Adverse effects of the classic antioxidant uric acid in adipocytes: NADPH oxidase-mediated oxidative/nitrosative stress

Uric acid is considered a major antioxidant in human blood that may protect against aging and oxidative stress. Despite its proposed protective properties, elevated levels of uric acid are commonly associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease and mortality. Furthermore, recent experimental studies suggest that uric acid may have a causal role in hypertension and metabolic syndrome. All these conditions are thought to be mediated by oxidative stress. In this study we demonstrate that differentiation of cultured mouse adipocytes is associated with increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and uptake of uric acid. Soluble uric acid stimulated an increase in NADPH oxidase activity and ROS…