Styrene oxidation to styrene oxide in human blood erythrocytes and lymphocytes

Human erythrocytes and lymphocytes catalyzed styrene oxidation to styrene oxide. The erythrocyte catalyzed reaction was inhibited by CO, occurred in the absence of NADPH and NADH and was undetectable in the absence of O2 and with erythrocyte membranes. Lymphocyte catalyzed styrene oxide formation required the addition of cofactors and these cells showed 6 times the activity of erythrocytes with a 4 times lower styrene concentration. Although lymphocytes appear to be more active than red blood cells in styrene oxidation, their contribution to styrene metabolism in whole blood seems extremely small.