Inhibition of arylsulfatase B by ascorbic acid.

One hypothesis for atherosclerotic lesion formation is the response to injury hypothesis. If catabolism of the ground substance of the intima of blood vessels is viewed as an injury, then inhibition of this catabolism could lead to a decrease in atherosclerotic lesions. Arylsulfatase B catalyses the desulfation of glycosaminoglycans in the catabolism of the intimal ground substance. We have found that ascorbic acid inhibits arylsulfatase B (Km = 2.06 mM, KI = 4.89 mM), thus providing a possible mechanism by which ascorbic acid may decrease atherosclerosis.