Apoptosis in leukocytes induced by UVA in the presence of 8-methoxypsoralen,chlorpromazine or 4,6,4'-trimethylangelicin

Although 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) has been successfully used in extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) of several T cell-mediated diseases, the exact mechanism of the drug therapeutic action has not been established. We have studied in vitro apoptotic activity of 8-MOP, and for comparison of 4,6,4'-trimethylangelicin (TMA) and chlorpromazine (CPZ) as alternative photosensitizers for potential use in photopheresis. However, while 8-MOP and CPZ are known for their immune suppressive activity, TMA does not exhibit such an activity in an animal model for ECP. Apoptosis and necrosis were measured in both Jurkat cells and primary rat leukocytes under conditions comparable to those used in the animal model to suppress contact hypersensitivity (CHS). Cells were irradiated with UVA (200 kJ/m(2)) after treatment with 8-MOP, CPZ or TMA (300 ng/ml). Flow cytometric analysis (annexin-V-FLUOS/propidium iodide) and fluorescence microscopy examinations, using acridine orange/propidium iodide, indicated that the number of cells undergoing apoptosis or necrosis increased significantly after 24 h following treatment. Similar results were observed irrespective of the cell type and photosensitizer used. The results of the present study, combined with previous observations with the animal model for ECP, suggest that apoptosis is not likely to be a critical step in the cascade of events leading to immunosuppression.     

Photobinding of 8-methoxypsoralen, 4,6,4'-trimethylangelicin and chlorpromazine to Wistar rat epidermal biomacromolecules in vivo.

Photoinduced binding of drugs to endogenous biomacromolecules may cause both toxic and therapeutic effects. For example, photobinding of certain phenothiazines to biomolecules possibly underlies their phototoxic and photoallergic potential, whereas photobinding of furocoumarins to epidermal DNA is held responsible for their advantageous effects in the photochemotherapy of psoriasis. Usually, the in vitro photobinding of drugs is investigated. However, under in vivo conditions, the metabolism and distribution of the drug and the light absorption by endogenous compounds will significantly affect the photobinding of drugs to biomolecules. Therefore, in the present study, the photobinding of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP), 4,6,4'-trimethylangelicin (TMA) (two therapeutically used furocoumarins) and chlorpromazine (CPZ) (a member of the phenothiazines) was investigated in vivo. The compounds were applied topically on the shaven skin of Wistar rats; one group was exposed to UVA and the other was kept in a dimly lit environment. Immediately, and at certain time intervals after UVA exposure, members of the two groups were sacrificed. By separating epidermal lipids, DNA/RNA and proteins by a selective extraction method, irreversible binding of 8-MOP, TMA or CPZ to each of these biomacromolecules was determined. In contrast with in vitro experiments, photobinding of CPZ to epidermal DNA/RNA was not found in vivo; apparently the bioavailability in the nucleus is very low. Compared with TMA, 8-MOP was observed to bind more extensively to epidermal DNA/RNA (again in contrast with findings from in vitro experiments) and proteins, but less extensively to lipids. The rates of removal of photobound 8-MOP and TMA were comparable. Photobound CPZ was more slowly removed from epidermal proteins and lipids than the furocoumarins. The observed in vivo photobinding is discussed with respect to the UVA-induced (side) effects of these drugs.     

Phototoxicity, distribution and kinetics of association of UVA-activated chlorpromazine, 8-methoxypsoralen, and 4,6,4'-trimethylangelicin in Jurkat cells

Extracorporeal phototherapy (ECP) is a therapeutic approach based on photobiological effects of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) on white blood cells isolated from the blood, exposed to UVA and then reinfused into the patient. 8-MOP is presently the only drug approved for clinical application of ECP; therefore, identification of other photosensitizers with better photochemical and pharmacokinetic properties might enhance the efficacy of this treatment modality. Among such alternative drugs are 4,6,4'-trimethylangelicin (TMA) and chlorpromazine (CPZ), which have previously been studied in an animal model for ECP. In this current study, cellular bioavailability of 8-MOP, TMA and CPZ was investigated in vitro, using low doses of UVA relevant for the clinical setting of ECP. Our fluorescence microscopy study revealed that 8-MOP and CPZ penetrated readily into the cells, where they accumulated with similar kinetics. No distinct fluorescence was observed in cells incubated with TMA. We found that the phototoxic efficiency of 8-MOP was an order of magnitude greater than that of CPZ, i.e., to obtain a similar reduction in survival of cells subjected to photosensitization by the drugs, the concentration of CPZ needed to be 10 times higher than that of 8-MOP. The photoactivated TMA exhibited the highest pro-apoptotic efficiency. A clear indication of photoinduced formation of reactive oxygen species and peroxidation of lipids was observed only in CPZ-sensitized cells, suggesting different mechanisms for phototoxicity mediated by CPZ and by the two furocoumarins.     

Photophysical Properties and Photobiological Activity of the Furanochromones Visnagin and Khellin

The larger photobiological activity of visnagin (VI) versus khellin (KH) toward several living organisms, including fungi, viruses, yeasts and bacteria, induced a detailed investigation of the photophysical properties of these naturally occurring furanochromones, using laser-flash-photolysis, photoacoustic calorimetry and fluorescence (steady-state and time-resolved) techniques in solvents with different polarity and content of water, including micelles and vesicles. The results have shown that the magnitude of all the three rate constants out of S₁ (radiative, k_f; internal conversion, k_ic and intersystem crossing, k_isc) for VI and KH strongly depend on the solvent, namely on its hydrogen bonding ability and polarity. The changes of k_f and k_isc are due to the solvent-assisted mixing and/or inversion of the two first singlet excited states (¹n,π* and ¹π,π*), while k_ic increases with a decrease of the S_o–S₁ energy gap. As a consequence, the quantum yield of triplet formation (φ_T) strongly decreases from values of ?0.8 in dioxane to < 0.05 in water for both compounds. The magnitude of solvent polarity/hydrogen bonding ability required, at which the state order is inverted and φ_T starts to decrease, is greater for VI than for KH and consequently φ_T (VI) > φ_T (KH) over a broad range of water content including that appropriate to the environment of the compounds in a living system. These facts account for the larger photobiological activity of VI with respect to KH, regarding both the fungus Fusarium culmorum L. and the wild strain of Escherichia coli, studied by us.     

Photochemistry and Photobiological Properties of Dicloran, a Postharvest Fungicide with Photosensitizing Side Effects

Photochemical and laser flash photolysis studies on dicloran have shown that this fungicide undergoes photo-reactions such as photoreduction of the nitro group and homolytic rupture of the C-NH₂ bond. Dramatic changes in the dicloran photoreactivity by the influence of the solvents have been observed. More efficient photodegradation of this fungicide was observed in diethyl ether and chloroform than in methanol or acetonitrile. Photoreduction of the nitro group from the dicloran triplet state seems to be the most important photodegradation path-way in solvents of low polarity. Hydrogen abstraction by the triplet state or the intermediate radicals appears to be in the origin of linoleic acid peroxidations photosensitized by dicloran. The photohemolysis assay has been used, as an in vitro phototoxicity test, to demonstrate the involvement of radical-mediated cellular membrane damage in dicloran photosensitization.     

Photobiological properties of hydroxy-substituted flavothiones

Flavothione (FT) and a series of 18 hydroxy- and methoxy-substituted flavothiones were screened for photobiological activity. The 5-hydroxy-substituted compounds (group 3) and the methoxy-substituted flavothiones were inactive. FT and the remaining hydroxy-substituted compounds, all displayed photobiological activity. Among these, the 3-hydroxy-substituted compounds (group 2) were the most efficient photosensitizers overall in spite of their concurrent fast photodegradation. FT and all other hydroxyflavothiones, not substituted in the 3- or 5-positions (group 1), were inefficient compared with group 2. Detailed photobiological tests were carried out for four flavothiones of groups 1 and 2. The biological tests included fungi, several strains of Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and mammalian cells. In addition, the ability of these flavothiones to perform lipid peroxidation was evaluated. FT and 6-hydroxyflavothione (group 1) induce DNA damage via H-atom abstraction from the lowest n, pi* triplet state of the thione (oxygen independent). For 3-hydroxy and 3,6-dihydroxyflavothione (group 2), both DNA and the membrane are targets. The mechanism likely involves both energy transfer and electron transfer from the lowest pi, pi* triplet state to oxygen, to form singlet oxygen and the superoxide anion. Some of these compounds could be considered as models for environmentally safe photopesticides.     

竹红菌乙素镁、锌配位聚合物的光物理和光生物性质

竹红菌乙素(HB)能与Mg2+和Zn2+形成重复单元数为5-20的配位聚合物(Mg2+-HB,Zn2+-HB),利用紫外-可见(UV-Vis)吸收光谱,傅里叶变换红外(FTIR)光谱,核磁共振氢谱(1H NMR)对其进行了表征.Mg2+-HB和Zn2+-HB的单重态氧量子产率分别为HB的1.2倍和0.42倍.瞬态吸收实验表明:氧气能够猝灭Mg2+-HB和Zn2+-HB的三重态,其效率可超过96％.系间窜越效率(φT)和将能量传递给氧气并能产生单重态氧的三重态光敏剂的比例(fT△)对HB及其金属配合物的单重态氧量子产率有较大影响.电子自旋共振(EPR)实验结果表明:Mg2+-HB和Zn2+-HB产生半醌负离子自由基的能力较弱,进而降低了Mg2+-HB和Zn2+-HB光敏产生超氧负离子自由基的能力.紫外-可见吸收光谱与小牛胸腺脱氧核糖核酸(CT DNA)熔链温度实验表明:Mg2+-HB和Zn2+-HB可通过静电作用与DNA结合.有氧条件下,Mg2+-HB,HB和Zn2+-HB对小牛胸腺DNA的光敏损伤效率分别为32％,25％和22％.活性氧猝灭实验表明Mg2+-HB主要通过单重态氧光敏损伤DNA.     

Microenvironment Effects on the Excited State Properties of Psoralens: a Clue to Their Photobiological Activity

Abstract— The singlet and triplet excited state parameters (φ_f, T_f and SpH_T) of psoralen (PSO) and derivatives 4,6,4'-trimeth-ylangelicin (TMA) and 4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen (TMP) show an extreme sensitivity to solvation in dioxane/water mixtures. These effects are attributed to the variation of the Si → S₀ internal conversion rate constant k_ic , which is the nonradiative deactivation path dominating their photophysical behavior. Depending on the compound, k_ic is very high, (∼1 times 10¹⁰ s^_1) in nonpolar solvents and then decreases to a low value (3 times 10⁸s⁻¹) with increasing solvent polarity. This work shows that dioxane/water mixtures display the same solvent-induced changes in the electronic structure of psoralens during solvation as those induced by the biological microenvironment sensed by the drug's localization. This mixture matches the photophysical parameters of psoralens observed in protic and aprotic pure solvents, in micelles, in liposomes and in human serum low-density lipoproteins (LDL). They can be used to probe the solvating ability of the interaction site in macrocyclic hosts. A particular localization site, i.e. the more (TMA and TMP) or less (PSO) lipophilic sites found when in interaction with LDL, determines the amount of the triplet reactive state of psoralens and the molecular mechanism available for photoreac-tion: oxic (type I and type II) or anoxic (type III) pathways.     

Photodimerization of 4,6,4′-trimethylangelicin and 6,5-Dimethylangelicin

4,6,4'-Trimethylangelicin and 6,5'-dimethylangelicin form C4-cyclodimers when irradiated in water-ethanol solution. The former compound yields a pyrone-pyrone dimer similar to that formed by psoralens. 6,5'-Dimethylangelicin forms both pyrone-pyrone and pyrone-furan dimers; this unusual dimer has the cis-syn configuration.     

Photobiological Origins of the Field of Genomic Maintenance

Although sunlight is essential for life on earth, the ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths in its spectrum constitute a major threat to life. Various cellular responses have evolved to deal with the damage inflicted in DNA by UV, and the study of these responses in model systems has spawned the burgeoning field of DNA repair. Although we now know of many types of deleterious alterations in DNA, the approaches for studying them and the early mechanistic insights have come in large part from pioneering research on the processing of UV‐induced bipyrimidine photoproducts in bacteria. It is also notable that UV was one of the first DNA damaging agents for which exposure was directly linked to cancer; the sun‐sensitive syndrome, xeroderma pigmentosum, was the first example of a cancer‐prone hereditary disease involving a defect in DNA repair. We provide a short history of advances in the broad field of genomic maintenance as they have emerged from research in photochemistry and photobiology.     

Photobiological information obtained from XPA gene-deficient mice

The XPA gene-deficient mouse, an animal model of xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), develops enhanced photobiologic reactions including acute inflammation, immunosuppression and skin carcinogenesis, because of the defect in the excision repair of ultraviolet-induced DNA lesions. The results strongly suggest that nuclear DNA is an important chromophore to initiate acute and chronic skin damages. The model mouse is a useful experimental animal not only to investigate the mechanisms of photosensitivity in XP, but also to study physiological photobiology in humans, because photobiologic reactions are greatly intensified in this mouse.     

Photobiological properties of positively charged methylene violet analogs

O-Methyl methylene violet (OMeMV), O-methyl bromomethylene violet (OMeBrMV) and O-methyl iodomethylene violet (OMeIMV) have been prepared in order to test their potential utility as anti-viral and anti-tumor phototoxic dyes. Rates of photosensitized toxicity of KB cells with 633 nm irradiation are (x 10(-19) photon-1): 2.4, 2.2, 1.9 and 0.17 for OMeIMV, OMeBrMV, methylene violet (MV) and OMeMV, respectively. Rates of photosensitized inactivation of Sindbis virus in phosphate-buffered saline with 633 nm irradiation are (x 10(-18) photon-1): 3.3, 1.8, 0.99, 0.15 for MV, OMeIMV, OMeBrMV and OMeMV, respectively. Quantum efficiencies for singlet oxygen formation were determined as OMeIMV, 0.64; OMeBrMV, 0.40; OMeMV, 0.054. Titration of the dyes with double-stranded (ds)DNA resulted in bathochromic shifts and hypochromic effects in the visible absorption spectra. Association constants for interaction of the methylated dyes with dsDNA of approximately 1 x 10(5) M-1 were determined by Scatchard analysis of equilibrium dialysis and UV absorption titration data. Photolysis of the halogenated dyes with DNA under argon led to covalent bond formation with the nucleic acid; there was no evidence of covalent binding in the dark.     

6,4,4'-trimethylangelicin photoadduct formation in DNA: production and characterization of a specific monoclonal antibody

The photochemical reactions of 6,4,4'-trimethylangelicin (TMA) with calf thymus DNA and an octanucleotide containing a single thymine have been characterized. HPLC analyses of enzymatically hydrolyzed TMA-DNA showed that isomeric forms of 4',5'-furan-side monoadducts were the major products. To develop monoclonal antibodies Balb c mice were immunized with the TMA-DNA complexed with methylated bovine serum albumin. The resultant antibodies were characterized by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The most sensitive antibody (7E3) has high specificity for TMA-DNA, very low cross-reactivity with DNA modified with either 4',5'-dimethylangelicin or 4'-methylangelicin and no cross-reactivity with non-modified DNA or with DNA modified with either 4'-aminomethyl-4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen or 8-methoxypsoralen. To characterize further this antibody, oligonucleotides containing specific TMA photoadducts were isolated from the photoreaction mixture by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and used as competitive inhibitors in the ELISA. Autoradiography of the gel showed an intense band corresponding to the 4',5'-monoadduct and two weaker unidentified bands. Antibody 7E3 reacted only with the 4',5'-monoadduct band as would be expected since this photoadduct was the principal photoadduct in the original antigen.     

正二十二烷醇的热力学性质

用精密自动绝热量热仪测定了广谱抗病毒药物正二十二烷醇在78-400 K温区的热容. 根据实验测定的热容数据, 用最小二乘法拟合计算出热容对温度的多项式方程, 得到其相变温度、相变焓、相变熵分别为340.844 K、85.07 kJ·mol-1、249.6 J·K-1·mol-1. 根据热力学函数关系式计算了其在80-400 K温区每隔5 K的热力学函数[HT-H298.15]和[ST-298.15]. 用DSC、TG热分析技术进一步考查了该物质在400-900 K的热稳定性.     

Triplet Photoreactivity of the Diaryl Ketone Tiaprofenic Acid and Its Decarboxylated Photoproduct. Photobiological Implications

The 2-benzoylthiophene chromophore of the photosensitizing drug tiaprofenic acid and of its decarboxylated derivative is characterized by a unusually high energy gap between the T₁ (π,π*) and T₂ (n,π*) excited states, which makes this a unique system to study the intrinsic photo-reactivity of the two states. Weak fluorescence and phosporescence emission were detected at room temperature. Tiaprofenic acid undergoes photodecarboxylation from the triplet manifold as the main reaction. The photoprocess is temperature dependent with activation energy of 7–10 kcal/mol, close to the energy gap between T₁ and T₂. The decarboxylated product abstracts hydrogen in type I reactions. The involvement of T₂ in the above processes is proposed. Moreover the decarboxylated derivative exhibits reactivity toward phenols, consistent with a participation of the T₁ state as electron acceptor. The observed photoprocesses can account for biological photosensitization reactions, like membrane damage and protein modification.