Lack of antioxidant activity of the antiatherogenic compound L-arginine

Lipid Metabolism in Rats is Modified by Nitric Oxide Availability Through a Ca++-Dependent Mechanism

We studied lipid metabolism and the antioxidant defense system in plasma and liver of rats fed diets supplemented with L(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), isosorbide dinitrate (DIS), L-arginine (Arg), or the associations of these drugs. Liver hydroperoxide and thiobarbituric-acid-reactive substance (TBARS) levels were decreased by Arg and increased by L-NAME or DIS treatments. Oxidized glutathione and conjugated dienes were increased by DIS. Nitrate + nitrite levels and serum calcium ([Ca(++)]) were incremented by Arg or DIS and reduced by L-NAME. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities decreased under Arg treatment, while L-NAME or DIS caused stimulation. Liver high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was increased by DIS or NAME (alone or associated with Arg). Free fatty acids and neutral and polar lipids were increased by Arg, L: -NAME, and DIS. However, predominating phospholipid synthesis increased the neutral/polar ratio. Decreased levels of nitric oxide (NO) (low [Ca(++)]) was directly associated with increased fatty acid synthetase, decreased phospholipase A(2), carnitine-palmitoyl transferase, and fatty acid desaturase activities. Raised NO (high [Ca(++)]) inversely correlated with increased phospholipase-A(2) and acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) synthetase and decreased fatty acid synthetase and beta-oxidation rate. Arg or DIS produced changes that were partially reverted by association with L-NAME. Based on these observations, prolonged therapeutical approaches using drugs that modify NO availability should be carefully considered.

Anti-inflammatory effects of tetrahydrobiopterin on early rejection in renal allografts: modulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase

Oxidative stress contributes to the development of early transplant failure. As nitric oxide synthases (NOS) can act as sources of superoxide, we investigated the effect of the NOS cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) on oxyradical production and early rejection in a rat kidney transplantation model. Allograft transplantation (Brown Norway to Lewis) showed more renal superoxide production and monocyte infiltration when compared with isografts (Lewis to Lewis). Administration of the stable BH4 precursor sepiapterin had no effect on superoxide production in the isografts (51+/-10 vs. 69+/-17 cps/10 mg protein), but led to a marked decrease in superoxide production in the allografts (116+/-11 vs. 60+/-6 cps/10 mg protein; P<0.05) and was accompanied by a reduction in periarterial macrophage infiltration (3.3+/-0.7 vs. 1.3+/-0.3 cells/vessel; P<0.05) and an increase in NO production (78+/-22 vs. 173+/-12 AU/g kidney) (P<0.01). In vitro experiments confirm that iNOS can produce superoxide mainly from the heme domain, whereas BH4 administration can reverse this superoxide production in the presence of adequate anti-oxidant defense. Our findings support the hypothesis that BH4 can be used to modulate the function of the inflammatory iNOS isoform and suggest a potential therapeutic role for sepiapterin in early allograft rejection.

The influence of l-arginine on heart rate and tissue oxygen extraction in haemorrhaged rabbits

Several studies have already indicated some beneficial effects of L-arginine in haemorrhaged rats. The aim of our study was to assess whether intravenous bolus injection of L-arginine could improve some cardiovascular and metabolic parameters in anaesthetized haemorrhaged rabbits (intermittent bleeding; 40% of the estimated blood volume for 15 min). I.v. bolus injection of L-arginine ( 300 mg kg(-1)--L-Arg(300)) increased heart rate (app. 10%) and decreased venous haemoglobin saturation with oxygen (sO(2)) (app. 23%) 60 min after the cessation of bleeding, without changes in arterial pressure. D-arginine (300 mg kg(-1)i.v. bolus-D-Arg(300)) produced similar, but insignificant haemodynamic and metabolic changes. In addition, no difference was found between the effects of the L- and D-isomers. Accordingly, L-arginine produces beneficial effects on the heart rate and tissue oxygen extraction in haemorrhaged rabbits. However, such changes do not appear to be stereospecific.

The alpha-amino group of L-arginine mediates its antioxidant effect

Antioxidant effects may constitute part of the possible antiatherogenic effects of the amino acid L-arginine. These antioxidant properties were further characterized in a model of lipoprotein oxidation. Oxidation of lipoproteins in unfractionated human serum was continuously monitored by a fluorescent probe. The antioxidant effects of L-arginine, N-alpha-acetyl-arginine and vitamin E in combination with L-arginine were measured after initiation of free radical generation with either copper or 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) hydrochloride (AAPH). The half-time of the fast propagation rate for copper-induced lipoprotein oxidation increased after incubation with L-arginine in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01). N-alpha-acetyl-arginine did not show such effects. Vitamin E and L-arginine show different effects on copper-induced oxidation, the former increasing only lag-time, the latter increasing only propagation rate, and do not have reciprocal effects. In contrast to copper-induced oxidation, L-arginine increased the lag-time of AAPH-induced lipoprotein oxidation (P < 0.01), with no effect on the propagation rate at physiological concentrations. Again, N-alpha-acetyl-arginine did not show any antioxidant effects. Our experiments provide further evidence that mechanisms other than serving as a substrate for the NO-synthase could be involved in the antiatherosclerotic effect of L-arginine. In addition, our experiments clearly show, that the antioxidant effect of L-arginine is due to a chemical moiety different from that serving as the substrate for NO biosynthesis.