Eosinophil Peroxidase Nitrates Protein Tyrosyl Residues

Abstract

Eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) has been implicated in promoting oxidative tissue injury in conditions ranging from asthma and other allergic inflammatory disorders to cancer and parasitic/helminthic infections. Studies thus far on this unique peroxidase have primarily fo-cused on its unusual substrate preference for bromide (Br) and the pseudohalide thiocyanate (SCN) forming potent hypohalous acids as cytotoxic oxidants. However , the ability of EPO to generate reactive nitrogen species has not yet been reported. We now demonstrate that EPO readily uses nitrite (NO 2), a major end-product of nitric oxide (NO) metabolism, as substrate to generate a reactive intermediate that nitrates protein tyrosyl residues in high yield. EPO-catalyzed nitration of tyrosine occurred more readily than bromination at neutral pH, plasma levels of halides, and pathophysi-ologically relevant concentrations of NO 2. Furthermore , EPO was significantly more effective than MPO at promoting tyrosine nitration in the presence of plasma levels of halides. Whereas recent studies suggest that MPO can also promote protein nitration through indirect oxidation of NO 2 with HOCl, we found no evidence that EPO can indirectly mediate protein nitration by a similar reaction between HOBr and NO 2. EPO-dependent nitration of tyrosine was modulated over a physiologically relevant range of SCN concentrations and was accompanied by formation of tyrosyl radical addition products (e.g. o,o-dityrosine, pulcherosine, trityrosine). The potential role of specific antioxidants and nucleophilic scavengers on yields of tyrosine nitration and bromination by EPO are examined. Thus, EPO may contribute to nitroty-rosine formation in inflammatory conditions characterized by recruitment and activation of eosinophils.