Study On The Respiratory Burst Of Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes And The Related Factors In Patients With Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency (ID) results in impairments of immune function, particularly in respect to cell-mediated immunity and the ability of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) to kill ingested bacteria. The PMN is of particular interest with respect to ID, since the cell has many iron-containing constituents. The bactericidal mechanism of PMN involves a reaction that is accompanied with a sudden increase in oxygen consumption (respiratory burst) and production of reactive species. Two key enzymes, NADPH oxidase and myeloperoxidase ( MPO ) are crucial in this reaction. N ADPH oxidase and MPO are iron dependent. Iron bound to lactoferrin (LF) participates in promotion of hydroxyl radical ( · OH) production (Haber-Weiss reaction). · OH is a potent bactericidal agent. Although the respiratory burst of PMN has been found to be impaired in the presence of ID in tissue, details are not well defined. The change of MPO activity and LF contents in ID also remains unclear. Results so far obtained are controversial. For this reason, we try to determine the generation of superoxide(O₂(?)) and · OH directly by electron spin resonance (ESR) techniques. At the same time, the MPO activity, serum and...