Antioxidants Condition Pleiotropic Vascular Responses to Exogenous H2O2: Role of Modulation of Vascular TP Receptors and the Heme Oxygenase System

Aims: Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a nonradical oxidant, is employed to ascertain the role of redox mechanisms in regulation of vascular tone. Where both dilation and constriction have been reported, we examined the hypothesis that the ability of H2O2 to effect vasoconstriction or dilation is conditioned by redox mechanisms and may be modulated by antioxidants. Results: Exogenous H2O2 (0.1-10.0 mu M), dose-dependently reduced the internal diameter of rat renal interlobular and 3rd-order mesenteric arteries (p < 0.05). This response was obliterated in arteries pre-treated with antioxidants, including tempol, pegylated superoxide dismutase (PEG-SOD), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and biliverdin (BV). However, as opposed to tempol or PEG-SOD, BHT & BV, antioxidants targeting radicals downstream of H2O2, also uncovered vasodilation. Innovations: Redox-dependent vasoconstriction to H2O2 was blocked by inhibitors of cyclooxygenase (COX) (indomethacin-10 mu M), thromboxane (TP) synthase (CGS13080-10 mu M), and TP receptor antagonist (SQ29548-1 mu M). However, H2O2 did not increase vascular thromboxane B-2 release; instead, it sensitized the vasculature to a TP agonist, U46619, an effect reversed by PEG-SOD. Antioxidant-conditioned dilatory response to H2O2 was accompanied by enhanced vascular heme oxygenase (HO)-dependent carbon monoxide generation and was abolished by HO inhibitors or by HO-1 & 2 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides treatment of SD rats. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that H2O2 has antioxidant-modifiable pleiotropic vascular effects, where constriction and dilation are brought about in the same vascular segment. H2O2-induced oxidative stress increases vascular TP sensitivity and predisposes these arterial segments to constrictor prostanoids. Conversely, vasodilation is reliant upon HO-derived products whose synthesis is stimulated only in the presence of antioxidants targeting radicals downstream of H2O2. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 18, 471-480.