Prevention of cumene hydroperoxide induced oxidative stress in cultured neonatal rat myocytes by scavengers and enzyme inhibitors

Abstract

Oxidative stress induced by cumene hydroperoxide was studied in cultured neonatal rat myocytes. A progressive increase of irreversible cell injury as determined by leakage of the cytoplastic enzyme alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (alpha-HBDH) from the cells was noted at concentrations ranging from 25-100 microM cumene hydroperoxide (incubation time 90 min). Cumene hydroperoxide-induced damage was reduced or prevented by several compounds: the application of Trolox C, a water-soluble vitamin E analogue, and of phospholipase A2 inhibitors chlorpromazine and (to a lesser extent) quinacrine prevented alpha-HBDH release. ICRF-159, a chelator of divalent cations, ascorbic acid, a potent antioxidant, and the cysteine protease inhibitor leupeptin did not reduce the cumene hydroperoxide-induced cytotoxicity. Detoxification of hydroperoxides by the glutathione peroxidase system results in an increased flux through the pentose phosphate shunt and loss of NADPH. Glucose inhibited the cumene hydroperoxide-induced alpha-HBDH release, probably by replenishing NADPH. These results indicate that cumene hydroperoxide, after exhaustion of the glutathione system, induces irreversible injury in cultured myocytes by a mechanism that depends to a large extent on deterioration of cellular membranes caused by lipid peroxidation and phospholipase activation.