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Oxygen metabolism in phagocytes of leprotic patients: enhanced endogenous superoxide dismutase activity and hydroxyl radical generation by clofazimine.

Authors :
Niwa Y
Sakane T
Miyachi Y
Ozaki M
Source :
Journal of clinical microbiology [J Clin Microbiol] 1984 Nov; Vol. 20 (5), pp. 837-42.
Publication Year :
1984

Abstract

We examined the generation of active oxygens (O2-, H2O2, and OH X ) and the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and monocytes from 14 leprotic patients manifesting a bacillary index above 2.2. Patients with disease of more than 4 years in duration showed significantly enhanced SOD activity and a decrease in O2- and OH X production. The antileprotic agent, clofazimine, significantly increased the generation of OH X in a dose-dependent manner, with a subsequent decrease in H2O2, but had no effect on the SOD activity of the PMNs and monocytes. In medium containing FeSO4 or Fe2+-EDTA, the drug elevated OH X production markedly further. Phagocytic SOD in PMNs and monocytes of leprotic patients was both host and bacillus derived, because the presence of cyanide, to which human-derived cuprozinc SOD is susceptible, did not completely abrogate SOD activity. The difficulty in treating leprosy may be partly ascribable to decreased phagocytic OH X generation, which in leprosy patients is apparently due to the uptake of Hansen bacillus-derived SOD. Clofazimine may be effective in leprosy by chelating Fe2+, with the resultant potentiation of the catalyzing activity of Fe2+ in the Haber-Weiss reaction increasing OH X formation from H2O2.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0095-1137
Volume :
20
Issue :
5
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Journal of clinical microbiology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
6096396
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.20.5.837-842.1984