title: Effect of N-acetylcysteine on the oxidative burst induced by phagocytosis of bacteria in human leukocytes.
abstract: The basal peroxide production and the oxidative burst induced by phagocytosis of opsonized E. coli was studied by flow cytometry using dihydrorhodamine 123. The human leukocytes were incubated in the absence and presence of N-acetylcysteine. The oxidative response to the phagocytosis of bacteria differed among cell populations. Thus, 90% of granulocytes and 50% of monocytes showed an oxidative burst in response to opsonized bacteria while less than 1% of lymphocytes showed a fluorescence signal. N-Acetylcysteine (4.7, 9.5, 19, 38 or 76 mM) produced a dose-dependent inhibition of the oxidative response to phagocytosis in the three cellular populations reaching almost complete inhibition for 76 mM. This protective effect of N-acetylcysteine against oxidative stress in leukocytes was obtained without cytotoxicity (assessed by flow cytometry with staining with propidium iodide) or changes in the pH of the medium. These results give further support to the antioxidant effect of N-acetylcysteine in human peripheral blood cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Computense University of Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Colomé
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jordá
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Espinós
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bruseghini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esteras
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D000111:Acetylcysteine