Kinetics of superoxide production by stimulated neutrophils

Christopher D.V. Black*, John A. Cook, C. Murali Krishna, Dwight C. Kaufman, Angelo Russo, Amram Samuni, Harry L. Malech

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Oxygen-derived active species and superoxide radical in particular are generated and excreted upon granulocyte activation and are instrumental in host defense against bacterial and fungal infections. Associated with the activation of neutrophils is an apparent transitory oxy-radical production. Evidence from independent methods has previously suggested that radical production peaks shortly following neutrophil stimulation and decays within minutes. However, since neutrophil function in the body might reasonably be expected to last beyond the few minutes following stimulation, cessation of the production of oxy-radicals is unexpected. In an attempt to reconcile this discrepancy, the formation kinetics of superoxide by stimulated human neutrophils was reinvestigated by three independent methods: electron spin resonance, chemiluminescence, and ferricytochrome c reduction. The present results demonstrate that under appropriate experimental conditions stimulated neutrophils have the capacity to produce superoxide for several hours. The reasons for the previously reported "apparent" ephemeral nature of oxy-radical formation are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)126-131
Number of pages6
JournalArchives of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Volume286
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1991

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