3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) induces apoptosis and alters metabolic enzyme activity in human placenta. 2003

Abby C Collier, and Rachel J A Helliwell, and Jeffrey A Keelan, and James W Paxton, and Murray D Mitchell, and Malcolm D Tingle
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. abbyC@unr.edu

The anti-HIV drug 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) is the drug of choice for preventing maternal-fetal HIV transmission during pregnancy. Our aim was to assess the cytotoxic effects of AZT on human placenta in vitro. The mechanisms of AZT-induced effects were investigated using JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cells and primary explant cultures from term and first-trimester human placentas. Cytotoxicity measures included trypan blue exclusion, MTT, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays. Apoptosis was measured with an antibody specific to cleaved caspase-3 and by rescue of cells by the general caspase inhibitor Boc-D-FMK. The effect of AZT on the activities of glutathione-S-transferase, beta-glucuronidase, UDP-glucuronosyl transferase, cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A, and CYP reductase (CYPR) in the placenta was assessed using biochemical assays and immunoblotting. AZT increased ROS levels, decreased cellular proliferation rates, was toxic to mitochondria, and initiated cell death by a caspase-dependent mechanism in the human placenta in vitro. In the absence of serum, the effects of AZT were amplified in all the models used. AZT also increased the amounts of activity of GST, beta-glucuronidase, and CYP1A, whereas UGT and CYPR were decreased. We conclude that AZT causes apoptosis in the placenta and alters metabolizing enzymes in human placental cells. These findings have implications for the safe administration of AZT in pregnancy with respect to the maintenance of integrity of the maternal-fetal barrier.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010920 Placenta A highly vascularized mammalian fetal-maternal organ and major site of transport of oxygen, nutrients, and fetal waste products. It includes a fetal portion (CHORIONIC VILLI) derived from TROPHOBLASTS and a maternal portion (DECIDUA) derived from the uterine ENDOMETRIUM. The placenta produces an array of steroid, protein and peptide hormones (PLACENTAL HORMONES). Placentoma, Normal,Placentome,Placentas,Placentomes
D002470 Cell Survival The span of viability of a cell characterized by the capacity to perform certain functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, some form of responsiveness, and adaptability. Cell Viability,Cell Viabilities,Survival, Cell,Viabilities, Cell,Viability, Cell
D003577 Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System A superfamily of hundreds of closely related HEMEPROTEINS found throughout the phylogenetic spectrum, from animals, plants, fungi, to bacteria. They include numerous complex monooxygenases (MIXED FUNCTION OXYGENASES). In animals, these P-450 enzymes serve two major functions: (1) biosynthesis of steroids, fatty acids, and bile acids; (2) metabolism of endogenous and a wide variety of exogenous substrates, such as toxins and drugs (BIOTRANSFORMATION). They are classified, according to their sequence similarities rather than functions, into CYP gene families (>40% homology) and subfamilies (>59% homology). For example, enzymes from the CYP1, CYP2, and CYP3 gene families are responsible for most drug metabolism. Cytochrome P-450,Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme,Cytochrome P-450-Dependent Monooxygenase,P-450 Enzyme,P450 Enzyme,CYP450 Family,CYP450 Superfamily,Cytochrome P-450 Enzymes,Cytochrome P-450 Families,Cytochrome P-450 Monooxygenase,Cytochrome P-450 Oxygenase,Cytochrome P-450 Superfamily,Cytochrome P450,Cytochrome P450 Superfamily,Cytochrome p450 Families,P-450 Enzymes,P450 Enzymes,Cytochrome P 450,Cytochrome P 450 Dependent Monooxygenase,Cytochrome P 450 Enzyme,Cytochrome P 450 Enzyme System,Cytochrome P 450 Enzymes,Cytochrome P 450 Families,Cytochrome P 450 Monooxygenase,Cytochrome P 450 Oxygenase,Cytochrome P 450 Superfamily,Enzyme, Cytochrome P-450,Enzyme, P-450,Enzyme, P450,Enzymes, Cytochrome P-450,Enzymes, P-450,Enzymes, P450,Monooxygenase, Cytochrome P-450,Monooxygenase, Cytochrome P-450-Dependent,P 450 Enzyme,P 450 Enzymes,P-450 Enzyme, Cytochrome,P-450 Enzymes, Cytochrome,Superfamily, CYP450,Superfamily, Cytochrome P-450,Superfamily, Cytochrome P450
D005966 Glucuronidase Endo-beta-D-Glucuronidase,Endoglucuronidase,Exo-beta-D-Glucuronidase,beta-Glucuronidase,Endo beta D Glucuronidase,Exo beta D Glucuronidase,beta Glucuronidase
D005982 Glutathione Transferase A transferase that catalyzes the addition of aliphatic, aromatic, or heterocyclic FREE RADICALS as well as EPOXIDES and arene oxides to GLUTATHIONE. Addition takes place at the SULFUR. It also catalyzes the reduction of polyol nitrate by glutathione to polyol and nitrite. Glutathione S-Alkyltransferase,Glutathione S-Aryltransferase,Glutathione S-Epoxidetransferase,Ligandins,S-Hydroxyalkyl Glutathione Lyase,Glutathione Organic Nitrate Ester Reductase,Glutathione S-Transferase,Glutathione S-Transferase 3,Glutathione S-Transferase A,Glutathione S-Transferase B,Glutathione S-Transferase C,Glutathione S-Transferase III,Glutathione S-Transferase P,Glutathione Transferase E,Glutathione Transferase mu,Glutathione Transferases,Heme Transfer Protein,Ligandin,Yb-Glutathione-S-Transferase,Glutathione Lyase, S-Hydroxyalkyl,Glutathione S Alkyltransferase,Glutathione S Aryltransferase,Glutathione S Epoxidetransferase,Glutathione S Transferase,Glutathione S Transferase 3,Glutathione S Transferase A,Glutathione S Transferase B,Glutathione S Transferase C,Glutathione S Transferase III,Glutathione S Transferase P,Lyase, S-Hydroxyalkyl Glutathione,P, Glutathione S-Transferase,Protein, Heme Transfer,S Hydroxyalkyl Glutathione Lyase,S-Alkyltransferase, Glutathione,S-Aryltransferase, Glutathione,S-Epoxidetransferase, Glutathione,S-Transferase 3, Glutathione,S-Transferase A, Glutathione,S-Transferase B, Glutathione,S-Transferase C, Glutathione,S-Transferase III, Glutathione,S-Transferase P, Glutathione,S-Transferase, Glutathione,Transfer Protein, Heme,Transferase E, Glutathione,Transferase mu, Glutathione,Transferase, Glutathione,Transferases, Glutathione
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014453 Glucuronosyltransferase A family of enzymes accepting a wide range of substrates, including phenols, alcohols, amines, and fatty acids. They function as drug-metabolizing enzymes that catalyze the conjugation of UDPglucuronic acid to a variety of endogenous and exogenous compounds. EC 2.4.1.17. Glucuronyltransferase,UDP Glucuronosyltransferase,17 beta-Hydroxysteroid UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase,4-Nitrophenol-UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase,7-Hydroxycoumarin UDP Glucuronyltransferase,Androsterone UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase,Bilirubin UDP-Glucuronyltransferase,Estrogen UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase,Estrone Glucuronyltransferase,Glucuronic Transferase,Morphine Glucuronyltransferase,UDP Glucuronyl Transferase,UDP-Glucuronic Acid 3-O-beta-D-Galactosyl-D-Galactose Glucuronosyltransferase,p-Nitrophenyl UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase,17 beta Hydroxysteroid UDP Glucuronosyltransferase,4 Nitrophenol UDP Glucuronosyltransferase,7 Hydroxycoumarin UDP Glucuronyltransferase,Androsterone UDP Glucuronosyltransferase,Bilirubin UDP Glucuronyltransferase,Estrogen UDP Glucuronosyltransferase,Glucuronosyltransferase, UDP,Glucuronyl Transferase, UDP,Glucuronyltransferase, 7-Hydroxycoumarin UDP,Glucuronyltransferase, Estrone,Glucuronyltransferase, Morphine,Transferase, Glucuronic,Transferase, UDP Glucuronyl,UDP Glucuronic Acid 3 O beta D Galactosyl D Galactose Glucuronosyltransferase,UDP Glucuronyltransferase, 7-Hydroxycoumarin,UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase, 17 beta-Hydroxysteroid,UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase, Androsterone,UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase, Estrogen,UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase, p-Nitrophenyl,UDP-Glucuronyltransferase, Bilirubin,p Nitrophenyl UDP Glucuronosyltransferase
D015215 Zidovudine A dideoxynucleoside compound in which the 3'-hydroxy group on the sugar moiety has been replaced by an azido group. This modification prevents the formation of phosphodiester linkages which are needed for the completion of nucleic acid chains. The compound is a potent inhibitor of HIV replication, acting as a chain-terminator of viral DNA during reverse transcription. It improves immunologic function, partially reverses the HIV-induced neurological dysfunction, and improves certain other clinical abnormalities associated with AIDS. Its principal toxic effect is dose-dependent suppression of bone marrow, resulting in anemia and leukopenia. AZT (Antiviral),Azidothymidine,3'-Azido-2',3'-Dideoxythymidine,3'-Azido-3'-deoxythymidine,AZT Antiviral,AZT, Antiviral,BW A509U,BWA-509U,Retrovir,3' Azido 2',3' Dideoxythymidine,3' Azido 3' deoxythymidine,Antiviral AZT,BWA 509U,BWA509U
D017209 Apoptosis A regulated cell death mechanism characterized by distinctive morphologic changes in the nucleus and cytoplasm, including the endonucleolytic cleavage of genomic DNA, at regularly spaced, internucleosomal sites, i.e., DNA FRAGMENTATION. It is genetically programmed and serves as a balance to mitosis in regulating the size of animal tissues and in mediating pathologic processes associated with tumor growth. Apoptosis, Extrinsic Pathway,Apoptosis, Intrinsic Pathway,Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis,Classic Apoptosis,Classical Apoptosis,Programmed Cell Death,Programmed Cell Death, Type I,Apoptoses, Extrinsic Pathway,Apoptoses, Intrinsic Pathway,Apoptosis, Caspase-Dependent,Apoptosis, Classic,Apoptosis, Classical,Caspase Dependent Apoptosis,Cell Death, Programmed,Classic Apoptoses,Extrinsic Pathway Apoptoses,Extrinsic Pathway Apoptosis,Intrinsic Pathway Apoptoses,Intrinsic Pathway Apoptosis
D017382 Reactive Oxygen Species Molecules or ions formed by the incomplete one-electron reduction of oxygen. These reactive oxygen intermediates include SINGLET OXYGEN; SUPEROXIDES; PEROXIDES; HYDROXYL RADICAL; and HYPOCHLOROUS ACID. They contribute to the microbicidal activity of PHAGOCYTES, regulation of SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION and GENE EXPRESSION, and the oxidative damage to NUCLEIC ACIDS; PROTEINS; and LIPIDS. Active Oxygen Species,Oxygen Radical,Oxygen Radicals,Pro-Oxidant,Reactive Oxygen Intermediates,Active Oxygen,Oxygen Species, Reactive,Pro-Oxidants,Oxygen, Active,Pro Oxidant,Pro Oxidants,Radical, Oxygen

Related Publications

Abby C Collier, and Rachel J A Helliwell, and Jeffrey A Keelan, and James W Paxton, and Murray D Mitchell, and Malcolm D Tingle
April 1988, Acta crystallographica. Section C, Crystal structure communications,
Abby C Collier, and Rachel J A Helliwell, and Jeffrey A Keelan, and James W Paxton, and Murray D Mitchell, and Malcolm D Tingle
November 2011, Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry,
Abby C Collier, and Rachel J A Helliwell, and Jeffrey A Keelan, and James W Paxton, and Murray D Mitchell, and Malcolm D Tingle
July 1994, Biochemical pharmacology,
Abby C Collier, and Rachel J A Helliwell, and Jeffrey A Keelan, and James W Paxton, and Murray D Mitchell, and Malcolm D Tingle
January 1995, Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France),
Abby C Collier, and Rachel J A Helliwell, and Jeffrey A Keelan, and James W Paxton, and Murray D Mitchell, and Malcolm D Tingle
July 1999, Mutation research,
Abby C Collier, and Rachel J A Helliwell, and Jeffrey A Keelan, and James W Paxton, and Murray D Mitchell, and Malcolm D Tingle
July 1992, Antiviral research,
Abby C Collier, and Rachel J A Helliwell, and Jeffrey A Keelan, and James W Paxton, and Murray D Mitchell, and Malcolm D Tingle
July 1988, British journal of haematology,
Abby C Collier, and Rachel J A Helliwell, and Jeffrey A Keelan, and James W Paxton, and Murray D Mitchell, and Malcolm D Tingle
May 1994, European journal of haematology,
Abby C Collier, and Rachel J A Helliwell, and Jeffrey A Keelan, and James W Paxton, and Murray D Mitchell, and Malcolm D Tingle
February 1990, AIDS research and human retroviruses,
Abby C Collier, and Rachel J A Helliwell, and Jeffrey A Keelan, and James W Paxton, and Murray D Mitchell, and Malcolm D Tingle
January 1989, Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals,
Copied contents to your clipboard!