title: Natural antioxidant dihydroxybenzyl alcohol blocks ritonavir-induced endothelial dysfunction in porcine pulmonary arteries and human endothelial cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with HIV have an increased incidence of pulmonary artery hypertension. This study was designed to determine if the naturally occurring antioxidant dihydroxybenzyl alcohol (DHBA) could counteract the deleterious effects of ritonavir (RTV), an HIV-protease inhibitor known to impair endothelial function and increase oxidative stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antioxidant assays were performed on DHBA in a cell free system. Glutathione (GSH) levels were measured in human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAEC) to determine the effect of DHBA on the level of oxidative stress in cells treated with RTV. Myograph analysis was performed on porcine pulmonary artery (PA) rings after treatment with RTV and/or DHBA. Likewise, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was assessed in porcine PA rings after RTV +/- DHBA using a lucigenin reaction. Immunohistochemical staining for endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was also performed in porcine PAs treated as above.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DHBA demonstrated significant antioxidant activity in a cell free system that surpassed that of vitamin C. Also, treatment with DHBA reduced RTV-induced reduction in endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation and eNOS staining and increased superoxide anion levels. Meanwhile, there was a reversal in RTV-induced oxidative stress leading to reduced GSH levels in HPAECs after treatment with DHBA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the naturally occurring antioxidant DHBA reduces the impairment of vasomotor functions caused by RTV in porcine PAs and reduces oxidative stress caused by RTV in HPAEC and porcine PA rings. This study indicates that DHBA may have clinical applications in the prevention or treatment of antiretroviral drugs-associated vascular complications in patients with HIV.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Surgeon Research Center, Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Weakley
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Jianming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lü
authors.forename: Xinwen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Qizhi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Changyi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001592:Benzyl Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002474:Cell-Free System; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019438:Ritonavir / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D034421:Sus scrofa
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001592:Benzyl Alcohols; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D013481:Superoxides; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D005978:Glutathione; D019438:Ritonavir