Complex I dysfunction and tolerance to nitroglycerin: an approach based on mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants.

Nitroglycerin (GTN) tolerance was induced in vivo (rats) and in vitro (rat and human vessels). Electrochemical detection revealed that the incubation dose of GTN (5x10(-6) mol/L) did not release NO or modify O(2) consumption when administered acutely. However, development of tolerance produced a decrease in both mitochondrial O(2) consumption and the K(m) for O(2) in animal and human vessels and endothelial cells in a noncompetitive action. GTN tolerance has been associated with impairment of GTN biotransformation through inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)-2, and with uncoupling of mitochondrial respiration. Feeding rats with mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants (mitoquinone [MQ]) and in vitro coincubation with MQ (10(-6) mol/L) or glutathione (GSH) ester (10(-4) mol/L) prevented tolerance and the effects of GTN on mitochondrial respiration and ALDH-2 activity. Biotransformation of GTN requires functionally active mitochondria and induces reactive oxygen species production and oxidative stress within this organelle, as it is inhibited by mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants and is absent in HUVECrho(0) cells. Experiments analyzing complex I-dependent respiration demonstrate that its inhibition by GTN is prevented by mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants. Furthermore, in presence of succinate (10x10(-3) mol/L), a complex II electron donor added to bypass complex I-dependent respiration, GTN-treated cells exhibited O(2) consumption rates similar to those of controls, thus suggesting that complex I was affected by GTN. We propose that, following prolonged treatment with GTN in addition to ALDH-2, complex I is a target for mitochondrially generated reactive oxygen species. Our data also suggest a role for mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants as therapeutic tools in the control of the tolerance that accompanies chronic nitrate use.