Reversible inhibition of DNA and protein synthesis by cumene hydroperoxide and 4-hydroxy-nonenal.

To test the possible role of lipid peroxidation in the process of in vitro ageing, human diploid skin fibroblasts were cultured with the lipophilic hydroperoxide cumene hydroperoxide (Chp) or the breakdown product of lipid peroxidation 4-hydroxy-2,3-trans-nonenal (HNE). Both compounds inhibited cellular DNA and protein synthesis in a dose-dependent way. Cells exposed to Chp or to HNE during growth inhibition recovered DNA and protein synthesis within 24 h upon removal of Chp or HNE from the culture medium. Continuously proliferating cells showed only a partial recovery of DNA and protein synthesis. Pre-culturing cells with the lipophilic free radical scavenger vitamin E did not abolish the effect of Chp upon DNA synthesis. Cellular levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) rose slightly during 1 week of culture with HNE, but remained unaltered with Chp. Neither ATP levels nor cellular energy charges were affected during culture with Chp or HNE. So, DNA synthesis is not impaired due to a shortage of nucleotides nor does GSH protect DNA synthesis against the effects of Chp or HNE. These results suggest that oxygen free-radical induced lipid peroxidation is not the cause of the irreversible loss of proliferation occurring during in vitro ageing.