The inhibition of lactoperoxidase catalytic activity through mesna (2-mercaptoethane sodium sulfonate)

Here, we show that mesna (sodium-2-mercaptoethane sulfonate), primarily used to prevent nephrotoxicity and urinary tract toxicity caused by chemotherapeutic agents such as cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide, modulates the catalytic activity of lactoperoxidase (LPO) by binding tightly to the enzyme, functioning either as a one electron substrate for LPO Compounds I and II, destabilizing Compound III. Lactoperoxidase is a hemoprotein that utilizes hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and thiocyanate (SCN−) to produce hypothiocyanous acid (HOSCN), an antimicrobial agent also thought to be associated with carcinogenesis. Our results revealed that mesna binds stably to LPO within the SCN− binding site, dependent of the heme iron moiety, and its combination with LPO-Fe(III) is associated with a disturbance in the water molecule network in the heme cavity. At low concentrations, mesna accelerated the formation and decay of LPO compound II via its ability to serve as a one electron substrate for LPO compounds I and II. At higher concentrations, mesna also accelerated the formation of Compound II but it decays to LPO-Fe(III) directly or through the formation of an intermediate, Compound I*, that displays characteristic spectrum similar to that of LPO Compound I. Mesna inhibits LPO's halogenation activity (IC50 value of 9.08 μM) by switching the reaction from a 2e− to a 1e− pathway, allowing the enzyme to function with significant peroxidase activity (conversion of H2O2 to H2O without generation of HOSCN). Collectively, mesna interaction with LPO may serve as a potential mechanism for modulating its steady-state catalysis, impacting the regulation of local inflammatory and infectious events.