Skip to main content
PMC home page
Biochemical Journal logoLink to Biochemical Journal
. 1981 Jul 15;198(1):125–131. doi: 10.1042/bj1980125

Hydroxyl radical production in body fluids. Roles of metal ions, ascorbate and superoxide.

C C Winterbourn
PMCID: PMC1163218  PMID: 6275837

Abstract

Hydroxyl radical production, detected by ethylene formation from methional, has been investigated in plasma, lymph and synovial fluid. In the presence of added iron--EDTA, addition of either H2O2 or xanthine and xanthine oxidase gave rise to hydroxyl radical formation that in most cases was not superoxide-dependent. The ascorbate already present in the fluid appeared to participate in the reaction. In the absence of added catalyst, the reaction was hardly detectable, the rate being less than 5% of that observed with 1 microM-iron--EDTA added. This implies that the fluids had little if any capacity to catalyse hydroxyl radical production via this mechanism.

Full text

PDF
125

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Beauchamp C., Fridovich I. A mechanism for the production of ethylene from methional. The generation of the hydroxyl radical by xanthine oxidase. J Biol Chem. 1970 Sep 25;245(18):4641–4646. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Cox B. D., Whichelow M. J. The measurement of dehydroascorbic acid and diketogulonic acid in normal and diabetic plasma. Biochem Med. 1975 Feb;12(2):183–193. doi: 10.1016/0006-2944(75)90110-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Fridovich I. Superoxide dismutases. Annu Rev Biochem. 1975;44:147–159. doi: 10.1146/annurev.bi.44.070175.001051. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Green M. R., Hill H. A., Okolow-Zubkowska M. J., Segal A. W. The production of hydroxyl and superoxide radicals by stimulated human neutrophils- measurements by EPR spectroscopy. FEBS Lett. 1979 Apr 1;100(1):23–26. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(79)81123-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Greenwald R. A., Moy W. W. Effect of oxygen-derived free radicals on hyaluronic acid. Arthritis Rheum. 1980 Apr;23(4):455–463. doi: 10.1002/art.1780230408. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Halliwell B. An attempt to demonstrate a reaction between superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. FEBS Lett. 1976 Dec 15;72(1):8–10. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(76)80801-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Halliwell B. Biochemical mechanisms accounting for the toxic action of oxygen on living organisms: the key role of superoxide dismutase. Cell Biol Int Rep. 1978 Mar;2(2):113–128. doi: 10.1016/0309-1651(78)90032-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Halliwell B. Superoxide-dependent formation of hydroxyl radicals in the presence of iron salts. Its role in degradation of hyaluronic acid by a superoxide-generating system. FEBS Lett. 1978 Dec 15;96(2):238–242. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(78)80409-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Hassan H. M., Fridovich I. Enzymatic defenses against the toxicity of oxygen and of streptonigrin in Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol. 1977 Mar;129(3):1574–1583. doi: 10.1128/jb.129.3.1574-1583.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Heikkila R. E., Winston B., Cohen G. Alloxan-induced diabetes-evidence for hydroxyl radical as a cytotoxic intermediate. Biochem Pharmacol. 1976 May 1;25(9):1085–1092. doi: 10.1016/0006-2952(76)90502-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Hershko C., Graham G., Bates G. W., Rachmilewitz E. A. Non-specific serum iron in thalassaemia: an abnormal serum iron fraction of potential toxicity. Br J Haematol. 1978 Oct;40(2):255–263. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1978.tb03662.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Jacobs A. Low molecular weight intracellular iron transport compounds. Blood. 1977 Sep;50(3):433–439. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Johnston R. B., Jr, Lehmeyer J. E. Elaboration of toxic oxygen by-products by neutrophils in a model of immune complex disease. J Clin Invest. 1976 Apr;57(4):836–841. doi: 10.1172/JCI108359. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Kellogg E. W., 3rd, Fridovich I. Liposome oxidation and erythrocyte lysis by enzymically generated superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. J Biol Chem. 1977 Oct 10;252(19):6721–6728. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. McCall C. E., DeChatelet L. R., Cooper M. R., Ashburn P. The effects of ascorbic acid on bactericidal mechanisms of neutrophils. J Infect Dis. 1971 Aug;124(2):194–198. doi: 10.1093/infdis/124.2.194. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. McCord J. M., Day E. D., Jr Superoxide-dependent production of hydroxyl radical catalyzed by iron-EDTA complex. FEBS Lett. 1978 Feb 1;86(1):139–142. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(78)80116-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. McCord J. M. Free radicals and inflammation: protection of synovial fluid by superoxide dismutase. Science. 1974 Aug 9;185(4150):529–531. doi: 10.1126/science.185.4150.529. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. McCord J. M., Keele B. B., Jr, Fridovich I. An enzyme-based theory of obligate anaerobiosis: the physiological function of superoxide dismutase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1971 May;68(5):1024–1027. doi: 10.1073/pnas.68.5.1024. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Miller T. E. Killing and lysis of gram-negative bacteria through the synergistic effect of hydrogen peroxide, ascorbic acid, and lysozyme. J Bacteriol. 1969 Jun;98(3):949–955. doi: 10.1128/jb.98.3.949-955.1969. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Pryor W. A., Tang R. H. Ethylene formation from methional. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1978 Mar 30;81(2):498–503. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(78)91562-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Querinjean P., Masson P. L., Heremans J. F. Molecular weight, single-chain structure and amino acid composition of human lactoferrin. Eur J Biochem. 1971 Jun 11;20(3):420–425. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1971.tb01408.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Rigo A., Stevanato R., Finazzi-Agro A., Rotilio G. An attempt to evaluate the rate of the Haber-Weiss reaction by using OH radical scavengers. FEBS Lett. 1977 Aug 1;80(1):130–132. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(77)80422-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Tauber A. I., Gabig T. G., Babior B. M. Evidence for production of oxidizing radicals by the particulate O-2-forming system from human neutrophils. Blood. 1979 Apr;53(4):666–676. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. UDENFRIEND S., CLARK C. T., AXELROD J., BRODIE B. B. Ascorbic acid in aromatic hydroxylation. I. A model system for aromatic hydroxylation. J Biol Chem. 1954 Jun;208(2):731–739. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Weiss S. J., Rustagi P. K., LoBuglio A. F. Human granulocyte generation of hydroxyl radical. J Exp Med. 1978 Feb 1;147(2):316–323. doi: 10.1084/jem.147.2.316. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Winterbourn C. C. Comparison of superoxide with other reducing agents in the biological production of hydroxyl radicals. Biochem J. 1979 Aug 15;182(2):625–628. doi: 10.1042/bj1820625. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Winterbourn C. C., McGrath B. M., Carrell R. W. Reactions involving superoxide and normal and unstable haemoglobins. Biochem J. 1976 Jun 1;155(3):493–502. doi: 10.1042/bj1550493. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Biochemical Journal are provided here courtesy of The Biochemical Society

RESOURCES