Strong inhibition of mammalian lipoxygenases by the antiinflammatory seleno-organic compound ebselen in the absence of glutathione

Abstract

Both human recombinant 5-lipoxygenase (EC 1.13.11.34) and 15-lipoxygenase (EC 1.13.11.33, mammalian enzyme) purified from rabbit reticulocytes were inhibited in the absence of glutathione (GSH) by submicromolar concentrations of the seleno-organic compound ebselen. These concentrations were comparable to those of the enzymes. Soybean lipoxygenase-1 (EC 1.13.11.33, plant enzyme) was not inhibited, whereas prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-1 (EC 1.14.99.1) was inhibited only at much higher concentrations of ebselen ($\text{ic}{}_{50}\text{= 37.7 ± 4.3 μM}$). The action of ebselen on reticulocyte 15-lipoxygenase (1050 = 0.17 ± 0.01 μM) was studied in detail. Inhibition occurred instantaneously and appeared to be reversible and was largely abolished by a 20-fold molar excess of GSH over ebselen. In the presence of 1 mM GSH 50% inhibition was observed only at ebselen concentrations as high as 234 ± 27 μM. 13^S-hydroperoxy-9_Z,11E-octadecadienoic acid, the lipoxygenase product formed from linoleic acid, augmented the inhibitory effect at low concentrations and caused a partial reversal at high concentrations. A variety of derivatives or structural analogues of ebselen were also tested and proved to be either inactive or weaker inhibitors of 15-lipoxygenase. We have concluded that the potent inhibition of 15-lipoxygenase by ebselen is due neither to GSH peroxidase-like activity nor to lowering of the hydroperoxide tone. The pharmacological implications of these unique characteristics of the action of ebselen on lipoxygenases are then discussed.