Febuxostat inhibition of endothelial-bound XO: implications for targeting vascular ROS production.

Xanthine oxidase (XO) is a critical source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that contribute to vascular inflammation. Binding of XO to vascular endothelial cell glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) results in significant resistance to inhibition by traditional pyrazolopyrimidine-based inhibitors such as allopurinol. Therefore, we compared the extent of XO inhibition (free and GAG-bound) by allopurinol to that by febuxostat, a newly approved nonpurine XO-specific inhibitor.