functional alterations were paralleled by an increase in membrane-free ribosomes and by changes in the relative proportions of phospholipid fatty acids in microsomes. After the end of ethionine feeding, when hyperplastic nodules and/or hepatomas were present, the above functional and structural parameters were studied in the latter tissues, as well as in surrounding nonodular liver. Decreases in cytochrome P-450 content, lipid peroxidation, and animopyrine demethylase activity were documented in hyperplastic nodules and hepatomas. In hepatomas, the alterations were more marked and decrease of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-cytochrome c reductase activity was also found. All these functional parameters were quite normal in surrounding nonnodular liver. Similarly, alterations in phospholipid fatty acid composition disappeared in surrounding nonnodular liver, but they partially persisted in both hyperplastic nodules and hepatomas. In contrast, the increase in membrane-free ribosomes also occurred in surrounding nonnodular liver, although to a lower extent than in hyperplastic nodules and hepatomas. These data are discussed in relation to the problem of the cellular precursors of hepatomas.

Animals↗