Human neutrophils oxidize low-density lipoprotein by a hypochlorous acid-dependent mechanism: the role of vitamin C

Oxidatively modified low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Peripheral blood leukocytes, such as neutrophils, can oxidize LDL by processes requiring superoxide and redox-active transition metal ions; however, it is uncertain whether such catalytic metal ions are available in the artery wall. Stimulated leukocytes also produce the reactive oxidant hypochlorous acid (HOCl) via the heme enzyme myeloperoxidase. Since myeloperoxidase-derived HOCl may be a physiologically relevant oxidant in atherogenesis, we investigated the mechanisms of neutrophil-mediated LDL modification and its possible prevention by the antioxidant ascorbate (vitamin C). As a sensitive marker of LDL oxidation, we measured LDL thiol groups. Stimulated human neutrophils (5x10(6) cells/ml) incubated with human LDL (0.25 mg protein/ml) time-dependently oxidized LDL thiols (33% and 79% oxidized after 10 and 30 min, respectively). Supernatants from stimulated neutrophils also oxidized LDL thiols (33% oxidized after 30 min), implicating long-lived oxidants such as N-chloramines. Experiments using specific enzyme inhibitors and oxidant scavengers showed that HOCl, but not hydrogen peroxide nor superoxide, plays a critical role in LDL thiol oxidation by neutrophils. Ascorbate (200 microM) protected against neutrophil-mediated LDL thiol oxidation for up to 15 min of incubation, after which LDL thiols became rapidly oxidized. Although stimulated neutrophils accumulated ascorbate during oxidation of LDL, pre-loading of neutrophils with ascorbate did not attenuate oxidant production by the cells. Thus, activated neutrophils oxidize LDL thiols by HOCl- and N-chloramine-dependent mechanisms and physiological concentrations of vitamin C delay this process, most likely due to scavenging of extracellular oxidants, rather than by attenuating neutrophil oxidant production.     

Identification of proteins susceptible to thiol oxidation in endothelial cells exposed to hypochlorous acid and N-chloramines

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a potent oxidant produced by the enzyme myeloperoxidase, which is released by neutrophils under inflammatory conditions. Although important in the immune system, HOCl can also damage host tissue, which contributes to the development of disease. HOCl reacts readily with free amino groups to form N-chloramines, which also cause damage in vivo, owing to the extracellular release of myeloperoxidase and production of HOCl. HOCl and N-chloramines react readily with cellular thiols, which causes dysfunction via enzyme inactivation and modulation of redox signaling processes. In this study, the ability of HOCl and model N-chloramines produced on histamine and ammonia at inflammatory sites, to oxidize specific thiol-containing proteins in human coronary artery endothelial cells was investigated. Using a proteomics approach with the thiol-specific probe, 5-iodoacetamidofluorescein, we show that several proteins including peptidylprolyl isomerase A (cyclophilin A), protein disulfide isomerase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and galectin-1 are particularly sensitive to oxidation by HOCl and N-chloramines formed at inflammatory sites. This will contribute to cellular dysfunction and may play a role in inflammatory disease pathogenesis.     

Kinetics of the reactions of hypochlorous acid and amino acid chloramines with thiols, methionine, and ascorbate

Thiol oxidation by hypochlorous acid and chloramines is a favorable reaction and may be responsible for alterations in regulatory or signaling pathways in cells exposed to neutrophil oxidants. In order to establish the mechanism for such changes, it is necessary to appreciate whether these oxidants are selective for different thiols as compared with other scavengers. We have measured rate constants for reactions of amino acid chloramines with a range of thiols, methionine, and ascorbate, using a combination of stopped-flow and competitive kinetics. For HOCl, rate constants are too fast to measure directly by our system and values relative to reduced glutathione were determined by competition with methionine. For taurine chloramine, the rate constants for reaction with 5-thio-2-nitrobenzoic acid, GSH, methionine, and ascorbate at pH 7.4 were 970, 115, 39, and 13 M(-1) s(-1), respectively. Values for 10 thiols varied by a factor of 20 and showed an inverse relationship to the pK(a) of the thiol group. Rate constants for chloramines of glycine and N-alpha-acetyl-lysine also showed these relationships. Rates increased with decreasing pH, suggesting a mechanism involving acid catalysis. For hypochlorous acid, rates of reaction with 5-thio-2-nitrobenzoic acid, GSH, cysteine, and most of the other thiols were very similar. Relative reactivities varied by less than 5 and there was no dependence on thiol pK(a). Chloramines have the potential to be selective for different cellular thiols depending on their pK(a). For HOCl to be selective, other factors must be important, or its reactions could be secondary to chloramine formation.     

Taurine chloramine is more selective than hypochlorous acid at targeting critical cysteines and inactivating creatine kinase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and chloramines are produced by the neutrophil enzyme, myeloperoxidase. Both react readily with thiols, although chloramines differ from HOCl in discriminating between low molecular weight thiols on the basis of their pKa. Here, we have compared the reactivity of HOCl and taurine chloramine with thiol proteins by examining inactivation of creatine kinase (CK) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). With both enzymes, loss of activity paralleled thiol loss. For CK both were complete at a 1:1 taurine chloramine:thiol mole ratio. For GAPDH each chloramine oxidized two thiols. Three times more HOCl than taurine chloramine was required for inactivation, indicating that HOCl is less thiol specific. Competition studies showed that thiols of CK were 4 times more reactive with taurine chloramine than thiols of GAPDH (rate constants of 1200 and 300 M-1s-1 respectively). These compare with 205 M-1s-1 for cysteine and are consistent with their lower pKa's. Both enzymes were equally susceptible to HOCl. GSH competed directly with the enzyme thiols for taurine chloramine and protected against oxidative inactivation. At lower GSH concentrations, mixed disulfides were formed. We propose that chloramines should preferentially attack proteins with low pKa thiols and this could be important in regulatory processes.     

Histamine chloramine reactivity with thiol compounds, ascorbate, and methionine and with intracellular glutathione

Histamine is stored in granules of mast cells and basophils and released by inflammatory mediators. It has the potential to intercept some of the HOCl generated by the neutrophil enzyme, myeloperoxidase, to produce histamine chloramine. We have measured rate constants for reactions of histamine chloramine with methionine, ascorbate, and GSH at pH 7.4, of 91 M(-1)s(-1), 195 M(-1)s(-1), and 721 M(-1)s(-1), respectively. With low molecular weight thiols, the reaction was with the thiolate and rates increased exponentially with decreasing thiol group pK(a). Comparing rate constants for different chloramines reacting with ascorbate or a particular thiol anion, these were higher when there was less negative charge in the vicinity of the chloramine group. Histamine chloramine was the most reactive among biologically relevant chloramines. Consumption of histamine chloramine and oxidation of intracellular GSH were examined for human fibroblasts. At nontoxic doses, GSH loss over 10 min was slightly greater than that with HOCl, but the cellular uptake of histamine chloramine was 5-10-fold less. With histamine chloramine, GSSG was a minor product and most of the GSH was converted to mixed disulfides with proteins. HOCl gave a different profile of GSH oxidation products, with significantly less GSSG and mixed disulfide formation. There was irreversible oxidation and losses to the medium, as observed with HOCl and other cell types. Thus, histamine chloramine shows high preference for thiols both in isolation and in cells, and in this respect is more selective than HOCl.     

Hypochlorite-induced oxidation of thiols: Formation of thiyl radicals and the role of sulfenyl chlorides as intermediates

Activated phagocytic cells generate hypochlorite (HOCl) via release of hydrogen peroxide and the enzyme myeloperoxidase. HOCl plays an important role in bacterial cell killing, but excessive or misplaced production of HOCl is also known to cause tissue damage. Studies have shown that low-molecular-weight thiols such as reduced glutathione (GSH), and sulfur-containing amino acids in proteins, are major targets for HOCl. Radicals have not generally been implicated as intermediates in thiol oxidation by HOCl, though there is considerable literature evidence for the involvement of radicals in the metal ion-, thermal- or UV light-catalysed decomposition of sulfenyl or sulfonyl chlorides which are postulated intermediates in thiol oxidation. In this study we show that thiyl radicals are generated on reaction of a number of low-molecular-weight thiols with HOCl. With sub-stoichiometric amounts of HOCl, relative to the thiol, thiyl radicals are the major species detected by EPR spin trapping. When the HOCl is present in excess over the thiol, additional radicals are detected with compounds which contain amine functions; these additional radicals are assigned to nitrogen-centered species. Evidence is presented for the involvement of sulfenyl chlorides (RSCl) in the formation of these radicals, and studies with an authentic sulfenyl chloride have demonstrated that this compound readily decomposes in thermal-, metal-ion- or light-catalysed reactions to give thiyl radicals. The formation of thiyl radicals on oxidation of thiols with HOCl appears to compete with non-radical reactions. The circumstances under which radical formation may be important are discussed.     

Hypochlorite-induced oxidation of thiols: formation of thiyl radicals and the role of sulfenyl chlorides as intermediates

Activated phagocytic cells generate hypochlorite (HOCl) via release of hydrogen peroxide and the enzyme myeloperoxidase. HOCl plays an important role in bacterial cell killing, but excessive or misplaced production of HOCl is also known to cause tissue damage. Studies have shown that low-molecular-weight thiols such as reduced glutathione (GSH), and sulfur-containing amino acids in proteins, are major targets for HOCl. Radicals have not generally been implicated as intermediates in thiol oxidation by HOCl, though there is considerable literature evidence for the involvement of radicals in the metal ion-, thermal- or UV light-catalysed decomposition of sulfenyl or sulfonyl chlorides which are postulated intermediates in thiol oxidation. In this study we show that thiyl radicals are generated on reaction of a number of low-molecular-weight thiols with HOCl. With sub-stoichiometric amounts of HOCl, relative to the thiol, thiyl radicals are the major species detected by EPR spin trapping. When the HOCl is present in excess over the thiol, additional radicals are detected with compounds which contain amine functions; these additional radicals are assigned to nitrogen-centered species. Evidence is presented for the involvement of sulfenyl chlorides (RSCl) in the formation of these radicals, and studies with an authentic sulfenyl chloride have demonstrated that this compound readily decomposes in thermal-, metal-ion- or light-catalysed reactions to give thiyl radicals. The formation of thiyl radicals on oxidation of thiols with HOCl appears to compete with non-radical reactions. The circumstances under which radical formation may be important are discussed.     

Protein-thiol substitution or protein dethiolation by thiol/disulfide exchange reactions: the albumin model

Dethiolation experiments of thiolated albumin with thionitrobenzoic acid and thiols (glutathione, cysteine, homocysteine) were carried out to understand the role of albumin in plasma distribution of thiols and disulfide species by thiol/disulfide (SH/SS) exchange reactions. During these experiments we observed that thiolated albumin underwent thiol substitution (Alb-SS-X+RSH<-->Alb-SS-R+XSH) or dethiolation (Alb-SS-X+XSH<-->Alb-SH+XSSX), depending on the different pK(a) values of thiols involved in protein-thiol mixed disulfides (Alb-SS-X). It appeared in these reactions that the compound with lower pK(a) in mixed disulfide was a good leaving group and that the pK(a) differences dictated the kind of reaction (substitution or dethiolation). Thionitrobenzoic acid, bound to albumin by mixed disulfide (Alb-TNB), underwent rapid substitution after thiol addition, forming the corresponding Alb-SS-X (peaks at 0.25-1 min). In turn, Alb-SS-X were dethiolated by the excess nonprotein SH groups because of the lower pK(a) value in mixed disulfide with respect to that of other thiols. Dethiolation of Alb-SS-X was accompanied by formation of XSSX and Alb-SH up to equilibrium levels at 35 min, which were different for each thiol. Structures by molecular simulation of thiolated albumin, carried out for understanding the role of sulfur exposure in mixed disulfides in dethiolation process, evidenced that the sulfur exposure is important for the rate but not for determining the kind of reaction (substitution or dethiolation). Our data underline the contribution of SH/SS exchanges to determine levels of various thiols as reduced and oxidized species in human plasma.     

Caffeine induces Ca2+ release by reducing the threshold for luminal Ca2+ activation of the ryanodine receptor

Myeloperoxidase, released by activated phagocytes, forms reactive oxidants by catalysing the reaction of halide and pseudo-halide ions with H(2)O(2). These oxidants have been linked to tissue damage in a range of inflammatory diseases. With physiological levels of halide and pseudo-halide ions, similar amounts of HOCl (hypochlorous acid) and HOSCN (hypothiocyanous acid) are produced by myeloperoxidase. Although the importance of HOSCN in initiating cellular damage via thiol oxidation is becoming increasingly recognized, there are limited data on the reactions of HOSCN with other targets. In the present study, the products of the reaction of HOSCN with proteins has been studied. With albumin, thiols are oxidized preferentially forming unstable sulfenyl thiocyanate derivatives, as evidenced by the reversible incorporation of (14)C from HOS(14)CN. On consumption of the HSA (human serum albumin) free thiol group, the formation of stable (14)C-containing products and oxidation of tryptophan residues are observed. Oxidation of tryptophan residues is observed on reaction of HOSCN with other proteins (including myoglobin, lysozyme and trypsin inhibitor), but not free tryptophan, or tryptophan-containing peptides. Peptide mass mapping studies with HOSCN-treated myoglobin, showed the addition of two oxygen atoms on either Trp(7) or Trp(14) with equimolar or less oxidant, and the addition of a further two oxygen atoms to the other tryptophan with higher oxidant concentrations (> or = 2-fold). Tryptophan oxidation was observed on treating myoglobin with HOSCN in the presence of glutathione and ascorbate. Thus tryptophan residues are likely to be favourable targets for the reaction in biological systems, and the oxidation products formed may be useful biomarkers of HOSCN-mediated protein oxidation.     

The thiol pool in human plasma: The central contribution of albumin to redox processes

The plasma compartment has particular features regarding the nature and concentration of low and high molecular weight thiols and oxidized derivatives. Plasma is relatively poor in thiol-based antioxidants; thiols are in lower concentrations than in cells and mostly oxidized. The different thiol-disulfide pairs are not in equilibrium and the steady-state concentrations of total thiols as well as reduced versus oxidized ratios are maintained by kinetic barriers, including the rates of reactions and transport processes. The single thiol of human serum albumin (HSA-SH) is the most abundant plasma thiol. It is an important target for oxidants and electrophiles due to its reactivity with a wide variety of species and its relatively high concentration. A relatively stable sulfenic (HSA-SO₃H) acid can be formed in albumin exposed to oxidants. Plasma increases in mixed disulfides (HSA-SSR) or in sulfinic (HSA-SO₂H) and sulfonic (HSA-SO₃H) acids are associated with different pathologies and may constitute biomarkers of the antioxidant role of the albumin thiol. In this work we provide a critical review of the plasma thiol pool with a focus on human serum albumin.     

Reactivity of biologically important thiol compounds with superoxide and hydrogen peroxide.

The reactivities of glutathione, cysteine, cysteamine, penicillamine, N-acetylcysteine, dithiothreitol and captopril with superoxide generated from xanthine oxidase and hypoxanthine, and with reagent hydrogen peroxide, have been investigated. Rates of thiol loss on adding hydrogen peroxide, and superoxide-dependent thiol loss and oxygen uptake were measured. The relative reactivities of the different thiols with both oxidants were inversely related to the pK of the thiol group, such that at pH 7.4, penicillamine was the most reactive. N-acetylcysteine weakly reactive and no reaction was seen with captopril. For hydrogen peroxide, the calculated rate constants for the reaction with the thiolate anion all fell within the range 18-26 M(-1) s(-1). With superoxide, our results are consistent with each thiol reacting via a short chain that consumes oxygen and regenerates superoxide. Only with some of the thiols, was the consumed oxygen recovered as hydrogen peroxide. Reported values for the rate constant for the reaction of thiols with superoxide vary over four orders of magnitude, with the highest being > 10(5) M(-1) s(-1). Due to the complexity of the chain reaction, no study so far has been able to obtain accurate values and we consider the best estimates to be in the 30 to 1000 M(-1) s(-1) range.     

Hypochlorous acid-induced oxidative stress in Chinese hamster B14 cells: viability, DNA and protein damage and the protective action of melatonin

This study provides further evidence for the toxicity of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) in mammalian cells. Using the Chinese hamster B14 cell line, a significant decrease in cell viability was demonstrated after exposure to 100-200 microM HOCl for 1 h. Loss of viability was accompanied by a slight increase in DNA damage as shown by the Comet assay and by oxidation of cellular thiols. Exposure of B14 cells, erythrocyte membranes and human serum albumin to HOCl resulted in an extensive protein carbonyl accumulation. Thus, the cytotoxicity of HOCl may be due to both protein damage (carbonyl formation and oxidation of protein thiol groups) and DNA damage. The well-known antioxidant melatonin interacted with the oxidant and significantly protected cells during HOCl exposure, diminishing its cytotoxic effects and reducing protein carbonyl generation.     

Ascorbate-mediated electron transfer in protein thiol oxidation in the endoplasmic reticulum

Addition of, or gulonolactone oxidase-dependent in situ generation of, ascorbate provoked the oxidation of protein thiols, which was accompanied by ascorbate consumption in liver microsomal vesicles. The maximal rate of protein thiol oxidation was similar upon gulonolactone, ascorbate or dehydroascorbate addition. Cytochrome P450 inhibitors (econazole, proadifen, quercetin) decreased ascorbate consumption and the gulonolactone or ascorbate-stimulated thiol oxidation. The results demonstrate that the ascorbate/dehydroascorbate redox couple plays an important role in electron transfer from protein thiols to oxygen in the hepatic endoplasmic reticulum, even in gulonolactone oxidase deficient species.     

Comparison of low-density lipoprotein modification by myeloperoxidase-derived hypochlorous and hypobromous acids.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO), a heme enzyme secreted by activated phagocytes, catalyzes the oxidation of halides to hypohalous acids. At plasma concentrations of halides, hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is the major strong oxidant produced. In contrast, the related enzyme eosinophil peroxidase preferentially generates hypobromous acid (HOBr). Since reagent and MPO-derived HOCl converts low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to a potentially atherogenic form, we investigated the effects of HOBr on LDL modification. Compared to HOCl, HOBr caused 2-3-fold greater oxidation of tryptophan and cysteine residues of the protein moiety (apoB) of LDL and 4-fold greater formation of fatty acid halohydrins from the lipids in LDL. In contrast, HOBr was 2-fold less reactive than HOCl with lysine residues and caused little formation of N-bromamines. Nevertheless, HOBr caused an equivalent increase in the relative electrophoretic mobility of LDL as HOCl, which was not reversed upon subsequent incubation with ascorbate, in contrast to the shift in mobility caused by HOCl. Similar apoB modifications were observed with HOBr generated by MPO/H(2)O(2)/Br(-). In the presence of equivalent concentrations of Cl(-) and Br(-), modifications of LDL by MPO resembled those seen in the presence of Br(-) alone. Interestingly, even at physiological concentrations of the two halides (100 mM Cl(-), 100 microM Br(-)), MPO utilized a portion of the Br(-) to oxidize apoB cysteine residues. MPO also utilized the pseudohalide thiocyanate to oxidize apoB cysteine residues. Our data show that even though HOBr has different reactivities than HOCl with apoB, it is able to alter the charge of LDL, converting it into a potentially atherogenic particle.     

Nitric oxide-dependent modification of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase: localization of cysteine target sites

Skeletal muscle contraction and relaxation is modulated through the reaction of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) protein thiols with reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Here, we have utilized high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry and a specific thiol-labeling procedure to identify and quantify cysteine residues of the SR Ca-ATPase that are modified by exposure to nitric oxide (NO). NO and/or NO-derived species inactivate the SR Ca-ATPase and modify a broad spectrum of cysteine residues with highest reactivities towards Cys364, Cys670, and Cys471. The selectivity of NO and NO-derived species towards the SR Ca-ATPase thiols is different from that of peroxynitrite. The efficiency of NO at thiol modification is significantly higher compared with that of peroxynitrite. Hence, NO has the potential to modulate muscle contraction through chemical reaction with the SR Ca-ATPase in vivo.     

Inhibition of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase by peptide and protein peroxides generated by singlet oxygen attack.

Reaction of certain peptides and proteins with singlet oxygen (generated by visible light in the presence of rose bengal dye) yields long-lived peptide and protein peroxides. Incubation of these peroxides with glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, in the absence of added metal ions, results in loss of enzymatic activity. Comparative studies with a range of peroxides have shown that this inhibition is concentration, peroxide, and time dependent, with H2O2 less efficient than some peptide peroxides. Enzyme inhibition correlates with loss of both the peroxide and enzyme thiol residues, with a stoichiometry of two thiols lost per peroxide consumed. Blocking the thiol residues prevents reaction with the peroxide. This stoichiometry, the lack of metal-ion dependence, and the absence of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)-detectable species, is consistent with a molecular (nonradical) reaction between the active-site thiol of the enzyme and the peroxide. A number of low-molecular-mass compounds including thiols and ascorbate, but not Trolox C, can prevent inhibition by removing the initial peroxide, or species derived from it. In contrast, glutathione reductase and lactate dehydrogenase are poorly inhibited by these peroxides in the absence of added Fe2+-EDTA. The presence of this metal-ion complex enhanced the inhibition observed with these enzymes consistent with the occurrence of radical-mediated reactions. Overall, these studies demonstrate that singlet oxygen-mediated damage to an initial target protein can result in selective subsequent damage to other proteins, as evidenced by loss of enzymatic activity, via the formation and subsequent reactions of protein peroxides. These reactions may be important in the development of cellular dysfunction as a result of photo-oxidation.     

Membrane changes associated with lysis of red blood cells by hypochlorous acid

This study was carried out to investigate HOCl-induced lysis of human erythrocytes. Using reagent HOCl with isolated red cells, we showed that the rate of lysis was dependent on the dose of HOCl per red cell rather than on the concentration of oxidant. The process was inhibited by scavengers such as methionine and taurine, but only if they were present at the time of addition of HOCl. Lysis was preceded by a decrease in cell density, a change in the deformability of the membrane as evidence by ektacytometry, and an increase in K⁺-leak. Electron microscopy showed extensive disruption of the membrane. Increasing doses of HOCl caused progressive loss of membrane thiols, bu complete thiol oxidation by N-ethylmaleimide did not result in an equivalent rate of lysis. Restoration of oxidised thiols by incubation with glucose did not significantly alter the pattern of lysis. Taken together, these results suggest that thiol oxidation was not responsible for HOCl-mediated lysis. There was evidence of increasing crosslinking of membrane proteins on electrophoresis, only some of which was due to the formation of disulfides. TLC of the membrane lipids indicated that there may be formation of chlorohydrins by reaction of HOCl with the fatty acid double bonds. This reaction results in the formation of a more polar species which, if formed, would be extremely disrupting to the lipid bilayer. The results indicate that HOCl-mediated damage to the membrane proteins or to the lipid bilayer comprises an initial damaging event that sets the cells on a path toward eventual lysis.     

The nitric oxide congener nitrite inhibits myeloperoxidase/H2O2/ Cl- -mediated modification of low density lipoprotein

Nitric oxide, a pivotal molecule in vascular homeostasis, is converted under aerobic conditions to nitrite. Recent studies have shown that myeloperoxidase (MPO), an abundant heme protein released by activated leukocytes, can oxidize nitrite (NO(2-)) to a radical species, most likely nitrogen dioxide. Furthermore, hypochlorous acid (HOCl), the major strong oxidant generated by MPO in the presence of physiological concentrations of chloride ions, can also react with nitrite, forming the reactive intermediate nitryl chloride. Since MPO and MPO-derived HOCl, as well as reactive nitrogen species, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis through oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL), we investigated the effects of physiological concentrations of nitrite (12.5-200 microm) on MPO-mediated modification of LDL in the absence and presence of physiological chloride concentrations. Interestingly, nitrite concentrations as low as 12.5 and 25 microm significantly decreased MPO/H2O2)/Cl- -induced modification of apoB lysine residues, formation of N-chloramines, and increases in the relative electrophoretic mobility of LDL. In contrast, none of these markers of LDL atherogenic modification were affected by the MPO/H2O2/NO2-) system. Furthermore, experiments using ascorbate (12.5-200 microm) and the tyrosine analogue 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (12.5-200 microm), which are both substrates of MPO, indicated that nitrite inhibits MPO-mediated LDL modifications by trapping the enzyme in its inactive compound II form. These data offer a novel mechanism for a potential antiatherogenic effect of the nitric oxide congener nitrite.     

Generation of intramolecular and intermolecular sulfenamides, sulfinamides, and sulfonamides by hypochlorous acid: a potential pathway for oxidative cross-linking of low-density lipoprotein by myeloperoxidase.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is implicated in atherogenesis, and human atherosclerotic lesions contain LDL oxidized by myeloperoxidase, a heme protein secreted by activated phagocytes. Using hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), myeloperoxidase generates hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a powerful oxidant. We now demonstrate that HOCl produces sulfenamides, sulfinamides, and sulfonamides in model peptides, which suggests a potential mechanism for LDL oxidation and cross-linking. When we exposed the synthetic peptide PFKCG to HOCl, the peptide's thiol residue reacted rapidly, generating a near-quantitative yield of products. Tandem mass spectrometric analysis identified the products as the sulfenamide, sulfinamide, and sulfonamide, all formed by intramolecular cross-linking of the peptide's thiol and lysine residues. An intramolecular sulfinamide was also observed after the peptide PFRCG was exposed to HOCl, indicating that the guanidine group of arginine can also form a sulfur-nitrogen cross-link. The synthetic peptide PFVCG, which contains a free thiol residue but lacks nucleophilic amino acid side chains, formed an intermolecular sulfonamide when exposed to HOCl. Tandem mass spectrometric analysis of the dimer revealed that the free N-terminal amino group of one PFVCG molecule cross-linked with the thiol residue of another. This peptide also formed intermolecular sulfonamide cross-links with N(alpha)-acetyllysine after exposure to HOCl, demonstrating that the epsilon-amino group of a lysine residue can undergo a similar reaction. Moreover, human neutrophils used the myeloperoxidase-H(2)O(2) system to generate sulfinamides in model peptides containing lysine or arginine residues. Collectively, our observations raise the possibility that HOCl generated by myeloperoxidase contributes to intramolecular and intermolecular protein cross-linking in the artery wall. Myeloperoxidase might also use this mechanism to form sulfur-nitrogen cross-links in other inflammatory conditions.     

One- and two-electron oxidation of thiols: mechanisms,kinetics and biological fates

The oxidation of biothiols participates not only in the defense against oxidative damage but also in enzymatic catalytic mechanisms and signal transduction processes. Thiols are versatile reductants that react with oxidizing species by one- and two-electron mechanisms, leading to thiyl radicals and sulfenic acids, respectively. These intermediates, depending on the conditions, participate in further reactions that converge on different stable products. Through this review, we will describe the biologically relevant species that are able to perform these oxidations and we will analyze the mechanisms and kinetics of the one- and two-electron reactions. The processes undergone by typical low-molecular-weight thiols as well as the particularities of specific thiol proteins will be described, including the molecular determinants proposed to account for the extraordinary reactivities of peroxidatic thiols. Finally, the main fates of the thiyl radical and sulfenic acid intermediates will be summarized.