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Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in polymorphonuclear leucocytes

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Abstract

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) protect aerobic organisms against the toxic superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, which are generated during phagocytosis by polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs). PMNs of children with bacterial infections and with infectious hepatitis contained significantly elevated SOD activity, whereas GPX activity remained in the normal range. In contrast, PMNs of children with viral infections and rheumatoid arthritis exhibited a decreased SOD activity, while GPX activity was again unchanged. The children's age, sex or treatment did not effect the enzyme activities in PMNs. Since SOD generates bactericidal hydrogen peroxide and regulates the release of the toxic superoxide radical into the surrounding tissues, this study may add new understanding to the pathophysiological aspects of acute and chronic inflammatory processes.

Zusammenfassung

Superoxid-Dismutase (SOD) und Gluthathion-Peroxidase (GPX) schützen den aeroben Organismus vor den toxischen Sauerstoffmetaboliten Superoxid-Radical und Wasserstoffsuperoxid, die von Granulocyten während der Phagocytose gebildet werden. Granulocyten von Kindern mit bakteriellen Infekten oder infektiöser Hepatitis enthielten signifikant erhöhte SOD-Aktivitäten, während die GPX-Aktivitäten im normalen Bereich blieben. Im Gegensatz dazu führten virale Infekte oder rheumatoide Arthritiden in kindlichen Granulocyten zu einer verringerten SOD-Aktivität, veränderten jedoch auch in diesen Fällen nicht die GPX-Aktivität. Weder Alter noch Geschlecht oder Therapie der Kinder beeinflußten die Enzymaktivitäten in den Granulocyten. Da SOD das bakterizide Wasserstoffsuperoxid bildet und die Abgabe des toxischen Superoxid-Radicals in das umgebende Gewebe reguliert, stellen die Ergebnisse neue Aspekte zum pathophysiologischen Verständnis akuter und chronischer Entzündungsprozesse dar.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Children's Hospital, University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 9, D-5000, Cologne, Federal Republic of Germany

    M. Rister, K. Bauermeister, U. Gravert & E. Gladtke

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  1. M. Rister
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  2. K. Bauermeister
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  3. U. Gravert
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  4. E. Gladtke
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Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Ri 275/2)

This study contains data of a thesis submitted as part of the requirement for an M.D.

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Rister, M., Bauermeister, K., Gravert, U. et al. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in polymorphonuclear leucocytes. Eur J Pediatr 130, 127–136 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00442349

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