The Antioxidant Properties of Glucosinolates in Cardiac Cells Are Independent of H 2 S Signaling.

The organic sulfur-containing compounds glucosinolates (GSLs) and the novel gasotransmitter H 2 S are known to have cardioprotective effects. This study investigated the antioxidant effects and H 2 S-releasing potential of three GSLs ((3 E )-4-(methylsulfanyl)but-3-enyl GSL or glucoraphasatin, 4-hydroxybenzyl GSL or glucosinalbin, and ( R S )-6-(methylsulfinyl)hexyl GSL or glucohesperin) in rat cardiac cells. It was found that all three GSLs had no effect on cardiac cell viability but were able to protect against H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative stress and cell death. NaHS, a H 2 S donor, also protected the cells from H 2 O 2 -stimulated oxidative stress and cell death. The GSLs alone or mixed with cysteine, N -acetylcysteine, glutathione, H 2 O 2 , iron and pyridoxal-5'-phosphate, or mouse liver lysates did not induce H 2 S release. The addition of GSLs also did not alter endogenous H 2 S levels in cardiac cells. H 2 O 2 significantly induced cysteine oxidation in the cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE) protein and inhibited the H 2 S production rate. In conclusion, this study found that the three tested GSLs protect cardiomyocytes from oxidative stress and cell death but independently of H 2 S signaling.