Abstract
Extracellular cysteine (Cys)/cystine (CySS) redox potential (Eh) plays a crucial role in maintaining redox homeostasis and an alteration of redox
state occurs in various physiological conditions, including diabetes, cancer, and
aging. This study was designed to determine whether a variation in extracellular redox
state would alter the function of insulin-resistant PC12 cells. Various redox states
were established by providing different extracellular Cys/CySS Eh to insulin-resistant PC12 cells. We intensively investigated the relationship between
redox state and catecholamine biosynthesis in PC12 cells, and evaluated the changes
in cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), catecholamine (CA) synthesis, tyrosine
hydroxylase (TH) expressions, and the activity of rate-limiting enzyme in CA synthesis
by using DCF-fluorescence, HPLC, and the real-time PCR, respectively. We also determined
the protein levels of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a redox sensitive transcription
factor, using an ELISA assay. We found that the oxidized Cys/CySS Eh (0 mV) pretreatment decreased CA, TH, and Nrf2 levels, but induced ROS overproduction.
Insulin induced a significant increase in CA synthesis and ROS production, blocked
by more reducing redox conditions. The paradox of CA and TH alterations between insulin
and 0 mV groups may be attributed to degree of redox imbalance as evidenced by different
ROS levels in 2 groups, which is further confirmed by CA alterations in different
concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. Additionally, dithiole-3-thione (D3T, an inducer
of Nrf2) corrected 0 mV-induced TH inhibition. In conclusion, CA biosynthesis in insulin-resistant
PC12 cells could be influenced by extracellular Cys/CySS redox effects on cellular
redox sensitive transcription factors.
Key words
tyrosine hydroxylase - redox balance - Cys/CySS E
h
- reactive oxygen species