PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H Ischiropoulos

Publications and source records attributed to H Ischiropoulos.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Plasma 3-nitrotyrosine is elevated in premature infants who develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

OBJECTIVE: Premature infants are susceptible to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a chronic lung disease of infancy that appears to be caused in part by oxidative stress from hyperoxia. To investigate the possible role of nitric oxide-derived oxidants such as peroxynitrite in the etiology of BPD, we measured levels of plasma 3-nitrotyrosine, which is produced by the reaction of peroxynitrite with proteins. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten premature infants who developed BPD, defined as requiring supplemental oxygen beyond 36 weeks' postmenstrual age, were identified retrospectively from a group of subjects enrolled in a clinical trial of antenatal therapy. Serial plasma samples had been collected on these infants during the first month of life as part of the trial. Sixteen comparison premature infants were identified from the same population: 5 had no lung disease, 6 had respiratory distress syndrome that resolved, and 5 had residual lung disease at 28 days of life that resolved by 36 weeks' postmenstrual age. Plasma 3-nitrotyrosine levels were measured using a solid phase immunoradiochemical method. RESULTS: All 3-nitrotyrosine values in infants without BPD were <0.25 ng/mg protein, and levels did not change with postnatal age. Plasma 3-nitrotyrosine concentrations were significantly higher in infants with BPD, increasing approximately fourfold during the first month of life. For the 20 infants who had blood samples available at 28 days of life, plasma 3-nitrotyrosine levels correlated with the fraction of inspired oxygen that the infant was receiving (r = 0.7). CONCLUSION: Plasma 3-nitrotyrosine content is increased during the first month of life in infants who develop BPD. This suggests that peroxynitrite-mediated oxidant stress may contribute to the development of this disease in premature infants and that 3-nitrotyrosine may be useful as an early plasma indicator of infants at risk for developing BPD.

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia↗

Amelioration by mercaptoethylguanidine of the vascular and energetic failure in haemorrhagic shock in the anesthetised rat.

The effects of mercaptoethylguanidine, a dual inhibitor of the inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase and cyclooxygenase with scavenging effect on peroxynitrite, was studied on the delayed vascular decompensation and cellular energetic failure in a rat model of haemorrhagic shock. Shock was induced by bleeding of the animals to a mean arterial blood pressure of 50 mmHg. At 3 h, animals were resuscitated with Ringers-lactate and monitored for a subsequent 3 h period. In the treated group mercaptoethylguanidine (10 mg/kg/i.v. bolus, followed by 10 mg/kg/i.v. infusion) was administered from the beginning of the resuscitation. Haemorrhagic shock resulted in the upregulation of both the constitutive and the inducible NO synthase, as measured in the lung. In shocked rats mercaptoethylguanidine prevented the increase in plasma nitrite/nitrate and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha levels, ameliorated the decrease in mean arterial blood pressure, and inhibited the development of vascular hyporeactivity of the thoracic aorta ex vivo. A significant nitrotyrosine staining, an indicator of peroxynitrite formation, was found in thoracic aortic rings from shocked animals, which was prevented by mercaptoethylguanidine treatment. In ex vivo experiments in peritoneal macrophages obtained from shocked rats, treatment with mercaptoethylguanidine prevented the reduction in the intracellular NAD+ content, ameliorated the suppression of mitochondrial respiration and reduced the development of DNA single strand breaks. Our data suggest that mercaptoethylguanidine may be an useful tool for the experimental therapy of haemorrhagic shock.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

A novel reaction mechanism for the formation of S-nitrosothiol in vivo.

The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism of S-nitrosothiol formation under physiological conditions. A mechanism is proposed by which nitric oxide (.NO) reacts directly with reduced thiol to produce a radical intermediate, R-S-N.-O-H. This intermediate reduces an electron acceptor to produce S-nitrosothiol. Under aerobic conditions O2 acts as the electron acceptor and is reduced to produce superoxide (O-2). The following experimental evidence is provided in support of this mechanism. Cysteine accelerates the consumption of .NO by 2.5-fold under physiological conditions. The consumption of O2 in the presence of .NO and cysteine is increased by 2.4-fold. The reaction orders of .NO and cysteine are second and first order, respectively. The second order of reaction for .NO may result from interaction between .NO and O-2 to form peroxynitrite. In the presence of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase, the reaction of .NO with cysteine generates hydrogen peroxide, indicating that the reaction generates O-2. Finally, the formation of S-nitrosothiol is demonstrated in an anaerobic environment and, as predicted by the mechanism, is dependent on the presence of an electron acceptor. These results demonstrate that under physiological conditions .NO reacts directly with thiols to form S-nitrosothiol in the presence of an electron acceptor.

Aerobiosis↗

Peroxynitrite aggravates myocardial reperfusion injury in the isolated perfused rat heart.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effects of peroxynitrite (ONOO-) on cardiac function and cellular injury following ischemia (30 min) and reperfusion (60 min) in isolated perfused rat hearts. METHODS: 3-Morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1, 0.1 mM), an ONOO- donor, was administered alone or combined with superoxide dismutase (SOD, 300 U/ml) or glutathione (GSH, 1 mM) at the time of reperfusion. RESULTS: Administration of SIN-1 alone significantly aggravated post-ischemic myocardial injury characterized by depressed cardiac function recovery (p < 0.05 vs. vehicle), increased lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) release (p < 0.01 vs. vehicle), and enlarged necrotic size (p < 0.01 vs. vehicle). The co-administration of either SOD to decrease the formation of ONOO-, or GSH to increase the detoxification of ONOO-, completely blocked the detrimental effects of SIN-1 and exerted significant cardioprotective effects against reperfusion injury. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ONOO- may play a significant role in postischemic myocardial injury.

Animals↗

Vascular endothelial cells generate peroxynitrite in response to carbon monoxide exposure.

Carbon monoxide causes a perivascular oxidative injury in animals, and we tested the hypothesis that endothelial cells could be a source of the injurious oxidants. Studies were undertaken to assess whether exposure to carbon monoxide would cause cultured bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells to liberate reactive species. Concentrations of carbon monoxide between 11 and 110 nM caused progressively higher concentrations of nitric oxide to be released by endothelial cells based on measurements of nitrite and nitrate. Intracellular production of peroxynitrite was indicated by elevated concentrations of nitrotyrosine, and extracellular liberation of peroxynitrite was indicated by oxidation of p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid and dihydrorhodamine-123. Carbon monoxide did not disturb mitochondrial function based on the rate of oxygen consumption, intracellular production of hydrogen peroxide, and the ability of cells to reduce 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide. Carbon monoxide also did not alter arginine transport by cells or nitric oxide synthase activity, but it was found to increase steady state levels of nitric oxide by competing for intracellular binding sites. Acute cytotoxicity from carbon monoxide, assessed as radioactive chromium leakage, was due to nitric oxide-derived oxidants. A delayed cell death, whose mechanism is not entirely clear, was also demonstrated by chromium leakage and uptake of vital stain. These findings offer a possible mechanism for adverse health effects caused by carbon monoxide at concentrations ranging from the relatively low levels in polluted environments to levels typically encountered with life-threatening poisoning. Carbon monoxide causes oxidative stress by a novel mechanism involving a competition for intracellular binding sites which increases steady state levels of nitric oxide and allows for generation of peroxynitrite by endothelium.

Animals↗

Release of glutathione from erythrocytes and other markers of oxidative stress in carbon monoxide poisoning.

Rats exposed to CO in a manner known to cause oxidative stress in brain exhibited a twofold increase in plasma levels of oxidized proteins, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and reduced glutathione (GSH). Changes were neither directly related to hypoxic stress from carboxyhemoglobin nor significantly influenced by circulating platelets or neutrophils. Treatment with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester inhibited elevations in GSH and GSSG but not changes in oxidized proteins or TBARS, suggesting that two oxidative mechanisms may be operating in this model and that GSH and GSSG elevations involved nitric oxide-derived oxidants. Elevations of blood GSH and GSSG occurred at different anatomic sites, indicating that no single organ was the source of the increased peptides. Animals that underwent exchange transfusion with a hemoglobin-containing saline solution did not exhibit elevations in GSH and GSSG, suggesting that blood-borne cells released these peptides in response to oxidative stress. In in vitro studies, erythrocytes, but not platelets and leukocytes, responded to oxidative stress from peroxynitrite by releasing GSH, whereas no release was observed in response to nitric oxide or superoxide. Glucose, maltose, and cytochalasin B, agents that protect extracellular components of the hexose transport protein complex from oxidative stress, prevented GSH release. The data indicate that nitric oxide-derived oxidants are involved in CO-mediated oxidative stress within the vascular compartment and that elevations of several compounds may be useful for identifying exposures to CO likely to precipitate brain injury.

Animals↗

Oxidation of 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin by peroxynitrite.

The simultaneous production of nitric oxide and superoxide anion leads to the formation of peroxynitrite, a potent oxidant which may be an important mediator of cellular injury. Oxidation of dichlorofluorescin to the fluorescent dichlorofluorescein has been used as a marker for cellular oxidant production. The mechanisms of peroxynitrite-mediated oxidation of dichlorofluorescin to dichlorofluorescein were investigated. Chemically synthesized peroxynitrite (50-500 nM) induced the oxidation of dichlorofluorescin to dichlorofluorescein in a linear fashion. In addition, the simultaneous generation of nitric oxide and superoxide anion induced the oxidation of dichlorofluorescin to dichlorofluorescein, while nitric oxide (1-10 microM) alone under aerobic conditions did not. Peroxynitrite-mediated oxidation of dichlorofluorescin was not inhibited by the hydroxyl radical scavengers mannitol (100 mM) or dimethylsulfoxide (100 mM). Moreover, peroxynitrite-mediated oxidation of dichlorofluorescin was not dependent upon metal ion-catalyzed reactions. Furthermore, dichlorofluorescein formation was diminished at alkaline pH. These findings suggest that peroxynitrite-mediated dichlorofluorescein formation results directly from the protonation of peroxynitrite to form the conjugate peroxynitrous acid. L-cysteine was an efficient inhibitor (KI approximately 25 microM) of dichlorofluorescin oxidation through competitive oxidation of free sulfhydryls. Urate was a less efficient with a maximum inhibition of only 49%. These results demonstrate that dichlorofluorescin is efficiently oxidized by peroxynitrite. Therefore, under conditions where nitric oxide and superoxide are produced simultaneously, oxidation of dichlorofluorescin may be mediated by the formation of peroxynitrite.

Cysteine↗

Mechanism of oxidative stress from low levels of carbon monoxide.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether platelets and vascular endothelial cells would liberate nitric oxide free radical (NO)* and NO-derived oxidant species after exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) at concentrations up to 100 parts per million (ppm). We hypothesized that exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of CO would increase production of agents that may be involved in human pathological processes, such as atherosclerosis. Platelets obtained from rats released NO when incubated with CO, but CO did not increase platelet nitric oxide synthase activity. Platelets released comparable NO levels when they were exposed to CO in vitro and when taken from rats that had been exposed to CO. Partial pressures of CO as low as 10 ppm could successfully compete with NO for intraplatelet binding sites in in vitro studies. We conclude that CO enhanced the release of NO from platelets because it inhibited NO sequestration by intraplatelet binding sites, and that this phenomenon can occur with exposure to CO concentrations found in the environment. Bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells released NO in response to CO exposure. Carbon monoxide did not affect the transport of L-arginine across the plasma membrane or nitric oxide synthase activity; therefore, the mechanism appeared to be based on a disturbance of intracellular NO sequestration. Cells incubated with CO also released into the surrounding medium peroxynitrite, an NO-derived oxidant, based on oxidation of dihydrorhodamine 123 and p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid. Peroxynitrite-mediated oxidative stress to endothelial cells was identified as increased concentrations of nitrotyrosine in cell lysates, and by measuring the release of radioactive chromium. Carbon monoxide caused an acute injury when cells were continuously exposed for 4 hours, and a delayed injury when cells were exposed for 2 hours. Delayed injury was documented by leakage of radioactive chromium and by uptake of a vital fluorescent stain, ethidium homodimer-1, between 6 and 20 hours after CO exposure. Oxidative stress caused by CO exhibited several unique aspects because CO exposure did not alter the cellular content of reduced sulfhydryls nor did CO augment oxidative stress caused by superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, or a flux of NO. We concluded that concentrations of CO achieved in vivo when humans are exposed to CO concentrations found in the environment can cause endothelial cells to liberate NO and NO-derived oxidants, and that these products can adversely affect cell physiology.

Air Pollutants↗

Carbon dioxide enhancement of peroxynitrite-mediated protein tyrosine nitration.

Production of reactive species has been associated with tissue injury in diverse human disorders and experimental models of disease. Peroxynitrite is a strong oxidant with multiple pathways of reactivity. One protein modification reaction that may be specific to peroxynitrite is the nitration of the ortho position of tyrosine residues and nitrotyrosine has been used as a marker for peroxynitrite-mediated oxidative stress. Nitrotyrosine was formed when peroxynitrite was reacted at physiological pH with fatty acid-free bovine serum albumin or with human plasma proteins. Nitrotyrosine was not formed when proteins were incubated with nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, or nitric oxide plus hydrogen peroxide in the presence of ferrous iron or ferrihorseradish peroxidase. Low-molecular-weight molecules such as uric acid, ascorbate, and sulfhydryls inhibited protein tyrosine nitration in the absence of bicarbonate. Addition of bicarbonate catalytically enhanced the yield of nitration and overcame the inhibition of these antioxidants. Bicarbonate/CO2 enhanced the yield of protein nitrotyrosine in a concentration-dependent manner. Catalysis of nitration is achieved by the interaction of CO2 with the peroxynitrite anion. A mechanism is proposed involving an ONOO(O)CO- intermediate, which readily nitrates tyrosine residues in a non-radical-dependent manner. Thus, peroxynitrite nitrates tyrosine residues by a mechanism that is catalyzed by CO2 under normal physiological conditions.

Adult↗

Immunotargeting of antioxidant enzyme to the pulmonary endothelium.

Oxidative injury to the pulmonary endothelium has pathological significance for a spectrum of diseases. Administration of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (Cat), has been proposed as a method to protect endothelium. However, neither these enzymes nor their derivatives possess specific affinity to endothelium and do not accumulate in the lung. Previously we have described a monoclonal antibody to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) that accumulates selectively in the lung after systemic injection in rats, hamsters, cats, monkeys, and humans. In the present work we describe a system for selective intrapulmonary delivery of CuZn-SOD and Cat conjugated with biotinylated anti-ACE antibody mAb 9B9 (b-mAb 9B9) by a streptavidin (SA)-biotin bridge. Both enzymes biotinylated with biotin ester at biotin/enzyme ratio 20 retain enzymatic activity and bind SA without loss of activity. We have constructed tri-molecular heteropolymer complexes consisting of b-mAb 9B9, SA, and biotinylated SOD or biotinylated Cat and have studied biodistribution and pulmonary uptake of these complexes in the rat after i.v. injection. Biodistribution of biotinylated enzymes was similar to that of nonmodified enzymes. Binding of SA markedly prolonged lifetime of biotinylated enzymes in the circulation. In contrast to enzymes conjugated with nonspecific IgG, other enzyme derivatives, and nonmodified enzymes, biotinylated enzymes conjugated with b-mAb 9B9 accumulated specifically in the rat lung (9% of injected SOD/g of lung tissue and 7.5% of injected Cat/g of lung tissue). Pulmonary uptake of nonmodified enzymes or derivatives with nonspecific IgG did not exceed 0.5% of injected dose/g. Both SOD and Cat conjugated with b-mAb 9B9 were retained in the rat lung for at least several hours. Trichloracetic acid-precipitable radiolabeled Cat was associated with microsomal and plasma membrane fractions of the lung tissue homogenate. Thus, modification of antioxidant enzymes with biotin and SA-mediated conjugation with b-mAb 9B9 prolongs the circulation of enzymes resulting in selective accumulation in the lung and intracellular delivery of enzymes to the pulmonary endothelium. These results provide the background for an approach to provide protection of pulmonary endothelium against oxidative insults.

Animals↗

Nitric oxide production and perivascular nitration in brain after carbon monoxide poisoning in the rat.

Nitric oxide is a short-lived free radical and physiological mediator which has the potential to cause cytotoxicity. Studies were conducted to investigate whether nitric oxide, and the potent oxidant peroxynitrite, were generated in brain during experimental carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in the rat. Nitric oxide production was documented by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and found to be increased by ninefold immediately after CO poisoning. Evidence that peroxynitrite was generated was sought by looking for nitrotyrosine in the brains of CO-poisoned rats. Nitrotyrosine was found deposited in vascular walls, and also diffusely throughout the parenchyma in inummocytochemical studies. The affinity and specificity of an anti-nitrotyrosine antibody was investigated and a solid phase immunoradiochemical assay was developed to quantity nitrotyrosine in brain homogenates. A 10-fold increase in nitrotyrosine was found in the brains of CO-poisoned rats. Platelets were involved with production of nitrotyrosine in the early phase of exposure to CO. However, nitrotyrosine formation and leukocyte sequestration were not decreased in thrombocytopenic rats poisoned with CO according to the standard model. When rats were pre-treated with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, L-nitroarginine methyl ester, formation of both nitric oxide and nitrotyrosine in response to CO poisoning were abolished, as well as leukocyte sequestration in the microvasculature, endothelial xanthine dehydrogenase conversion to xanthine oxidase, and brain lipid peroxidation. We conclude that perivascular reactions mediated by peroxynitrite are important in the cascade of events which lead to brain oxidative stress in CO poisoning.

Animals↗

Effects of peroxynitrite-induced protein modifications on tyrosine phosphorylation and degradation.

The ability of protein tyrosine kinases to phosphorylate a synthetic peptide was inhibited 51% by peroxynitrite-mediated nitration of tyrosine. Exposure of endothelial cells to peroxynitrite decreased the intensity of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins and increased the intensity of nitrotyrosine-containing proteins. Peroxynitrite-modified BSA was degraded by human red blood cell lysates. However, human plasma in a concentration-, time-, and temperature-dependent manner, removed the protein nitrotyrosine epitope. These results suggest that tyrosine nitration interferes with phosphorylation and targets proteins for degradation. Specific enzymatic process(es) for removing nitrotyrosine may be present in vivo.

Animals↗

Endothelial cell oxidant generation during K(+)-induced membrane depolarization.

We tested the hypothesis that membrane depolarization may initiate oxidant generation in the endothelial cell. Depolarization was produced in bovine pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (BPAEC) in monolayer culture with varying external K+, or with glyburide (10 microM), tetraethylammonium (TEA, 10 mM), gramicidin (1 microM), or nigericin (2 microM). Evaluation of bisoxonol fluorescence of BPAEC indicated concentration-dependent depolarization by high K+ (2% change in fluorescence/mV change in membrane potential in the 5.9-48 mM range of K+) and essentially complete depolarization with glyburide. Generation of oxidants was assessed with o-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride (o-PD) oxidation in the presence of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). There was a time-dependent increase in o-PD oxidation with 24 mM K+, nigericin, and gramicidin over 2 hours compared with control. In 1 hour o-PD oxidation increased 2.8-fold for 24 mM and 3.7-fold for 48 mM K+ compared with control. Catalase reduced 24 mM K(+)-induced o-PD oxidation by 50%, while Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) abolished the increase. Oxidation of o-PD was reduced by 57% in the absence of HRP in the system. With K+ channel blockade, o-PD oxidation increased 3.8-fold with glyburide and 4.6-fold with TEA compared with control. These data indicate formation of H2O2 and possibly other oxidants with depolarization and suggest involvement of K(+)-channels in this process.

Animals↗

Reactions of nitric oxide and peroxynitrite with organic molecules and ferrihorseradish peroxidase: interference with the determination of hydrogen peroxide.

Endothelial, inflammatory, and other cell types, in addition to forming reactive oxygen species, under proper stimulation release free radicals such as nitric oxide (.NO) and strong oxidants such as peroxynitrite (ONOO-), which is the product of the reaction of nitric oxide with superoxide. Several methods for the detection of H2O2 are based on the ferrihorseradish peroxidase catalyzed oxidation of organic molecules. We investigated the reactions of nitric oxide and peroxynitrite with organic molecules as well as with ferrihorseradish peroxidase and examined the potential interference with the detection of H2O2. Peroxynitrite at low concentrations (0-10 microM) induced a concentration-dependent oxidation of 1,2 phenylenediamine, 3-3' dimethoxybenzidine (o-dianisidine) and para-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (pHPA). With the exception of pHPA, the oxidation of the above compounds by peroxynitrite was not affected by the presence of ferrihorseradish peroxidase. The yield of HPA-dimmer, the oxidation product of pHPA by peroxynitrite, was decreased because ferrihorseradish peroxidase catalyzed the formation of a different product, 3-nitro-HPA. Nitrogen oxides, formed by the reaction of nitric oxide with oxygen, oxidized the aromatic amines o-phenylenediamine and o-dianisidine. A 10-fold excess of nitric oxide over H2O2 decreased the yield of pHPA and dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR123) by 58 and 72%, respectively, as compared to H2O2 plus ferrihorseradish peroxidase. The inhibition of pHPA oxidation by nitric oxide was in part to the reaction of nitric oxide with compound I and compound II and in part due to the reaction with the phenoxyl radical. These data suggest that the simultaneous generation of nitric oxide and peroxynitrite can interfere with the detection of H2O2. The overestimation or underestimation of the H2O2 detected is dependent upon the organic molecule utilized for detection and by the relative rate of nitric oxide, superoxide, and peroxynitrite generation.

Analysis of Variance↗

Nitration of surfactant protein A results in decreased ability to aggregate lipids.

We assessed the extent to which nitration of surfactant protein (SP) A, isolated from the bronchoalveolar lavage of patients with alveolar proteinosis, alters its ability to enhance lipid aggregation, bind lipids, and act synergistically with surfactant apoproteins B and C (SP-B, SP-C) in lowering the surface activity of surfactant lipids. SP-A was treated with various concentrations of tetranitromethane (TNM) at pH 6, 7.4, 8, or 10. Depending on the pH, TNM acts either as a nitrating (pH > or = 7.4) or an oxidizing agent (pH < or = 6). Exposure of SP-A to TNM (0.1-1 mM) at pH 7.4 or 8 for 30 min resulted in dose-and pH-dependent increases in nitrotyrosine, detected by Western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and direct amino acid analysis. Treatment of SP-A with 0.5 mM TNM decreased its ability to aggregate lipids by 30% at pH 7.4, and 90% at pH 8, but had no effect on the disulfide-dependent oligomeric state of SP-A. In contrast, SP-A exposed to 1 mM TNM at pH 6 had background levels of nitrotyrosine and exhibited normal lipid aggregation properties. TNM, but not a hydroxyl radical-generating system, resulted in a pH-dependent loss of SP-A fluorescence, suggesting that tryptophan also may have been nitrated. Nitration of SP-A did not affect its ability to bind lipids. In addition, SP-A (1-3% by weight), treated with 0.25-0.5 mM TNM at pH 8, restored the surface-active properties of calf lung surfactant extract, previously damaged by exposure to peroxynitrite. We conclude that tyrosine nitration selectively inhibits the SP-A-mediated lipid aggregation without affecting its ability to bind lipids.

Amino Acids↗

Peroxynitrite-mediated oxidation of dihydrorhodamine 123 occurs in early stages of endotoxic and hemorrhagic shock and ischemia-reperfusion injury.

To quantify peroxynitrite production during shock, we measured oxidation of dihydrorhodamine 123 in rats. In endotoxic and hemorrhagic shock and splanchic ischemia-reperfusion, dihydrorhodamine oxidation rapidly increased, which was prevented by inhibition of endothelial nitric oxide (.NO) synthase (ecNOS). Thus, peroxynitrite is already formed at early stages of shock from ecNOS-derived .NO. Overproduction of .NO by the inducible NOS at late shock was not associated with additional increases in dihydrorhodamine oxidation. ecNOS inhibition enhanced dihydrorhodamine oxidation in control rats. These latter findings may be explained by .NO-mediated inhibition of peroxynitrite-induced dihydrorhodamine oxidation, a phenomenon also observed in vitro.

Animals↗

Peroxynitrite-mediated oxidative protein modifications.

Proteins are targets of reactive species and detection of oxidatively modified proteins is often used as an index of oxidative stress. Peroxynitrite is a strong oxidant formed by reaction of nitric oxide with superoxide. Using fatty acid-free bovine serum albumin as a model we examined peroxynitrite-mediated protein modifications. The reaction of protein with peroxynitrite resulted in the oxidation of tryptophan and cysteine, in the nitration of tyrosine, in the formation of dityrosine, in the production of 2,4 dinitrophenylhydrazine-reactive carbonyls and in protein fragmentation. The formation of 3-nitrotyrosine represents a specific peroxynitrite-mediated protein modification that is different from modifications mediated by reactive oxygen species.

Animals↗