Reactive oxygen species are crucial for hydroxychavicol toxicity toward KB epithelial cells

Betel quid (BQ) chewing shows a strong correlation to the incidence of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), leukoplakia and oral cancer. BQ contains mainly areca nut, lime, Piper betle leaf (PBL) and the inflorescence of P. betle (IPB). Hydroxychavicol (4-allyl-catechol, HC), as a major phenolic compound in PBL and IPB, is shown to induce oxidative stress, glutathione (GSH) depletion and cell cycle deregulation. Using bivariate BrdU/PI flow cytometry, KB cells in DNA synthesis (S phase) are shown to be sensitive to the toxic effect of HC and show cell cycle arrest and apoptosis following exposure to 0.1 and 0.3 mM HC. HC-induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest are associated with mitochondrial membrane potential (m) depolarization as revealed by a decrease in rhodamine fluorescence. N-acetyl-L-cysteine (1 mM), superoxide dismutase (100 U/ml) and catalase (1000 U/ml) were effective in prevention of HC-induced GSH depletion (as indicated by chloromethylfluorescein fluorescence), reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (by dichlorofluorescein fluorescence), cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. However, dimethylthiourea (2 mM), neocuproine (1 mM), 1,10-phenanthroline (200 M) and desferrioxamine (0.5 mM) showed little effect on HC-induced cell changes. HC elevated the cellular and mitochondrial GSH levels at moderate concentrations (0.05–0.1 mM), whereas at a concentration of 0.3 mM, inhibitory effects were noted. These results indicate that HC consumption may be associated with BQ-chewing-related oral mucosal diseases via GSH depletion, ROS production, mitochondrial dysfunction, cell cycle disturbance and the induction of apoptosis. These events are related to the production of superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide.Received 9 July 2003; received after revision 28 September 2003; accepted 24 October 2003     

肝癌细胞对三氧化二砷诱导凋亡的敏感性与细胞内谷胱甘肽含量的关系

目的:比较肝癌BEL-7402和SMMC-7721细胞对三氧化二砷(As2O3)诱导凋亡的敏感性差异,探讨细胞内谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量与其作用的关系。方法:不同浓度As2O3作用BEL-7402和SMMC-7721细胞24~96 h,流式细胞仪检测细胞DNA含量,计算细胞凋亡百分率;GSH检测试剂盒检测细胞内GSH含量。结果:0.25μmol/L As2O3作用24 h,有效地诱导BEL-7402细胞凋亡;对SMMC-7721细胞来说,需要用1.0μmol/L As2O3作用24 h才能达到相同的抑制效果。1.0μmol/LAs2O3作用72 h时,BEL-7402细胞的凋亡率为(43.8±0.2)%,SMMC-7721细胞的凋亡率为(12.8±0.2)%,检测BEL-7402细胞内GSH为(18.7±1.4)nmol/mg;SMMC-7721细胞内GSH为(50.8±5.2)nmol/mg,两者比较均有显著差异。结论:肝癌BEL-7402和SMMC-7721细胞对As2O3诱导细胞凋亡的敏感性不同,可能与细胞内GSH含量有关。     

硒与人体健康

本文主要论述了硒在人体内的吸收和排泄 ,它的主要生理功能和缺乏所引起的病症 ,以及如何补硒     

Tyrosinase-cytalyzed conjugation of dopa with glutathione

Summary A convenient method is described for the preparation of 5-S- and 2-S-glutathionyldopa, based on tyrosinase oxidation of dopa in the presence of glutathione. The yields of 5-S, 2-S, and 6-S isomers produced were about 76, 12, and 5%, respectively.One of the authors (G.P.) thanks the C.N.R. (P.F. Chimica Fine e Secondaria) for partial financial support.     

Phorbol esters enhance glutathione-induced feeding response in Hydra

Summary Pharmacological observations on the glutathione-induced feeding response in Hydra demonstrate that phorbol esters, calcium ionophore A 23187 and lithium ions significantly enhance and protract glutathione action, whereas polymixin B induces a dramatic shortening of the feeding response. An involvement of membrane phosphatidylinositol breakdown in the control of the feeding response is suggested.     

硒酵母生理功能研究(Ⅰ)──对小鼠全血GSH-Px,SOD及LPO值的影响

给离乳瑞士种雄性小白鼠饲喂添加硒酵母的饲料，测定小鼠全血谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（ＧＳＨ－Ｐｘ）、超氧化物歧化酶（ＳＯＤ）及肝脏过氧化脂质（ＬＰＯ）的含量．结果表明，实验组小鼠全血ＧＳＨ－Ｐｘ活性及ＳＯＤ活性明显地高于对照组，而小鼠肝脏的ＬＰＯ值显著低于对照组     

不同还原性巯基氨基酸对人血管平滑肌细胞增殖的影响

目的:观察三种还原性巯基氨基酸对人血管平滑肌细胞增殖的影响.方法:采用组织贴块法体外培养人脐静脉血管平滑肌细胞(VSMCs),在培养液中分别加入三种不同浓度的还原性巯基氨基酸(Hcy,Cys,GSH)对VSMCs进行刺激,24h后同MTT比色法测定细胞的活力,<'3>H-TdR测定细胞的增殖率.结果:随浓度增加.Hcy和Cys明显促进VSMCs增殖,Hcy的作用略强于Cys;GSH只有在极高浓度时(1000umol/L)才显著促进VSMCs增殖.结论:极高浓度的Hcy、Cys、GSH均可促进VSMCs增殖.     

Plant glutaredoxins: still mysterious reducing systems

Glutaredoxins are ubiquitous oxidoreductases which are similar to thioredoxins and possess a typical glutathione-reducible CxxC or CxxS active site. We present here the current knowledge about these proteins in plants. At least 31 glutaredoxin genes are present in Arabidopsis thaliana, a value close to the thioredoxin gene number. Based essentially on active site sequences, a classification of these multiple genes is proposed. The specificity of the various apparently redundant forms within the glutaredoxin group or between glutaredoxin and thioredoxin can be analysed in terms of differential spatiotemporal expression of the genes, specificity vs. target proteins and mode of catalysis (glutathiolation/ deglutathiolation processes appear to be a specific function of glutaredoxin). Additional putative functions are proposed for plant glutaredoxins based on their targets in other organisms and in the light of the existence of hybrid proteins containing glutaredoxin modules in their N- or C-terminal part.Received 31 October 2003; received after revision 26 November 2003; accepted 4 December 2003     

谷胱甘肽S转移酶P1基因多态性与慢性阻塞性肺疾病关系的研究

目的:了解湖北地区健康汉族人群和慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)患者谷胱甘肽S转移酶P1(GSTP1)基因多态性,探讨汉族人GSTP1基因多态性与COPD的关系。方法:用聚合酶链式反应—限制性片段长度多态分析(PCR-RFLP)检测68例健康汉族人和50例COPD患者GSTP1基因型。结果:健康人群和COPD人群中有3种基因型,但以Ile105纯合子基因型为主,两组人群的基因型和基因频率比较均无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论:GSTP1基因多态性可能与COPD的发生无相关性。