Glioma cell antioxidant capacity relative to reactive oxygen species produced by dopamine

The pathology of Parkinson's disease involves oxidative damage to dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra. Oxidation of the dopamine (DA) neurotransmitter itself may contribute to the generation of a reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent neurodegeneration. Glia cells can either exacerbate injury or exert protective properties on local neurons in the brain. We investigate glial antioxidant enzyme systems relative to ROS generated during cytokine activation, monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and autoxidation of DA in glioma cells. Rat C6 glioma cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide Escherichia coli 0111:B4 and interferon gamma (LPS/IFN-g) produced high levels of nitric oxide (241 nmol mg(-1) protein 24 h(-1)) but not superoxide (O(-) (2)) or hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). Basal C6 cells exhibited a rapid and robust capacity to remove exogenous H(2)O(2) within minutes. Preincubation with sodium azide but not buthionine-[S, R]-sulfoximine attenuated this response, indicating catalase as the primary enzyme responsible for this effect. The glioma catalase reaction rate was slightly attenuated by exposure to LPS/IFN-g for 24 h. However, the reduction in catalase activity was not due to nitric oxide, because both the supernatant and sodium nitroprusside had no effect on isolated catalase enzyme activity. Hydrogen peroxide was produced only through substrate-driven MAO activity in prepared lysate. However, the quantity of H(2)O(2) produced per unit time (0.46 nmol mg(-1) protein min(-1)) was negligible compared with the enormous capacity for its removal by catalase (213.9 nmol mg(-1) protein min(-1)) (> or =462 x greater). Similarly, H(2)O(2) generated by DA autoxidation per unit time (0.28 nmol mg(-1) protein equiv. min(-1)), was rapidly dissolved by glioma cells at high capacity (> or =750 x greater). In conclusion, C6 cells produce nitric oxide under cytokine/endotoxin-stimulated conditions. Moreover, C6 cells exhibit a dynamic H(2)O(2) scavenging capacity, with ample facility to dispose of the peroxide generated by both MAO activity and spontaneous DA autoxidation.