title: Modulation of DNA single-strand breaks by intracellular glutathione in human lung cells exposed to asbestos fibers.
abstract: We investigated the role of glutathione and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in fiber-induced cell and DNA toxicity using alkaline (pH 13) single-cell gel electrophoresis (the Comet assay). Transformed cultured human pleural mesothelial (MeT-5A) cells and alveolar epithelial cells (A549) were exposed to crocidolite asbestos fibers (1-10 microg/cm(2)) in the presence of buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) or L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME). BSO inhibits gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS) and causes glutathione depletion, and L-NAME inhibits nitric oxide generation. Studies were also conducted to assess the expression of the heavy and light subunits of gamma-GCS in human pleural mesothelium and bronchial epithelium in vivo and the induction of inducible NOS (iNOS) by asbestos fibers. Asbestos fibers caused DNA single-strand breaks, and the process was significantly enhanced by BSO (69% compared to the non-treated cells). A549 cells had a 3.5-fold glutathione content compared to MeT-5A cells, which was consistent with the higher resistance of these cells against oxidants and fibers. Flow cytometry of iNOS showed no change of iNOS by the fibers in either cell type in vitro. L-NAME had no effects on the DNA single-strand breaks in the Comet assay, either. Studies on lung biopsies showed that the immunoreactivities of both gamma-GCS subunits were very low in healthy human mesothelium in vivo. We conclude that glutathione may play an essential role in protecting intact cells against fiber-induced oxidative DNA alterations, and low gamma-GCS reactivity in pleural mesothelium may be associated with the high sensitivity of mesothelial cells to fiber-induced toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Kajaanintie 50A, 90220, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Airi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Puhakka
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ollikainen
authors.forename: Ylermi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Soini
authors.forename: Katriina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kahlos
authors.forename: Marjaana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Säily
authors.forename: Pirjo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koistinen
authors.forename: Paavo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pääkkö
authors.forename: Kaija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Linnainmaa
authors.forename: Vuokko L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Kinnula
mesh_terms: D017638:Asbestos, Crocidolite / Q000633:toxicity*; D019328:Buthionine Sulfoximine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002470:Cell Survival; D020552:Comet Assay; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005721:Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000166:cytology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D017638:Asbestos, Crocidolite; D019328:Buthionine Sulfoximine; D004247:DNA; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D005721:Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase; D005978:Glutathione; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester