Role of oxygen reactive species in egg-induced granulomatous inflammation

Abstract

The role of oxygen reactive species in granulomatous hypersensitivity was explored using a model of pulmonary granulomas induced by intravenous injection of eggs from the parasite . Macrophages from sychronously developing lesions spontaneously released significant quantities of superoxide anion (26 nmoles/106/2h) by 8 days of development. In contrast, the non-T cell foreign body (Sephadex bead) granuloma macrophages produced only (2 nmoles/106/2h) small quantities.Daily administration of the oxygen scavenger, [alpha]-tocopherol, by either oral or parenteral routes caused up to 60% suppression of granuloma size. Moreover, parenteral administration of specific inactivators of O2- and H2O2, superoxide dismutase and catalase respectively, resulted in a 30 to 40% reduction in granuloma size. These data suggest that oxygen reactive species take part in the generation of hypersensitivity granulomas.