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Pirfenidone inhibits NADPH-dependent microsomal lipid peroxidation and scavenges hydroxyl radicals

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Abstract

Pirfenidone (Pf), a new broad-spectrum anti-fibrotic agent, is known to offer protection against lung fibrosis in vivo in laboratory animals, and against mitogenesis and collagen formation by human lung fibroblasts in vitro. Because reactive oxygen species are thought to be involved in these events, we investigated the mechanism(s) by which Pf ameliorates oxidative stress and its effects on NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation. Pf has been shown to cause inhibit NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation in sheep liver microsomes in a dose-dependent manner. The concentration of Pf required to cause 50% inhibition of lipid peroxidation was ~ 6 mM. Pf was found to be ineffective as a superoxide radical scavenger. Pf was also ineffective in decomposing H2O2 and chelating iron. In deoxyribose degradation assays, Pf was a potent scavenger of hydroxyl radicals with a rate constant of 5.4 × 109 M-1 sec-1. EPR spectroscopy in combination with spin trapping techniques, using a Fenton type reaction and DMPO as a spin-trapping agent, Pf scavenged hydroxyl radicals in a dose-dependent manner. The concentration of Pf required to inhibit 50% signal height was ~ 2.5 mM. Because iron was used in the Fenton reaction, the ability of Pf in chelating iron was verified in a fluorescent competitive assay using calcein as the fluorescent probe. Pf up to 10 mM concentration was ineffective in chelating either Fe2+ or Fe3+ in this system. We propose that Pf exerts its beneficial effects, at least in part, through its ability to scavenge toxic hydroxyl radicals.

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  1. Center of Molecular Medicine and Infection Diseases, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medcine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061-0342, USA

    Hara P. Misra & Christine Rabideau

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  1. Hara P. Misra
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  2. Christine Rabideau
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Misra, H.P., Rabideau, C. Pirfenidone inhibits NADPH-dependent microsomal lipid peroxidation and scavenges hydroxyl radicals. Mol Cell Biochem 204, 119–126 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007023532508

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