The oxidoreductase, biliverdin reductase, is induced in human renal carcinoma--pH and cofactor-specific increase in...

Biliverdin reductase is an oxidoreductase unique among all enzymes characterized to date in having dual pH/dual cofactor requirement - NADH and NADPH at 6.7 and 8.7, respectively. The protein shows extensive microheterogeneity that is caused by post-translational modification. The reductase converts the heme degradation product, biliverdin, to bilirubin. Bilirubin has been shown to inhibit responses of human lymphocytes, including phytohemagglutinin-induced proliferation, interleukin-2 production, and antibody dependent and independent cell mediated cytotoxicity. In addition to acting as an antioxidant, it inhibits protein phosphorylation and activity of enzymes such as protein kinase C and NADPH oxidase. This research was to evaluate whether renal cell carcinoma differs from normal tissue in regard to the expression and activity of the reductase.

Kidney tissue with or without visible renal carcinoma and normal kidney tissue from a brain dead patient were frozen at -80C shortly after removal. Ten microm. tissue sections were used for immunostaining of biliverdin reductase, pooled isolated tumors and surrounding tissue that did not contain visible tumor were used for Northern blot analysis of mRNA and Western blot analysis of protein. Enzyme activity was also measured in these preparations at pH 6.7 with NADH, and at pH 8.7 with NADPH. Ten additional formalin fixed specimens of renal cell carcinoma were also used for immunostaining.

There was a striking increase in the reductase protein levels, as visualized by immunostaining in tumor tissue cells. The increase was also evident by Western blotting, and involved in increased transcription of biliverdin reductase as suggested by Northern blot analysis. The protein would also be detected in the infiltrating monocytes, macrophages, T cells and neutrophils as well as in circulating lymphocytes. The enzyme activity was nearly doubled in the tumor tissue, but selectively with NADH as the cofactor.

Increases in biliverdin reductase expression and activity only with NADH is found in renal cell carcinoma. The net effects of this change are uncertain at present but several pathways, which could be affected by the reductase, may alter local physiology. Biliverdin reductase as a zinc metalloprotein may directly interact with other regulatory proteins, generation of increased bilirubin may alter immune function and increased enzyme activity may deplete NADH with contrasting consequence of blocking free radical formation and depleting cellular ATP. To the benefit of the host, the latter could culminate in tumor cell death.