To the Editor:

The article by Carreau et al1 reports on the in vivo effects of mitomycin C (MMC) in mice carrying the Fanconi anemia (FA) group C mutation (Fac−/−). Among the mechanistic scenarios underlying FA pathogenesis, the authors refer to a phenotypic feature of FA cells related to oxygen hypersensitivity. Unfortunately, the use of citations on this subject appears to be quite inappropriate. First, the authors attributed a “secondary” role for oxygen sensitivity in FA cells2 which, however, may have been made oxygen-resistant after the immortalization procedure. In fact, the loss of O2 sensitivity in transformed cells has been recognized as a general phenomenon, not confined to FA cell lines.3 A general statement was then made1 about the published results of studies which “have demonstrated overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increased susceptibility to oxygen, as well as an increase in ROS-induced DNA lesions, particularly 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG).” Unfortunately, the three references reported4-6 (cited as 37-39 in the report) neither dealt with FA nor with ROS-induced DNA damage. The above statement about excess ROS production and 8OHdG formation in FA was true, but rather should refer to the reports by Takeuchi and Morimoto7 and Degan et al.8 It is worthwhile to consider the subject of oxidative stress in FA based on both in vitro and ex vivo evidence, as reviewed by us recently.9 

A role for oxidative stress in FA has been documented for two decades, with reports providing evidence for an improvement of either chromosomal instability or cell growth after exposure of either primary lymphocyte cultures or fibroblasts from FA patients to: (1) catalase or superoxide dismutase, (2) low-molecular-weight antioxidants, or (3) decreased oxygen levels.10-14 A G2 cell cycle delay, observed in FA cells, was counteracted by culturing cells in 5% O2,15 and a major role was suggested for free iron in inducing G2 arrest in FA cells.16 The report by Takeuchi and Morimoto7 provided evidence for excess oxidative DNA damage (8OHdG) in FAA cells challenged with H2O2 that was related, at least in part, to catalase deficiency. A recent report by Ruppitsch et al17provided elegant evidence for the loss of both MMC and diepoxybutane (DEB) sensitivity of FAA cells transfected with cDNA causing overexpression of thioredoxin, a nonenzymatic antioxidant protein.18 Hence, both exogenous and endogenous antioxidants can decrease the phenotypic defect of FA cells, both including O2 and MMC sensitivity. In turn, the action mechanisms of MMC can either be ascribed to DNA cross-linking or to redox cycling, as reported in early studies of MMC.19,20That MMC sensitivity in FA cells may be attributed to redox mechanisms rather than to DNA cross-linking has been shown by four independent reports11,13,21,22 focused on as many different endpoints (chromosomal instability, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and mutagenesis). Together, the results of these studies showed that: (1) MMC-induced toxicity was confined to normoxic conditions which, unlike hypoxia, were associated to enhanced redox-cycling mechanisms, not to DNA cross-linking,21,22 and (2) MMC toxicity was both removed by antioxidant enzymes and by low-molecular-weight antioxidants.11 13 

The observation of redox abnormalities in FA is not confined to in vitro conditions. A series of ex vivo studies provided evidence for abnormal O2 metabolism in FA patients and in their parents. Freshly drawn white blood cells from both FA homozygotes and heterozygotes produced excess ROS as detected by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (LDCL),23,24 and displayed excess 8OHdG levels that were significantly correlated with LDCL as well as with chromosomal instability.8 Thus, both ex vivo and in vitro evidence pointed to a direct link between ROS formation, oxidative DNA damage, and chromosomal breakages in FA.

Based on the available evidence, one might suggest that the authors1 could carry out a new series of experiments by exposing Fac−/− mice to different oxygen levels, with or without MMC administration. As additional endpoints worth being evaluated in Fac−/− mice, one might suggest to include the evaluation of oxidative DNA damage as well as of ROS-detoxyfying activities. This study could provide a formidable insight both into the FAC defect and the in vivo action mechanisms of MMC.

In conclusion, the current view attributing the FA-associated defect(s) to the phenotypic sensitivity to MMC and DEB related to cross-linking mechanisms may be viewed as a fading dogma relying on the definition of FA as a DNA repair disorder. While no conclusive evidence has thus far related FA gene products to any function in DNA repair, a thriving body of evidence has associated MMC (and DEB) sensitivity to an impairment of redox balance in FA cells, both in vitro and in vivo. This evidence should no longer be disregarded in the forthcoming studies of FA.

First regarding the references, we believe that one reference by Takeuchi et al1-1 was omitted due to formatting of the paper and was overlooked on our part. The references cited as 37-39 regard the Bcl2 knockout mice and are discussed and referred to later in the paper.

Second, our paper dealt with mitomycin C (MMC) hypersensitivity of the Fancc−/− mouse model we generated. We believe that our discussion is in fact an overview of the possible in vivo effects of MMC,and we did not dismiss oxygen radical formation as a possible effect during the metabolism of MMC. Nonetheless, one still does not know if reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation is responsible for the hypersensitivity of the Fancc−/− mice treated with MMC, although we believe that the effect we observed may result from a defect in DNA repair. In fact, more information is now becoming available regarding a DNA repair defect in FA.

1.

FA cells were shown to be specifically sensitive to interstrand crosslinks and not intrastrand crosslinks confirming the specificity of the defect in crosslink repair.1-2 

2.

FA cells were shown to lack a repair complex that specifically binds DNA crosslinks.1-3 

3.

The increased ROS-induced lesion 8OHdG, in FA patients cells also supports the idea of a lack of a repair mechanism; without repair, the lesions remain in the DNA.

4.

FANCA and FANCC have been shown to interact in a complex and translocate to the nucleus; this implies a more direct role of FANCC in repair.1-4 

5.

FA cells have been shown to be defective in double-strand break repair.1-5 

Oxidative DNA damage is repaired by the BER pathway, which may share steps with the crosslink repair pathway. Thus, increased sensitivity of FA cells to MMC caused by either oxidative damage or crosslinks, or both, support the notion of an altered repair mechanism.

We did, however, discuss the possible effect of ROS formation in the toxicity of MMC. Although MMC is known to induce a wide variety of lesions in the DNA, several papers have described the inability of FA cells to repair crosslinked DNA as the principal cause of MMC sensitivity. Again, we do not dismiss ROS formation as a possible mechanism in the toxicity of MMC in the Fancc−/− mice, and we would be more than willing to provide Dr Pagano with the Fancc −/− mice if he wishes to test his hypothesis.

Until we find the true function of the FA proteins, one can only speculate on the defects present in FA cells.

REFERENCES

1-1
Takeuchi
T
Morimoto
K
Increased formation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, an oxidative DNA damage, in lymphoblasts from Fanconi’s anemia patients due to possible catalase deficiency.
Carcinogenesis
14
1993
1115
1-2
Fujiwara
Y
Nakamura
M
Yokoo
S
A new anticancer platinum compound, (−)-(R)-2-aminomethyl-pyrrolidine(1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylato) platinum(II): DNA interstrand crosslinking, repair and lethal effects in normal human, Fanconi’s anaemia and xeroderma pigmentosum cells.
Br J Cancer
67
1993
1285
1-3
Hang
B
Yeung
AT
Lambert
MW
A damage-recognition protein which binds to DNA containing interstrand cross-links is absent or defective in Fanconi anemia, complementation group A cells.
Nuclic Acids Res
21
1993
4187
1-4
Yamashita
T
Kupfer
G
Naf
D
Suliman
A
Joenje
H
Asano
S
D’Andrea
AD
The Fanconi anemia pathway requires FAA phosphorylation and FAA/FAC nuclear accumulation.
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA
95
1998
13085
1-5
Escarceller
M
Buchwald
M
Singleton
B
Jeggo
P
Jackson
S
Moustacchi
E
Papadopoulo
D
Fanconi anemia C gene product plays a role in the fidelity of blunt DNA end-joining.
J Mol Biol
279
1998
375
1
Carreau
M
Gan
OI
Liu
L
Doedens
M
McKerlie
C
Dick
JE
Buchwald
M
Bone marrow failure in the Fanconi anemia group C mouse model after DNA damage.
Blood
91
1998
2737
2
Joenje
H
Youssoufian
H
Kruyt
FAE
dos Santos
C
Wevrick
R
Buchwald
M
Expression of the Fanconi anemia gene FAC in human cell lines: Lack of effect of oxygen tension.
Blood Cells Mol Dis
21
1995
182
3
Saito
H
Hammond
AT
Moses
RE
The effect of low oxygen tension on the in vitro replicative life span of human diploid fibroblast cells and their transformed derivatives.
Exp Cell Res
217
1995
272
4
Nakayama
K
Nakayama
KI
Negishi
I
Kuida
K
Sawa
H
Loh
DY
Targeted disruption of Bcl-2αβ in mice: Occurrence of gray hair, polycystic kidney disease, and lymphocytopenia.
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA
91
1994
3700
5
Veis
DJ
Sorenson
CM
Shutter
JR
Korsmeyer
SJ
Bcl-2-deficient mice demonstrate fulminant lymphoid apoptosis, polycystic kidneys, and hypopigmented hair.
Cell
75
1993
229
6
Motoyama
N
Wang
F
Roth
KA
Sawa
H
Nakayama
KI
Nakayama
K
Negishi
I
Senju
S
Zhang
Q
Fujii
S
Loh
DY
Massive cell death of immature hematopoietic cells and neurons in Bcl-x-deficient mice.
Science
267
1995
1506
7
Takeuchi
T
Morimoto
K
Increased formation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, an oxidative DNA damage, in lymphoblasts from Fanconi’s anemia patients due to possible catalase deficiency.
Carcinogenesis
14
1993
1115
8
Degan
P
Bonassi
S
De Caterina
M
Korkina
LG
Pinto
L
Scopacasa
F
Zatterale
A
Calzone
R
Pagano
G
In vivo accumulation of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine in DNA correlates with release of reactive oxygen species in Fanconi’s anaemia families.
Carcinogenesis
16
1995
735
9
Pagano
G
Korkina
LG
Brunk
UT
Chessa
L
Degan
P
Del Principe
D
Kelly
FJ
Malorni
W
Pallardó
F
Pasquier
C
Scovassi
I
Zatterale
A
Franceschi
C
Congenital disorders sharing oxidative stress and cancer proneness as phenotypic hallmarks: Prospects for joint research in pharmacology.
Med Hyp
51
1998
253
10
Nordenson
I
Effect of superoxide dismutase and catalase on spontaneously occuring chromosome breaks in patients with Fanconi’s anemia.
Hereditas
86
1977
147
11
Raj
AS
Heddle
JA
The effect of superoxide dismutase, catalase and L-cysteine on spontaneous and on mitomycin C induced chromosomal breakage in Fanconi’s anemia and normal fibroblasts as measured by the micronucleus method.
Mutat Res
78
1980
59
12
Joenje
H
Arwert
F
Eriksson
AW
de Koning
H
Oostra
AB
Oxygen-dependence of chromosomal aberrations in Fanconi’s anaemia.
Nature
290
1981
142
13
Nagasawa
H
Little
JB
Suppression of cytotoxic effect of mitomycin-C by superoxide dismutase in Fanconi’s anemia and dyskeratosis congenita fibroblasts.
Carcinogenesis
4
1983
795
14
Dallapiccola
B
Porfirio
B
Mokini
V
Alimena
G
Isacchi
G
Gandini
E
Effect of oxidants and antioxidants on chromosomal breakage in Fanconi’s anemia lymphocytes.
Hum Genet
69
1985
62
15
Schindler
D
Hoehn
H
Fanconi anemia mutation causes cellular susceptibility to ambient oxygen.
Am J Hum Genet
43
1988
429
16
Poot
M
Gross
O
Epe
B
Pflaum
M
Hoehn
H
Cell cycle defect in connection with oxygen and iron sensitivity in Fanconi anemia lymphoblastoid cells.
Exp Cell Res
222
1996
262
17
Ruppitsch
W
Meisslitzer
C
Hirsch-Kauffmann
M
Schweiger
M
Overexpression of thioredoxin in Fanconi anemia fibroblasts prevents the cytotoxic and DNA damaging effect of mitomycin C and diepoxybutane.
FEBS Lett
422
1998
99
18
Kuge
S
Jones
N
YAP1-dependent activation of TRX2 is essential for the response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to oxidative stress by hydroperoxides.
EMBO J
13
1994
655
19
Gutteridge
JMC
Quinlan
GJ
Wilkins
S
Mitomycin C-induced deoxyribose degradation inhibited by superoxide dismutase. A reaction involving iron, hydroxyl and semiquinone radicals.
FEBS Lett
167
1984
37
20
Pritsos
CA
Sartorelli
AC
Generation of reactive oxygen radicals through bioactivation of mitomycin antibiotics.
Cancer Res
46
1986
3528
21
Clarke
AA
Philpott
NJ
Gordon-Smith
EC
Rutherford
TR
The sensitivity of Fanconi anaemia group C cells to apoptosis induced by mitomycin C is due to oxygen radical generation, not DNA crosslinking.
Br J Haematol
96
1997
240
22
Liebetrau
W
Runger
TM
Mehling
BE
Poot
M
Hoehn
H
Mutagenic activity of ambient oxygen and mitomycin C in Fanconi’s anaemia cells.
Mutagenesis
12
1997
69
23
Rumyantsev
AG
Samochatova
EV
Afanas’ev
IB
Korkina
LG
Suslova
TB
Cheremisina
ZP
Maschan
AA
Durnev
AD
Lurye
BL
The role of free oxygen radicals in the pathogenesis of Fanconi’s anemia.
Ter Arkh
61
1989
32
24
Korkina
LG
Samochatova
EV
Maschan
AA
Suslova
TB
Cheremisina
ZP
Afanas’ev
IB
Release of active oxygen radicals by leukocytes of Fanconi’s anemia patients.
J Leukoc Biol
52
1992
357
Sign in via your Institution