Number of nitrate groups determines reactivity and potency of organic nitrates: a proof of concept study in ALDH-2−/− mice

Background and purpose: Mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH-2) has been shown to provide a pathway for bioactivation of organic nitrates and to be prone to desensitization in response to highly potent, but not to less potent, nitrates. We therefore sought to support the hypothesis that bioactivation by ALDH-2 critically depends on the number of nitrate groups within the nitrovasodilator. Experimental approach: Nitrates with one (PEMN), two (PEDN; GDN), three (PETriN; glyceryl trinitrate, GTN) and four (pentaerithrityl tetranitrate, PETN) nitrate groups were investigated. Vasodilatory potency was measured in isometric tension studies using isolated aortic segments of wild type (WT) an…

Anti-oxidative effects in response to pentaerithrityl tetranitrate (PETN) treatment are mediated by heme oxygenase-1 and ferritin induction and prevent the development of nitrate tolerance and cross-tolerance in vivo

P105. New findings on vasodilator potency, tachyphylaxis, and bioavailability of organic nitrates reveal: The tolerance-devoid clinical action of pentaerithrityl tetranitrate (PETN) is produced by its metabolites PEdiN and PEmonoN

Heme oxygenase-1: a novel key player in the development of tolerance in response to organic nitrates.

Objective— Nitrate tolerance is likely attributable to an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to an inhibition of the mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH-2), representing the nitroglycerin (GTN) and pentaerythrityl tetranitrate (PETN) bioactivating enzyme, and to impaired nitric oxide bioactivity and signaling. We tested whether differences in their capacity to induce heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) might explain why PETN and not GTN therapy is devoid of nitrate and cross-tolerance. Methods and Results— Wistar rats were treated with PETN or GTN (10.5 or 6.6 μg/kg/min for 4 days). In contrast to GTN, PETN did not induce nitrate tolerance or cross-tolerance as assess…