A comparison of superoxide production by human eosinophils and neutrophils

Previous studies have demonstrated that human eosinophils have a more active hexose monophosphate shunt than neutrophils. However, measurements of superoxide anion production have been variable. In this study human eosinophils are shown to produce one and a half times as much superoxide as neutrophils during a 2-h incubation. The rates of production differed only after the first 30 min of incubation. The production was inhibited by superoxide dismutase in a dose-responsive manner.