2-2-dimethyl-5-hydroxy-1-pyrrolidinyloxy and 10-10--dimethyl-9-9--biacridinium

In vascular tissues, an NAD(P)H oxidase is the main source of superoxide; however, there has been much uncertainty regarding its activity and the levels of superoxide it generates. This problem has limited overall progress in this field. Therefore, studies were performed and techniques developed to quantitatively assess the function of the vascular NAD(P)H oxidase, measuring its rate of superoxide production and substrate consumption in rat aortic homogenates and intact segments. NADPH/NADH oxidation was measured spectrophotometrically, and oxygen consumption was measured by electrochemical probe. Superoxide was detected and quantitated by electron paramagnetic resonance spin trapping. Under basal conditions, superoxide generation and oxygen consumption were negligible. After addition of NADPH or NADH (0.1 mM), superoxide was generated at rates of 0.41 +/- 0.03 or 0.36 +/- 0.04 nmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1), respectively. Oxygen was consumed with a similar time course at rates of 1.5 +/- 0.2 or 1.3 +/- 0.3 nmol. mg protein(-1) x min(-1), and NADPH or NADH were oxidized at rates of 1.8 +/- 0.4 and 1.5 +/- 0.3 nmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1), respectively. In intact aortic rings, superoxide was generated with rates of 4.0 +/- 0.7 or 3.7 +/- 0.7 pmol x mg tissue(-1) x min(-1), whereas oxygen was consumed at rates of 22.1 +/- 5.0 or 14.5 +/- 3.3 pmol x mg tissue(-1) x min(-1), for NADPH or NADH, respectively. These values are lower than those previously measured using lucigenin, which uncouples flavoenzymes, triggering additional superoxide generation. This quantitative approach for characterization of the vascular NAD(P)H oxidase activity should facilitate the further identification and cellular characterization of this enzyme(s) and its functional and signaling roles.

Topics: Acridines; Animals; Aorta, Thoracic; Cyclic N-Oxides; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Free Radicals; Male; NADPH Oxidases; Oxygen Consumption; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Subcellular Fractions; Substrate Specificity; Superoxides

Several limitations have recently been described for lucigenin, a probe frequently used to assess the activity of vascular NAD(P)H oxidase, a major superoxide source. The preferential reducing substrate of such oxidase remains unclear. We assessed whether lucigenin artifacts could affect detection of NAD(P)H oxidase activity. Initial chemiluminescence assays were performed with vascular rings or homogenates at 5, 50, or 250 microM concentrations. Results showed preferential signals with NADPH (vs. NADH) with 5 and 50 microM lucigenin, which were blocked by diphenylene iodonium (DPI), superoxide dismutase (SOD), or its cell-permeable mimetic MnTBAP. With 250 microM lucigenin, the relative signal with NADH became larger than with NADPH, and was poorly inhibited by all three antagonists above. All SOD/DPI-resistant signals were effectively blocked by the electron acceptor nitrobluetetrazolium. Spin trapping with DMPO showed an approximate doubling of DMPO-OH radical adduct signal upon addition of 5 microM lucigenin to homogenates incubated with either NADPH or NADH. With 50 or 250 microM lucigenin, much larger increases were observed with NADH, as opposed to NADPH. Furthermore, oxygen consumption measurements showed analogous results. In summary, our data suggest that: (i) Lucigenin redox-cycling is detectable in vascular tissue even at 5 microM concentrations, while at 250 microM redox-cycling becomes predominant and is markedly increased when NADH is the assayed substrate; and (ii) With 250 microM lucigenin, preferentially with NADH, signals are further overestimated by direct, oxidase-dependent, superoxide-independent two-electron transfer. Therefore, previous reports of preferential NADH affinity of the vascular oxidase may have been due to these artifacts.

Topics: Acridines; Animals; Artifacts; Carotid Arteries; Cyclic N-Oxides; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Iliac Artery; Luminescent Measurements; Male; NAD; NADP; NADPH Oxidases; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxygen Consumption; Rabbits; Spin Labels; Vascular Diseases