PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF CARNOSINE AGAINST MALONDIALDEHYDE-INDUCED TOXICITY TOWARDS CULTURED RAT-BRAIN ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS

Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a deleterious end-product of lipid peroxidati on. The naturally-occurring dipeptide carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidi ne) is found in brain and innervated tissues at concentrations up to 2 0 mM. Recent studies have shown that carnosine can protect proteins ag ainst cross-linking mediated by aldehyde-containing sugars and glycoly tic intermediates. Here we have investigated whether carnosine is prot ective against malondialdehyde-induced protein damage and cellular tox icity. The results show that carnosine can (1) protect cultured rat br ain endothelial cells against MDA-induced toxicity and (2) inhibit MDA -induced protein modification (formation of cross-links and carbonyl g roups). (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.