[Chemiluminescence in a stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes--luminol system: suppression by thiols]

The effect of some scavengers of thiol nature, which eliminate all reactive oxygen species and oxidants with reactive chlorine, on the luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes was studied. The use of two scavengers of this type (penetrating and not penetrating into the cell) made it possible to separate the luminescence of cell structures from the luminescence generated by oxidants in the surrounding medium. It was found that about a half of luminol luminescence is due to its oxidation in the medium surrounding the cell, and it is completely inhibited by the nonpenetrating reduced glutathione. The cell itself is a source of a considerable portion of luminescence, and this luminescence is quenched by penetrating sulfhydryl compounds such as dithiothreitol and N-acethyl cysteine. Reduced glutathione, which penetrates into cells and whose action is due only to the sulfhydryl group, is recommended as a candidate for the selective neutralization of extracellular oxidants.