Regulation of reactive-oxygen-species generation in fibroblasts by Rac1

Biochem J. 1996 Sep 1;318 ( Pt 2)(Pt 2):379-82. doi: 10.1042/bj3180379.

Abstract

In a variety of non-phagocytic cell types, there is a marked increase in intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide and H2O2, after ligand stimulation. We demonstrate that in NIH 3T3 cells transient expression of constitutively activated forms of the small GTP-binding proteins Ras or Rac1 leads to a significant increase in intracellular ROS. An increase in intracellular ROS is also demonstrated after growth factor [platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) or epidermal growth factor (EGF)] or cytokine [tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or interleukin (IL)-1 beta] stimulation of NIH 3T3 cells. Expression of a dominant negative allele of Rac1 inhibits the rise in ROS seen after Ras expression or after stimulation by either growth factors or cytokines. These results provide the first demonstration of the pathway by which ligand stimulation of ROS occurs in non-phagocytic cells and suggest that the family of Ras-related small GTP-binding proteins may function as regulators of the intracellular redox state.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Animals
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / pharmacology
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Interleukin-1 / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / pharmacology
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology
  • rac GTP-Binding Proteins
  • ras Proteins / biosynthesis
  • ras Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Interleukin-1
  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Epidermal Growth Factor
  • GTP-Binding Proteins
  • rac GTP-Binding Proteins
  • ras Proteins