The toxic effects of oxygen radicals produced by immune cells can be c
ontrolled to certain degree by endogenous antioxidants, because of the
ir scavenger action. This control is specially important in a type of
immune cell, i.e.: the phagocyte, which needs oxygen free radicals and
uses antioxidants in order to support its functions. Previous studies
have shown an stimulation of the immune system with an antioxidant en
riched diet. In the present work, we have studied the effects in vitro
of several antioxidants: alpha-tocopherol or vitamin E (VE), ascorbic
acid (AA), glutathione (GSH), N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and thioproline
or thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (TCA), at different concentrations,
on the various steps of the phagocytic process of murine peritoneal ma
crophages, i.e.: adherence to substrate, migration (random migration a
nd-directed migration or chemotaxis), ingestion and superoxide anion p
roduction. The results show an antioxidant-induced stimulation of the
phagocytic process of macrophages. Thus, the adherence to substrate wa
s raised, after short incubation times, by alpha-tocopherol and ascorb
ic acid. Random migration, chemotaxis, ingestion and superoxide anion
production were increased by all the antioxidants used.