MEMBRANE DAMAGE INDUCED IN CULTURED HUMAN SKIN FIBROBLASTS BY UVA IRRADIATION

Irradiation of cultured human skin fibroblasts with ultraviolet light from 320 to 400 nm (UVA) leads to a decrease in the membrane fluidity exemplified by an enhanced fluorescence anisotropy of the lipophilic fluorescent probe 1-[4-trimethylamino)-phenyl]-6-phenylhexa-1,3,5-triene. This UVA-induced decrease in fluidity is associated with lactate dehydrogenase leakage in the supernatant. Vitamin E, an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation, exerts a protective effect on both phenomena. Therefore, this UVA-induced damage in membrane properties may be related to lipid peroxidation processes. Moreover, exponentially growing cells are more sensitive to these UVA-induced alterations than confluent cells.     

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.     

IS RHODAMINE 123 A PHOTOSENSITIZER?

Because of conflicting reports on the photoxicity of rhodamine 123 (Rh 123), we have undertaken a study of Rh 123 photosensitization in several in vitro systems. First, Rh 123 is not a photodynamic agent and does not react with singlet oxygen. Second, when bound to cytochrome c (Cyt c), Rh 123 photosensitizes ferro Cyt c but not ferri Cyt c degradation by an oxygen-independent process. When delivered to skin fibroblasts where it specifically stains mitochondria, Rh 123 photosensitizes membrane damage. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that Rh 123 is a phototoxic stain. The lack of photosensitivity of Rh 123-stained mitochondria in some cell lines might therefore be due to specific structural features.     

A MICROSPECTROFLUOROMETRIC STUDY OF PORPHYRIN-PHOTOSENSITIZED SINGLE LIVING CELLS— I. MEMBRANE ALTERATIONS

Microspectrofluorometry on single living cells reveals that the primary effects of porphyrin-photosensitization on membranes results in the production of fluorescent lipofuscin-like pigments implying important lipid photoperoxidation. These fluorescent products (_max 450 nm) can also be formed in the dark after the irradiation of the cell. Their formation is abolished not only by crocetin and Tigason, two long-chain polyenes, but also by chloroquine. The latter, although a lysosomotropic drug, cannot inhibit the photosensitized permeation of lysosomal membranes which occurs at the beginning of the irradiation as shown by the splitting of fluorogenic substrates by lysosomal proteinases or by β-galactosidase when added before or after irradiation.     

Synthesis, cellular uptake of, and cell photosensitization by a porphyrin bearing a quinoline group

A tetraphenyl porphine linked to a 7-chloroquinoline (5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-1-3-[4-(4-aminobutyl)7-chloroquinoline] propioamidoporphine, TPPQ) was synthesized and examined as a potential photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of proliferative diseases. With respect to haematoporphyrin, TPPQ is a good in vitro photodynamic sensitizer producing singlet oxygen in 1% Triton X100 solutions. As with other hydrophobic porphyrins used in PDT, blood lipoproteins strongly bind TPPQ. Thus one low density lipoprotein (LDL) can incorporate 25 TPPQ molecules and 17 TPPQ molecules are taken up by one high density lipoprotein (HDL). Cell delivery of TPPQ using HDL or human serum albumin (HSA) as carrier is rather weak. However, an efficient TPPQ delivery to human skin fibroblasts is observed, partly aided by receptor-mediated endocytosis of LDL. Fluorescence spectroscopy shows that the cellular localization of TPPQ is both carrier and time dependent. During its delivery with LDL, TPPQ does not significantly impair the endocytosis of LDL-receptor complexes. After delivery with LDL, TPPQ is as efficient as other haematoporphyrin derivatives used in the PDT of cancers in photosensitizing human skin fibroblasts.     

Non‐Blinking Semiconductor Colloidal Quantum Dots for Biology,Optoelectronics and Quantum Optics

Twinkle, twinkle: The blinking of semiconductor colloidal nanocrystals is the main inconvenience of these bright nanoemitters. There are various approaches for obtaining non‐blinking nanocrystals, one of which is to grow a thick coat of CdS on the CdSe core (see picture). Applications of this method in the fields of optoelectronic devices, biologic labelling and quantum information processing are discussed.

     

A STUDY OF THE PHOTOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOME CINNAMATE SUNSCREENS BY STEADY STATE AND LASER FLASH PHOTOLYSIS

The E ⇄ Z photoisomerization of 4'-methoxycinnamates, used as sunscreens in cosmetics, has been studied by steady state and laser flash photolysis, in aqueous and organic solutions. Photoisomerization quantum yields are found to be fairly high (˜0.5-1), although no intermediate is detected upon laser flash photolysis. Cinnamates are not photodynamic sensitizers but are able to quench the 8-methoxy-psoralen and 5-methoxypsoralen triplets which produces E → Z isomerization.     

Analysis of shape memory alloys by neutron activation

The transition temperatures and ageing of shape memory alloys (SMA) depend on the chemical composition and purity. Methods for the deterrnination of trace impurities, doping and major elements in NiTi, CuZnAl and CuNiAl were developed using neutron activation analysis and -spectroscopy. For traces in Zn containing alloys, a chemical separation based on anion exchange resins was developed. Multielement analysis leads to detection limits ranging from 0.0001 to 1 g·g^–1. For major elements, optimization of the irradiation and spectrometry parameters enables standard deviation better than 0.5%.     

PERMEATION OF LYSOSOMAL MEMBRANES IN THE COURSE OF PHOTOSENSITIZATION WITH METHYLENE BLUE AND HEMATOPORPHYRIN: STUDY BY CELLULAR MICROSPECTROFLUOROMETRY

Abstract— The photodynamically-induced liberation of lysosomal enzymes using ß-galactosidase as marker for the lysosomal enzymes has been studied by microspectrofluorometry on mouse L cells. Similar studies have been carried out using N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase as marker for the lysosomal enzymes of human fibroblasts. The high sensitivity of the fluorescence detection makes it possible to use 4-methylumbelliferyl substrates for the enzymes contained in a single cell. Methylene blue and hematoporphyrin readily incorporate into both cells and upon excitation, sensitize lysosomal membrane damages, leading to enzyme release accompanying strong morphological changes.     

DARK INTERACTION AND OXYGEN DEPENDENT PHOTOBINDING BETWEEN AN AROMATIC TETRAPEPTIDE AND DNA MODIFIED BY 5- METHOXYPSORALEN MONOADDUCTS

The binding of the tetrapeptide lysyl-tryptophyl-glycyl-lysine t -butyl ester to native DNA and DNA photochemically modified by 5-methoxypsoralen has been investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. The peptide exhibits a higher affinity for the modified DNA than for the undamaged DNA. This is due to the presence of strong stacking sites in the vicinity of 5-methoxypsoralen monoadducts. Upon irradiation at 365 nm of the peptide-modified DNA complexes, a cross-linking of the peptide to the nucleic acid is observed. This photochemical addition requires the presence of oxygen and involves, in part, singlet oxygen.