Inhibition of redox cycling of methoxatin (PQQ), and of superoxide release by phagocytic white cells

The iodonium compounds diphenyleneiodonium and diphenyliodonium, and the amine compounds, 4,5-dimethyl phenylene diamine, N,N-dimethyl 1,4-phenylene diamine, 1,2-diamino-4,5-methyleneoxybenzene, and aminomalononitrile inhibit methoxatinʹs (PQQʹs) redox activity in vitro, that is, the methoxatin-coupled oxidation of glycine and reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium to formazan. The compounds mentioned above also inhibit phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulated superoxide release by phagocytic white cells—determined mainly as the superoxide dismutase sensitive reduction of ferricytochrome C. Related compounds, 3,4-diaminopyridine and 4-dimethylamino-benzylamine, did not inhibit redox activity of PQQ in vitro, nor did they inhibit PMA stimulated superoxide production in monocytes or neutrophils. Thus, there is a correlation between an agentʹs ability to inhibit PQQ redox cycling and its ability to inhibit superoxide release by phagocytes. The findings area further indication that PQQ is involved in the respiratory burst of phagocytic cells.