The changes of prooxidant and antioxidant enzyme activities in bovine leukemia virus-transformed cells. Their influence on quinone cytotoxicity.

It was found that the activities of prooxidant enzymes (NAD(P)H oxidases and NAD(P)H:cytochrome c reductases) in bovine leukemia virus-transformed calf and lamb embryo kidney fibroblasts (lines Mi-18 and FLK) were by 1.25-18 times higher when compared to corresponding nontransformed calf cells. The activity of DT-diaphorase was also increased by about one order of magnitude in transformed cells. The activities of antioxidant enzymes were almost unchanged (superoxide dismutase), decreased by 13% or 53% (catalase) or increased by 25% or 90% (glutathione reductase) in Mi-18 or FLK cells, respectively. These changes of enzyme activity increased the toxicity of simple redox-cycling quinones (duroquinone, naphthazarin) towards transformed cells, but did not affect the toxicity of daunorubicin. The latter was most probably related to the inhibition of plasma membrane NADH dehydrogenase.