Drug-induced photoallergic and phototoxic reactions - an update

Photobinding of Triflusal to Human Serum Albumin Investigated by Fluorescence, Proteomic Analysis, and Computational Studies

Triflusal is a platelet antiaggregant employed for the treatment and prevention of thromboembolic diseases. After administration, it is biotransformed into its active metabolite, the 2-hydroxy-4-trifluoromethylbenzoic acid (HTB). We present here an investigation on HTB photobinding to human serum albumin (HSA), the most abundant protein in plasma, using an approach that combines fluorescence, MS/MS, and peptide fingerprint analysis as well as theoretical calculations (docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies). The proteomic analysis of HTB/HSA photolysates shows that HTB addition takes place at the ε-amino groups of the Lys137, Lys199, Lys205, Lys351, Lys432, Lys525, Lys541 and Lys545 residues and involves replacement of the trifluoromethyl moiety of HTB with a new amide function. Only Lys199 is located in an internal pocket of the protein, and the remaining modified residues are placed in the external part. Docking and molecular dynamic simulation studies reveal that HTB supramolecular binding to HSA occurs in the "V-cleft" region and that the process is assisted by the presence of Glu/Asp residues in the neighborhood of the external Lys, in agreement with the experimentally observed modifications. In principle, photobinding can occur with other trifluoroaromatic compounds and may be responsible for the appearance of undesired photoallergic side effects.

Scope and limitations of the TEMPO/EPR method for singlet oxygen detection: the misleading role of electron transfer

For many biological and biomedical studies, it is essential to detect the production of (1)O2 and quantify its production yield. Among the available methods, detection of the characteristic 1270-nm phosphorescence of singlet oxygen by time-resolved near-infrared (TRNIR) emission constitutes the most direct and unambiguous approach. An alternative indirect method is electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) in combination with a singlet oxygen probe. This is based on the detection of the TEMPO free radical formed after oxidation of TEMP (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine) by singlet oxygen. Although the TEMPO/EPR method has been widely employed, it can produce misleading data. This is demonstrated by the present study, in which the quantum yields of singlet oxygen formation obtained by TRNIR emission and by the TEMPO/EPR method are compared for a set of well-known photosensitizers. The results reveal that the TEMPO/EPR method leads to significant overestimation of singlet oxygen yield when the singlet or triplet excited state of the photosensitizer is efficiently quenched by TEMP, acting as electron donor. In such case, generation of the TEMP(+) radical cation, followed by deprotonation and reaction with molecular oxygen, gives rise to an EPR-detectable TEMPO signal that is not associated with singlet oxygen production. This knowledge is essential for an appropriate and error-free application of the TEMPO/EPR method in chemical, biological, and medical studies.