S-Adenosylmethionine Promotes Oxidative Stress and Decreases Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase Activity in Cerebral Cortex Supernatants of Adolescent Rats: Implications for the Pathogenesis of S-Adenosylhomocysteine Hydrolase Deficiency.

S-Adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) concentrations are highly elevated in tissues and biological fluids of patients affected by S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase deficiency, who are clinically characterized by cerebral symptoms whose pathogenesis is still unknown. In the present work, we investigated the effects of AdoMet on redox homeostasis and on the activity of Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase in the cerebral cortex of young rats. AdoMet caused lipid peroxidation (increase of malondialdehyde concentrations) and protein oxidation (increase of carbonyl formation and decrease of sulfhydryl content). AdoMet also reduced the antioxidant defenses (reduced glutathione, GSH) and Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity. Furthermore, AdoMet-induced lipid peroxidation was fully prevented by the antioxidants trolox, melatonin, and resveratrol, and the decrease of GSH concentrations was abolished by trolox, suggesting the involvement of reactive oxygen species in these effects. In this context, AdoMet induced reactive oxygen (increase of 2',7'-dichloroflurescein-DCFH oxidation) but not nitrogen (nitrate and nitrite levels) species generation. Finally, the decrease of Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity provoked by AdoMet was totally prevented by trolox, implying a possible oxidation of cysteine groups of the enzyme that are critical for its function and highly susceptible to oxidative attack. It is also noted that adenosine and methionine did not alter the parameters evaluated, suggesting selective effects of AdoMet. Our data strongly indicate that disturbance of redox homeostasis caused by a major metabolite (AdoMet) accumulating in S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase deficiency may represent a deleterious mechanism of brain damage in this disease. Finally, reduction of Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity provoked by AdoMet may lead to impaired neurotransmission, but disturbance of this system should be better clarified in future studies.

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