Abstract
Phagocytes undergo a sharp burst of oxygen consumption when engulfing bacteria. This oxygen is enzymatically reduced to toxic metabolites which are essential to the bactericidal action of the cell. Oxygen metabolites formed in this burst as well as other intermediates formed in biological reduction reactions do not selectively reserve their toxicity for microorganisms. Cells help to guard their organelles against the toxic effects of oxygen by producing intracellular enzymes such as superoxide dismutase. Though superoxide dismutase is found in relatively high concentrations inside cells, there are only small amounts in extracellular fluids. This may account for some of the local tissue damage surrounding aggregates of neutrophils in inflammatory reactions. A pharmacological preparation of superoxide dismutase has shown efficacy in preventing some of the pathological changes seen in degenerative arthritis.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 7-14 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Veterinary Clinical Pathology |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1983 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Nicotinamide‐Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate [NAD(P)H]‐dependent oxidase
- hydrogen peroxide
- hydroxyl radical
- orgotein.
- oxygen toxicity
- phagocytes
- respiratory burst
- superoxide dismutase
- superoxide radical
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Veterinary