Xanthine oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species mediate 4-oxo-2-nonenal-induced hepatocyte cell death

Among the aldehydes derived from lipid peroxidation, there have been several reports concerning the toxicity of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE), whereas little information is available about 4-oxo-2-nonenal (4-ONE). In the present study, we examined the effects of 4-HNE and 4-ONE on the cell viability of primary rat hepatocyte cultures. At concentrations of 5, 10, and 20 μM, 4-HNE had no significant effect on the cell viability of primary rat hepatocytes cultures, whereas 4-ONE potently decreased the cell viability in a dose-dependent manner (5–20 μM, 23–69% inhibition). The TUNEL assay showed that 4-ONE causes apoptosis in the cells. 4-ONE also increased 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein-fluorescence intensity from 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein, an indicator of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Allopurinol, a xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitor, diminished the 4-ONE-induced increase in the 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein-fluorescence intensity and the decrease in viability, indicating the role of XO in mediating 4-ONE-induced cell death. These observations suggest that 4-ONE has the potential to induce liver cell death via XO-derived ROS generation.