Cell Membrane-Coated AuNPs as a New Biomimetic Platform for ROS Scavenger Provides Cytoprotection from Apoptosis Induced by Oxidative Stress

Biocompatible nanoparticles have attracted considerable attention as cellular antioxidant agents for the improvement of new therapeutics for several and diverse oxidative stress related disorders. Here, it is shown that the biocompatible cell membrane@gold nanoparticle displays catalase-mimic behavior by decomposing H₂O₂. This interesting behavior can be used for cell protection against induced oxidative injury by reactive oxygen species (ROS). So, after characterizing this novel biocompatible nanostructure, the protective effect of cell membrane@AuNPs pretreatment in front of a well-defined oxidative stress-inducing chemotherapy drug, doxorubicin (Dox) is assessed. Doxorubicin pretreatment significantly reduces the intracellular ROS production. Similarly, a reduction in the levels of DNA oxidative damage, as measured with the AO/EB staining, is also observed. Obtained results would support that this novel nanostructure can show how a pharmacological agent can be used against oxidative stress-mediated diseases.     

Toxicity of nano- and micro-sized ZnO particles in human lung epithelial cells

This is the first comprehensive study to evaluate the cytotoxicity, biochemical mechanisms of toxicity, and oxidative DNA damage caused by exposing human bronchoalveolar carcinoma-derived cells (A549) to 70 and 420 nm ZnO particles. Particles of either size significantly reduced cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner within a rather narrow dosage range. Particle mass-based dosimetry and particle-specific surface area-based dosimetry yielded two distinct patterns of cytotoxicity in both 70 and 420 nm ZnO particles. Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulted in intracellular oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, cell membrane leakage, and oxidative DNA damage. The protective effect of N-acetylcysteine on ZnO-induced cytotoxicity further implicated oxidative stress in the cytotoxicity. Free Zn²⁺ and metal impurities were not major contributors of ROS induction as indicated by limited free Zn²⁺ cytotoxicity, extent of Zn²⁺ dissociation in the cell culture medium, and inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry metal analysis. We conclude that (1) exposure to both sizes of ZnO particles leads to dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity reflected in oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, cell membrane damage, and oxidative DNA damage, (2) ZnO particles exhibit a much steeper dose–response pattern unseen in other metal oxides, and (3) neither free Zn²⁺ nor metal impurity in the ZnO particle samples is the cause of cytotoxicity.     

Neuroprotective effect of peroxiredoxin 6 against hypoxia-induced retinal ganglion cell damage

Background  

The ability to respond to changes in the extra-intracellular environment is prerequisite for cell survival. Cellular responses to the environment include elevating defense systems, such as the antioxidant defense system. Hypoxia-evoked reactive oxygen species (ROS)-driven oxidative stress is an underlying mechanism of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death that leads to blinding disorders. The protein peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6) plays a pleiotropic role in negatively regulating death signaling in response to stressors, and thereby stabilizes cellular homeostasis.     

检测活性氧的荧光探针新进展

活性氧对于人体是十分重要的。然而,过量的活性氧是相当有害的,它们会对人体产生氧化损伤,导致细胞死亡。活性氧现在已经引起了化学、生物、医药等多个领域学者的浓厚兴趣,它们被认为和多种病理条件有密切的联系。由于活性氧寿命短、反应活性高,并且大部分都存在于体内很难被捕获,因此它们的分析测定是一项国际性难题。荧光探针作为活性氧的高灵敏的检测分析物,已经得到越来越广泛和深入的研究。由于每一种活性氧都有它独特的生理学活性,因此设计高选择性的,能够检测具体一种活性氧的荧光探针分子就显得十分重要。本文主要对近三年来检测单线态氧、过氧化氢、超氧阴离子和羟自由基这四种活性氧的荧光探针的研究进展进行综述,关注这类荧光探针的检测机理以及具体应用。     

Enhancement of bioactive compounds and biological activities of Centella asiatica through ultrasound treatment

Centella asiatica possess various health-promoting activities owing to its bioactive compounds such as triterpenes, flavonoids, and vitamins. Ultrasound treatment during the post-harvest process is a good strategy for eliciting secondary metabolite in plants. The present study investigated the effect of ultrasound treatment for different time durations on the bioactive compounds and biological activities of C. asiatica leaves. The leaves were treated with ultrasound for 5, 10, and 20 min. Ultrasound elicitation (especially for 10 min) markedly elevated the accumulation of stress markers, leading to enhanced phenolic-triggering enzyme activities. The accumulation of secondary metabolites and antioxidant activities were also significantly improved compared with that in untreated leaves. In addition, ultrasound-treated C. asiatica leaves protected myoblasts against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress by regulating reactive oxygen species production, glutathione depletion, and lipid peroxidation. These findings indicate that elicitation using ultrasound can be a simple method for increasing functional compound production and enhancing biological activities in C. asiatica leaves.     

A review on iron chelators as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases

Iron plays a vital role in several cellular functions due to its unique physiochemical properties. Iron concentration increases in the brain with age due to multiple factors. Excessive amount of iron can lead to formation of reactive oxygen species. Neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by iron supplemented increase in oxidative stress and cellular damage. There is an urgent need of novel therapies which should not only provide symptomatic relief but also be able to modulate iron accumulation in the brain. Therefore, the development of novel iron chelators as neuroprotective agents for the treatment of neurodegeneration is an emerging trend. Several iron chelators including 8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives, dopaminergic agonists and natural products are under preclinical and clinical investigations for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

     

小鼠甲醇氧化应激的电子顺磁共振的研究

建立了小鼠甲醇中毒的氧化应激模型,研究了甲醇诱导小鼠产生氧化应激状态,探讨了大黄中草药和维生素C对小鼠甲醇氧化应激的保护作用. 模型小鼠共分为5个组：空白组、对照组、甲醇应激组、大黄组、维生素C（Vc）组. 利用电子自旋捕捉技术研究了小鼠甲醇氧化应激不同模型组小鼠体内的肝、肾、脾、心、肺和脑中产生的自由基强度的变化. 结果表明： 甲醇诱发了小鼠体内自由基的产生,甲醇组和生理盐水组相比,自由基的强度明显增强（显著性差异统计指标P<0.01);而大黄和Vc对小鼠甲醇氧化应激有保护作用,大黄组、Vc 组和甲醇组相比自由基的强度则明显降低（P<0.01).     

Use and Evaluation of Newly Synthesized Fluorescence Probes to Detect Generated OH• Radicals in Fibroblast Cells

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are pro-oxidant molecules synthesized in body with various functions and are essential for life. Increasing in reactive oxygen species or decreasing in antioxidants level cause oxidative stress which is very harmful. OH? radical is one of ROS’s, with tendency to bind to lipids, DNA and proteins which cause irreversible damage in cells. The most devastating consequences related to excess OH? radicals occur via direct binding to nucleic acids and proteins. Quantification of this high reactive radical with short life time is difficult. Electron Spin Resonance, Fluorescence, and Luminescence Spectroscopy are commonly used to determine the level of ROS. Fluorescence Probes have higher specificity and sensitivity with their excellent sensors to detect ROS’s compare to the other methods. Also, there are different probes specifically designed for each radical. The purpose of this study was to identify the probe better suiting for detection of OH? radical levels. The two most recommended fluorescence probes, 2-[6-(4 V-Hydroxy) phenoxy-3H-xanthen-3-on-9-yl]benzoic acid (HPF) and coumarin-3-carboxylic acid (3-CCA) to determine OH? radical levels were compared. Following the formation of OH? radical with Fenton reaction, HPF and 3-CCA probes were added to cells and spectrofluorometric measurements were performed in their respective wavelengths. The mean amplitude of fluorescence for HPF was 32.72?±?2.37 F.I (n?=?40) and for 3-CCA was 52.11?±?0.5 F.I (n?=?40). This difference was statistically significant. 3-CCA also demonstrated more stable measurements at different days compered to HPF.     

Surface Coating Rescues Proteins from Magnetite Nanoparticle Induced Damage

The presence of magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) in physiological systems induces toxicity through its effects on mitochondrial function and reactive oxygen species (ROS) imbalance. Magnetic NP induced cytotoxicity has been elaborately evaluated for impending threats, however, a detailed investigation is lacking. It is shown that the interaction of Fe₃O₄ NPs with cytochrome c can lead to different events based on the NPs to protein ratio, the solution conditions, and the type of surface protection. At low NPs concentration, rapid binding and subsequent electron transfer are the preferred events while at higher concentration slow oxidative modification of the protein is initiated. The slow event of protein modification yields conformational disorientation, loss of stability, and formation of amyloid‐like structures with cytochrome c. The possibility that the NP induced oxidative stress and age can work in concert to compromise different aspects of cellular quality control processes is discussed. Suitable surface modifications of the NPs inhibit their direct binding to the protein molecules and minimize NP induced toxicity.     

Single-molecule Detection of Reactive Oxygen Species: Application to Photocatalytic Reactions

In this review, we have focused on the oxidation reactions of single dye molecules by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The methodologies for the single-molecule detection of ROS, such as hydroxyl radical (HO^•), singlet oxygen (O₂(a¹Δ_g)), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), have been introduced together with examples. In particular, a successful application using the single-molecule fluorescence technique for the investigation of the TiO₂ photocatalytic oxidation reactions is demonstrated in detail.     

Screening for oxidative damage by engineered nanomaterials: a comparative evaluation of FRAS and DCFH

Several acellular assays are routinely used to measure oxidative stress elicited by engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), yet little comparative evaluations of such methods exist. This study compares for the first time the performance of the dichlorofluorescein (DCFH) assay which measures reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, to that of the ferric-reducing ability of serum (FRAS) assay, which measures biological oxidant damage in serum. A diverse set of 28 commercially important and extensively characterized ENMs were tested on both the assays. Intracellular oxidative stress was also assessed on a representative subset of seven ENMs in THP-1 (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate matured human monocytes) cells. Associations between assay responses and ENM physicochemical properties were assessed via correlation and regression analysis. DCFH correlated strongly with FRAS after dose normalization for mass (R ² = 0.78) and surface area (R ² = 0.68). Only 10/28 ENMs were positive in DCFH versus 21/28 in FRAS. Both assays were strongly associated with specific surface area and transition metal content. Qualitatively, a similar response ranking was observed for acellular FRAS and intracellular reduced:oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH:GSSG) in cells. Quantitatively, weak correlation was found between intracellular GSSG and FRAS or DCFH (R ² < 0.25) even after calculating effective dose to cells. The FRAS assay was more sensitive than DCFH, especially for ENMs with low to moderate oxidative damage potential, and may serve as a more biologically relevant substitute for acellular ROS measurements of ENMs. Further in vitro and in vivo validations of FRAS against other toxicological endpoints with larger datasets are recommended.     

Effects of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles on proliferation and apoptosis of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7)

The study aimed to correlate cell proliferation inhibition with oxidative stress and p53 protein expression in cancerous cells. Hydroxyapatite (HAP) (Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂) is the essential component of inorganic composition in human bone. It has been found to have obvious inhibitory function on growth of many kinds of tumor cells and its nanoparticle has stronger anti-cancerous effect than macromolecule microparticles. Human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) were cultured and treated with HAP nanoparticles at various concentrations. Cells viability was detected with MTT colorimetric assay. The morphology of the cancerous cells was performed by transmission electron microscopy and the expression of a cell apoptosis related gene (p53) was determined by ELISA assay and flow cytometry (FCM). The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in HAP exposed cells was measured by H₂DCFDA staining. DNA damage was measured by single-cell gel electrophoresis assay. The statistical analysis was done by one way ANOVA. The cellular proliferation inhibition rate was significantly (p < 0.05) increasing in a dose-dependent manner of HAP nanoparticles. Cell apoptotic characters were observed after MCF-7 cells were treated by HAP nanoparticles for 48 h. Moreover, ELISA assay and FCM shows a dose-dependent activation of p53 in MCF-7 cells treated with nanoHAP. These causative factors of the above results may be justified by an overproduction of ROS. In this study, a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the level of intracellular ROS in HAP-treated cells was observed. This study shows that HAP inhibits the growth of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells as well as induces cell apoptosis. This study shows that HAP NPs Induce the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species and activate p53, which may be responsible for DNA damage and cell apoptosis.     

Curcumin reduces α-synuclein induced cytotoxicity in Parkinson's disease cell model

Background  

Overexpression and abnormal accumulation of aggregated α-synuclein (αS) have been linked to Parkinson's disease (PD) and other synucleinopathies. αS can misfold and adopt a variety of morphologies but recent studies implicate oligomeric forms as the most cytotoxic species. Both genetic mutations and chronic exposure to neurotoxins increase αS aggregation and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage in PD cell models.     

Influence of reactive oxygen species on the sterilization of microbes

The influence of reactive oxygen species on living cells, including various microbes, is discussed. A sterilization experiment with bacterial endospores reveals that an argon–oxygen plasma jet very effectively kills endospores of Bacillus atrophaeus (ATCC 9372), thereby indicating that oxygen radicals are the key element of sterilization. Ozone in acidic water also kills endospores of B. atrophaeus very effectively, demonstrating the capability of cleaning a large surface area contaminated by toxic biological agents. The viable microbe numbers after the contact with acidic ozone water directly correlate with increase in the ozone decay time in water after lowering the pH value of water from pH = 7 to 4 indicating that acidic ozone water is an effective means of sterilizing microbes. However, advanced cells such as fertilized eggs were not greatly influenced by the acidic ozone water. Also, both human and canine cells after treatment with the acidic ozone water prospered without showing signs of stress due to ozone in acidic water. This study suggests that antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase can be developed in the advanced cells to protect themselves from attacks by reactive oxygen species. Meanwhile, the advanced cells utilize oxygen by certain enzymes, proliferating life on earth.     

硫代碱基与单态氧反应速率常数的时间分辨光谱测定

硫代碱基作为一类免疫抑制性药物被广泛关注,由于硫原子的取代,硫代碱基可以吸收UVA波段紫外光,并通过系间窜越至激发三重态敏化氧气生成广泛应用于光动力学治疗的活性氧物质单态氧(~1O_2).然而,硫代碱基容易与自身敏化产生的~1O_2氧化发生反应,导致光毒性.在已有关于硫代碱基与~1O_2反应机理的研究基础上,本文采用瞬态光谱方法直接测得~1O_2在1270 nm处磷光信号的衰减动力学,得到硫代碱基与单态氧反应的速率常数.通过比较6-硫代鸟嘌呤、4-硫代尿嘧啶、2,4-二硫代尿嘧啶分别在水、乙腈以及二者混合溶剂中与~1O_2的反应,发现硫代碱基与单态氧反应速率常数受溶剂的极性影响.随着溶剂极性增大,反应速率常数则减小.此外,通过对比研究,发现硫代嘧啶类碱基与~1O_2的反应速率小于硫代嘌呤类碱基,说明在光动力学治疗中以硫代嘧啶类药物作为光敏剂是较为合适的选择.     

Quantitative analysis of oxidative DNA damage induced by high-voltage pulsed discharge with cavitation

Pulsed discharge is used for sterilization and disinfection, but the details of the molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Since pulsed discharge generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), we analyzed the oxidative DNA damages after pulsed discharge treatment to consider the involvement of ROS in the damaging process. We applied pulsed discharge with cavitation to plasmid DNA molecules and estimated the yields of the damages by agarose gel electrophoresis. The treated DNA contained various oxidative DNA damages, including single and double strand breaks and base lesions. The yields of the damages increased in response to the energy used for pulsed discharge. We also measured the yield of 8-hydroxyguanine (8-OH-G), one of the major oxidative base lesions, in the treated plasmid DNA by mass spectrometry quantitatively and found that the yield of the oxidative base lesion corresponded to the increment of the applied energy. In addition, we observed the involvement of mutM gene, which is responsible for repair of 8-OH-G, in the increased sensitivity of Escherichia coli to pulsed discharge. Therefore, ROS seem to mediate the sterilization ability of pulsed discharge.     

In vitro studies of Photofrin® mediated photodynamic therapy on human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line (RD)

In the current study, the cytotoxic effects induced by the given photosensitizer (PS) on human rhybdomyosarcoma cancer cells (RD) as an experimental model were investigated. The experimental results like cytotoxic effects induced by the given PS on RD cells were dose dependent and the optimum concentration of Photofrin® (100 μg/ml) along with 120 J/cm² generates the maximum loss in cell viability which is almost 82%. The significant loss in cell viability is the result of interaction of suitable dose of laser light (630 nm of wavelength) with Photofrin®, after excitation of PS, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which leads to mitochondria damage and resulting of cell death (cell necrosis/cell apoptosis). Viability of controlled and treated RD cells with optimum dose of light (630 nm) has been assessed by neutral red assay (NRA) and cell damaging effect were verified by staining of mitochondria using Mitotracker® red as an efficient dye as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation detection.     

Generation of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus aureus</Emphasis> by a novel semiconductor catalyst

The objective of this study was to investigate antimicrobial mechanisms of a new catalytic material (charge transfer auto oxidation–reduction type catalyst, CT catalyst) that may have great potential for application in water/wastewater treatment. Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in bacteria-free solution, induction of ROS and oxidative damage in bacteria (including E. coli and S. aureus) were examined for the CT catalyst. The results showed that significantly higher (p < 0.05, via t-test) amount of hydroxyl radicals was generated by the CT catalyst compared with the control, particularly after 6 h of contact time that more than twice of the amount of the control was produced. The generation of ROS in the bacteria was greater under higher pH and temperature levels, which closely related with the oxidative damage in cells. The results indicated that CT catalyst induced oxidative damage in the bacteria might serve as an important mechanism interpreting the anti-microbial function of the CT catalyst.     

Numerical study on combustion of H2—O2 in a supersonic reactive expansion in a nozzle

A study on expansion flow inside a nozzle considering full mechanism chemistry of hydrogen and oxygen was carried out. In this study, a full implicit scheme for turbulent reactive flow was obtained by combining the second order TVD scheme of Yee and Harten (1987, Implicit TVD schemes for hyperbolic conservation laws in curvilinear coordinates. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Journal, 25(2), 266–274) with the efficient implicit lower-upper scheme of Shuen and Yoon (1989, Numerical study of chemically reacting flows using a lower-upper symmetric successive overrelaxation scheme. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Journal, 27(12), 1752–1756). The species equations, Navier–Stokes equations and turbulence model were implemented in the numerical scheme and solved in conjunction with full detailed finite rate chemistry. The numerical scheme is verified by comparison with experimental results of a converging–diverging nozzle. Effects of inlet pressure, temperature and fuel-oxidant mass ratio on nozzle flow field were studied. Variation of chemical species under different conditions was investigated by considering a chemical mechanism. Results show that increasing inlet pressure increases the rate of reactions due to increasing the concentration of reactants. For lower inlet pressure the radical H increases slightly in the diverging part of the nozzle, while for higher pressures it decreases along the nozzle. Inlet fuel–oxidant mass ratio affects the variation of all species with a greater effect for a near stoichiometric ratio. It was also shown that a higher inlet temperature provides a more enhanced reaction zone in the diverging part of the nozzle.