Procysteine

Procysteine is a prodrug form of cysteine that is metabolized to cysteine intracellularly and has antioxidant activity.^1,2 It reduces TNF-α-induced increases in the expression of IL-6 and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) in ARPE-19 human retinal pigment epithelial cells when used at a concentration of 0.5 mM.³ Procysteine (6.5 mmol/kg) also increases liver glutathione (GSH) levels in fasted, but not fed, mice.¹ It reduces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and decreases plasma extravasation in the lungs, as well as reverses decreases in the levels of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α) in a mouse model of allergic asthma when administered at doses of 80 and 160 mg/kg.²

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1. Williamson, J.M., and Meister, A. Stimulation of hepatic glutathione formation by administration of L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate, a 5-oxo-L-prolinase substrate. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78(2), 936-939 (1981).

2. Lee, K.S., Park, H.S., Park, S.J., et al. A prodrug of cysteine, L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, regulates vascular permeability by reducing vascular endothelial growth factor expression in asthma. Mol. Pharmacol. 68(5), 1281-1290 (2005).

3. Promsote, W., Veeranan-Karmegam, R., Ananth, S., et al. L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid attenuates oxidative stress and inflammation in retinal pigment epithelium. Mol. Vis. 20, 73-88 (2014).