Ammonium tetrathiomolybdate following ischemia/reperfusion injury: Chemistry, pharmacology, and impact of a new class of sulfide donor in preclinical injury models

A. Dyson, Felipe Dal-Pizzol, Giovanni Sabbatini, A. Lach, Juliano dos Santos Cardoso, Bruna Pescador Mendonca, Iain Hargreaves, Bernardo Bollen Pinto, Daniel Bromage, J Martin, K Moore, Martin Feelisch, Mervyn Singer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

50 Citations (Scopus)
181 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background
Early revascularization of ischemic organs is key to improving outcomes, yet consequent reperfusion injury may be harmful. Reperfusion injury is largely attributed to excess mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Sulfide inhibits mitochondria and reduces ROS production. Ammonium tetrathiomolybdate (ATTM), a copper chelator, releases sulfide in a controlled and novel manner, and may offer potential therapeutic utility.

Methods and findings
In vitro, ATTM releases sulfide in a time-, pH-, temperature-, and thiol-dependent manner. Controlled sulfide release from ATTM reduces metabolism (measured as oxygen consumption) both in vivo in awake rats and ex vivo in skeletal muscle tissue, with a superior safety profile compared to standard sulfide generators. Given intravenously at reperfusion/resuscitation to rats, ATTM significantly reduced infarct size following either myocardial or cerebral ischemia, and conferred survival benefit following severe hemorrhage. Mechanistic studies (in vitro anoxia/reoxygenation) demonstrated a mitochondrial site of action (decreased MitoSOX fluorescence), where the majority of damaging ROS is produced.

Conclusions
The inorganic thiometallate ATTM represents a new class of sulfide-releasing drugs. Our findings provide impetus for further investigation of this compound as a novel adjunct therapy for reperfusion injury.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere1002310
Number of pages24
JournalPLoS Medicine
Volume14
Issue number7
Early online date5 Jul 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 Jul 2017

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