Nitric oxide (NO) is a messenger molecule with multiple biological functions. NO or its derivatives also interact with the thiol groups of proteins and glutathione to form nitrosothiols. The interaction of NO with sulfhydryl-containing molecules and e...
Nitric oxide (NO) is a messenger molecule with multiple biological functions. NO or its derivatives also interact with the thiol groups of proteins and glutathione to form nitrosothiols. The interaction of NO with sulfhydryl-containing molecules and enzymes have gained considerable importance. The isocitrate dehydrogenases (ICDHs; EC 1.1.1.41 and EC 1.1.1.42) catalyze oxidative decarboxylation of isocitrate to a-ketoglutarate and require either NAD^(+) or NADP^(+), producing NADH and NADPH. NADPH is an essential reducing equivalent for the regeneration of reduced glutathione (GSH) by glutathione reductase and for the activity of the NADPH-dependent thioredoxin system, both being important in the protection of cells from oxidative damages. Therefore, NADP^(+)-dependent ICDH may play important antioxidant roles during oxidative stress. In the present study, we investigated the role of SOD, catalase, and ICDH in cellular defense system against the nitric oxide-mediated oxidative damage and apoptosis. U937 cells were pre-treated with 1 mM DETC (SOD inhibitor), 20 mM ATZ (catalase inhibitor) or 3 mM oxalomalate (ICDH inhibitor) and exposed to nitric oxide. The activities of antioxidant enzymes were decreased upon exposure to nitric oxide. The cellular redox status in inhibitor-treated cells, reflected by an increased level of reactive oxygen species as well as a decrease in the ratio of [NADPH]/[NADPH + NADP^(+)] and the efficiency of glutathione turnover, was shifted to prooxidant state compared to control cells. The cellular damage in inhibitor-treated cells was significantly increased compared to control cells. Furthermore, apoptotic cellular damages like chromatin condensation, mitochondrial membrane potential transition and caspase-3 activation were observed in inhibitor-treated cells. The nitric oxide mediated damage to antioxidant enzymes may result in the perturbation of the cellular antioxidant defense mechanism and subsequently lead to a prooxidant condition. Modification of ICDH by peroxynitrite which induced with ethanol will likely have biological and medicinal significance. When HepG2 cells were incubated with 100 mM ethanol, a significant decrease in both cytosolic and mitochondrial ICDH activities were observed. Using immunoprecipitaion, we were also able to isolate and positive identify S-nitrosylated and nitrated mitochondrial ICDH from ethanol treated HepG2 cells. Intracellular ROS and nitrite levels were increased with ethanol treatment, and mitochondrial dysfunction was observed. We observed a decrease in mitochondrial ICDH activity and the modulation of the cellular redox status in the liver from the ethanol-fed rats. S-nitrosocysteine and nitrotyrosine adducts of mitochondrial ICDH purified by immunoprecipitation were also detected. It has been reported that chronic ethanol administration increases peroxynitrite hepatotoxicity by enhancing concomitant production of nitric oxide and superoxide. The present results show that the accumulation of NO and O_(2)^(-) in liver from the ethanol-fed rats was associated with significant reduction of Mn-SOD and CuZn-SOD activities and increased iNOS activity and induction of iNOS protein. Therefore, it is tempting to speculate that inactivation of ICDH by peroxynitrite is, presumably, at least in part responsible for the perturbation of cellular redox status and oxidative damage in chronic alcoholism. The possibility that inactivation of ICDH by peroxynitrite in neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and chronic inflammation is worthy of further consideration.