Essential Antioxidant Enzyme Research Articles

The Mammalian Cytosolic Selenoenzyme Thioredoxin Reductase Reduces Ubiquinone: A NOVEL MECHANISM FOR DEFENSE AGAINST OXIDATIVE STRESS

The selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase (TrxR1) is an essential antioxidant enzyme known to reduce many compounds in addition to thioredoxin, its principle protein substrate. Here we found that TrxR1 reduced ubiquinone-10 and thereby regenerated the antioxidant ubiquinol-10 (Q10), which is important for protection against lipid and protein peroxidation. The reduction was time- and dose-dependent, with an apparent K(m) of 22 microm and a maximal rate of about 12 nmol of reduced Q10 per milligram of TrxR1 per minute. TrxR1 reduced ubiquinone maximally at a physiological pH of 7.5 at similar rates using either NADPH or NADH as cofactors. The reduction of Q10 by mammalian TrxR1 was selenium dependent as revealed by comparison with Escherichia coli TrxR or selenium-deprived mutant and truncated mammalian TrxR forms. In addition, the rate of reduction of ubiquinone was significantly higher in homogenates from human embryo kidney 293 cells stably overexpressing thioredoxin reductase and was induced along with increasing cytosolic TrxR activity after the addition of selenite to the culture medium. These data demonstrate that the selenoenzyme thioredoxin reductase is an important selenium-dependent ubiquinone reductase and can explain how selenium and ubiquinone, by a combined action, may protect the cell from oxidative damage.

Rationale for clinical trials of selenium as an antioxidant for the treatment of the cardiomyopathy of Friedreich's ataxia

A pure selenium deficiency is harmful to the heart and causes a fatal dilated congestive cardiomyopathy in animals (white muscle disease) and in man (Keshan disease). Both of these syndromes are selenium-responsive. A deficiency of the micronutrient has also been reported in patients with Friedreich's ataxia and there are histological similarities between Friedreich's cardiomyopathy and Keshan disease. A low selenium status results in reduced selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity. This essential antioxidant enzyme protects membrances from oxidative deterioration, a function it shares in common with vitamin E. As iron-induced mitochondrial lipid peroxidation is central to the pathology of Friedreich's ataxia, the administration of selenium supplements should normalize the antioxidant activity of myocardial glutathione peroxidase and slow the progression of the life-shortening cardiomyopathy associated with this illness.

Pro-oxidant activity of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase.

Whereas Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD) is an essential antioxidant enzyme for superoxide dismutation in vivo(1 ), many reports have shown that an elevated level of Cu,Zn-SOD induces cell killing (2, 3), increases lipid peroxidation (4, 5), and interferes with the transport of neurotransmitters (4, 6). All of these observations are archetypical results inducible by oxygen radicals. Cu,Zn-SOD (7) and FALS mutants (8) are known to develop neurodegeneration. These findings suggest that under certain conditions Cu,Zn-SOD may behave directly or indirectly as a pro-oxidant. In addition to the usual superoxide dismutation activity, Cu,Zn-SOD is known to exhibit anion binding capacity (9, 10), inactivation by its own reaction product H202 (11-13), and the purported peroxidase activity (14). Here we summarize our findings that Cu,Zn-SOD has free radical ('OH and scavenger-derived radicals)-generating activity (15, 16). TheactiveCu,Zn-SOD can catalyze the generation of free 9 radicals from H202. In the presence of H202 and radical scavengers, especially with anionic character, both free 9 radicals and scavenger-derived radicals are produced (15, 16). We also found that the free radical-generating function of several FALS-associated Cu,Zn-SOD mutants is enhanced relative to that of the wild-type enzyme, while the dismutation activities remain unchanged (17, 18). To monitor the production of free radicals, two spin traps, 5,5-dimethyl-l-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) and Ntert-butyl-c~-phenylnitrone (PBN), were used in our studies (15) to convert transient free radicals to stable free radicals adducts according to the following reactions:

Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidant Defense Enzymes in Various Regions of Adult Rat Brain after Co‐Exposure to Cadmium and Ethanol

Effect of cadmium (1 mg/kg body weight) and ethanol (2 g/kg body weight) exposure, alone as well as in combination, on essential trace metal homeostasis, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense enzymes in various regions of the adult rat brain was investigated. It was observed that cadmium when administered along with ethanol accumulated significantly in corpus striatum (3.5 fold) and cerebral cortex (3.0 fold) compared to the cadmium treated group. The ethanol induced accumulation of cadmium led to significant depletion in the levels of essential trace metals like zinc and copper in these regions of the brain. Further, cadmium or ethanol alone did not show any significant effect on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense enzymes in any of the regions of the adult brain but when given in combination, caused a significant increase in lipid peroxidation and markedly decreased the activities of antioxidant defense enzymes like glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase particularly in corpus striatum and cerebral cortex. Structural alterations produced by increased lipid peroxidation after cadmium and ethanol co-exposure may have profound effect on the activities of membrane bound enzymes and hence may lead to functional impairment. The results of the present study imply that ethanol renders the adult brain more susceptible to the neurotoxic effects of cadmium. Corpus striatum and cerebral cortex are more vulnerable to the toxic effects of cadmium under the influence of ethanol than other regions of the brain.

Iron deficiency anemia: recovery from in vitro oxidative stress.

Red blood cells in iron deficiency anemia (IDA) have a decreased activity of essential antioxidant enzymes. The present study examined the effect of in vitro exposure to oxidative agents in IDA cells and their recovery capacity. Red cells of 26 IDA patients and 10 healthy subjects were examined. Cells of IDA patients had higher levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), and normal methemoglobin and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) levels. Exposure to butyl hydroperoxide revealed a dose-dependent sensitivity in IDA cells, with extensive GSH depletion and increased MDA levels. These changes were partially reversible by incubation with dithiothreitol. Exposure to phenazine methosulfate, to produce intracellular superoxide ions, resulted in moderate GSH depletion and methemoglobin production. IDA cells were more sensitive than control cells to high concentrations of this substance. This effect was further augmented by preincubation with a superoxide dismutase inhibitor. Our data demonstrate that IDA cells are more susceptible to oxidation but have good capacity for recovery.