The involvement of oxygen radicals in microbicidal mechanisms of leukocytes and macrophages

Phagocytic leukocytes generate large amounts of reactive oxygen compounds during and after phagocytosis of micro-organisms. These compounds are essential for the killing of a wide variety of microbes. The enzyme responsible for this process is NADPH:O2 oxidoreductase (NADPH oxidase), which utilizes the reduction equivalents of NADPH to reduce atmospheric oxygen to superoxide (O2-.). Subsequently, superoxide is converted by the leukocytes to other reactive compounds, such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and N-chloramines (RNCl). Each of these compounds has potent microbicidal properties. Under resting, non-phagocytizing conditions, phagocytes do not produce reactive oxygen compounds. However, within 15-30 sec after binding of micro-organisms to cell surface receptors, superoxide generation starts. This phenomenon is called the respiratory burst. This phenomenon is called the respiratory burst. The activation of the NADPH oxidase is caused by the assembly of components of this enzyme into an active complex. Under resting conditions, at least three components reside in the cytoplasm and at least two are located in the plasma membrane. Activation of the NADPH oxidase results in translocation of cytosolic components to the plasma membrane and formation of an active enzymatic complex in the plasma membrane.