Turning on the respiratory burst.
The respiratory burst is a distinguishing property of phagocytes. It is induced by chemotactic stimulation or phagocytosis and reflects the activation of a membrane-bound enzyme system that transfers electrons from cytosolic NADPH to extracellular oxygen, producing superoxide. The products of the burst are essential for the killing of microorganisms, but are also a cause of tissue damage and inflammation. Studies aimed at a better understanding of the regulation of the respiratory burst should help in the search for new ways to treat infections and inflammation.
Baggiolini
M
M
Theodor-Kocher Institute, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Wymann
M P
MP
D000818:Animals; D004579:Electron Transport; D006801:Humans; D009247:NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D009249:NADP / Q000378:metabolism; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D009249:NADP; D009247:NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases; D019255:NADPH Oxidases