Cardioprotection by sulfaphenazole, a cytochrome p450 inhibitor: mitigation of ischemia-reperfusion injury by scavenging of reactive oxygen species.

Cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes play a significant role in promoting myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. CYP2C9, an isoform of P450, is known to generate superoxide radicals in the reperfused heart. Sulfaphenazole (SPZ), a CYP2C9 inhibitor, has been shown to decrease I/R injury; however, the mechanism of cardioprotection by SPZ is not well elucidated. The objective of this study was to test whether SPZ mitigates myocardial I/R injury by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). Isolated rat hearts were subjected to 30 min of global ischemia followed by 45 min of reperfusion. Hearts were perfused with SPZ and/or N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME). Coronary flow (CF), left-ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), and rate-pressure product (RPP) were monitored. Superoxide and nitric oxide (NO) generation in the reperfused tissue was determined using fluorescence methods. Myocardial infarct size was measured using triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. The SPZ-treated group showed a significant recovery of cardiac function compared with the untreated I/R group (CF, 53 versus 45%; LVDP, 48 versus 22%; RPP, 51 versus 20%). The infarct size was significantly reduced in the SPZ-treated group (15%) compared with the I/R control (42%). Coadministration of L-NAME with SPZ significantly attenuated the beneficial effects of SPZ. In addition, SPZ treatment showed significantly decreased superoxide levels and enhanced NO bioavailability in the reperfused heart. In conclusion, the protective effect of SPZ against I/R-mediated myocardial damage appears to be due to a reduction in the superoxide level caused by its inhibition of CYP2C9, as well as scavenging of oxygen free radicals generated in the reperfused heart.