Identification of glutathione adducts of α-chlorofatty aldehydes produced in activated neutrophils

α-Chlorofatty aldehydes (α-ClFALDs) are produced by hypochlorous acid targeting plasmalogens during neutrophil activation. This study investigated the reaction of the α-chlorinated carbon of α-ClFALD with the nucleophile, GSH. Utilizing ESI/MS/MS, the reaction product of GSH and the 16-carbon α-ClFALD, 2-chlorohexadecanal (2-ClHDA), was characterized. The resulting conjugate of 2-ClHDA and GSH (HDA-GSH) has an intact free aldehyde, and the chlorine at the α-carbon is ejected. Stable isotope-labeled [d4]HDA-GSH was synthesized, which further confirmed the structure, and was used to quantify natural α-ClFALD conjugates of GSH (FALD-GSH) using reverse-phase LC with detection by ESI/MS/MS using selected reaction monitoring. HDA-GSH is elevated in RAW 264.7 cells treated with physiologically relevant concentrations of exogenous 2-ClHDA. Furthermore, PMA-treated primary human neutrophils have elevated levels of HDA-GSH and the conjugate of 2-chlorooctadecanal (2-ClODA) and GSH (ODA-GSH), as well as elevated levels of 2-ClHDA and 2-ClODA. Production of both conjugates in PMA-stimulated neutrophils was reduced by 3-aminotriazole pretreatment, which also blocks endogenous α-ClFALD production. Additionally, plasma FALD-GSH levels were elevated in the K/BxN mouse arthritis model. Taken together, these studies demonstrate novel peptidoaldehydes derived from GSH and α-ClFALD in activated human neutrophils and in vivo in K/BxN mice.