Protective effect of pyruvate upon cultured mesothelial cells exposed to 2mM hydrogen peroxide

Rat peritoneal mesothelial cells in culture have the capability of generati ng hydrogen peroxide, Exposure of these cells to glucose-enriched, lactated -buffered fluids for peritoneal dialysis significantly increases the produc tion of H2O2 increased liberation of oxygen radicals also involves the risk of damaging the peritoneal membrane. Pyruvate being a natural oxidant scav enger abundantly present in mammalian cells, we hypothesized that its prote ctive effects facing H2O2 can eventually be of relevance for the mesothelia l monolayer of patients on long-term peritoneal dialysis. So far, we design ed an experimental study in which rat peritoneal mesothelial cells in cultu re were exposed to 2 mM H2O2 Cell damage was estimated in terms of decrease d capability of the mitochondrial dehydrogenases to reduce MTT. Addition of 2 mM sodium pyruvate to the medium prevented the negative effect of hydrog en peroxide. The MTT/protein values for the control group were 0.00357 +/- 0.00075. The ratio after exposure to 2 mM H2O2 was 0.00217 +/- 0.00028, whe reas that detected in cells incubated in H2O2 plus pyruvate was 0.00325 +/- 0.0082 (p < 0.05). These results indicate that pyruvate protected rat peri toneal mesothelial cells in culture against oxidant injury. These data are one more piece of evidence pointing at pyruvate as a potentially useful buf fer for peritoneal dialysis solutions. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Bas el.