Low Superoxide Levels in Blood Phagocytic Cells in Down's Syndrome

Superoxide anion was measured in polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) from 10 patients with Down's syndrome (DS) and 10 healthy controls after stimulation with phorobol-myristate-acetate (PMA). The superoxide (O2-) levels were lower in PMNs from nine of 10 DS patients, than in simultaneously tested control cells (p less than 0.01). The findings may in part explain the increased susceptibility of DS patients to infections with certain microorganisms, e.g. S. aureus and C. albicans.