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Comparative study of oxygen toxicity in human fibroblasts and endothelial cells
Author(s) -
Michiels Carine,
Toussaint Olivier,
Remacle José
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.1041440216
Subject(s) - catalase , antioxidant , ascorbic acid , glutathione peroxidase , biochemistry , glutathione reductase , superoxide dismutase , enzyme , umbilical vein , chemistry , peroxidase , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , in vitro , food science
The resistance of human pulmonary fibroblasts (WI‐38) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells to oxygen toxicity (1 atm O 2 ) was compared. Endothelial cells were more sensitive than fibroblasts. They contained also less antioxidant enzymes except for SOD: respectively 132%, 96%, 70%, 59%, and 21% of the SOD, GSH peroxidase, GSH reductase, catalase, and G6PD content of fibroblasts. However, they contained 1.81‐fold more GSH than fibroblasts. Their lower content of antioxidant enzymes can explain their higher sensitivity to oxygen. The efficiency of natural antioxidant molecules and enzymes in the protection of cells incubated 3 days under 1 atm O 2 was studied. α‐tocopherol added in the culture medium led to a significant protection, contrary to the result for ascorbic acid. Microinjection of catalase, SOD, and GSH peroxidase directly into the cells was also tested: the protection was concentration dependent for both types of cells but SOD did not protect the endothelial cells. Lower activities of the other enzymes were needed to achieve protection of the endothelial cells, compared to fibroblasts. Since endothelial cells were also shown to display lower antioxidant enzyme activities, it can be hypothesized that their content is optimized for survival in Physiological conditions.