Iron mobilization from ferritin by superoxide derived from stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Possible mechanism in inflammation diseases.

During inflammation, the superoxide anion (O-2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are produced by stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages. The toxic effects of these reactive oxygen intermediates increase when traces of iron are present, because iron catalyzes the formation of the hydroxyl radical (OH.). Partially saturated iron-binding proteins, such as transferrin and ferritin, are unable to catalyze OH. formation in vitro. Mobilization of iron from these proteins is necessary for iron stimulation of OH. formation. This paper reports that stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes mobilize iron from human and horse ferritin, but not from human transferrin. Iron release from ferritin depends on O-2 because it can be prevented by the addition of superoxide dismutase. Catalase and dimethylsulfoxide have no inhibitory effect on iron mobilization. The efficiency of the iron release increases at low levels of O-2 production. Only O-2 produced by granulocytes is sufficient for iron mobilization, because solid potassium superoxide is also able to release iron from ferritin. We propose that this reaction may potentiate the formation of the OH. radical in inflammatory states.