title: [Oxygen free radicals and inflammatory diseases of intestines].
abstract: Free oxygen radicals (F.O.R.) belong to a very aggressive chemical species derived from molecular oxygen. Their role in inflammation is well established and Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNS) make use of them as antibacterial weapons. Their role has been experimentally demonstrated in numerous ischemia-reperfusion models. Free radical scavengers such as the superoxide dismutase, allopurinol or desferrioxamine can prevent the occurrence of lesions. The essential role of PMNS in these models is demonstrated by the fact that previous depletion of the animal in PMNS also prevents such lesions. Histologically, in these ischemia-reperfusion models, PMNS infiltration may be quantified by assay of myeloperoxidase. In experimental models of inflammatory colitis (acetic acid, bacterial polysaccharides) intestinal wall infiltration by PMNS is a fundamental phenomenon and is also a characteristic of Crohn's disease and exacerbations of Ulcerative Colitis. Thus, it is probable in both disorders that F.O.R. play an important role since steroids inhibit their secretion by PMNS and 5-aminosalicylic acid has been shown to be a F.O.R. scavenger.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Interne, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Emerit
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Droy-Lefaix
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Likforman
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Diemert
mesh_terms: D005609:Free Radicals; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D013481:Superoxides; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D010100:Oxygen
vernacular_title: Les radicaux libres oxygénés (RLO) et maladies inflammatoires de l'intestin (MII).