SUPEROXIDE PRODUCTION BY RESTING AND ACTIVATED POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES FROM SMOKERS AND NONSMOKERS

Smokers have been reported to have increased number of circulating pol ymorphonuclear leucocytes (neutrophils), which normally remain in circ ulation for a short time and manifest their functions primarily adhere nt to tissue surfaces, resulting in the release of reactive oxygen spe cies (ROS). These ROS are hazardous for biomembranes, membrane-associa ted lipids and even DNA. We analysed superoxide radical (O-2(.-)) gene ration in neutrophils isolated from the blood of male smokers and age- matched control subjects. The O-2(.-) levels were measured in resting neutrophils as well as after activation with phorbol myristic acetate (PMA). The smokers had higher basal levers of superoxide in all three age groups i.e. 8.8 +/- 1.71, 10.65 +/- 3.26 and 8.86 +/- 2.47 (mean /- SD) nmol/l x 10(6) cells/10 min for the age groups of 20-35, 36-51 and 52-70 years respectively, as compared to figures in non-smokers of 4.88 +/- 2.46, 2.53 +/- 0.73 and 5.53 +/- 1.8 for three age groups re spectively. Conversely the O-2(.-) levels after activation with PMA we re lower in smokers, i.e. 28.4 +/- 8.51, 24.8 +/- 10.46 and 19.19 +/- 3.56 nmol/l x 10(6) cells/10 min for the age groups of 20-35, 36-51 an d 52-70 years respectively as compared to non-smokers with 38.79 +/- 7 .24, 30.57 +/- 8.96 and 23.60 +/- 6.92 for the three age groups respec tively. These results substantiate the adhesion phenomenon of neutroph ils induced by different stimulants including smoking which leads to t he oxidative burst. Adhesion of neutrophils to other cell surfaces, in duced by smoking, may explain the higher basal levels of superoxide in smokers. Med Sci Res 26:471-473 (C) 1998 Lippincott-Raven Publishers.