UC Berkeley

Although lipid peroxidation associated with oxidative stress can result in cellular death, sub-lethal lipid peroxidation can gradually resolve with return to the pre-exposure state. We have shown that resolution of lipid peroxidation is greatly delayed in lungs or cells that are null for peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6) and that both the phospholipase A₂ and the GSH peroxidase activities of Prdx6 are required for a maximal rate of recovery. Like other peroxiredoxins, Prdx6 can reduce H₂O₂ and short chain hydroperoxides, but in addition can directly reduce phospholipid hydroperoxides. This study evaluated the relative role of these two different peroxidase activities of Prdx6 in the repair of peroxidized cell membranes. The His26 residue in Prdx6 is an important component of the binding site for phospholipids. Thus, we evaluated the lungs from H26A-Prdx6 expressing mice and generated H26A-Prdx6 expressing pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVEC) by lentiviral infection of Prdx6 null cells to compare with wild type in the repair of lipid peroxidation. Isolated lungs and PMVEC were exposed to tert-butyl hydroperoxide and mice were exposed to hyperoxia (> 95% O₂). Assays for lipid peroxidation in wild type control and mutant lungs and cells showed ~4-fold increase at end-exposure. Control lungs and cells showed gradual resolution during a post-exposure recovery period. However, there was no recovery from lipid peroxidation by H26A-Prdx6 lungs or PMVEC. These studies confirm an important role for Prdx6 in recovery from membrane lipid peroxidation and indicate that reduction of H₂O₂ or short chain hydroperoxides does not play a role in the recovery process.