Inhibition of tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis reduces in vivo nitric oxide production in experimental endotoxic shock.

Nitric oxide synthesis requires the cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin. We have examined the effect on nitric oxide synthesis in experimental endotoxic shock of 2,4- diamino-6-hydroxypyrimidine (DAHP), an inhibitor of GTP cyclohydrolase I, the first and rate limiting enzyme for tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis. Rats given lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 mg/kg) showed a large rise in plasma nitrate at 4 and 8 hours which was significantly reduced by DAHP (1 g/kg) given at the same time as LPS.

Neurochemical effects following peripheral administration of tetrahydropterin derivatives to the hph-1 mouse.

The hph-1 mouse which displays tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency and impaired dopamine and serotonin turnover, has been used to study cofactor replacement therapy for disorders causing brain tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency. Subcutaneous administration of 100 mumol/kg (30 mg/kg) of tetrahydrobiopterin resulted in a twofold increase in brain cofactor concentration 1 h after administration. Concentrations remained above the endogenous level for at least 4 h but returned to normal by 24 h.

Glutathione protects astrocytes from peroxynitrite-mediated mitochondrial damage: implications for neuronal/astrocytic trafficking and neurodegeneration.

In this study we have examined the susceptibility of the mitochondrial respiratory chain of astrocytes and astrocytes depleted of glutathione to peroxynitrite exposure. Astrocytes, as reported previously by us, appeared resistant to the actions of peroxynitrite. In contrast, depletion (-94%) of astrocytic glutathione rendered the cells susceptible with mitochondrial complexes I and II/III being decreased in activity by 80 and 64%, respectively, after peroxynitrite exposure.

Nitric oxide-mediated mitochondrial damage: a potential neuroprotective role for glutathione.

In this study we have investigated the mechanisms leading to mitochondrial damage in cultured neurons following sustained exposure to nitric oxide. Thus, the effects upon neuronal mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activity and reduced glutathione concentration following exposure to either the nitric oxide donor, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, or to nitric oxide releasing astrocytes were assessed. Incubation with S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (1 mM) for 24 h decreased neuronal glutathione concentration by 57%, and this effect was accompanied by a marked decrease of complex I (43%), complex II-III (63%), and complex IV (41%) activities.

Glutathione depletion is accompanied by increased neuronal nitric oxide synthase activity.

The effect of glutathione depletion, in vivo, on rat brain nitric oxide synthase activity has been investigated and compared to the effect observed in vitro with cultured neurones. Using L-buthionine sulfoximine rat brain glutathione was depleted by 62%. This loss of glutathione was accompanied by a significant increase in brain nitric oxide synthase activity by up to 55%.

Nitric oxide produced by activated astrocytes rapidly and reversibly inhibits cellular respiration.

Cultured astrocytes, activated to express the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase, produced up to 1 microM nitric oxide (NO) measured by a NO-selective electrode, while non-activated cells produced no detectable NO. The production of NO was associated with an inhibition of cellular respiration, measured simultaneously by an oxygen electrode. The inhibition of respiration was rapidly reversed by inhibiting the NO synthase or by binding the NO with haemoglobin.

Effect of peroxynitrite on the mitochondrial respiratory chain: differential susceptibility of neurones and astrocytes in primary culture.

The effect of the neurotoxic nitric oxide derivative, the peroxynitrite anion (ONOO-), on the activity of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes in cultured neurones and astrocytes was studied. A single exposure of the neurones to ONOO- (initial concentrations of 0.01-2.

Depletion of brain glutathione is accompanied by impaired mitochondrial function and decreased N-acetyl aspartate concentration.

The effect of depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) on brain mitochondrial function and N-acetyl aspartate concentration has been investigated. Using pre-weanling rats, GSH was depleted by L-buthionine sulfoximine administration for up to 10 days. In both whole brain homogenates and purified mitochondrial preparations complex IV (cytochrome c oxidase) activity was decreased, by up to 27%, as a result of this treatment.

Tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency and brain nitric oxide synthase in the hph1 mouse.

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is the cofactor for the aromatic amino acid monoxygenase group of enzymes and for all known isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Inborn errors of BH4 metabolism lead to hyperphenylalaninaemia and impaired catecholamine and serotonin turnover. The effects of BH4 deficiency on brain nitric oxide (NO) metabolism are not known.

Trolox protects mitochondrial complex IV from nitric oxide-mediated damage in astrocytes.

The efficacy of cystine, ascorbate and trolox, a vitamin E analogue, at protecting against nitric oxide-mediated mitochondrial complex IV damage has been investigated in cultured astrocytes. Of these compounds, only trolox afforded protection. It is suggested that lipid peroxidation is responsible for nitric oxide-mediated mitochondrial damage and that inhibitors of this process may be of therapeutic benefit in conditions where excessive nitric oxide production is implicated.

Nitric oxide-mediated inhibition of the mitochondrial respiratory chain in cultured astrocytes.

The Ca(2+)-independent form of nitric oxide synthase was induced in rat neonatal astrocytes in primary culture by incubation with lipopolysaccharide (1 microgram/ml) plus interferon-gamma (100 U/ml), and the activities of the mitochondrial respiratory chain components were assessed. Incubation for 18 h produced 25% inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase activity. NADH-ubiquinone-1 reductase (complex I) and succinate-cytochrome c reductase (complex II-III) activities were not affected.

Effects of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium on isolated rat brain mitochondria: evidence for a primary involvement of energy depletion.

The effects of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) on the oxygen consumption, ATP production, H2O2 production, and mitochondrial NADH-CoQ1 reductase (complex I) activity of isolated rat brain mitochondria were investigated. Using glutamate and malate as substrates, concentrations of 10-100 microM MPP+ had no effect on state 4 (-ADP) respiration but decreased state 3 (+ADP) respiration and ATP production. Incubating mitochondria with ADP for 30 min after loading with varying concentrations of MPP+ produced a concentration-dependent decrease in H2O2 production.

Association of cerebrospinal fluid deficiency of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, but not S-adenosylmethionine, with reduced concentrations of the acid metabolites of 5-hydroxytryptamine and dopamine.

1. Folate deficiency, or inborn errors of folate metabolism, cause reduced turnover of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin), and perhaps dopamine, in the central nervous system. The mechanism by which this occurs are not known.

Intravenous L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine in medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency and isovaleric acidemia.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether treatment with L-carnitine or acetyl-L-carnitine enhances the turnover of lipid or branched-chain amino acid oxidation in patients with inborn errors of metabolism. Increasing i.v.

Production and disposal of medium-chain fatty acids in children with medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency.

The effect of fasting on plasma concentrations of fatty acids has been determined in four children with medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency. In addition, the in vivo rate of octanoate oxidation was measured, using [1-13C]octanoate. In the three older children (1.

The investigation of inborn errors in vivo using stable isotopes.

By labelling compounds with stable isotopes metabolic events can be studied in vivo. Pathways can be investigated and both enzyme and substrate kinetics measured. The concept of labelling substrates to investigate metabolic events in vivo is straightforward but there are potential sources of error that must be recognised.

Postnatal development of the complexes of the electron transport chain in isolated rat brain mitochondria.

The postnatal development of the complexes of the electron transport chain in isolated rat brain mitochondria were investigated. Nonsynaptosomal brain mitochondria were isolated from rats aged 1-60 days, and the activities of mitochondrial complexes I, II-III, IV, V and citrate synthase were measured. There was a significant increase in the activity of complex I from postnatal day 1 to day 21, and in the activities of complex II-III, complex IV and citrate synthase from postnatal day 1 to day 60.

Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of pterins and metabolites of serotonin and dopamine in a pediatric reference population.

Accurate diagnosis and management of inborn errors of monoamine neurotransmitter and tetrahydrobiopterin metabolism depend on reliable reference ranges of key metabolites. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected in a standardized way from 73 children and young adults with neurologic disease, with strict exclusions. In each specimen, concentrations of homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (HIAA), total neopterin, 7,8-dihydrobiopterin, and tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) were measured using HPLC.

Effect of treatment with glycine and L-carnitine in medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency.

To assess the relative contribution of glycine and carnitine conjugation pathways to total acyl-group excretion, we investigated the excretion of C6 to C10 dicarboxylic acids, C6 to C8 acylglycines, and C6 to C8 acylcarnitines in five symptom-free patients with medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency during sequential 1-week periods as follows: (1) no treatment, (2) oral supplementation with glycine, 250 mg/kg per day, (3) oral supplementation with L-carnitine, 100 mg/kg per day, and (4) oral supplementation with both combined. In untreated patients, acylglycines and acylcarnitines represented 60% and less than 1% of the total metabolite excretion, respectively; the average acylglycine/acylcarnitine ratio was 70:1. Oral supplementation with glycine did not alter the excretion of acylglycines or acylcarnitines.

Diagnosis of medium chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase deficiency by measurement of cis-4-decenoic acid in dried blood spots.

Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), with selected ion monitoring, a method for measurement of cis-4-decenoate in dried blood spots was developed. Using this assay, the concentration of cis-4-decenoate was determined in blood spots taken from a control population, seven children with medium chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency who were well at the time of sample collection and an asymptomatic sibling of a child with MCAD deficiency. cis-4-Decenoate was elevated, above the control range, in all the children with MCAD deficiency and in the previously undiagnosed sibling.

Red blood cell uridine sugar nucleotide levels in patients with classic galactosemia and other metabolic disorders.

While dietary galactose restriction eliminates the life-threatening complications of classic galactosemia, central nervous system and ovarian disease are still evident in these patients, despite milk restriction. Because of the possibility that reduced tissue levels of uridine diphosphate galactose (UDPgalactose), the product of the deficient enzyme, galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase, are the cause of these unexplained complications, we have measured the concentration of red blood cell (RBC) uridine sugar nucleotides in these patients, comparing their values not only with those of normal subjects, but also with those of children who have other metabolic disorders. RBC UDPgalactose and uridine diphosphate glucose (UDPglucose) levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in 35 control subjects, 24 galactosemic patients, and 19 patients with inborn errors of amino acid, organic acid, or ammonia metabolism.