Increased spontaneous chemiluminescence from liver homogenates and isolated hepatocytes upon inhibition of O2- and H2O2 utilization.

The intracellular steady-state concentrations of hydrogen peroxide or superoxide anion were increased by inhibiting either catalase, glutathione peroxidase, or superoxide dismutase activities. Catalase was inhibited with aminotriazole while glutathione peroxidase activity was blocked by eliminating reduced glutathione after addition of either iodoacetamide diethylmaleate or phorone. The concentration of aminotriazole that stimulated chemiluminescence in 50% (60 mM) was very similar to the Ki for catalase activity (70 mM). Cyanide, an inhibitor of both catalase and superoxide dismutase, stimulated chemiluminescence in 50% at a concentration (0.15 mM) which is much closer from the Ki for superoxide dismutase (0.25 mM) than from the Ki for catalase (15 microM). The superoxide dismutase inhibitor diethyldithiocarbamate also increased chemiluminescence six- to ten-fold. Depletion of reduced glutathione stimulated spontaneous chemiluminescence when its concentration decreased below 4.5 mumol X g liver-1. The results shown herein suggest that the changes in the intracellular steady-state concentration occurring after inhibition of any antioxidant enzyme are responsible for the increased spontaneous chemiluminescence. Spontaneous chemiluminescence from intact cells may be used as a noninvasive method for monitoring intracellular free radical metabolism.