Affiliations: Free Radical Research, Department of Pathology,
Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Christchurch, New
Zealand
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr Christine Winterbourn, Department
of Pathology, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, P.O. Box
4345, Christchurch, New Zealand. Tel.: +64 3 3640 577; Fax: +64 3 3641 083;
E-mail: christine.winterbourn@chmeds.ac.nz
Abstract: Recently, it was proposed that neutrophils generate ozone. Evidence
for the proposal is based largely on three experimental systems using probes
that are known to react with ozone. However, further assessment of the findings
shows that in each case, there is a plausible alternative explanation.
Oxidation of indigo carmine to isatin sulfonic can be accounted for by
superoxide. Conversion of vinylbenzoic acid to p-carboxybenzaldehyde is
analogous to the reactions of other styrene derivatives shown to be catalyzed
by myeloperoxidase, and more rigorous assessment of alternative explanations is
needed before the formation of secosterol oxidation products of cholesterol can
be taken as proof of ozone production. We conclude that the evidence for ozone
production by neutrophils is not convincing and studies using the same probes
to implicate ozone in other biological processes should also be interpreted
with caution.
