Cytotoxicity of the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system on V79 cells: comparison of the effects of SOD and CuDIPS.

The hypoxanthine - xanthine oxidase system generates an extracellular flux of superoxide anion radical (O2.-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Catalase but not superoxide dismutase (SOD) protects V79 cells exposed to the hypoxanthine - xanthine oxidase system, showing that H2O2 is the major reactive oxygen species involved in the cytotoxicity of such a system. In contrast to SOD, the lipophilic SOD like compound CuII (diisopropylsalicylate)2 (CuDIPS) exhibits some protection at non cytotoxic concentration. It is also found that methanol partially protects cells exposed to the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system. It appears that in our experimental conditions (temperature, ionic strength and pH) the protective effect afforded by methanol and CuDIPS is due to the inhibition of the xanthine oxidase activity.