The protective effects of dihydrolipoamide and glutathione against photodynamic damage by Al-phtalocyanine tetrasulfonate.

In spite of well-known ability of lipoamide/dihydrolipoamide (LipS2NH2/Lip(SH)2NH2) and oxidized/reduced glutathione (GSSG/GSH) couples to scavenge singlet oxygen (1O2), the possible protective effects of these compounds against photodynamical damage by Alphtalocyanine tetrasulfonate (Al-PcS4) were examined. Using erythrocyte glutathione reductase, pig heart lipoamide dehydrogenase and hamster kidney fibroblast culture as model systems, we have found that protective effects of Lip(SH)2NH2 and LipS2NH2 were close to that of azide, far exceeding the effects of GSH and GSSG, and paralleling the rates of Al-PcS4-sensitized photooxidation of these compounds. We have failed to observe a previously described (Devasagayam, T.P.A., et al. (1991) Biochim Biophys. Acta 1088, 409-412) enhancement of damaging action of 1O2 by GSH. These findings point out to the possibility of LipS2NH2/Lip(SH)2NH2 to neutralize the side-effects of photodynamic therapy, and to a minor but definitely protective role of GSH.