Photobleaching of hypericin bound to human serum albumin,cultured adenocarcinoma cells and nude mice skin

Hypericin is a promising photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT) characterized by a high yield of singlet oxygen. Photobleaching of hypericin has been studied by means of absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy in different biological systems: in human serum albumin solution, in cultured human adenocarcinoma WiDr cells and in the skin of nude mice. Prolonged exposure to light (up to 95 min, 100 mW/cm2) of wavelength around 596 nm induced fluence-dependent photobleaching of hypericin in all studied systems. The photobleaching was not oxygen dependent, and singlet oxygen probably played no significant role. Emission bands in the spectral regions 420-560 nm and above 600 nm characterize the photoproducts formed. An emission band at 615-635 nm was observed after irradiation of cells incubated with hypericin or of mouse skin in vivo but not in albumin solution. The excitation spectrum of these products resembled that of hypericin. Hypericin appears to be more photostable than most sensitizers used in PDT, including mTHPC and Photofrin.     

PHOTODYNAMIC ACTION IN Stentor coeruleus SENSITIZED BY ENDOGENOUS PIGMENT STENTORIN

Abstract— Stentorin acts as the photoreceptor for the step-up photophobic and negative phototactic responses in Stentor coeruleus . The chromophore of stentorin appears to be hypericin which is linked to apoprotein. In addition to the photomovement responses of the organism, S. coeruleus was found to be photodynamically sensitive to light absorbed by the hypericin chromophore, as the apparent action spectrum for the photodynamic killing matches the absorption spectrum of stentorin. The protective effect of β-carotene and crocetin on the photodynamic killing of S. coeruleus suggests that singlet oxygen generated by the stentorin-sensitization plays an important role, according to the so-called Type II mechanism of photosensitization. The generation of singlet oxygen via hypericin triplet was confirmed by in vitro photooxidation of tryptophan as a substrate. The photodynamic killing was more effective in deuterium oxide than in H₂O in both the photosensitization by stentorin (endogenous) and added hypericin (exogenous). These results are consistent with the involvement of singlet oxygen in the photodynamic killing of S. coeruleus .     

Lens alpha-crystallin and hypericin: a photophysical mechanism explains observed lens

Determining whether alpha-crystallin (the major lens protein) affects the photophysics of hypericin, a photosensitizing agent found in various plants, such as St. John's Wort, is important. Hypericin shows promise in cancer and human immunodeficiency virus therapy but may harm individuals taking St. John's Wort extracts (for mild to moderate depression). Hypericin causes hypericism, which is characterized by cellular damage in light-exposed areas. Ocular tissues are at risk for photosensitized damage; thus, we investigated the effects on hypericin photophysics by alpha-crystallin. We measured the transient absorption spectra and the 1270 nm luminescence of singlet (1Deltag) oxygen produced from hypericin in the presence of alpha-crystallin. alpha-Crystallin complexes hypericin, extending the lifetime of its triplet excited state; the Stern-Volmer slope is negative, but not linear, after a saturation curve. Damage to the lens protein by hypericin is known to occur via singlet oxygen, which oxidizes methionine, tryptophan and histidine residues. Binding to alpha-crystallin does not inhibit singlet oxygen formation by hypericin. alpha-Crystallin reacts with singlet oxygen with a rate constant of 1.3 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1). Thus, we anticipate that hypericin will be an effective photosensitizer in the lens.     

单重态氧化学VIII.类卟啉稀土配合物光敏化产生单重态氧的ESR研究

用电子自旋共振(ESR)方法研究类卟啉稀土配合物([CO2H-APPC)Gd]Cl2)光敏产生单重态氧的II型机制。利用2,2, 6, 6-四甲基哌啶(TEMP)对单重态氧的捕捉, 测定所生成的氮氧自由基的ESR信号, 经加NaN3和CD3OD的实验, 证实了([CO2H-APPC)Gd]Cl2)光敏作用可有效地产生单重态氧, 并观察到在实验所用的浓度范围内, 随着光敏剂浓度加大, 生成的单重态氧也增加, 同时比较了几种不同稀土离子配合物产生单重态氧的差别。结合氧的消耗和氮氧自由基的ESR线宽变化对氧浓度的依赖性, 证明了类卟啉稀土配合物光敏化生成单态氧的II型反应在光动力光疗中起关键作用。     

ACTION SPECTRA FOR THE GENERATION OF SINGLET OXYGEN FROM MITOCHONDRIAL MEMBRANES FROM SOYBEAN (Glycine max) HYPOCOTYLS

Abstract— The action spectrum for the generation of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) from mitochondrial membranes under aerobic conditions was measured at wavelengths between 360 and 600 nm, using sub-mitochondrial particles (SMP) prepared from soybean hypocotyls. The spectrum, showing a peak at about 420 nm, remarkably resembles the absorption spectra of the Fe-S centers of nonheme iron proteins. Disruption of the Fe-S centers by treating SMP with mersalyl acid resulted in a substantial decrease in the efficiency of ¹O₂ generation, leaving an action spectrum whose pattern is significantly similar to the absorption spectrum of flavins, at least in the region of near UV and blue light wavelengths. Estimating the contribution of the Fe-S centers to the generation of ¹O₂ from SMP, we suggest that the Fe-S centers act as very important endogenous photosensitizers in plant cells, in so far as the type II mechanism is concerned. Possible involvement of mitochondrial flavoproteins in the generation of ¹O₂ is also discussed.     

Interaction of glutathione S-transferase with hypericin: A photophysical study

The photophysics of hypericin have been studied in its complex with two different isoforms, A1-1 and P1-1, of the protein glutathione S-transferase (GST). One molecule of hypericin binds to each of the two GST subunits. Comparisons are made with our previous results for the hypericin/human serum albumin complex (Photochem. Photobiol. 1999, 69, 633-645). Hypericin binds with high affinity to the GSTs: 0.65 microM for the A1-1 isoform and 0.51 microM for the P1-1 isoform (Biochemistry 2004, 43, 12761-12769). The photophysics and activity of hypericin are strongly modulated by the binding protein. Intramolecular hydrogen-atom transfer is suppressed in both cases. Most importantly, while there is significant singlet oxygen generation from hypericin bound to GST A1-1, binding to GST P1-1 suppresses singlet oxygen generation to almost negligible levels. The data are rationalized in terms of a simple model in which the hypericin photophysics depends entirely upon the decay of the triplet state by two competing processes, quenching by oxygen to yield singlet oxygen and ionization, the latter of these two are proposed to be modulated by A1-1 and P1-1.     

Toward hypericin-derived potential photodynamic therapy agents

To optimize a hypericin derivative as a potential photodynamic therapy agent its light-induced singlet oxygen/superoxide radical formation capability should be enhanced and its long-wavelength absorption band should be bathochromically shifted to better match medicinal lasers. A heavy-atom-substituted derivative was realized by electrophilic iodination of hypericin to yield 2,5-diiodo-hypericin. Using photodestruction of bilirubin IX alpha this derivative was demonstrated to exhibit an enhanced light-induced singlet oxygen/superoxide radical formation capability as compared to hypericin. With respect to a bathochromically shifted derivative styryl residues were attached to the methyl groups of hypericin by de novo ring synthesis. Although the long-wavelength absorption band of this derivative displayed a bathochromic shift of nearly 40 nm it unfortunately immediately underwent an intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition to yield the corresponding cyclobutane derivative in which the added conjugation system became interrupted.     

THE PHOTODYNAMIC EFFECT OF ROSE BENGAL ON PROTEINS OF THE MITOCHONDRIAL INNER MEMBRANE

Photodynamic action promoted by Rose Bengal was evaluated in solutions of unsaturated fatty acids or histidine, and on beef heart submitochondrial particles. Rose Bengal-promoted photooxidation of histidine was mainly due to the opening up of the imidazole ring by singlet oxygen. Photosensitization of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) resulted in oxygen consumption and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) formation, the extent of which was linearly related to the increasing degree of unsaturation. Photosensitization of submitochondrial particles caused oxygen consumption and TBARS production. These processes involved two different reaction components: during the first, most of the mitochondrial proteins were inactivated, the most sensitive being succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome c. The values for the rate ratios of [TBARS] formation/[O2] consumption for the first and second phase were 0.36 and 1.32%, respectively, pointing to a larger contribution of lipid peroxidation during the second phase. The calculation of the rate constants for reaction of singlet oxygen with mitochondrial proteins suggests that singlet oxygen is more reactive towards proteins than to PUFA. The biological role of this selectivity is discussed in terms of the mitochondria as one of the first targets for photosensitized reactions.     

One- and two-photon singlet oxygen generation with new fluorene-based photosensitizers.

The spectral properties of new fluorene-based photosensitizers for efficient singlet oxygen production are investigated at room temperature and 77 K. Two-photon absorption (2PA) cross-sections of the fluorene derivatives are measured by the open aperture Z-scan method. The quantum yields of singlet oxygen generation under one- and two-photon excitation (phi(delta) and 2PAphi(delta), respectively), are determined by the direct measurement of singlet oxygen luminescence at approximately 1270 nm. The values of phi(delta) are independent of excitation wavelength, ranging from 0.6-0.9. The singlet oxygen quantum yields under two-photon excitation are 2PAphi(delta) approximately 1/2 phi(delta), indicating that the two processes exhibit the same mechanism of singlet oxygen production, independent of the mechanism of photon absorption.     

Liposome binding constants and singlet oxygen quantum yields of hypericin, tetrahydroxy helianthrone and their derivatives: studies in organic solutions and in liposomes

The spectroscopy and photophysics of several hypericin and helianthrone derivatives were studied in methanol and when bound to liposomes. The singlet oxygen quantum yields (phi(delta)) were measured indirectly relative to Rose Bengal and hematoporphyrin IX, employing 9,10-dimethylanthracene as a singlet oxygen trap. Hypericin was found to have a phi(delta) of 0.39+/-0.01 in methanol, and 0.35+/-0.05 in lecithin vesicles, in agreement with literature values. A heavy atom effect was evident upon bromination, resulting in phi(delta) for tetrabromohypericin of 0.72+/-0.02, presumably due to enhanced intersystem crossing. Elimination of the anionic hydroxyls by methylation also enhanced phi(delta) to 0.81+/-0.01. Conversely, addition of anionic sulfate groups drastically reduced phi(delta) resulting in phi(delta)'s of 0.12+/-0.01, 0.052+/-0.003 and 0.40+/-0.01 for hypericin disulfonate, hypericin tetrasulfonate and hexamethyl hypericin tetrasulfonate, respectively. The non-sulfonated helianthrones exhibited low phi(delta)'s in solution. The liposome binding constants, Kb, were measured using a spectroscopic assay. Except for hexamethyl hypericin, all non-sulfonated compounds bound well with Kb's ranging from 15.5+/-0.1 to 48.7+/-3.9 (mg/ml)(-1). None of the tetrasulfonated compounds bound, however the hypericin disulfonate had a Kb of 4.1+/-0.2 (mg/ml)(-1). The phi(delta)'s of the compounds capable of binding were measured and, in the case of the hypericin derivatives, were found not to vary dramatically from those in the free state. Liposome-bound helianthrone and dimethyl tetrahydroxy helianthrone both exhibited high phi(delta)'s, i.e. >0.5. The variations in binding constant and sensitization efficiencies are explained in conjunction with the molecular structure. The relevance of the above data to photodynamic therapy is briefly discussed.     

Fringelite D, a Model of the Protist Photosensory Pigments of the Stentorinand Blepharismin Types: The Hypericinand Fringelite D PhotosensitizedDestruction of Bilirubin

 Using the hypericin and fringelite D photosensitized destruction of bilirubin together with fluorescence spectroscopy it was found that in contrast to fringelite D hypericin behaves as an effective photodynamic agent producing mainly singlet oxygen. This makes fringelite D and concomitantly the related stentorin and blepharismin pigments better suited for the photosensory transduction chain where, as shown recently, an initial proton expulsion reaction plays the fundamental role. Thus, in organisms using these photosensory pigments the production of deleterious oxygen species becomes diminished as compared to hypericin. In addition it was found that complexation with albumin further inhibits bilirubin destruction.     

Kinetics and Yield of Singlet Oxygen Photosensitized by Hypericin in Organic and Biological Media

The spectroscopy and photophysics of the photosensitizer hypericin when in homogeneous solutions and when bound to liposomes were studied. Hypericin was found to partition efficiently into DMPC liposomes, with a binding constant of 58 (mg lipid/mL)^?1. In these liposomes the singlet oxygen production quantum yield was 0.43 ± 0.09. To determine the deactivation constant of singlet oxygen in lipid bilayers for the first time, we calculated extrapolated values from its quenching by DMPC and lecithin in homogeneous solutions and obtained decay times of 36.4 and 12.2 μs, respectively. We also measured the quenching of singlet oxygen, sensitized by hypericin in DMPC liposomes, by NaN₃, diphenyl isobenzofuran and H₂,O: D₂O mixtures and explained the results on the basis of singlet oxygen diffusing rapidly out of the lipid bilayer into the aqueous medium. The observed temperature effect on the lifetime of singlet oxygen of about 50% over a 15°C range in liposome suspension contrasts with a 3% change in a homogeneous solution in 1-nonanol and is explained by the temperature effect on the diffusion out of the liposome. A strong pH effect was observed, indicating that the deprotonated species formed above about pH 10 is a much weaker photosensitizer of singlet oxygen than the native, protonated species.     

Release of Singlet Oxygen from Aromatic Endoperoxides by Chemical Triggers

The generation of reactive singlet oxygen under mild conditions is of current interest in chemistry, biology, and medicine. We were able to release oxygen from dipyridylanthracene endoperoxides (EPOs) by using a simple chemical trigger at low temperature. Protonation and methylation of such EPOs strongly accelerated these reactions. Furthermore, the methyl pyridinium derivatives are water soluble and therefore serve as oxygen carriers in aqueous media. Methylation of the EPO of the ortho isomer affords the parent form directly without increasing the temperature under very mild conditions. This exceptional behavior is ascribed to the close contact between the nitrogen atom and the peroxo group. Singlet oxygen is released upon this reaction, and can be used to oxygenate an acceptor such as tetramethylethylene in the dark with no heating. Thus, a new chemical source of singlet oxygen has been found, which is triggered by a simple stimulus.     

Calculation of singlet oxygen dose using explicit and implicit dose metrics during benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid ring A (BPD-MA)-PDT in vitro and correlation with MLL cell survival

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) oxygen consumption, clonogenic cell survival, fluorescence photobleaching and photoproduct formation were investigated during benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid (BPD-MA)-PDT of MAT-LyLu cells in vitro. Cells were incubated with BPD-MA concentrations of 0.1, 0.5 or 2.5 μg mL(-1) for 2 h and then treated with 405 nm light under oxygenated and hypoxic conditions. Fluorescence spectra were acquired during treatment, and photobleaching and photoproduct generation were quantified using singular value decomposition of the spectra. Cell survival was measured at set times during the treatment using a colony-forming assay. The amount of oxygen consumed by PDT per photon absorbed decreased with BPD-MA intracellular concentration. Survival was correlated with the total amount of oxygen consumed by PDT per unit volume, which is assumed to be equivalent to the amount of singlet oxygen that reacted. A photobleaching-based singlet oxygen dose metric was also found to predict survival independent of intracellular BPD-MA concentration. The BPD-MA photoproduct was bleached during the treatment. Two singlet oxygen dose metrics based on photoproduct kinetics could not be correlated with cell survival over the full range of intracellular BPD-MA concentrations used.     

INTERDEPENDENCE OF FLUENCE, DRUG DOSE and OXYGEN ON HEMATOPORPHYRIN DERIVATIVE INDUCED PHOTOSENSITIZATION OF TUMOR MITOCHONDRIA

Abstract— Studies were conducted to assess the interdependence of three discrete parameters known to influence hematoporphyrin derivative (Hpd)-induced photosensitization. The effects of fiuence, drug dose and oxygen environment were examined for their role in causing an inhibition of the activity of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase. Experiments were performed on R3230AC mammary tumor mitochondria in vitro and on mitochondria isolated from tumors of animals pre-treated with Hpd in vivo. Inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase activity was observed to be directly proportional to total energy density. Photosensitization was dependent on oxygen concentration, with total energy density dependent photosensitization being diminished in environments containing less than 5% oxygen. At 1% oxygen environments, photosensitization was significantly impaired and demonstrated no drug-dose relationship. These results suggest that tissue oxygen concentration may represent a critical factor for the therapeutic usefulness of Hpd photodynamic therapy in treatment of cancer.     

A new approach to measuring the action spectrum for singlet oxygen production by human retinal lipofuscin

The human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) layer contains a complex mixture of components called lipofuscin; this mixture forms with age and with various genetic disorders such as Stargardt's disease. Its presence may contribute to retinal deterioration via several mechanisms including photochemical processes. In the lipofuscin mixture, both type I and II mechanisms have been identified, with the latter consisting of the generation of singlet oxygen. Several components of that mixture have been identified, most notably a bis-retinoid pyridinium compound called A2E and its derivatives. Photo-oxidative studies on the compound A2E have revealed that its dominant photochemical mechanism is via free radical or type I processes. Because singlet oxygen is an important photooxidative intermediate in tissue, its generation in the RPE may contribute to retinal maculopathies. It is therefore necessary to determine which specific component(s) in the lipofuscin mixture produce singlet oxygen upon excitation with light. This was ascertained by evaluating the action spectrum for singlet oxygen production for the whole lipofuscin mixture using time-resolved spectroscopy. Singlet oxygen was generated by excitation of the sample at different wavelengths while maintaining a constant beam energy, and was directly detected by its phosphorescence decay at 1270 nm using a Ge photodiode. The action spectrum for singlet oxygen sensitization by the organic soluble portion of lipofuscin had an absorption maximum at ca 380 nm, which is to the blue of A2E (maximum at 430 nm). Compounds with a similar absorption maximum eluted in the HPLC earlier than A2E and were detected in human lipofuscin. The concentration of this component apparently increased in concentration in human RPE lipofuscin mixture as a function of age up to 90 years old.     

SPECTRAL ANALYSES OF LOW LEVEL CHEMILUMINESCENCE OF A SHORT LIFETIME USING A HIGHLY SENSITIVE POLYCHROMATIC SPECTROMETER INCORPORATING A TWO DIMENSIONAL PHOTON-COUNTING TYPE DETECTOR

Abstract— Spectral analyses of low level chemiluminescence were carried out by using a newly developed polychromatic spectrometer in which a diffracted photon emission was detected simultaneously using a two dimensional photon-counting device. The spectrometer was sensitive in the 400–800 nm wavelength range. Low level chemiluminescence generated in a 1 nM luminol solution could be detected as a spectrum, showing a peak at 430 nm. Short lifetime photon emission from singlet oxygen showed only two peaks at around 630 and 700 nm in this highly time-resolved spectroscopy. Lipid peroxidation of linoleic acid by the lipoxygenase emitted a low intensity peak centered at 440 nm, but singlet oxygen emission arising from the decomposition of lipid peroxide was not observed. An injured cotyledon of a soybean seedling gave a broad emission centered at 725 nm in the absence of hydrogen peroxide, while in its presence a different emission peak appeared at a shorter wavelength (515 nm). Oxygenated, fluorescent components in the soybean seedling may be the emitting species. Singlet oxygen and triplet carbonyl groups were shown to be unlikely sources of the emission.     

Fringelite D, a Model of the Protist Photosensory Pigments of the Stentorinand Blepharismin Types: The Hypericinand Fringelite D PhotosensitizedDestruction of Bilirubin

Summary.  Using the hypericin and fringelite D photosensitized destruction of bilirubin together with fluorescence spectroscopy it was found that in contrast to fringelite D hypericin behaves as an effective photodynamic agent producing mainly singlet oxygen. This makes fringelite D and concomitantly the related stentorin and blepharismin pigments better suited for the photosensory transduction chain where, as shown recently, an initial proton expulsion reaction plays the fundamental role. Thus, in organisms using these photosensory pigments the production of deleterious oxygen species becomes diminished as compared to hypericin. In addition it was found that complexation with albumin further inhibits bilirubin destruction. Received June 29, 2000. Accepted July 18, 2000     

Photodynamic effects induced by meso-tetrakis[4-(carboxymethyleneoxy)phenyl] porphyrin on isolated Sarcoma 180 ascites mitochondria.

Using mitochondria isolated from Sarcoma 180 ascites tumour in Swiss mice as a model system, we have evaluated the ability of a novel porphyrin, meso-tetrakis[4-(carboxymethyleneoxy)phenyl]porphyrin (H₂T4CPP), to induce damage on photosensitization. Oxidative damage to mitochondria, one of the primary and crucial targets of the photodynamic effect, is assessed by measuring products of lipid peroxidation such as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH), besides the loss of activity of the mitochondrial marker enzyme succinate dehydrogenase (SDH). Analysis of product formation, the effect of deuteration and selective inhibition by scavengers of reactive oxygen species (ROS) show that the damage observed is due mainly to singlet oxygen (¹O₂) and to a minor extent to hydroxyl radicals (^•OH). The ¹O₂ generation and triplet lifetime of this porphyrin have also been estimated. Fluorescence spectroscopy, used to ascertain the binding of this porphyrin to the mitochondrial proteins, shows a rapid association within 0–2 h and a decline thereafter. Confocal microscopy reveals intracellular localisation of this porphyrin in cells in vitro. Our overall results suggest that the porphyrin H₂T4CPP, due to its ability to bind to mitochondrial protein components and to generate ROS upon photoexcitation, may have potential applications in photodynamic therapy.     

The heterogeneous catalytic oxidation of propylene in the presence of singlet oxygen in the reaction mixture

Three methods for the introduction of singlet oxygen into the reaction mixture were tested, including thermal generation of singlet oxygen on the catalyst itself, the introduction of singlet oxygen from an external source, and photogeneration of singlet oxygen on the catalyst. Zeolites with admixtures of Mo, Bi, V, and Ni and SiO₂ with deposited Mo, V, and Bi were used. Common to all reactions was an increase in the yield of deep oxidation products in the presence of singlet oxygen. A sharp increase in the yield of mild oxidation products was observed in the oxidation of propylene on a Bi/SiO₂ catalyst. The generation of singlet oxygen under irradiation at 240–260 nm was found to cause deep oxidation only. Mild oxidation products could only form under the action of total mercury lamp light.