A Novel Biosensor for Evaluation of Apoptotic or Necrotic Effects of Nitrogen Dioxide during Acute Pancreatitis in Rat

The direct and accurate estimation of nitric dioxide levels is an extremely laborious and technically demanding procedure in the molecular diagnostics of inflammatory processes. The aim of this work is to demonstrate that a stop-flow technique utilizing a specific spectroscopic biosensor can be used for detection of nanomolar quantities of NO2 in biological milieu. The use of novel compound cis-[Cr(C2O4)(AaraNH2)(OH2)2]+ increases NO2 estimation accuracy by slowing down the rate of NO2 uptake. In this study, an animal model of pancreatitis, where nitrosative stress is induced by either 3g/kg bw or 1.5 g/kg bw dose of l-arginine, was used. Biochemical parameters and morphological characteristics of acute pancreatitis were monitored, specifically assessing pancreatic acinar cell death mode, NO2 generation and cellular glutathione level. The severity of the process correlated positively with NO2 levels in pancreatic acinar cell cytosol samples, and negatively with cellular glutathione levels

Experimental Studies on the UV-Spectra of Several Substituted Pyridine N-Oxides and Conjugated Cationic Acids in Acetonitrile

The ultraviolet spectra of heterocyclic N-oxides of pyridine N-oxide series and the conjugated cationic acids (simple cations of protonated N-oxides) in acetonitrile as the representative of polar aprotic solvents, were determined. The obtained spectra of N-oxides studied (mainly tri-substituted pyridine N-oxides) and their cations obtained by the protonation of free N-oxides by the excess of perchloric acid, have been collected and discussed. Taking into account the spectroscopic results, a scheme of acid-base equilibria in polar aprotic solvents has been discussed. The influence of the traces of water on acid-base equilibria in nonaqueous media has been stressed

A Study of Acid-Base Equilibria in Acetonitrile Systems of 2-Halo(Cl,Br,I)-4-nitropicoline(3,5,6) N-oxides

An attempt has been made to determine potentiometrically (1) acid dissociation constants of cations obtained by protonation of nine trisubstituted pyridine N-oxides, namely 2-halo(Cl, Br and I)-4-nitropicoline N-oxides with the methyl group at positions 3, 5, and 6, as well as (2) the cationic homoconjugation constants of these cationic acids with conjugated N-oxides in acetonitrile. On the basis of the substitution effect, variations of the acid dissociation constants of the trisubstituted pyridine N-oxide cations are discussed. The determined pKa values of the protonated 2-halo-4-nitropicoline N-oxides are compared with the previously determined equilibrium constants of the cationic acids conjugated with the mono- and disubstituted pyridine N-oxides in acetonitrile. Further, based on the pKa values of the protonated 2-halo-4-nitropicoline N-oxides in acetonitrile, supplemented with correlations between pKa’s of the protonated mono- and disubstituted pyridine N-oxides in acetonitrile and water, the pKa\u27s of the acids conjugated with the trisubstituted N-oxides studied in aqueous solutions have been estimated. Moreover, it has been concluded that the cationic homoconjugation constants cannot be determined by potentiometric titration in acetonitrile solutions of the 2-halo-4-nitropicoline N-oxide systems

Modification of DNA structure by reactive nitrogen species as a result of 2-methoxyestradiol–induced neuronal nitric oxide synthase uncoupling in metastatic osteosarcoma cells

2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME) is a physiological anticancer compound, metabolite of 17β-estradiol. Previously, our group evidenced that from mechanistic point of view one of anticancer mechanisms of action of 2-ME is specific induction and nuclear hijacking of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), resulting in local generation of nitro-oxidative stress and finally, cancer cell death. The current study aims to establish the substantial mechanism of generation of reactive nitrogen species by 2-ME. We further achieved to identify the specific reactive nitrogen species involved in DNA-damaging mechanism of 2-ME. The study was performed using metastatic osteosarcoma 143B cells. We detected the release of biologically active (free) nitric oxide (•NO) with concurrent measurements of peroxynitrite (ONOO−) in real time in a single cell of 143B cell line by using •NO/ONOO− sensitive microsensors after stimulation with calcium ionophore. Detection of nitrogen dioxide (•NO2) and determination of chemical rate constants were carried out by a stopped-flow technique. The affinity of reactive nitrogen species toward the guanine base of DNA was evaluated by density functional theory calculations. Expression and localization of nuclear factor NF-kB was determined using imaging cytometry, while cell viability assay was evaluated by MTT assay. Herein, we presented that 2-ME triggers pro-apoptotic signalling cascade by increasing cellular reactive nitrogen species overproduction – a result of enzymatic uncoupling of increased nNOS protein levels. In particular, we proved that ONOO− and •NO2 directly formed from peroxynitrous acid (ONOOH) and/or by auto-oxidation of •NO, are inducers of DNA damage in anticancer mechanism of 2-ME. Specifically, the affinity of reactive nitrogen species toward the guanine base of DNA, evaluated by density functional theory calculations, decreased in the order: ONOOH > ONOO− > •NO2 > •NO. Therefore, we propose to consider the specific inducers of nNOS as an effective tool in the field of chemotherapy