Increase of reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen (RNS) species generated by phagocyting granulocytes related to age

In this present paper the age-induced effect on reactive oxidizing species generated by oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen (RNS) was studied using human phagoc yting granulocytes. The ROS and RNS were quantified, respectively, in a che miluminescence assay and by the measurement of nitrite production. The age- induced reactive oxidizing species generation was studied in healthy subjec ts ranging from 20 to 80 years old, divided into six age groups: group I, 2 0-29 years old; group II, 30-39 years old; group III, 40-49 years old; grou p IV, 50-59 years old; group V, 60-69 years old, and group VI, 70-80 years old. Our results demonstrate a parallelism between generation of the ROS an d RNS induced by the age. A significant increase of ROS production was obse rved from 40 years old (age groups III, IV, V and VI while for RNS this inc rease was observed only from 50 years old (groups IV, V and VI). These data suggest an increase of oxidizing species generation (ROS/RNS) related to a ge. The increased generation of ROS (40-49 years old) was induced before th e increasing of RNS (50-59 years old) and it may have consequences on infla mmation and host defences. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All right s reserved.