PHOTOREACTIVITY OF PHOTOTOXIC ANTIMALARIAL COMPOUNDS

Abstract— The photochemical reactivity of six phototoxic 2-arylquinolinemethanol antimalarials was examined to understand the chemical mechanism of reaction that causes the in vivo phototoxicity. All of these compounds were found to be photochemically reactive, giving products of photochemical fragmentation involving cleavage of the side chain. The products which are formed, the variation in product distribution with change of solvent and presence of thiols, and photolyses in deuterium-labeled solvents indicate that free radicals are involved in the photofragmentation. There is a good correlation between the quantum efficiency of the photofragmentation reaction and the phototoxicity of the compounds; the more phototoxic compounds react most efficiently, while the less phototoxic compounds react less efficiently. It appears that in vivo free radical reactions caused by the photofragmentation of these compounds are the source of their phototoxicity.     

PHOTOSENSITIZED LYSIS OF LIPOSOMES BY HEMATOPORPHYRIN DERIVATIVE

The spectral properties and efficiency for photosensitizing the lysis of phosphatidylcholine liposomes have been measured for the components of hematoporphyrin derivative (Hpd) after alkaline hydrolysis and fractionation by polyacrylamidc gel chromatography. Two major and two minor Hpd fractions have been identified whose spectral properties correlate with the anoxic sensitizing efficiency and the oxygen enhancement ratio (OER). The fastest moving fraction, which is the putative biologically active component, comprised one-third of the starting material and had OER = 2.7. Liposome lysis by this fraction was inhibited in the presence of human serum albumin at concentration ratios comparable to those employed for photoradiation therapy. The present results show that Hpd can act as an oxic and anoxic photosensitizer of a model biomembrane and suggest that separation from serum proteins is required for in vivo photosensitization.     

PHOTOPRODUCTS OF CHLORPROMAZINE WHICH CAUSE RED BLOOD CELL LYSIS

A mechanism for chlorpromazine (CPZ) phototoxicity has been proposed that attributes the response to formation of stable, toxic photoproducts which cause cell membrane disruption. We have characterized these toxic photoproducts as dimers and higher multimers of CPZ. Chlorpromazine solutions (3 or 10 mA/) were irradiated with a medium pressure Hg lamp filtered to exclude λ < 280 nm. Five low mol wt photoproducts were separated by high performance liquid chromatography. Two were identified as CPZ-sulfoxide and promazine. Higher mol wt photoproducts were separated by Sephadex G-50 chromatography into 3 broad bands which were characterized by their absorption and fluorescence spectra. Band A (mol wt > 800) had λ_max^abs= 263 nm, λ_max^fl= 490 nm and Band B (mol wt = 350-800) had λ_max^abs= 255 nm, λ_max^fl= 450 nm. Based on the mol wt of CPZ, Band A contained trimers and higher mol wt compounds and Band B was composed of dimeric structures. BandC(λ_max^abs= 255,310 nm; λ_max^fl= 445 nm) was composed of CPZ (mol wt = 315) and the low mol wt photoproducts. Red blood cell lysis was used as an assay for the ability of photoproducts to cause membrane disruption. Bands A and B, but not Band C, caused cell lysis. These data indicate that the CPZ photoproducts which cause cell membrane disruption are dimers (Band B) and higher multimers (Band A).     

PHOTOSENSITIZED INACTIVATION OF CHINESE HAMSTER CELLS BY PHTHALOCYANINES

Chloroaluminum phthalocyanine was found to sensitize cultured Chinese hamster cells upon exposure to white fluorescent light. Elimination of wavelengths below 370 nm did not reduce the effect significantly, indicating that the effective wavelengths were those absorbed by the Q band (600–700 nm) of phthalocyanine. The magnitude of the photosensitizing effect increased with the dye concentration and the time of its contact with the cells prior to light exposure. Although photosensitization was drastically reduced in the absence of oxygen, the lack of effect of glycerol and D₂0 during exposure suggests that neither hydroxyl radicals nor ¹O₂ are responsible for the cytotoxic response. The efficiency of the photosensitized induced cell killing did not vary with the position of the cells in the cell cycle, in contrast to exposure to X-rays. The improved spectral properties, the reported low toxicity and the selective retention by neoplasms, make phthalocyanines promising candidates for use in photodynamic therapy of cancer.     

THE ROLE OF SINGLET OXYGEN IN THE PHOTOHEMOLYSIS OF RED BLOOD CELLS SENSITIZED BY PHTHALOCYANINE SULFONATES

Abstract The post-illumination photohemolysis of human red blood cells was used as a model system for studying membrane damage sensitized by various phthalocyanine sulfonates. With a constant fluence and photolysis time at 670 ± 10 nm and with a fixed optical density of the sensitizer, the percentage of hemolysis was measured as a function of time after illumination; and from the usual sigmoidal shaped curves, the times for 50% hemolysis were determined. The most effective central cation was Al, followed by Zn; the metal-free compound and those containing the paramagnetic ions Cu, Fe and Co were inactive. The sensitizer bound to the red blood cells was found to be effective for photohemolysis. Studies of the Al compound in 98.0% deuterated media (as measured by NMR) showed a definite deuterium isotope effect, suggesting the participation of singlet oxygen. This result was supported by the large protective effects of 3.3 raM and 13.3 mM tryptophan present during photolysis. Tryptophan reacts rapidly with singlet oxygen and with OH radicals. The much smaller effects observed with the same concentrations of mannitol and glycerol, OH radical scavengers which do not react with singlet oxygen, are consistent with the predominant role of singlet oxygen in photohemolysis sensitized by Al phthalocyanine sulfonate.     

HYDRODYNAMIC EFFECTS IN THE PHOTOSENSITIZED LYSIS OF LIPOSOMES*

Abstract— The photosensitized lysis of phosphatidylcholine liposomes incorporating methylene blue in the membrane or in the presence of external methylene blue is promoted by hydrodynamic agitation concurrent with or subsequent to irradiation with red light. The results implicate the attack of singlet oxygen on an unsaturated lipid component as the key photochemical step, which is followed by additional membrane damage induced by hydrodynamic action.     

TYPE I AND TYPE II MECHANISMS IN THE PHOTOSENSITIZED LYSIS OF PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE LIPOSOMES BY HEMATOPORPHYRIN

Abstract The lysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes was sensitized to visible light (>500nm) by hematoporphyrin (HP) incorporated in the liposomes (0.09-1.5%, wt/wt) or in the external buffer (1-15 μM). The lytic mechanism changed from the Type II pathway mediated by singlet oxygen (¹O₂) at low HP concentrations to the anoxic, Type I pathway at high HP concentrations. Spectral measurements of HP in aqueous and organic solvents indicate that the HP was not aggregated (monomers and/or dimers) for Type II sensitization and aggregated for Type I conditions. High concentrations of azide (>0.1 M) or DABCO (>0.5 M) were protective with high HP concentration under oxic and anoxic conditions, which cannot involve the scavenging of ¹O₂. Feasible protective mechanisms are quenching of the HP triplet state by high azide and repair of the damaged membrane by DABCO via an electron transfer process. There was significant protection against lysis under Type I conditions by low concentrations of ferricyanide (>1 mM), indicative of an electron transfer mechanism. The incorporation of 22 mol % cholesterol in PC liposomes with 1% HP had no effect on the lytic efficiency for oxic and anoxic conditions. Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes incorporating 1% HP showed negligible photosensitized lysis at 50°C compared with PC liposomes with 1% HP at 25°C. The promotion of photosensitized lysis by hydrodynamic agitation observed in prior work with methylene blue (Grossweiner and Grossweiner, 1982) was significant with HP sensitization for both Type I and Type II conditions. Actinometry with PC liposomes incorporating 1% HP indicated that photosensitized lysis was very inefficient, requiring many absorbed quanta per lysed liposome. Preliminary experiments with crude hematoporphyrin derivative (Hpd) showed similar concentration effects on lytic efficiency, where PC liposomes incorporating 0.1% (wt/wt) Hpd were strongly sensitized by oxygen, whereas sensitization by oxygen was insignificant with 3.1% Hpd. The results with HP and crude Hpd indicate that lytic damage in a biomembrane does not necessarily require oxygenation.     

THE EFFECT OF IRRADIANCE ON VIRUS STERILIZATION AND PHOTODYNAMIC DAMAGE IN RED BLOOD CELLS SENSITIZED BY PHTHALOCYANINES

Abstract— Phthalocyanines are being studied as photosensitizers for virus sterilization of red blood cells (RBC). During optimization of the reaction conditions, we observed a marked effect of the irradiance on production of RBC damage. Using a broad-band light source (600–700 nm) between 5 and 80 mW/ cm², there was an inverse relationship between irradiance and rate of photohemolysis. This effect was observed with aluminum sulfonated phthalocyanine (AlPcS_n) and cationic silicon (HOSiPc-OSi[CH₃]₂ [CH₂]₃N⁺[CH₃]₃I^- phthalocyanine (Pc5) photosensitizers. The same effect occurred when the reduction of RBC negative surface charges was used as an endpoint. Under the same treatment conditions, vesicular stomatitis virus inactivation rate was unaffected by changes in the irradiance. Reduction in oxygen availability for the photochemical reaction at high irradiance could explain the effect. However, theoretical estimates suggest that oxygen depletion is minimal under our conditions. In addition, because the rate of photohemolysis at 80 mW/cm² was not increased when irradiations were carried out under an oxygen atmosphere this seems unlikely. Likewise, formation of singlet oxygen dimoles at high irradiances does not appear to be involved because the effect was unchanged when light exposure was in D₂O. While there is no ready explanation for this irradiance effect, it could be used to increase the safety margin of RBC virucidal treatment by employing exposure at high irradiance, thus minimizing the damage to RBC.     

PHOTOSENSITIZED OXIDATION OF BIOMATERIALS and RELATED MODEL COMPOUNDS

Aluminium trisulfonatophthalocyanine (A1PCS), a dye being widely advocated for use in photodynamic therapy, produces singlet oxygen with a quantum yield of 0.34 in oxygenated water at pH 7. Triplet A1PCS abstracts an electron from a variety of amines and phenols, the rate of electron transfer depending upon the thermodynamic driving force, forming the A1PCS radical anion. This latter species reduces molecular oxygen to superoxide ions with high efficiency. The triplet state also abstracts an electron from biological components, including NADH, vitamin C, cysteine, methionine, tyrosine, tryptophan, uracil, and guanine, but not from DNA. These results suggest that photoinduced electron abstraction from appropriate biomaterials could compete with singlet oxygen production under in vivo conditions.     

PHOTOSENSITIZED DEGRADATION OF DNA BY DAUNOMYCIN

Abstract Visible irradiation of DNA-daunomycin solutions resulted in a decrease of viscosity of the DNA and an increase of the rate of denaturation of DNA in formaldehyde. These changes are consistent with the induction of single-strand breaks in the DNA, some of which pair to cause fragmentation of the DNA. The DNA damage increases with drug: nucleotide ratio up to 0.2 and is diminished beyond that range. The damage also increases with ionic strength up to 0.6 M and is diminished above that value. These results suggest that the non-intercalated form of the drug is involved in the photosensitization process. Radicals that are produced accompanying the degradation have been trapped by 5,5-dimeth-yl-l-pyrroline-1-oxide and identified as hydroxyl radicals from their ESR spectrum. The DNA photosensitized damage is completely inhibited when hydroxyl radicals are removed by the spin-trap, suggesting a direct role for the hydroxyl radicals in the DNA photosensitized degradation process. The implications of the photosensitized DNA damage and the production of hydroxyl radicals in this process are discussed with respect to the medical uses and chemotherapeutic role of daunomycin.     

PHOTOINACTIVATION OF CHINESE HAMSTER CELLS BY HEMATOPORPHYRIN DERIVATIVE AND RED LIGHT

Abstract— The use of hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) has previously been demonstrated to be beneficial in clinical cancer therapy. This paper describes cell culture studies used to examine HpD phototherapy in Chinese hamster ovary cells (line CHO). Survival curves have been obtained for both direct HpD toxicity and HpD induced photoinactivation. Examination of HpD induced photoinactivation as a function of stage in the cell growth cycle has also been performed, as has the quantitative measurement of HpD uptake in cells (using ³H-HpD) as a function of cellular incubation time, serum concentration in the incubation medium, and cell cycle position. In the absence of light, no toxicity was observed for HpD incubation levels of up to 400 μg/m/ when incubations times were 3 h or less. Exposure of cells to light alone (> 590 nm, 4.0 mW/cm²) for 9 min was also found to be completely nontoxic. Survival curves obtained for exponentially growing cells labeled with various concentrations of HpD and subsequently illuminated with red light exhibited a threshold or shoulder region at short exposure times followed by exponential killing at longer exposure times. The cell cycle response curves for HpD induced photoinactivation of synchronized CHO cells was nearly flat, indicating no variation in sensitivity for cells treated at time periods from 6 to 15 h after mitosis. Additon of serum to the incubation medium resulted in improved plating efficiency and reproducible survival curves but decreased cellular uptake of HpD.     

THE EFFECT OF PROTOPORPHYRIN ON HISTAMINE SECRETION BY RAT PERITONEAL MAST CELLS: A DUAL PHOTOTOXIC REACTION

Abstract— Protoporphyrin-induced phototoxicity in rat peritoneal mast cells was manifested either by inhibition of 48/80-stimulated histamine secretion or by cell lysis. At a protoporphyrin concentration of 100ng/m/ (0.17 μM), histamine secretion was completely inhibited after 30min illumination. After initiation, the inhibited state progressed in the dark, and was irreversible, however, it did not develop into cell lysis. More severe phototoxic reactions in mast cells could not be produced by increasing the PP concentration or the incubation time; however, cell lysis was evoked by increasing the light intensity between 180–950W/m², using a light source with emission maxima in the 350–470nm region. Dual phototoxic effects could also be demonstrated in erythrocytes by manipulating the illumination conditions. Increased resistance to osmotic lysis was seen under moderate conditions, and decreased resistance and cell lysis were seen under severe conditions. In the absence of protoporphyrin, the effect of light alone on mast cells was similar to protoporphyrin-phototoxicity, although the light intensities required were higher both for inhibition (60–130W/m²) and lysis (280–950W/m²). The data therefore indicate that certain cell functions can be specifically disrupted by phototoxic reactions that are not cytotoxic; however, phototoxic reactions that lead to severe membrane protein denaturation and cell lysis also occur. The manifestation of these dual effects depends on the intensity of illumination in the 350–470nm region.     

MEASUREMENT OF CELL LYSIS BY LIGHT SCATTERING

Abstract— A method is presented which is capable of continuously monitoring the degree of hemolysis in erythrocyte suspensions too dilute to be monitored by conventional light transmission techniques. Scattered light is used to non-destructively assess hemolysis in sparse monolayers which are particularly well suited to many photohemolytic studies. The small angle scattering (<10°), measured here, shows a transient decline as cells settle in a culture dish and then is constant if no lysis occurs. Lysis is indicated by a decrease in scattered light to < 20% of initial intensity when lysis is complete. The light used to monitor lysis is restricted to wavelengths longer than 700 nm which is outside the absorption band of many. photosensitizers of current interest, and is a wavelength range at which light scattering is relatively independent of changes in cell volume. In photohemolytic studies with phloxine B lysis values from light scattering are shown to correlate well with lysis values from hemoglobin release. An apparatus is described which is capable of periodically measuring lysis in eight suspensions without intervention by the experimenter.     

INACTIVATION OF GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA BY PHOTOSENSITIZED PORPHYRINS

Photosensitization of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells by deuteroporphyrin (DP) is shown to be possible in the presence of the polycationic agent polymyxin nonapeptide (PMNP). Previous studies established complete resistance of Gram-negative bacteria to the photodynamic effects of porphyrins. The present results show that combined treatment of E. coli or P. aeruginosa cultures with DP and PMNP inhibit cell growth and viability. No antibacterial activity of PMNP alone could be demonstrated and cell viability remained unchanged. Spectroscopically, PMNP was found to bind DP, a mechanism which probably assists its penetration into the cell's membranes. Insertion of DP into the cells was monitored by the characteristic fluorescence band of bound DP at 622 nm. Binding times were 5-40 min and the extent of binding increased with decreasing the pH from 8.5 to 6.5. DP binding constants, as well as the concentrations of PMNP which were required for maximal effect on the various Gram-negative bacteria, were determined fluorometrically. By the treatment of DP, PMNP and light the growth of E. coli and P. aeruginosa cultures was stopped and the viability of the culture was dramatically reduced. Within 60 min of treatment the survival fraction of E. coli culture was 9 x 10(-6) and that of P. aeruginosa was 5.2 x 10(-4). Electron microscopy depicted ultrastructural alterations in the Gram-negative cells treated by DP and PMNP. The completion of cell division was inhibited and the chromosomal domain was altered markedly.     

COOPERATION OF QUERCETIN WITH ASCORBATE IN THE PROTECTION OF PHOTOSENSITIZED LYSIS OF HUMAN ERYTHROCYTES IN THE PRESENCE OF HEMATOPORPHYRIN

Abstract— Quercetin(20–100 μ M ) suppressed photohemolysis sensitized by hematoporphyrin, while ascorbate(10–100 μ M ) stimulated it. However, in the presence of 40 μ M quercetin, ascorbate promoted the suppression. The suppression by quercetin was due to scavenging of both singlet oxygen generated by a photosensitized reaction and radicals generated by decomposition of lipid peroxides formed by a singlet oxygen-dependent reaction. In scavenging, quercetin was oxidized and the oxidation was suppressed by ascorbate. Ascorbate was oxidized by illumination in the presence of quercetin. It is suggested that the cooperation of quercetin with ascorbate in photohemolysis is due to reduction of oxidized quercetin by ascorbate regenerating the flavonol.     

EFFECTS OF DMSO ON THE PROPERTIES OF RED BLOOD CELLS I. INTERACTION WITH LANTHANUM IONS AND FLOCCULATION

The binding of lanthanum Ions onto the surfaces of fixed turkey, chicken, horse and dog cells was studied electrophoretl-cally, in the presence and in the absence of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Charge reversal concentrations and electrochemical free energies of lanthanum ion adsorption were calculated. The surfaces responded differently to lanthanum ion binding with each addition of DMSO. Flocculation studies revealed that rapid flocculation of turkey cells occurred when the zeta potential had dropped to-8.1 mV, at an effective Hamaker coefficient of 13.15 × 10^-23. Even at zero van der Waals attraction, the admixture of lanthanum nitrate could cause flocculation of turkey cells. It is concluded that the cells flocculated by trivalent cation bridging, with little or no contribution of van der Waals-London attraction at the primary minimum.     

PHOTOSENSITIZED REDUCTION OF PYRIMIDINE BASES BY TRYPTOPHAN*

Abstract— Thymine and uracil were chemically altered when irradiated with UV light in aqueous solution containing tryptophan as a photosensitizer. The reaction is inhibited by oxygen and is therefore not an example of photodynamic action. Unlike the pyrimidine bases, purine bases were not altered under similar reaction conditions. Two major photoproducts were identified. One of the products was identified as the reduced base, dihydrouracil or dihydrothymine. The quantum yield for formation of dihydrouracil was 0.24 times 10^--⁴ to 13.6 times 10^--⁴, depending upon the concentrations of uracil and the reaction temperature. Radical scavengers such as cysteine and nitrous oxide decreased the rate of dihydrouracil formation. Other indole compounds also sensitized the photoreduction of uracil, their quantum yields ranging from <1 × 10^--⁵ for tryptamine to 1.3 times 10^--³ for indole-3-acetic acid. A reaction mechanism is presented whereby the pyrimidines are reduced by electron transfer from a metastable charge transfer complex originating from the first excited singlet state of tryptophan.     

PHOTOSENSITIZED INACTIVATION OF E. COLI CELLS IN TOLUIDINE BLUE-LIGHT SYSTEM

E. coli cells were inactivated with visible light in the presence of toluidine blue as a photo-sensitizer. This photodynamic effect was partially protected with α-tocopherol. Not only pH but the concentration of the buffer during irradiation also affected the survival. The addition of osmotic stabilizers such as KCI, glycerol and polyethyleneglycol to the buffer increased the survival. The difference in singlet oxygen production in these reaction mixtures could not be related to these features. Furthermore, the survival was also dependent upon both irradiation temperature and cultivation temperature of the cells. These results with E. coli cells support the notion that one of the primary targets of toluidine blue sensitized photodynamic inactivation is cytoplasmic membrane, although other factors than cytoplasmic membrane also influence the survival of the cells.     

PHOTOSENSITIZED DEAMINATION OF SULFUR-AMINO ACIDS BY FLAVIN MONONUCLEOTIDE*

Abstract— S-Methylcysteine, methionine and cystine were found to be photochemically deaminated at a much higher rate than methionine sulfoxide, homomethionine and other non-sulfur amino acids in the presence of flavin mononucleotide. These data strongly support the view that the initial oxidation of those sulfur-amino acids by the photoactivated flavin is a one-electron abstraction from the sulfur atom followed by an intramolecular electron transfer from the carboxyl anion of the amino acid to the sulfinium radical, resulting in the decarboxylation-deamination.     

MODULATION BY THIOLS OF THE MEROCYANINE 540-SENSITIZED PHOTOLYSIS OF LEUKEMIA CELLS, RED CELLS, AND Herpes simplex VIRUS TYPE 1

This paper reports on the role of endogenous and exogenous thiols in the merocyanine 540 (MC 540)-sensitized photoirradiation of L1210 leukemia cells, human erythrocytes, and human Herpes simplex virus type 1. Several measures taken to decrease the intracellular content of glutathione enhanced the cells' sensitivity to MC 540-sensitized photoirradiation while stimulation of glutathione biosynthesis or supplementation of the extracellular or extraviral thiol content decreased the photosensitivity of cells and viruses. Taken together, these data suggest that endogenous and exogenous thiols can modulate the sensitivity of cells and enveloped viruses to MC 540-sensitized photoirradiation. They also pose new questions as to the mechanism of MC 540-sensitized photolysis.