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Hydroxyl radical scavengers inhibit human natural killer cell activity

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Abstract

As natural killer (NK) cell activity is an essential constituent of host defence systems1 and reactive oxygen intermediates participate in such defence2–4, the effect of scavengers of oxygen radicals on NK cell activity was investigated. Hydroxyl radical (OH·) scavengers5 (dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), thiourea, dimethylurea, tetramethylurea, benzoic acid, ethanol, methanol and ethylene glycol) inhibited NK cell activity. Catalase, a scavenger of H2O2, and Superoxide dismutase (SOD), a scavenger of O−2, either alone or in combination, did not inhibit NK cell activity. Inhibition of the lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism, a potential source of cellular OH·, with nordihydroguaiaretic acid6 and 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA)7 resulted in marked inhibition of NK cell activity. Inhibition of the cyclooxygenase pathway7,8 with acetylsalicylic acid or indomethacin had minimal effects on NK cell activity. Taken together, these findings suggest that OH·, possibly generated via the lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism, is critical for NK cell cytotoxicity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Biochemistry and Medicine, The Rogosin Kidney Center, Cornell University Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10021, USA

    Manikkam Suthanthiran, Scott D. Solomon, Perry S. Williams, Albert L. Rubin, Abraham Novogrodsky & Kurt H. Stenzel

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  1. Manikkam Suthanthiran
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  2. Scott D. Solomon
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  3. Perry S. Williams
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  4. Albert L. Rubin
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  5. Abraham Novogrodsky
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  6. Kurt H. Stenzel
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Suthanthiran, M., Solomon, S., Williams, P. et al. Hydroxyl radical scavengers inhibit human natural killer cell activity. Nature 307, 276–278 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/307276a0

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