PHOTOSENSITIZATION BY PORPHYRINS DELIVERED TO L CELL FIBROBLASTS BY HUMAN SERUM LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS. A MICROSPECTROFLUOROMETRIC STUDY

Human serum LDL were used as vehicles to deliver protoporphyrin and hematoporphyrin dimer to L cell mouse fibroblasts. Topographic analysis by microspectrofluorometry on single living cells shows that after digestion of LDL, protoporphyrin is localized in cytoplasmic areas. Protoporphyrin and hematoporphyrin dimer are readily bleached by 420 ± 60 nm radiations at the high fluence rate used. Complex bleaching kinetics are observed. Spectral studies using the same technique demonstrate that an intense fluorescent emission (λ_max= 450 nm) is produced immediately after the onset of irradiation with 365 ± 2 nm or 420 ± 60 nm radiations using LDL loaded with protoporphyrin or Photofrin II. These fluorescent products have been previously identified as lipofuscin-like pigments formed by reaction of lipid photoperoxides with amino groups. The permeation of lysosomal membranes is also induced after delivery of the porphyrins by LDL. This permeation can be strongly inhibited not only by the lysosomal inhibitors chloroquine and monensin but also by a-tocopherol. On the other hand, neither α-tocopherol nor chloroquine or monensin inhibit the lipofuscin-like pigment formation.     

LOVASTATIN POTENTIATES THE PHOTOCYTOTOXIC EFFECT OF PHOTOFRIN II DELIVERED TO HT29 HUMAN COLONIC ADENOCARCINOMA CELLS BY LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN

A 24 h preculture of HT29–18human colonic adenocarcinoma cells with the sterol synthesis inhibitor lovastatin at concentrations of 0.1-0.5 μM markedly increased the photocytotoxic effect of photofrin II delivered to cells by low density lipoproteins. Under the same conditions, LDL binding and photofrin II (PII) uptake by HT29 cells increased about 1.8-fold and 1.5-fold, respectively. These results suggest that hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors could be useful for potentiating the photodynamic therapy of tumors by PII.     

SUBCELLULAR LOCALIZATION OF AND PHOTOSENSITIZATION BY PROTOPORPHYRIN IX IN HUMAN KERATINOCYTES AND FIBROBLASTS CULTIVATED WITH 5-AMINOLEVULINIC ACID

Abstract— The subcellular localization of protoporphyrin (PP) has been studied by microspectrofluo-rometric techniques in NCTC 2544 keratinocytes incubated with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) for times up to 42 h. Whereas the plasma membrane shows strong staining, fluorescent spots are observed within the cytoplasm especially in the perinuclear region. Although the topographic pattern of the PP distribution does not change much with the incubation time with ALA, the fluorescence spectra suggest that the PP microenvironments are quite different at short and long incubation times. Addition of 18 uJW desferoxamine almost doubles the ALA-induced PP concentration. Colocalization experiments with rhodamine 123, a mitochondrial probe, and lucifer yellow (LY) or neutral red (NR), two lysosome probes, demonstrate that at least some of these spots are of lysosomal origin. Study of the time evolution of the NR fluorescence under irradiation with visible light in the presence and absence of ALA demonstrates that lysosomes are damaged in cells that have synthesized PP. No PP fluorescence can be detected in mitochondria after incubation with ALA. However, photosensitization of mitochondria occurs under irradiation with visible light. Very little formation of lipofuscins by photosensitization with exogenous PP or ALA-induced PP is observed with the NCTC 2544 keratinocytes, as compared to normal human fibroblasts.