Role of Active Oxygen Species in the Toxic Effects of Glucosone on Mammalian Cells

Abstract

Glucosone (D-arabino-hexos-2-ulose), a typical enediol prod-uct formed both in the Maillard reaction and γ-radiolysis of sugars, decreased survival of Chinese hamster lung V79 cells, which were in-cubated under MEM for 4 h. Inhibition of the decrease in cell servival by catalase and SOD suggests the role of active oxygen species, namely H₂O₂ and O₂²⁺, in the biological effects of glucosone. H₂O₂ was formed in the medium during oxidative degradation of glucosone. Inhibition of the formation of H₂O₂ by SOD indicates that the formation of H₂O₂ and the consequent decrease of the cell survival was enhanced by O₂^-. These results suggest that the mechanisms of the effects of glucosone on the mammalian cells in the absence of Cu²⁺ are different from those in the presence of Cu²⁺.