Title:Myeloperoxidase Inhibitors as Potential Drugs
Volume: 16
Issue: 3
Author(s): Tamara Lazarevic-Pasti, Andreja Leskovac and Vesna Vasic
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Atherosclerosis, cardiovascular, inflammation, inhibitors, myeloperoxidase, therapeutics.
Abstract: Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is an important member of the haem peroxidase - cyclooxygenase superfamily.
This enzyme is physiologically expressed in circulating neutrophils, monocytes and some tissue macrophages including
microglia. MPO plays an essential role in the antimicrobial and antiviral system of humans. The microbicidal
activity of MPO exists due to its capability to oxidize halide and pseudohalide ions (CI-, Br-, I- and SCN-) by
H2O2, thereby producing respective hypohalous acids (HOX). During the phagocytosis of pathogens, azurophilic
granules release their content together with MPO into phagolysosomes. On the other hand, MPO can be discharged
outside the phagocytes. Due to this, tissue damage during inflammation is greatly promoted by MPO-derived oxidants.
Regarding its activity, MPO is a key factor in a great number of conditions within the group of cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory
diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, kidney diseases and immune-mediated diseases. Therefore, MPO and its downstream inflammatory
pathways might be attractive targets for both prognostic and therapeutic intervention in the prophylaxis of all mentioned illnesses.
Nowadays, structure and reaction mechanism of MPO are known, which enable rational strategy in the development of specific MPO inhibitors
that still preserve MPO activity during host defense from bacteria, but hinder pathophysiologically persistent activation of MPO.
Various methods for MPO activity inhibition and unfavorable effects of MPO-derived oxidants remodeling will be discussed. Emphasis
will be put on various known inhibitors, as well as on newly investigated natural products, which can also inhibit MPO activity.
