Homero Rubbo

Superoxide (O2-.), nitric oxide (.NO), and their reaction product peroxynitrite (ONOO-) have all been shown to independently exert toxic target molecule reactions. Because these reactive species are often generated in excess during diverse inflammatory and other pathologic circumstances, we assessed the influence of .NO on membrane lipid peroxidation induced by O2-., H2O2, and .OH derived from xanthine oxidase (XO) and by ONOO-. Experimental conditions in lipid oxidation systems were adjusted to yield different rates of delivery of .NO, relative to rates of O2-. and H2O2 generation, by infusion of either .NO or via .NO released from S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine or S-nitrosoglutathione. Peroxidation of phosphatidylcholine liposomes was assessed by formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive products and by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Liposomes exposed to XO-derived reactive species in the presence of .NO exhibited both stimulation and inhibition of lipid peroxidation, depending on the ratio of the rates of reactive oxygen species production and .NO introduction into reaction systems. Nitric oxide alone did not induce lipid peroxidation. Linolenic acid emulsions peroxidized by XO-derived reactive species showed similar dose-dependent regulation of lipid peroxidation by .NO. Mass spectral analysis of oxidation products showed formation of nitrito-, nitro-, nitrosoperoxo-, and/or nitrated lipid oxidation adducts, demonstrating that .NO serves as a potent terminator of radical chain propagation reactions. Electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis of incubation mixtures provided no evidence for formation of paramagnetic iron-lipid-nitric oxide complexes in reaction systems. Peroxynitrite-dependent lipid peroxidation, which predominantly occurs by metal-independent mechanisms, was also inhibited by .NO. Peroxynitrite-mediated benzoate hydroxylation was partially inhibited by .NO, inferring reaction between .NO and ONOOH. It is concluded that .NO can both stimulate O2-./H2O2/.OH-induced lipid oxidation and mediate oxidant-protective reactions in membranes at higher rates of .NO production, with the prooxidant versus antioxidant outcome critically dependent on relative concentrations of individual reactive species. Prooxidant reactions of .NO will occur after O2-. reaction with .NO to yield potent secondary oxidants such as ONOO- and the antioxidant effects of .NO a consequence of direct reaction with alkoxyl and peroxyl radical intermediates during lipid peroxidation, thus terminating lipid radical chain propagation reactions.

We have presented evidence from a broad range of chemical, cell biological, and in vivo studies showing that .NO can mediate tissue-protective reactions during oxidant stress, as well as toxic and tissue prooxidant effects. One predominant factor that has been identified which influences .NO being protective versus toxic is the relative rates of production and concentrations of .NO and the more "traditional" family of reactive oxygen species, including O2.-, H2O2, .OH, LO., LOO., and high valency complexes of iron. Also, since so many anti-neutrophil actions of .NO have been described, it is likely that .NO will serve a protective role in acute inflammatory reactions. One issue is certain--many new truths remain to be revealed, as we continue to develop our understanding of the toxicology of reactive oxygen- and nitrogen-containing species.

Peroxynitrite (ONOO-), the reaction product of superoxide (O2.-) and nitric oxide (.NO), nitrates tyrosine and other phenolics. We report herein that tryptophan is also nitrated by peroxynitrite in the absence of transition metals to one predominant isomer of nitrotryptophan, as determined from spectral characteristics and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. At high peroxynitrite to tryptophan ratios, other oxidation products were detected as well. The amount of nitrotryptophan formed from peroxynitrite increased at acidic pH, with an apparent pKa of 7.8. High concentrations of Fe(3+)-EDTA were required to enhance peroxynitrite-induced nitrotryptophan formation, while addition of up to 15 microM Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase had a minimal effect on tryptophan nitration. Cysteine, ascorbate, and methionine decreased nitrotryptophan yield to an extent similar to that predicted by their reaction rates with ground-state peroxynitrite, and typical hydroxyl radical scavengers partially inhibited nitration. Plots of the observed rate constant of nitrotryptophan formation vs tryptophan concentration presented downward curvatures. Thus, the kinetics of metal-independent nitration reactions were interpreted in terms of two parallel mechanisms. In the first one, ground-state peroxynitrous acid nitrated tryptophan with a second-order rate constant of 184 +/- 11 M-1 s-1 at 37 degrees C. The activation enthalpy was 9.1 +/- 0.3 kcal mol-1, and the activation entropy was -19 +/- 1 cal mol-1 K-1. In the second mechanism, ONOOH*, an activated intermediate derived from trans-peroxynitrous acid formed in a steady state, was the nitrating agent.