Redox-regulation of gelatinases during growth of cisplatin-sensitive and resistant Guerin carcinoma

It is known that one of the main reasons of low effectiveness of antitumor therapy is resistance of tumors to cytostatic drugs, which action is often associated with formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [1, 2]. Superoxide radicals are not only directly oxidizing biological macromolecules, but also are able to interact with metals, in particular, with iron, which can intensify oxidative degradation of tumor cells [3]. Moreover, according to the results of some studies, formation of resistance to cytostatic agents is accompanied with disorder of the iron metabolism [4, 5] that causes intensification of oxidative effects. Upon the conditions of high levels of generation, ROS interact with membrane lipids causing changes of their permeability, oxide-induced instability of genome functioning and oxide modification of proteins that results in changing of catalytic activity of the enzymes and/or precondition of proteolytic degradation of proteins. At extreme levels of generation, ROS as molecules-messengers are able to modulate signal cascades and irreversibly change biology of cells contributing to the progression of tumor [6–10]. Among redox-regulated proteases, important place is taken by matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 (MMP-2 and -9), or gelatinases A and B, respectively [11–14]. These enzymes are zinc-containing endopeptidases, that have been synthesized by tumor cells and adjacent tissues, endothelial, immunocompetent cells and their precursors. Zinc-containing endopeptidases provide degradation of extracellular matrix (EM) in the processes of invasion and metastasis development [15, 16]. Thus, redox-dependent effects played important role in formation of tumor resistance to cytostatic drugs. On the one hand, they are connected with metabolism of metals, in particular iron, and on the other hand — with their impact through signal pathways on the basic factors of the vital activity of cells, including degradation of EM. On the whole, dynamics and mechanisms of such connections are not sufficiently studied, especially in vivo.

Study was aimed to analyze the dynamics of changes and study of interrelations between indices of ferritin, transferrin, gelatinases (MMP-2 and -9) content in blood serum and tumor tissue, levels of “free iron”, rate of superoxide radicals generation in tumor, activity of NADPH-oxidase and iNOS in neutrophils of rats with sensitive and resistant strains of Guerin carcinoma (GC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty male rats (≈120 g each) with cisplatin-sensitive and resistant GC were involved in the study. GC was transplanted subcutaneously at a dose of 2•10⁶ cells per animal. Resistant strain was obtained via sequential transplantations of GC after course of cisplatin chemotherapy in rats. In order to obtain resistant tumor, 12 courses of chemotherapy have been performed. All experiments were carried out according to current bioethical norms. According to the aim of study, changes of level of metal-containing proteins in blood of animals were measured in different periods of growth of GC — 1, 3, 5, 7, 14 and 23 day after transplantation. 1–5^th day of tumor development is considered to be latent period of growth, 7–14^th day is referred to the phase of exponential growth, and 23^rd day — to the terminal phase of tumor growth.

Samples for analysis were frozen in special press-form in liquid nitrogen at temperature 77 K and EPR spectra were registered on computerized radiospectrometer EPR RE-1307 (USSR) at temperature of liqu­id nitrogen. Levels of transferrin and “free iron” have been determined by analysis of EPR spectra. Rate of superoxide radicals and nitric oxide generation in tumor and blood neutrophils was determined by EPR using spin-traps at room temperature [11, 14, 30]. Content of ferritin in tumor homogenate and blood serum of rats with GC was determined by ELISA method using corresponding kits: USCN (Chinа) using Chem Well 2990 (GBG, USA) biochemical analyzer. Blood serum samples for ELISA were obtained according to kit recommendations. All samples did not contain signs of hemolysis (were centrifuged at 1500 rpm and stored at T −20 °С). Homo­genate of tumor tissue was obtained in saline in ratio 1/3. Samples of tumor homogenate were centrifuged at 2000 rpm and stored at T −20 °С. Also, concentration of MMP-2 and -9 active forms in obtained samples was determined using zymography in polyacrylamide gel with gelatin as substrate [17].

Statistical processing was carried out using program package Statistica 6.0. Significance of differen­ces between indices of different groups was assessed using Student’s t-test. Differences were considered significant at р < 0.05.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In Table 1, dynamics of NADPH-oxidase and iNOS activity in rats with sensitive and resistant GC are given. Significant increase of acti­vity of NADPH-oxidase activity in neutrophils, exceeded control values on 23^rd day after transplantation 7 times for sensitive and 8.5 times for resistant strains (р < 0.05) was shown. Activity of iNOS of neutrophils in rats with tumors of both strains increased 2.3 times as compared to control (р < 0.05).

High rates of superoxide radicals generation and NO by neutrophils of blood are associated with decrease of transferrin activity in blood serum of sensitive and resistant strains of GC (Table 2).

In blood serum of rats with sensitive tumor, as early as on 1^st day after transplantation essential decrease of transferrin activity was observed as compared to control. Later on, decrease of transferrin activity from 0.67 ± 0.06 r.u. on the 1^st day to 0.16 ± 0.07 r.u. on 23^rd day after transplantation took place, i.e., 6 times on the whole compared with control (р < 0.05). At the same time, transferrin activity in tumor was increased — from 0.1 ± 0.05 r.u. on 7^th day to 0.5 ± 0.05 on 23^rd day after transplantation, i.e. 5 times (р < 0.05) (see Table 2). In blood serum and tumor tissue of resistant strain, changes of transferrin activity was occurred. Obtained results coincide with data on transferrin receptors hyperexpression in tumor cells [18–20] and increased content of transferrin in resistant tumor cells cultivation medium [21].

In contrast, ferritin level (Table 3) in blood serum of rats with tumors of both sensitive and resistant strains was increased starting from the 1^st to 7^th day, exceeding control values 1.3 times (р < 0.05). In tumors of sensitive and resistant strains, the highest level of ferritin was observed on the 14^th day after transplantation. Indices for resistant strains were 2 times higher than for sensitive strain. Results of studies are confirmed by lite­rature data. In particular, it is known that in blood of patients with lung cancer and neuroblastoma, increased levels of ferritin are observed and are associated with aggressiveness of tumor [22]. Also, some authors observed its accumulation in tumor cells [23–26].

In tumors of sensitive and resistant strains starting from the 7^th to 23^rd day after transplantation significant increase of “free iron” complexes content was observed (in 10 times; р < 0.05) and it was associated with increase of superoxide radicals generation rate in tumor tissue of sensitive and resistant strain (1.1 and 1.2 times, respectively; р > 0.05) (Table 4).

Thus, increased generation of superoxide radicals and NO by NADPH-oxidase and iNOS in neutrophils via oxidation of iron-containing proteins causes the accumulation of “free iron” complexes in blood and tumor tissue of rats able to evoke oxide-induced damages of macromolecules. Such changes in metabolism are enhanced even more at use of cytostatics and cause intensification of oxide damages of membranes, DNA and proteins causing critical disorders of the foundations of vital activity of cells, in particular, deregulation of EM destruction [11, 16]. Ta­king into account this observation, we have determined levels of MMP-2 and -9 active forms in blood serum and tumor tissue of rats. Comparative analysis of changes of activity of MMP-2 in blood serum of rats with sensitive and resistant strains of GC demonstrates the lack of enzyme activity till 7^th day after transplantation inclusively (Fig. 1). From 8^th to 23^rd day, significant increase of concentration of active MMP-2 in blood serum of rats with tumors of both strains was observed, but these indices were significantly higher for resistant strain — 2–2.5 times on the whole as compared with sensitive strain (р < 0.05).

Comparative analysis of changes of MMP-9 activity in blood serum of rats with sensitive and resistant strains of GC demonstrated the lack of activity of enzyme till 5^th day after transplantation inclusively only for sensitive strain (Fig. 2). In blood serum of rats with resistant strain, increase of MMP-9 active forms concentration was observed from 3^rd day to 23^rd day after transplantation. Values for both strains increased and achieved maximal values on the 14^th–15^th day with slight decrease before 23^rd day after transplantation, but they were 2–3 times higher for resistant strain, than for sensitive one (р < 0.05).

Thus, it was shown that significantly higher concentrations of active forms of MMP-2 and -9 in blood serum of rats were typical for resistant strain, as compared to sensitive one. Dynamics of gelatinases active form concentrations changes in tumor tissue is associated in general with dynamics in serum (Table 5).

Direct positive correlation between concentration of gelatinases active forms in blood serum and activity of NADPH-oxidase and iNOS in neutrophils (r = 0.67; p < 0.05) was shown (Table 6). At the same time, concentrations of MMP-2 and -9 active forms inversely correlated with transferrin activity in blood (r = −0.72 and −0.63, respectively; p < 0.05) that was explained by decrease of concentration of gelatinases active forms in dynamics of tumor growth (see Table 2).

In tumor tissue, concentration of gelatinases active forms positively correlated with rate of superoxide radicals generation, content of “free iron” complexes, ferritin and activity of transferrin (see Table 6). It is known that during invasion and metastasis tumor cells are involved in series of interactions with EM and its proteins, growth factors, cytokines, basal membranes, endothelial cells, circula­ting blood cells, microenvironment of secondary site, where tumor cells finally replace normal tissues and form metastatic focus. MMPs, in particular MMP-2 and -9 (gelatinases), that are produced both by tumor and stromal cells and via remodeling of EM proteins help tumor cells to overcome physical barriers and provide them with their regulatory and communicative properties [15, 16]. Thus, MMPs are the important factor of survival of tumor cells and development of their resistance to damaging agents, in particular to the effect of antitumor drugs. Some modern studies in vitro demonstrated that doxorubicin-resistant tumor cells were characterized by higher levels of MMPs activity, than sensitive cells [27, 28]. Probably, high activity of gelatinases provided survival of tumor cells during tumor invasion and metastasis development.

Thus, development of resistance includes formation of so called “oxide phenotype” of cells. It is known that dysfunction of mitochondria is connected with initiation of development and progression of malignant tumors [29]. Upon these conditions, mitochondria and NADPH-oxidase are the main producers of high levels of superoxide radicals. Superoxide radicals, besides performing functions of signal molecules, cause oxide modifications of structural components of cells, DNA and proteins [30], in particular, transferrin, ferritin and heme-containing proteins, which provide iron metabolism. Thus, high levels of superoxide radicals oxidize transport proteins and form free iron pool. Iron ions, via Haber — Weiss mechanism, initiate generation of the hydroxyl radicals, which also enhance oxidation processes [31]. Moreover, chemotherapeutic drugs, when accumulating in mitochondria, damage electrotransport chain and intensify ROS generation and oxide damages of DNA in mitochondria and nucleus. In turn, MMP activation via superoxide-depending regulation allows tumor cells to adjust to different environmental conditions, to facilitate migration, invasion and finally — formation of metastatic foci [32]. Totality of mentioned above signs forms “oxide phenotype” of tumor, which determines high level of its aggressiveness and forms corresponding level of drug resistance.

The study is performed in terms of the topic № 2.2.5.361 “Molecular epidemiology of metal-containing proteins in tumor-host interactions” of the target research program “Functional genomics and metabolomics in system biology” (2012–2016).

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