Myeloperoxidase

This review covers recent advances in the biology of myeloperoxidase. Mecha nisms of posttranslational processing and how these fail in some of the com mon deficiency mutants are discussed. We also review the enzymology that po ints to myeloperoxidase having a number of physiologic substrates in additi on to chloride and the evidence that it produces hypochlorous acid in the n eutrophil phagosome in sufficient quantities to be bactericidal. Evidence i s accumulating that myeloperoxidase-derived oxidants modify biologic macrom olecules and cell-regulatory pathways and that they play a role in atherosc lerosis, Investigation of disease incidence in relation to a polymorphism i n the promoter region of the gene has produced interesting associations. Th ese links with inflammatory diseases can now be pursued further using speci fic biomarkers of myeloperoxidase activity. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.