Prevention of oxidant-induced cell death in Caco-2 colon carcinoma cells after inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and Ca2+ chelation: involvement of a common mechanism.

The human colon carcinoma cell line Caco-2 was exposed to the oxidative stress-inducing agents menadione (MEN), 2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, and hydrogen peroxide. All three agents caused DNA damage which was assessed by alkaline unwinding. Further, all three agents induced intensive NAD+ depletion, followed by a decrease in intracellular ATP and viability. Inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP, EC 2.4.2.30) by 3-aminobenzamide prevented the depletion of NAD+. These cells had a higher viability and ATP content. The most pronounced effect was observed with 25 microM of MEN, while at higher levels a partial preservation of NAD+ was observed with no effect on ATP or viability. The chelation of intracellular calcium by bis-(o-aminophenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N1,N1-tetraacidic acid/tetraacetoxymethyl) ester also prevented the dramatic loss of NAD+, demonstrating that Ca2+ is an activating factor in PARP-mediated cell killing.