Significance of oxygen availability for release of oxygen free radicals and lysozyme by neutrophils.

Neutrophilic granulocytes were exposed to an atmosphere of nearly 100% oxygen (hyperoxia) for one hour. The nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction, reflecting oxygen radical release, was decreased both in resting and stimulated cells, but lysozyme release was unchanged. Short time exposure of patients to oxygen hypertension might therefore be beneficial as therapy, in conditions where reduced production of oxygen radicals is required. The NBT reduction of resting and stimulated neutrophils in an atmosphere of purified argon (hypoxia) was also considerably decreased, and the lysozyme release unchanged. This reflects the anaerobic conditions in abscesses, where the contribution of neutrophil oxygen metabolites to the killing of microorganism might be reduced.