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Biomedical subjects

R M Tyrrell

Publications and source records attributed to R M Tyrrell.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

The role of melanin in the induction of oxidative DNA base damage by ultraviolet A irradiation of DNA or melanoma cells.

Highly pigmented, dark skin is more resistant to the harmful effects of solar ultraviolet radiation than light-colored human skin. The extent to which tanning protects skin from harmful effects including induction of skin cancer is not known, however. We have investigated whether the skin pigment, melanin, sensitizes or protects isolated DNA or nuclear DNA in melanoma cells from the induction of the premutagenic oxidative DNA base damage, 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine, by ultraviolet A irradiation. Synthetic eumelanin sensitized isolated DNA to induction of the oxidative DNA base damage by ultraviolet A, but it also induced the oxidative DNA base damage in the dark. To study the role of natural melanin in mammalian melanoma cells in the induction of oxidative DNA base damage, melanin synthesis was modulated 5-7-fold in the human melanoma cells GLL19 and IGR1 (which contain both pheomelanin and eumelanin) as well as in the mouse melanoma cells B16 (which contain mainly eumelanin). Increased melanin synthesis clearly did not protect against ultraviolet A-induced oxidative DNA base damage in cells. On the contrary, the human melanoma cells with high melanin content accumulated two times more 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine after ultraviolet A irradiation than cells with low melanin content. Furthermore, preirradiation of the human melanoma cells, IGR1, with ultraviolet A 4 h before a second ultraviolet A exposure produced an altered amount of induced 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine dependent on the melanin content of the cells. We conclude that stimulation of melanin synthesis, but probably not melanin itself, increases the susceptibility of human melanoma cells to induction of premutagenic oxidative DNA base damage by ultraviolet A irradiation.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Direct and indirect modulation of ornithine decarboxylase and cyclooxygenase by UVB radiation in human skin cells.

Exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) B radiation is responsible for skin inflammation and tumour progression. Cyclooxygenase and ornithine decarboxylase are believed to be involved in such processes since they participate in the synthesis of mediators of inflammation and cell differentiation, respectively. We have investigated the in vitro modulation of expression of such genes by UVB radiation in different skin cell lines. We have observed that accumulation of ornithine decarboxylase mRNA is unaffected by even high UVB doses in both human epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts, whereas cyclooxygenase-2 levels were significantly up-regulated by low UVB doses in KB human epidermoid keratinocytes. Depletion of total intracellular glutathione levels in KB cells amplified the activation, revealing a role for an oxidative component of UVB in modulating cyclooxygenase gene expression. Transfer of medium from UVB irradiated keratinocytes to fibroblasts resulted in a significant activation of cyclooxygenase expression and activity, while ornithine decarboxylase levels were unaffected. We conclude that UVB radiation can activate cyclooxygenase gene expression in human skin cells both by direct activation pathways or indirectly by inducing a paracrine mechanism.

Cell Line, Transformed↗
PubMed1999

Activation of expression of the c-fos oncogene by UVA irradiation in cultured human skin fibroblasts.

Both broad-spectrum and near-monochromatic (334 nm, 365 nm and 405 nm) UVA (320-380 nm) and near-visible radiations strongly activate accumulation of mRNA corresponding to the nuclear oncogene and transcription factor, c-fos, in cultured human skin fibroblasts within a dose-range encountered in the environment. The oxidizing component of UVA is clearly of central importance to the activation observed because the absence of reduced glutathione strongly enhances the response. In contrast to observations in rodent cells, we observe negligible activation of the gene in human cells after UVB (290-320 nm) radiation. The results of this study provide evidence that UVA radiation strongly activates c-fos gene expression in human dermal fibroblasts, a phenomena that is likely to be reflected in UVA-mediated modulation of genes containing active AP-1-based enhancer elements in the promoter region.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Modulation of the UVA activation of haem oxygenase, collagenase and cyclooxygenase gene expression by epigallocatechin in human skin cells.

We have investigated the modifying effects of epigallocatechin, a major polyphenolic constituent of green tea, on ultraviolet-A-activated gene expression in human fibroblasts and keratinocytes using the stress responsive enzymes: haem oxygenase-1, interstitial collagenase and cyclooxygenase-2. Although epigallocatechin strongly reduced ultraviolet-A-induced haem oxygenase-1 activation in skin-derived 'fibroblasts, the same compound activated collagenase and cyclooxygenase expression. In a keratinocyte cell line, ultraviolet-A-mediated haem oxygenase-1 over-expression was low and epigallocatechin failed to modulate it further. In contrast to the results with fibroblasts, ultraviolet-A activation of cyclooxygenase in keratinocytes was reduced by epigallocatechin. The results indicate that the effect of this green tea polyphenol on cellular stress responses is complex and may involve direct effects on signal transduction as well as changes that may be associated with its antioxidant activity.

Catechin↗
PubMed1998

A chromatographic assay for heme oxygenase activity in cultured human cells: application to artificial heme oxygenase overexpression.

Heme oxygenase (HO) activity oxidizes heme, releasing carbon monoxide; heme iron; and biliverdin, which is converted to bilirubin by biliverdin reductase. Inducible HO-I expression is a marker of oxidative stress in mammalian cells, while noninducible HO-II contributes to basal HO activity. HO-I and HO-II activities are implicated in cellular antioxidant defense mechanisms. We describe a microassay for HO activity in cultured human cells, using high-performance liquid chromatography of biliverdin and bilirubin. The assay is sufficiently sensitive to quantify basal and inducible HO activity in various human cell types. We have established human cell lines overexpressing heme oxygenase-II activity in microsomes using a metallothionein promoter-regulated expression system. Stable transformants treated with ZnCl2 express up to ninefold induction of HO activity. We have constructed human cell lines overexpressing HO-II protein and activity (5-15-fold) in the absence of tetracycline, using the HtTA-1 cell line transfected with tetracycline-regulated expression vectors (Gossen et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89, 1992). Functional HO-II overexpressing clones will be useful in investigating anti- or pro-oxidant effects of HO activity during cellular oxidative stress.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1998

Singlet molecular oxygen ((1)O2): a possible effector of eukaryotic gene expression.

Biological processes involving light may have both beneficial (photosynthesis) and destructive (photosensitization) consequences. Singlet molecular oxygen, (1)O2, and other reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical, arise during the interaction of light with photosensitizing chemicals in the presence of molecular oxygen. (1)O2 oxidizes macromolecules such as lipids, nucleic acids, and protein, depending on its intracellular site of formation; and promotes detrimental processes such as lipid peroxidation, membrane damage, and cell death. Photochemical reactive oxygen species (ROS) generating systems induce the expression of several eukaryotic genes, which include stress proteins, early response genes, matrix metalloproteinases, immunomodulatory cytokines, and adhesion molecules. These gene expression phenomena may belong to cellular defensive mechanisms, or may promote further injury. Whereas the signal transduction pathways that link site-specific oxidative damage and gene expression are poorly understood, ROS may affect signalling components in the membrane, cytosol, or nucleus, leading to changes in phospholipase, cyclooxygenase, protein kinase, protein phosphatase, and transcription factor activities. Limited evidence for (1)O2 involvement in gene activation phenomena consists of deuterium oxide solvent effects, inhibition by (1)O2-quenchers, sensitization by porphyrins, chemical trapping methods, and comparative effects of photosensitizing dyes and thermolabile endoperoxides. The studies outlined in this review support an hypothesis that (1)O2 and other ROS generated during photochemical processes such as ultraviolet-A (320-380 nm) radiation exposure, or photosensitizer mediated oxidation may have dramatic effects on eukaryotic gene expression.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Photosensitivity associated with the Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome.

A case of severe photosensitivity in a girl with the Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome is reported. Children with this recessively inherited metabolic disorder of cholesterol metabolism present with a variety of congenital abnormalities of the nervous system and internal organs in association with varying degrees of mental retardation. Photosensitivity is a feature which has previously only briefly been mentioned in the literature in association with this syndrome. However, more recently, it has become apparent that photosensitivity is not uncommon among children with the Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome, although the nature of the photosensitivity in these patients has remained undefined. Our patient has suffered from sunlight intolerance since early infancy, with redness and pruritus of sun-exposed skin developing within minutes of sun exposure. Monochromator ultraviolet (UV) radiation and visible light testing revealed an immediate and persistent reaction to low-dose UVA at 350 nm, and an abnormal erythemal response to visible light at 400 nm.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1997

Regulation of expression of the human heme oxygenase-1 gene in transfected chick embryo liver cell cultures.

Induction of heme oxygenase (HO) has been proposed as a protective cellular mechanism against oxidative damage. In previous work (Tyrrell et al., Carcinogenesis [1993] 14, 761-765), portions of the 5' promoter region of the human HO-1 gene linked to the reporter gene chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT), had been transiently expressed in HeLa cells. To extend the study of human HO gene expression into primary liver cells, these reporter gene fusion constructs, containing 121 or 1416 base pairs of the untranscribed 5'-upstream sequences of the human HO-1 gene, were used along with pSV beta-Gal plasmid to dually transfect primary cultures of chick embryo liver cells (CELC). The transfected cells were treated with selected metals, heme, phorbol ester, and chemical agents that produce oxidative stress (H2O2 or sodium arsenite). Reporter gene activities were measured 18-20 h later. Our major findings are: (1) these HO-CAT constructs were expressed in CELC; (2) unlike HeLa cells, the expression of CAT was detected in CELC without the need for the SV40 enhancer; (3) sodium arsenite and cobalt chloride induced the expression of the HO-CAT constructs whereas heme had no effect on or decreased CAT expression for all of the transfected constructs; (4) study of endogenous chick HO-1 gene expression in CELC showed that HO-1 responded to sodium arsenite treatment in a dose-dependent fashion, and the response was rapid and transient. We conclude that, in chick liver cell cultures, induction of the HO-1 gene by heme is fundamentally different from that produced by transition metals or sodium arsenite. Furthermore, the results suggest that expression of the HO-1 gene is highly conserved across species.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Overxpression of Bcl-2 inhibits UVA-mediated immediate apoptosiinrat 6 fibroblasts: evidence for the involvement of Bcl-2 as an antioxidant.

We examined the effect of broad spectrum UVA (320-380 nm) and UVB (290-320 nm) radiation on the induction of apoptosis in the rat 6 fibroblast cell line (R6). UVA, but not UVB, induces apoptosis in this cell line. The morphological changes and DNA ladders associated with apoptosis occurred within the first 4 h after UVA irradiation, a phenomenon referred to as "immediate" apoptosis. From previous studies, it is known that Bcl-2 inhibits most types of apoptotic cell death. Overexpression of mouse Bcl-2 in the R6 fibroblasts inhibited the UVA-induced immediate apoptosis. The induction of the heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) gene by UVA is a general response to oxidative stress. As a marker of oxidative stress, we monitored the effect of Bcl-2 overexpression on the level of HO-1 mRNA accumulation after UVA irradiation. The results showed that the overexpression of Bcl-2 in the R6 fibroblasts strongly reduces the level of HO-1 induction from 12.5- to 4.9-fold. We propose that Bcl-2 expression inhibits UVA-induced immediate apoptosis via an antioxidant pathway, suppressing either the generation or effects of specific UVA-mediated reactive oxygen species.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Approaches to define pathways of redox regulation of a eukaryotic gene: the heme oxygenase 1 example.

Heme oxygenase 1 is a heme catabolic enzyme that is strongly induced in most eukaryotic cell types as a result of transcriptional activation by oxidants including UVA (320-380 nm) radiation. Three factors are clearly diagnostic for the characterization of this gene as redox regulated: (i) lowering the levels of cellular reduced glutathione using the drug buthionine (S, R)-sulfoximine enhances gene expression; (ii) iron depletion by various iron chelators suppresses activation; (iii) antioxidants suppress activation. Using chemical modulators to alter the levels of specific oxidizing intermediates, the nature of the effector species can be tentatively identified. A multiple approach is usually necessary because of the lack of specificity of most modulators. The involvement of a given species can be further implicated by generating the intermediate by an established protocol and confirming that it will activate the gene. As an example of such an approach, singlet oxygen has been implicated in the UVA radiation activation of HO-1 because the activation is enhanced by deuterium oxide (which enhances singlet oxygen lifetime) and suppressed by histidine (which scavenges the species). Singlet oxygen generated in a pure form using a photodynamic agent also strongly activates the gene. We describe a general approach designed to identify a role for singlet oxygen, superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and/or hydroxyl radical in the activation of genes by oxidants.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1997

Photocarcinogenesis: an overview.

Photocarcinogenesis represents the sum of a complex of simultaneous and sequential biochemical events that ultimately lead to the occurrence of skin cancer. These events, initiated by UV radiation of appropriate wavelength, include the formation of DNA photoproducts: DNA repair; mutation of proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes; UV-production of radical species with subsequent effects on mutation and extra-nuclear function; and other epigenetic events that influence the course of carcinogenesis. The epigenetic influences may include immunological responses, antioxidant defenses, and dietary factors. This review represents an effort to provide current research results in the aforementioned areas and an attempt to meld these events into a comprehensive overview of photocarcinogenesis. If effective prevention and intervention strategies for skin cancer are to developed, a more thorough understanding of the disease process is imperative.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Artificial background and induced levels of oxidative base damage in DNA from human cells.

The pre-mutagenic oxidative DNA base damage of 8-hydroxy-guanine is present in DNA isolated from cells and the amount present increases with exposure of cells to oxidative stress. The oxidative DNA base damage may be present before isolation of DNA or it may be produced during isolation and processing of DNA. We have found that the amount of oxidative base damage measured in DNA can be reduced to a stable lower level by adding increasing concentrations of the antioxidants desferrioxamine, histidine and reduced glutathione immediately before cell lysis. Inclusion of these antioxidants after cell lysis did not affect the level of DNA damage. Oxidative DNA base damage produced by ultraviolet A irradiation of human cells was also reduced by adding antioxidants after irradiation and before cell lysis. Thus, unidentified oxidants induced by ultraviolet A irradiation may damage DNA significantly during extractions of DNA from cells subsequent to ultraviolet A irradiation.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗
PubMed1997

Induction of oxidative DNA base damage in human skin cells by UV and near visible radiation.

The premutagenic oxidative DNA base damage, 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine, is induced in human skin fibroblasts by monochromatic radiation ranging from a UVB wavelength (312 nm) up to wavelengths in the near visible (434 nm). The oxidative damage is not generated by absorption of radiation in DNA but rather by activation of photosensitizers generating genotoxic singlet oxygen species. The spectrum for the yield of the oxidative damage in confluent, non-growing, primary skin fibroblasts shows that it is UVA (above 334 nm) and near visible radiations which cause almost all of this guanine oxidation by natural sunlight in the fibroblast model. We estimate that the total amount of oxidation of guanine induced by sunlight in fibroblasts in the epidermis of the skin equals or exceeds the amount of the major type of direct DNA damage, cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers. In rapidly dividing lymphoblastoid cells, no oxidative guanine damage was induced. However, in melanoma cells almost as much damage as in non-growing fibroblasts (1.1 per 10(4) guanine bases after 1200 kJ/m2 UVA) was found. We conclude that oxidative DNA base damage can probably contribute to the induction of both non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancer by sunlight.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗
PubMed1997

Development of refractoriness of induced human heme oxygenase-1 gene expression to reinduction by UVA irradiation and hemin.

Using primary human fibroblasts we have observed the existence of an acquired refractoriness of the heme oxygenase-1 gene to induction by a second dose of UVA (320-380 nm) radiation. We studied the kinetics of development of refractoriness over a time interval of up to 72 h between the first inducing event and the second (challenge) dose. Complete refractoriness was observed at 48 h. We also studied development of refractoriness after UVA, sodium arsenite and H2O2 treatment in all possible combinations and demonstrated that only UVA led to refractoriness. Ultraviolet radiation induced partial refractoriness to H2O2 induction but did not change the response to sodium arsenite. In an investigation of the mechanism of development of refractoriness we used the heme oxygenase inhibitor, tin-protoporphyrin IX and showed that induction of heme oxygenase enzymatic activity is a crucial step. However, the induction of ferritin, which is known to play a key role in protection against oxidative stress, did not appear to be involved. Damage to membranes is also probably not involved in the refractoriness mechanism. Because either hemin alone or UVA radiation are able to lead to a refractoriness of the heme oxygenase-1 gene to reinduction by a second exposure to one or the other agent in human fibroblasts, we conclude that heme, or an as yet unidentified heme derivative, is involved in the refractoriness response.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1996

Activation of mammalian gene expression by the UV component of sunlight--from models to reality.

Ultraviolet radiation activates the expression of a wide variety of genes, by pathways which differ between the short non-solar ultraviolet C (UVC) wavelengths, which are strongly absorbed by nucleic acids, and the long solar ultraviolet A (UVA, 320-380 nm) wavelengths, which generate active oxygen intermediates. Intermediate solar ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths in the UVB (290-320 nm) range also contain an oxidative component, but more closely resemble UVC in their gene activating properties. Short wavelength UV, in common with other extracellular stimuli including growth factors, activates signal transduction events that involve both stress- and mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades. The extrapolation of the complex modulation of gene expression that ensues to the consequences of natural UV exposure requires careful attention to the details of doses and wavelength employed in the model experiments. Nevertheless, there is evidence that UVB irradiation of skin can activate the expression of proteins including immunomodulating cytokines, ornithine decarboxylase and, to a limited extent, nuclear oncogene products, as well as lead to stabilisation of p53. Non-cytotoxic doses of UVA radiation also lead to the strong activation of several genes which would be expected to have functional relevance in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Lipid metabolite involvement in the activation of the human heme oxygenase-1 gene.

Cellular effects of ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation include peroxidation of membrane lipids as well as a decrease in intracellular glutathione. We have investigated whether damage to membrane lipids is involved in the activation of the human heme oxygenase-1 gene by UVA. Irradiation of human skin fibroblasts in the presence of the lipophilic antioxidants, butylated hydroxytoluene and alpha-tocopherol, enhances the UVA-induced HO-1 mRNA accumulation, suggesting that peroxidation of plasma membrane lipids is not involved. Furthermore, sodium ascorbate, which induces lipid peroxidation mainly in the plasma membrane, induces HO-1 mRNA to low levels only. The decrease in GSH by UVA radiation is not affected by the presence of the lipophilic antioxidants while ascorbate treatment increases the intracellular GSH by twofold above controls. These results indicate that peroxidation of internal membrane lipids, a decrease in the intracellular GSH levels and the integrity of the plasma membrane are all important for the UVA-induction of heme oxygenase-1. Both nonenzymatic as well as enzymatic lipid peroxidation metabolites are inducers of heme oxygenase-1. The nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxynonenal induces heme oxygenase-1 mRNA up to 40-fold and the phospholipase metabolites diacylglycerol and arachidonic acid induce this mRNA by three-to sixfold above basal levels. We also demonstrate that the cyclooxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid are important for the UVA-activation of the heme oxygenase-1 gene.

Aldehydes↗