Cytotoxicity of spin trapping compounds

• Published in: FEBS letters 1997-11, Vol.418 (1), p.73-75
• Main Authors: Haseloff, Reiner F, Mertsch, Katharina, Rohde, Elvira, Baeger, Ingo, Grigor'ev, Igor A, Blasig, Ingolf E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 2,2,4-trimethyl-2H-imidazole-1-oxide; 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl; 2,2-dimethyl-4-methoxycarbonyl-2H-imidazole-1-oxide; 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane; 3,3,5,5-tetramethylpyrroline-1-oxide; 3,5-dibromo-4-nitroso-benzenesulfonic acid; 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-2-(4-trimethylammoniophenyl)-2-imidazoline-3-oxide-1-oxyl methyl sulfate; 4,4-dimethyl-2,5,5-triphenyl-2-imidazoline-3-oxide-1-oxyl; 4,4-dimethyl-2,5-diphenyl-5-methoxy-2-imidazoline-3-oxide-1-oxyl; 4-carboxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-imidazole-1-oxide; 4-cyano-2,2-dimethyl-2H-imidazole-1-oxide; 5,5-dimethylpyrroline-1-oxide; ACE; angiotensin converting enzyme; Animals; Aorta; BAEC; bovine aortic endothelial cells; Cattle; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; CMIO; Cyclic N-Oxides - toxicity; CYIO; Cytotoxicity; DBNBS; DMPO; Endothelial cell; Endothelium, Vascular - cytology; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Endothelium, Vascular - pathology; MCIO; MNP; Molecular Structure; N-tert-butyl-α-phenyl nitrone; neutral red; Nitrogen Oxides - toxicity; Nitroso Compounds - toxicity; nitrosobenzene; NN 1; NN 2; NN 3; PBN; POBN; Spin Labels; Spin trap; Structure-Activity Relationship; TEMPO; TMIO; TMPO; α-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butyl nitrone
• ISSN: 0014-5793; 1873-3468
• DOI: 10.1016/S0014-5793(97)01349-5

Spin trapping compounds are used frequently to detect free radicals released by cells. Their cytotoxicity has to be considered in order to prevent perturbations of normal cell growth and viability. Eleven spin traps (eight nitrones and three nitroso traps) have been tested for their effects on bovine aortic endothelial cells (toxicity range, 50% survival rate). The lowest cytotoxicity was found for 5,5-dimethylpyrroline-1-oxide and 2,2,4-trimethyl-2 H-imidazole-1-oxide whereas nitrosobenzene and 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane exerted the strongest cytotoxic effects. In addition, three nitronyl nitroxides were tested. Their cytotoxicity was found to be dependent on substitution, and the toxic concentration of a lipophilic derivative was found to be more than two orders lower as compared to a hydrophilic derivative. The results of this study indicate that most spin traps can be used in cell cultures at customary (i.e. millimolar) concentrations; caution is recommended when nitroso spin traps are applied to cells.