Haemoglobin-induced oxidative stress is associated with both endogenous peroxidase activity and H2O2 generation from polyunsaturated fatty acids

Abstract

Patients with increased haemolytic haemoglobin (Hb) have 10–20-times greater incidence of cardiovascular mortality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of Hb peroxidase activity in LDL oxidation. The role of Hb in lipid peroxidation, H2O2 generation and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) was assessed using NaN3, a peroxidase inhibitor, catalase, a H2O2 decomposing enzyme and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), respectively. Hb induced H2O2 production by reacting with LDL, linoleate and cell membrane lipid extracts. Hb-induced LDL oxidation was inhibited by NaN3 and catalase. Furthermore, Hb stimulated ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression, which was inhibited by the antioxidant, probucol. Thus, the present study suggests that the peroxidase activity of Hb produces atherogenic, oxidized LDL and oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the cell membrane and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation mediated Hb-induced ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression.