Effect of NMDA on production of reactive oxygen species by human lymphocytes

Low concentrations (<20 microM) of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), an agonist of specific receptors of brain glutamatergic systems, promote the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) both in the whole blood and in lymphocyte fraction. Further increase in NMDA concentrations led to progressive increase in ROS content in the whole blood, but to its decrease in lymphocyte suspension. The activating effect of NMDA is abolished by antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (5 mM) and NMDA-type glutamate receptor antagonist MK-801 (5 microM). Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA, 1 microM) also increased ROS content in the examined structures. This effect was antagonized by N-acetylcysteine, but not MK-801.