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Reactive oxygen metabolites

Reactive oxygen metabolites or species refer to molecules containing an oxygen atom with a partially empty outermost electron shell, these oxygen atoms are highly reactive and result in damage to other adjacent molecules. Such metabolites include the superoxide anion radical, hydroperoxyl radical, hurdoxly radical, hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorous acid.

In parynchymal and endothelial cells xanthine oxidase is the main enzyme responsible for the generataion of free oxygen radicals, whilst in leucocytes NADPH oxidase is responsible.


\begin{displaymath}Hypoxanthine \; \stackrel{\rm Xanthine \: Oxidase}{\longrightarrow} \; O^.\end{displaymath}


\begin{displaymath}O_2 \stackrel{\rm NADPH \: Oxidase}{\longrightarrow} Superoxide^.\end{displaymath}

Oxygen free radicals produced from xanthine oxidase have a very short half life (seconds). Thus when the hypoxanthine substrate is exhausted generation of free radicals by xanthine oxidase ceases. In neutrophils production of oxygen fee radicals is unlimited provided $O_2$ is available.

Production of oxygen free radicals in ischemia-reperfusion injury has been shown using electron spin resonance spectroscopy and trapping. By products of the produciton of oxygen free radicals such as peroxidated lipids are indirect evidence of the previous production of oxygen free radicals. Changes similar to those seen in ischemia-reperfusion injury have been seen on exposure of the tissues to oxygen free radicals. Treatment of tissues with agents that limit the production of oxygen free radicals (xanthine oxidase inhibitors such as allopurinol) or that scavange generated oxygen free radicals (superoxide dimutase, catalase, taurine and dimethly sulfoxide) attenuates ischemia-reperfusion injury.

The mechanism of injury of oxygen free radicals is felt to be due to rapid reactions of the free radicals with other molecules resulting in, DNA nicking, lipid membrare peroxidation, crosslinking and degredation of proteins. Radicals also result in attraction and activation of inflammatory cells and increased expression of CD11/CD18 ($\beta _2$ integrins) on the surface of lecocytes, P-selectin and ICAM-1 on endothelial cells, thereby promoting leucoctye adhesion and transmigration.


next up previous index
Next: Activated leucocyte Up: Ischaemia-reperfusion injury Previous: Ischaemia-reperfusion injury   Index
Adrian P. Ireland