A hypothesis for the mechanism of superoxide production by phagocytic cells.
When arachidonic acid is reacted with Fe2+, the Fe2+ is oxidized to Fe3+, and lipid peroxides are formed as detected by absorption at 232 nm. However, there is a large discrepancy between the amount of arachidonic acid converted to stable oxidized products and the amount of Fe2+ converted to Fe3+. We suggest that under appropriate conditions, electrons from the ferrous iron may reduce oxygen to superoxide in the presence of arachidonic acid. The results are consistent with evidence using bromophenacyl-bromide suggesting that release of fatty acids from cell phospholipids might be required for phagocytes to synthesize superoxide.
D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000097:blood; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000097:blood; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000097:blood; D008954:Models, Biological; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium / Q000378:metabolism; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D013481:Superoxides / Q000097:blood*
D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D013481:Superoxides; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium; D010100:Oxygen