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A sensitive fluorometric assay for measuring xanthine dehydrogenase and oxidase in tissues.

The conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase to a free radical producing oxidase is an important component of oxygen-mediated tissue injury. Current assays for these enzymes are of limited sensitivity, making it difficult to analyze activities in organ biopsies or cultured cells. The xanthine oxidase-catalyzed conversion of pterin (2-amino-4-hydroxypteridine) to isoxanthopterin provides the basis for a fluorometric assay which is 100-500 times more sensitive than the traditional spectrophotometric assay of urate formation from xanthine. Enzyme activity as low as 0.1 pmol min-1 ml-1 can be measured with the fluorometric pterin assay. Xanthine oxidase is assayed in the presence of pterin only, while combined xanthine dehydrogenase plus oxidase activity is determined with methylene blue which replaces NAD+ as an electron acceptor. The relative proportions and specific activities of xanthine oxidase and dehydrogenase determined by the fluorometric pterin assay are comparable with the spectrophotometric measurement of activities present in rat liver, intestine, kidney, and plasma. The assay has been successfully applied to brain, human kidney, and cultured mammalian cells, where xanthine dehydrogenase and oxidase activities are too low to detect spectrophotometrically.

Allopurinol↗

The mechanism of inhibition by xanthine of adenosine A1-receptor responses in rat hippocampus.

We have recently observed that the free radical-generating mixture of xanthine and xanthine oxidase (X/XO) can suppress the inhibitory effects of adenosine on synaptic transmission in the hippocampus, but that this action can be mimicked by xanthine alone. We have now clarified the mechanism of these interactions by using the new, potent and highly selective inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, 1-(3-cyano-4-neopentyloxyphenyl)pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid (Y-700). Field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) were recorded in the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices. X/XO induced a long-lasting increase of fEPSP slope and significantly reduced the presynaptic inhibitory effect of adenosine. Both these actions were prevented by Y-700 at a concentration of only 200nM. Similarly the superfusion of xanthine alone increased fEPSP slope and reduced sensitivity to adenosine but these effects were also prevented by Y-700. The results indicate that the antagonism of adenosine responses by X/XO or by xanthine alone are entirely attributable to the activity of the added or endogenous XO activity, probably generating free radicals, and are not likely to be caused by a direct antagonistic action at the xanthine-sensitive site on the adenosine receptor.

Adenosine A1 Receptor Antagonists↗

The chemistry of xanthine oxidase. Reaction with iodoacetamide.

1. The reaction of milk xanthine oxidase with iodoacetamide has been studied with the silver-silver iodide electrode. 2. The reaction proceeds considerably faster in the presence of xanthine than in its absence. Anaerobically, with excess of xanthine, the reaction takes place as a rapid phase in which the enzyme is inactivated and in which approx. 1 thiol group/mol. of enzyme reacts and as a slower phase in which about 12 groups/mol. react. 3. The rapid reaction appears to be first-order with respect to xanthine oxidase and iodoacetamide and independent of the xanthine concentration with more than about 3mol. of xanthine/mol. of enzyme. 4. The velocity constant of the rapid phase is 0.26min.(-1) at 25 degrees and pH7.0, with 1mm-iodoacetamide and 17mum-xanthine oxidase. The velocity constant for the slower phase is about one-hundredth of this value. 5. The velocities of both phases increase with increasing pH in the range 5.0-9.6. 6. Xanthine may be replaced by salicylaldehyde without affecting the rate of loss of enzymic activity. With sodium dithionite as reducing agent, the reaction is slightly faster. 7. The possible function of thiol groups in the reaction mechanism of the enzyme is discussed.

Aldehydes↗

The caffeine metabolic ratio as an index of xanthine oxidase activity in clinically active and silent celiac patients.

BACKGROUND: The xanthine oxidoreductase system has been identified as one of the main sources of free radicals responsible for various forms of tissue injury. Because the intestinal villi are an important location of this enzyme, it was of interest to study the role of xanthine oxidase in gluten-sensitive celiac enteropathy, associated with characteristic villous atrophy. Measured by a noninvasive method, the ratio of caffeine metabolites excreted in the urine after a caffeine challenge had previously been shown to be indicative of the total xanthine oxidase activity of the patient. METHODS: The study involved 22 children with gluten-challenged celiac disease, exhibiting subtotal villous atrophy in specimens from the third intestinal biopsy in accordance with ESPGHAN criteria. Ten of the patients displayed overt clinical symptoms (active form), whereas 12 had no symptoms (silent form). Urinary caffeine metabolites were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography. The total in vivo xanthine oxidase activity was expressed as the caffeine metabolite index. RESULTS: In patients with active celiac disease the xanthine oxidase activity index was considerably higher, whereas in those with silent disease it was significantly lower than the control value. A significant negative correlation was shown between the index indicative of xanthine oxidase activity and the serum iron level of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Activation of xanthine oxidase may play a role in the pathogenesis of active celiac disease with definite malabsorption, gastrointestinal symptoms, and anemia. The caffeine test reflects the difference in the pathogenetic mechanism leading to the mucosal lesion and clinical symptoms of active and silent forms of celiac disease.

Caffeine↗

Xanthine affects [Ca2+]i and contractile responses of ventricular cardiocytes to electrical stimulation.

Xanthine, a major purine by-product of ATP, accumulates during myocardial ischemia. In the present study, we show that xanthine (0.5-1 mM) impaired the occurrence of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) transients, visualized in fura 2-loaded cells, and twitches of contraction in ventricular cardiocytes in response to electrical stimulation. This effect of xanthine was independent of superoxide anion production. That it was a result of decreased membrane excitability was supported by the following: 1) it was reversed by increasing either the amplitude of the stimulus voltage required to stimulate cardiocytes or the extracellular concentration of NaCl; and 2) xanthine reversed the depolarization following electrical stimulation in cardiocytes loaded with the voltage-sensitive dye bis-oxonol. P2 purinergic-agonists, including ATP (10 microM), but not P1 purinergic agonists reproduced the effects seen with xanthine. In addition, a lack of additivity between xanthine and ATP at maximal concentrations was observed. We conclude that xanthine, through activation of a P2 purinoceptor, may contribute to myocardial arrhythmia occurring during ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Adenosine↗

Age-dependent increase in xanthine oxidoreductase differs in various heart cell types.

Myocardial xanthine oxidase has been associated with reoxygenation injury induced by oxygen radicals. The damage due to myocardial ischemia and reperfusion increases with age; therefore, one would expect to find more xanthine oxidase in adult than in young hearts. Consequently, we studied the age-dependence of xanthine oxidoreductase activity in hearts, in addition to the localization of the enzyme in cultured rat-heart cells. We measured xanthine oxidase plus dehydrogenase activity in homogenates of hearts and in homogenates of cultured neonatal myocytes and nonmuscular cells. In rat heart homogenates, xanthine oxidoreductase increased from 0.5 +/- 0.1 mU/g wet wt (newborn, mean +/- SD) to 25 +/- 4 mU/g (age 15 weeks, p less than 0.001). The value for adult rabbit heart was more than 1,000 times lower and hardly detectable. Therefore, we did not study young rabbit hearts. In rat myocyte cultures, xanthine oxidoreductase activity increased from 4.2 +/- 1.6 mU/g protein (2nd day of culture) to 17 +/- 4 mU/g (4th day, p less than 0.005). The activity in nonmuscular cells increased much more, from 10.1 +/- 1.1 to 117 +/- 25 mU/g (p less than 0.002). The age-related increase of xanthine oxidoreductase activity in rat heart is in agreement with the implied role in reperfusion damage by the enzyme. Whether myocytes, in which the enzyme has a low activity, could be damaged in this way, remains to be studied.

Aging↗

A comparative study of the concentrations of hypoxanthine, xanthine, uric acid and allantoin in the peripheral blood of normals and patients with acute myocardial infarction and other ischaemic diseases.

The aim of this study was the elucidation of the role of the xanthine oxidoreductase in the purine metabolism in ischaemic diseases of man. The serum concentrations of hypoxanthine, xanthine, uric acid and allantoin were determined in peripheral blood samples from patients with angina pectoris, cerebral insult and myocardial infarction with thrombolytic therapy and were compared with the concentrations obtained for healthy males and females. No significant differences were observed for the serum hypoxanthine concentrations, xanthine concentrations, the sum (hypoxanthine+xanthine) and the ratio (xanthine/hypoxanthine) between the healthy males, healthy females, the patients suffering from angina pectoris and the patients suffering from cerebral insult. An increase of the serum xanthine concentration in patients with myocardial infarction indicates a significant metabolic involvement of xanthine oxidoreductase in this disease and therefore a possible role in the development of tissue damage in the postischaemic phase due to oxygen radicals generated by the oxidase activity of this enzyme. The serum concentrations of uric acid and allantoin showed no differences between any of the studied groups. Study of the non-enzymatic oxidation of uric acid to allantoin by oxygen radicals, a relevant radical-scavenging mechanism in other diseases, provided no indication of an increased concentration of oxygen radicals due to the xanthine oxidoreductase reaction or other radical-producing mechanisms.

Adult↗

Pulmonary xanthine oxidase activity of rats exposed to prolonged immobilization stress.

This study was designed to study xanthine oxidase (XO) and xanthine dehydrogenase (XD) activity in the lung of rats exposed to prolonged restraining immobilization stress. Immobilization caused more than twofold increase of xanthine oxidase activity in the rat lung. The activity of xanthine oxidase decreased in lung homogenates incubated at -20 degrees C for 24 h. The same incubation of homogenates from control rats caused a non-significant increase of the activity. No measurable NAD(+)-dependent xanthine dehydrogenase activity could be established in the lungs of both control rats and rats subjected to immobilization. All rats revealed methylene blue-dependent xanthine dehydrogenase activity which was more than two-times higher in the immobilized animals. Incubation at -20 degrees C for 24 h increased the methylene blue-dependent xanthine dehydrogenase activity in homogenates from control rats and decreased the enzyme activity in homogenates from immobilized rats. A working hypothesis was proposed for the sequence of events explaining the results obtained: XO-catalyzed generation of activated oxygen species may take place in the initiation of lipid peroxidation in the lung of rats immobilized for prolonged periods of time.

Animals↗

Evaluation of the role of xanthine oxidase in myocardial reperfusion injury.

The free radical-generating enzyme xanthine oxidase has been hypothesized to be a central mechanism of the injury which occurs in postischemic tissues; however, its importance remains controversial. Much attention has focused on the role of this enzyme in myocardial reperfusion injury. While xanthine oxidase has been observed in ischemic tissue homogenates, the presence and importance of radical generation by the enzyme in intact tissues are unknown. Therefore, we performed electron paramagnetic resonance, nuclear magnetic resonance and hemodynamic studies to measure the presence and significance of xanthine oxidase-mediated free radical generation in the isolated rat heart. When isolated perfused rat hearts were reperfused after 30 min of global ischemia, myocardial function and coronary flow were significantly improved in the presence of the definitive xanthine oxidase blocker oxypurinol. Free radical concentrations measured by spin-trapping with 5,5'-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide were significantly decreased by oxypurinol and the energetic state of the heart was improved as reflected by an increased recovery of phosphocreatine and a higher phosphocreatine/Pi ratio. ATP recovery, however, was not altered, indicating that the improved functional and metabolic state of the heart was not due to ATP salvage. Spectrophotometric assays for the enzyme showed an increase in the amount of xanthine oxidase relative to dehydrogenase following ischemia, and a total available xanthine oxidase pool in the rat heart of approximately 150 milliunits/g of protein. Thus, xanthine oxidase is a significant source of the oxidative injury which occurs upon reperfusion of the ischemic rat heart.

Animals↗

Role of xanthine oxidase in the interferon-mediated depression of the hepatic cytochrome P-450 system in mice.

Interferon, interferon inducers, and a variety of other immunomodulators are known to depress the hepatic cytochrome P-450 drug-metabolizing system. Two concepts have been proposed to explain this phenomenon. (a) The steady-state of cytochrome P-450 is altered through decreased synthesis and increased degradation of cytochrome P-450 apoprotein. (b) Interferon induces xanthine oxidase; superoxide generated by interferon-induced xanthine oxidase destroys cytochrome P-450. The current study investigated the second concept. Administered polyribonucleotides [polyriboinosinic acid.polyribocytidylic acid (poly IC), polyriboinosinic acid.polycytidylic acid, polylysine and carboxymethylcellulose, mismatched poly IC], recombinant murine gamma-interferon, and a natural murine alpha/beta-interferon were shown to depress hepatic cytochrome P-450 and selected microsomal cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase reactions and to induce hepatic xanthine oxidase activity. The feeding of tungstate in the drinking water largely depleted xanthine oxidase in mice; cytochrome P-450 levels and monooxygenase activities were not affected by tungstate treatment. Tungstate rendered the level of xanthine oxidase much below that in mice that had not received tungstate regardless of whether or not they had received poly IC or interferon; nevertheless, poly IC and interferon produced losses of cytochrome P-450 and monooxygenase activities in these tungstate-treated mice equivalent to those observed in mice that had not received tungstate. The administration of N-acetylcysteine did not prevent the loss of cytochrome P-450 induced by poly IC, as has been reported, nor did the incubation of microsomal cytochrome P-450 with buttermilk xanthine oxidase and hypoxanthine cause a loss of cytochrome P-450, which has also been reported. It is concluded from these studies that the induction of xanthine oxidase and the loss of cytochrome P-450 generated by interferon are coincidental rather than causally related phenomena.

Acetylcysteine↗

[Xanthine oxidoreductase activity in rat brain tissue: the changes after decapitation].

Since only little xanthine oxidase (XO) activity in mammalian brain was detected in earlier reports, the major end product of AMP degradation in the brain has been believed to be hypoxanthine. Our recent experimental study however, has indicated the presence of uric acid in the rat brain subjected to focal ischemia or cold injury. Allopurinol, a xanthine oxidoreductase inhibitor, has been found to markedly suppress the uric acid production in the same experimental settings. These results suggested that uric acid is generated from hypoxanthine by enzymatic reaction in injured brain tissue. The aim of this experiment is to prove the existence of xanthine oxidoreductase activity in brain tissue. Xanthine oxidoreductase activity in rat cerebral tissue was measured immediately or at 24-hour after decapitation. Under pentobarbital anesthesia, twenty Sprague-Dawley rats were killed by decapitation following washout of the blood by trans-cardiac perfusion with cold physiological saline. Immediately or after 24 hours of decapitation ischemia, the forebrain was removed and homogenized in 6 ml ice cold 0.05 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.8) containing 1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, 0.3 mM EGTA, and 10 mM dithiothreitol. The homogenate was centrifuged at 100,000 g for 60 min and then the supernatant was dialyzed overnight against 0.05 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.8). Aliquot of each dialyzed supernatant (sample) and standard xanthine solution with NAD was reacted at 37 degrees C for 15 min to measure the combined activity of xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) and XO. For the measurement of XO, standard xanthine solution without NAD was used.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Allopurinol↗

Superoxide, xanthine oxidase and platelet reactions: further studies on mechanisms by which oxidants influence platelets.

In the course of studying the effects on platelets of the oxidant species superoxide (O2.-), O2.- was generated by the interaction of xanthine oxidase plus xanthine. Surprisingly, gel-filtered platelets, when exposed to xanthine oxidase in the absence of xanthine substrate, were found to generate superoxide (O2.-), as determined by the reduction of added cytochrome c and by the inhibition of this reduction in the presence of superoxide dismutase. In addition to generating O2.-, the xanthine oxidase-treated platelets display both aggregation and evidence of the release reaction. This xanthine oxidase induced aggregation is not inhibited by the addition of either superoxide dismutase or cytochrome c, suggesting that it is due to either a further metabolite of O2.0, or that O2.- itself exerts no important direct effect on platelet function under these experimental conditions. The ability of C2.- to modulate platelet reactions in vivo or in vitro remains in doubt, and xanthine oxidase is an unsuitable source of O2.- in platelet studies because of its own effects on platelets.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

Morphologic changes and xanthine oxidase activity in the equine jejunum during low flow ischemia and reperfusion.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether xanthine oxidase and dehydrogenase activities are altered during low flow ischemia and reperfusion of the small intestine of horses. ANIMALS: 5 clinically normal horses without histories of abdominal problems. PROCEDURE: With the horse under general anesthesia, a laparotomy was performed and blood flow to a segment of the distal jejunum was reduced to 20% of baseline for 120 minutes and was then reperfused for 120 minutes. Biopsy specimens were obtained before, during, and after ischemia for determination of xanthine oxidase and dehydrogenase activities, and for histologic and morphometric analyses. RESULTS: Percentage of xanthine oxidase activity (as a percentage of xanthine oxidase and dehydrogenase activity) was not altered during ischemia and reperfusion. An inflammatory response developed and progressed during ischemia and reperfusion. Mucosal lesions increased in severity after ischemia and reperfusion. Mucosal surface area and volume decreased during ischemia and continued to decrease during reperfusion. Submucosal volume increased slightly during ischemia, and continued to increase during reperfusion. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Evidence for conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase to xanthine oxidase during ischemia was not found. Factors other than production of reactive oxygen metabolites may be responsible for progressive epithelial loss, decrease in mucosal surface area and volume, and increase in submucosal volume observed in this study. Other methods of determining xanthine oxidase activity that detect the enzyme in sloughed epithelial cells should be used to better define the importance of this pathway in jejunal reperfusion injury in horses.

Animals↗

[Is xanthine oxidase a universal source of superoxide radicals in ischemic and reperfusion lesions?].

While studying xanthine-xanthine oxidase system it was found, that a considerable accumulation of xanthine and uric acid occurred whereas xanthine dehydrogenase did not transfer in xanthine oxidase during 2 hours of total rat liver ischemia. These data make it possible to reject the generally accepted hypothesis of xanthine oxidase key role in free radical mechanism of ischemia damage.

Animals↗

Acute renal failure from xanthine nephropathy during management of acute leukemia.

Tumor lysis syndrome is a potentially life-threatening complication of induction chemotherapy for treatment of lymphoproliferative malignancies. Serious complications of tumor lysis syndrome are rare with the preemptive use of allopurinol, rasburicase, and urine alkalinization. We report a case of oliguric acute renal failure due to bilateral xanthine nephropathy in an 11-year-old girl as a complication of tumor lysis syndrome during the treatment of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Xanthine nephrolithiasis results from the inhibition of uric acid synthesis via allopurinol which increases plasma and urinary xanthine and hypoxanthine levels. Reports of xanthine nephrolithiasis as a cause of tumor lysis syndrome are rare in the absence of defects in the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT) enzyme. Xanthine nephropathy should be considered in patients who develop acute renal failure following aggressive chemotherapy with appropriate tumor lysis syndrome prophylaxis. Urine measurements for xanthine could aid in the diagnosis of patients with nephrolithiasis complicating tumor lysis syndrome. Allopurinal dosage should be reduced or discontinued if xanthine nephropathy is suspected.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Urinary hypoxanthine and xanthine levels in acute coronary syndromes.

Ischemia leads to impaired ATP metabolism, with increased production of purine degradation products, such as hypoxanthine and xanthine, which are useful markers of tissue hypoxia. These extracellular markers of ischemia have been studied extensively in many clinical conditions of oxidative stress, including perinatal asphyxia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, cerebral ischemia, and preeclampsia. The aim of this study was to explore the usefulness of urinary hypoxanthine and xanthine as ischemia markers in acute coronary syndromes. Urinary excretion of hypoxanthine and xanthine was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography in 30 patients with acute coronary syndromes and in 30 age- and sex-matched controls. Serum and urine uric acid, creatinine, and urea concentrations were also determined. Hypoxanthine excretion was significantly elevated in patients compared with healthy controls (84.37+/-8.63 and 42.70+/-3.97 nmol/mg creatinine, mean+/-SEM, P<0.0001). Urinary xanthine levels were also increased in patients with acute coronary syndromes (100.13+/-12.14 and 34.74+/-4.07 nmol/mg creatinine patients and controls, respectively; P<0.0001). Hypoxanthine and xanthine excretion showed a strong positive correlation in both groups. Significant negative correlations between urinary hypoxanthine and uric acid and xanthine and uric acid were observed in the patients, but not in controls. In conclusion, increased levels of ATP degradation products hypoxanthine and xanthine are observed in various hypoxic clinical conditions. This study suggests that these parameters may be useful markers of ischemia in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Acute Disease↗

A molybdopterin-free form of xanthine oxidase.

A previously unidentified fraction lacking xanthine:O2 activity has been isolated during affinity chromatography of bovine milk xanthine oxidase preparations on Sepharose 4B/folate gel. Unlike active, desulfo, or demolybdo forms of xanthine oxidase, this form, which typically comprises about 5% of an unfractionated enzyme solution, passes through the affinity column without binding to it, and is thus easily separated from the other species. The absorption spectrum of this fraction is very similar to that of the active form, but has a 7% lower extinction at 450 nm. Analysis of the fraction has shown that it is a dimer of normal size, but that it does not contain molybdenum or molybdopterin (MPT). The "MPT-free" xanthine oxidase contains 90-96% of the Fe found in active xanthine oxidase, and 100% of the expected sulfide. EPR and absorption difference spectroscopy indicate that the MPT-free fraction is missing approximately half of its Fe/S I centers. The presence of a new EPR signal suggests that an altered Fe/S center may account for the nearly normal Fe and sulfide content. Microwave power saturation parameters for the Fe/S II and Fe/S I centers in the MPT-free fraction are normal, with P1/2 equal to 1000 and 60 mW, respectively. The new EPR signal shows intermediate saturation behavior with a P1/2 = 200 mW. The circular dichroism spectrum of the MPT-free fraction shows distinct differences from that of active enzyme. The NADH:methylene blue activity of the MPT-free fraction is the same as that of active xanthine oxidase which exhibits xanthine:O2 activity, but NADH:cytochrome c and NADH:DCIP activities are diminished by 54 and 37%, respectively.

Animals↗

Contamination of commercial preparations of xanthine oxidase by a Ca2+-dependent phospholipase A2.

Using [1-14C]oleate-labelled autoclaved Escherichia coli as substrate, we demonstrate that many, but not all, commercial preparations of xanthine oxidase contain phospholipase A2 activity as a contaminant. Phospholipase A2 activity (64.3-545.6 nmol phospholipid hydrolyzed per min per mg protein) was optimal in the neutral to alkaline pH range, was Ca2+-dependent, and was unaffected by the addition of xanthine. Phospholipase A2 activity was totally inhibited by 1.0 mM EDTA while radical production by xanthine plus xanthine oxidase was unaffected by EDTA. Even chromatographically purified xanthine oxidase (Sigma Grade III) contained substantial phospholipase A2 activity (64.3 nmol/min per mg). Since the preparation of xanthine oxidase employs proteolytic digestion of milk or buttermilk by pancreatin, an extract of pancreas which is an organ rich in phospholipase A2 activity, we speculate that the contaminant phospholipase A2 is introduced by this treatment. Because xanthine oxidase is used extensively to study free radical-induced cell injury and membrane phospholipid alterations, the presence of a potent extracellular phospholipase A2 may have influenced previously published reports and such studies in the future should be interpreted with care.

Calcium↗