Lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence in mononuclear phagocytes. Role of superoxide anion.

A method for the measurement of reactive oxygen species generated by activated mononuclear phagocytes by use of lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence was developed. Opsonized zymosan was used as a stimulant to evaluate the chemiluminescence response of monocytes. A cell-free system in which superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide were produced by the xanthine-xanthine oxidase reaction was used to examine the role of these radical species in the excitation of lucigenin, and to standardize the chemiluminescence method. It was found that the light emission in lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence was evoked by the superoxide anion, but other radicals may also be active.