Glutathione causes coronary vasodilation via a nitric oxide- and soluble guanylate cyclase-dependent mechanism

Glutathione enhances endothelium-mediated control of coronary vascular resistance via a ROS- and NO intermediate-dependent mechanism

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of acute physiological GSH administration on endothelium-mediated reduction in coronary vascular resistance (CVR) using isolated perfused Sprague-Dawley rat hearts. A dose-response curve to GSH was conducted to determine a threshold concentration of GSH. We demonstrate that 30 μM GSH was sufficient to reduce CVR, and maximal dilation was achieved with 1 mM. In subsequent experiments, GSH was administered at concentrations of 0 [control (CON)], 1 μM, or 10 μM (GSH10), and dose-response curves to the endothelial agonist bradykinin (BK) were constructed. These GSH concentrations were chosen because of the physiological relevance and because the effects of GSH on BK action could be assessed independent of baseline differences in CVR. Sensitivity to BK (EC50) was enhanced in GSH10 vs. CON ( P < 0.05). This enhancement remained in the presence of nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibition l-ωnitro-l-arginine (lNAME) and/or soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) inhibition. Treatment with 4-hydroxy (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl (TEMPOL) enhanced the sensitivity to BK in CON, similar to the effects of GSH10 and GSH10 + TEMPOL. However, the GSH10-dependent enhancement of EC50 observed in the presence of lNAME did not occur in the presence of lNAME + TEMPOL or in the presence of lNAME + sGC inhibition and NO scavenging. Collectively, these results suggest that GSH enhances BK-mediated dilation and reduction in CVR through an antioxidant-dependent mechanism that involves a NO intermediate but is unrelated to acute production of NO and GC-dependent effects of NO. These results suggest a mechanism whereby physiologically relevant levels of GSH modulate the endogenous reactive oxygen species and NO control of endothelium-dependent coronary vascular function.

Potential Benefits of Peroxynitrite

Peroxynitrite (PN) is generated by the reaction of nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide in one of the most rapid reactions in biology. Studies have reported that PN is a cytotoxic molecule that contributes to vascular injury in a number of disease states. However, it has become apparent that PN has beneficial effects including vasodilation, inhibition of platelet aggregation, inhibition of inflammatory cell adhesion, and protection against ischemia/reperfusion injury in the heart. It is our hypothesis that PN may serve to inactivate superoxide and prolong the actions of NO in the circulation. This manuscript reviews the beneficial effects of PN in the cardiovascular system.

Inhibition of endogenous nitric oxide in the heart enhances matrix metalloproteinase-2 release

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity is upregulated in pathologies such as atherosclerosis during which endogenous nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis is reduced. Diminished levels of NO, an antioxidant species, may result in higher oxidative stress. Oxidants are capable of activating MMPs from their zymogen forms. We examined whether basal biosynthesis of NO in the coronary circulation regulates MMP-2 activity. In isolated rat hearts perfused with Krebs-Henseleit buffer at a constant flow of 10 ml min(-1), we measured the release of MMP-2 into the coronary effluent by gelatin zymography. The main gelatinolytic activity of 72-kDa corresponds to MMP-2. Infusion of the NO synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) concentration dependently increased coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) (by 48+/-11 mmHg with 100 microM) and enhanced the release of the 72-kDa MMP-2 in the effluent. Coinfusion of the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP, 1 microM) with L-NAME abolished both the increase in CPP and the enhanced MMP-2 release. The thromboxane A2 mimetic U46619 increased CPP to the same extent as L-NAME without increasing 72-kDa activity in the effluent, suggesting that MMP-2 release is not caused simply by enhanced perfusion pressure. Infusion of either L-NAME or U46619 did not significantly enhance LDH release. L-NAME infusion concentration dependently increased the level of lipid hydroperoxides in homogenates prepared from the perfused hearts. Coinfusion of SNAP prevented this increase. These data reveal another cytoprotective mechanism of endogenous NO biosynthesis in the heart, the inhibition of MMP-2 release.

Glutathione supplementation and training increases myocardial resistance to ischemia-reperfusion in vivo

The present study examined the effects of oral reduced glutathione (GSH) supplementation in conjunction with endurance training on contractile function, antioxidant defense, and oxidative damage in response to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rat hearts. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (age 4 mo, n = 72) were randomly assigned to a treadmill-trained (T; 25 m/min, 15% grade, for 75 min/day, 5 days/wk, for 10 wk) or untrained (U) group. Each group was further divided into rats receiving 5 g GSH/kg diet during the final 17 days of training (GSH-S) and control (C) groups. One-half of each group of rats was subjected to I/R by surgical occlusion of the main coronary artery for 45 min, followed by 30-min reperfusion or sham operation. Left ventriclar (LV) peak systolic pressure (LVSP) and contractility (+dP/dt), measured with a catheter inserted into the LV via the carotid artery, decreased with I/R in all groups (P < 0.05). However, LVSP with I/R in the T/GSH-S group was 9.5%, 17%, and 18% higher (P < 0.05) than that in the U/GSH-S, T/C, and U/C groups, respectively. +dP/dt with I/R was 19%, 27%, and 29% (P < 0.05) greater in the T/GSH-S group versus the T/C, U/GSH-S, and U/C groups, respectively. I/R decreased heart GSH content by 12-17% (P < 0.05) and increased oxidized glutathione (GSSG) by 20-27% (P < 0.05). T/GSH-S hearts showed 15% higher GSH (P < 0.05) and a 32% higher GSH-to-GSSG ratio (P < 0.05) than the U/C group at the end of I/R. Myocardial superoxide dismutase, GSH peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activities were increased with treadmill training in both GSH-S and C rats. I/R induced myocardial lipid peroxidation and lactate dehydrogenase release were attenuated with T/GSH-S treatment. The present data indicate that training in conjunction with dietary GSH supplementation can increase myocardial GSH content and antioxidant defense capacity, thereby protecting the intact heart against oxidative damage and functional retardation caused by I/R.