Comparison of oxidant activities and the activation of benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol by polymorphonuclear leucocytes from human, rat and mouse

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) from human, mouse and rat were compared for their ability to activate benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-diol to a DNA-binding intermediate and a chemiluminescent dioxetane derivative. 2. Human PMNs activated benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-diol to the greatest extent, which correlated with their rate of superoxide anion generation and myeloperoxidase activity relative to these activities by PMNs from mice and rats. 3. Benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-diol chemiluminescence elicited by PMNs from all three species was significantly inhibited by azide, a myeloperoxidase inhibitor. On the other hand, superoxide dismutase (SOD) was very effective in inhibiting benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-diol chemiluminescence with mouse PMNs but not human or rat PMNs. Mouse PMNs exhibited a high rate of superoxide generation but low myeloperoxidase activity, whereas rat PMNs exhibited a low rate of superoxide generation but high myeloperoxidase activity.