The neuronal toxicity of sulfite plus peroxynitrite is enhancede by glutathione depletion: implications for Parkinson’s disease

In Parkinson’s disease (PD) and incidental Lewy body disease glutathione levels in the substantia nigra are decreased by 40–50%. Both peroxynitrite (ONOO−) and alterations in the metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids have been implicated in PD and we have previously shown that sulfite and ONOO− exert synergistic toxicity to a neuronal cell line. This article presents data to show that this synergistic toxicity of sulfite and ONOO− is greatly enhanced by 50% depletion of cellular glutathione levels. The toxicity of sulfite is also slightly enhanced. Neurones with decreased glutathione may be at increased risk from sulfite and especially from the synergistic damaging effects of ONOO− and sulfite. Because sulfite is present normally in the brain as a product of cysteine metabolism, and because increased ONOO− formation has been reported in PD, these events might contribute to neuronal cell death.