diamide and tocopherylquinone

Incubation of human blood platelets in vitro in Tyrode solution with unsaturated fatty acids, diamide or superoxide (generated in situ) resulted in the oxidation of tocopherol in the platelets. Arachidonate concentrations of (3-5).10(-4) M caused a 50% decrease in platelet alpha-tocopherol. The addition of saturated fatty acids or platelet-active substances such as ADP, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, and some prostaglandins, or peroxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide and tert-butylhydroperoxide to the incubation medium did not cause any change in platelet tocopherol content. During incubations of platelets with arachidonate, malonaldehyde as well as alpha-tocopherolquinone were produced. The latter was also produced during incubations with diamide or superoxide. The oxidation of tocopherol induced by unsaturated fatty acids may be one factor responsible for the well-known increase in dietary vitamin E requirements induced by polyunsaturated fatty acids. The oxidative consumption of tocopherol in the membranes could be expected to take place during localized release of oxidants such as superoxide and polyunsaturated fatty acids during normal biological function (e.g., phagocytosis) or pathological processes (e.g., ischemia). Tocopherol utilization is kept low probably by the regeneration of the compound by vitamin C and/or the preferential utilization of the other biological antioxidants.

Topics: Adenosine Diphosphate; Adult; Azo Compounds; Blood Platelets; Diamide; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Humans; Hydrogen Peroxide; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Middle Aged; Oxidation-Reduction; Superoxides; Vitamin E