Effect of ozone on neutrophil function in vitro

The application of ozone is widely practised as a form of alternative medic ine, particularly in Germany and Eastern Europe. Ozone major autohemotherap y (the return of a small amount of a patient's blood to the circulation aft er ex vivo exposure to ozone) has been reported to have a therapeutic effec t in various pathological conditions, including ischemic, infectious, autoi mmune and neoplastic disorders. Ozone has an effect on the expression of cy tokines, adhesion molecules and acute phase reactants, which are responsibl e in part for the respiratory inflammatory response observed after exposure to this gas. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effec t of ozone administration ex vivo, at a concentration commonly used in majo r autohemotherapy, on peripheral blood neutrophil function in vitro. Blood drawn from healthy volunteers was studied for neutrophil adhesion, chemotax is and O-2(-) production before and after exposure to 30 mug/ml ozone. Ther e was no significant difference in adhesion and chemotaxis of neutrophils e xposed to ozone versus unexposed cells. O-2(-) production was minimally dec reased (20.3 +/- 5.0 vs. 22.1 +/- 5.5 nmol/10(6) cells/10 min, respectively ; P=0.01), a reduction of no clinical significance. This study confirms tha t major autohemotherapy with ozone is safe as far as neutrophil function is concerned. Combined with previous data, it seems that well-designed clinic al trials to assess the efficacy of major autohemotherapy would pose no dan ger to blood cell populations, and should be encouraged.