8-hydroxy-2--deoxyguanosine and Porphyria--Acute-Intermittent

5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is a heme precursor that accumulates in acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) due to enzymatic deficiencies in the heme biosynthetic pathway Its accumulation has been associated with several symptoms, such as abdominal pain attacks, neuromuscular weaknesses, neuropsychiatric alterations and increased hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence. The use of exogenous ALA to elevate porphyrin levels in tumor photodynamic therapy, adds further significance to ALA toxicology. Under ferritin mediated and metal catalyzed oxidation, ALA produces reactive oxygen species that can damage plasmid and isolated DNA in vitro, and increases the steady-state level of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine in liver, spleen and kidney DNA and 5-hydroxy-2'-deoxycytidine in liver DNA of ALA-treated rats. The in vitro DNA damage could be partially inhibited by SOD, catalase, DTPA, mannitol and melatonin. ALA also promotes the formation of radical-induced base degradation products in isolated DNA. 4,5-Dioxovaleric acid, the final oxidation product of ALA, alkylates guanine moieties within both nucleoside and isolated DNA, producing two diastereoisomeric adducts. Dihydropyrazine derivatives of ALA generated by its dimerization, promote DNA strand-breaks and 8-oxodGuo formation in the presence of Cu2+. Together these results reinforce the hypothesis that the DNA damage induced by ALA may be associated with the development of HCC in individuals suffering from AIP.

Topics: 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; Aminolevulinic Acid; Animals; Deoxyguanosine; DNA; DNA Damage; Liver Neoplasms; Metals; Plasmids; Porphyria, Acute Intermittent; Propionates; Pyrazines; Rats; Valerates

5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a heme precursor accumulated in chemical and inborn porphyrias, may behave as an endogenous pro-oxidant. In chronically treated rats (40 mg ALA/kg body wt every 2 days for 15 days) the steady-state level of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in liver DNA (94.5 +/- 23.3 residues/10(6) dG) was 4.5 times higher than in non-treated rats (21 +/- 7.5 residues/10(6) dG). In vitro exposure of calf thymus DNA to ALA (0.05-5 mM) in the presence of 10 microM Fe2+ caused the formation of 8-OHdG. The amount of 8-OHdG rose from 135 +/- 15 residues/10(6) dG in the control system to 1140 +/- 150 residues/10(6) dG after incubation with 5 mM ALA and 10 microM Fe2+. Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (5 mM) or mannitol (100 mM) inhibited the formation of 8-OHdG by 63 and 69% respectively, evidencing the involvement of both H2O2 and HO. in this process. Hydrogen peroxide (100 microM) or Fe2+ alone did not cause DNA oxidation. The present data support the hypothesis that ALA-generated reactive oxygen species can oxidize DNA and may be involved in the development of primary liver cell carcinoma in individuals with symptomatic acute intermittent porphyria.

Topics: 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; Aminolevulinic Acid; Animals; Cattle; Deoxyguanosine; DNA; DNA Damage; Female; Iron; Liver; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental; Oxidation-Reduction; Porphyria, Acute Intermittent; Rats; Rats, Wistar