Antioxidant and prooxidant roles of copper in Tween 20-induced hemolysis of hamster and pig erythrocytes containing marginal vitamin E.

The concentration-dependent effects of copper acting either as an antioxidant or as a prooxidant were examined in vitro using Tween 20-induced hemolysis. When cupric ion concentration was more than 10 microM, free copper(II) acted as a prooxidant; both extensive hemolysis and production of unknown thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance occurred in hamster and pig erythrocytes irrespective of vitamin E status. However, when cupric ion concentration was 2-4 microM in the incubation medium, copper showed a clear antioxidant activity, reducing both hemolysis and malondialdehyde production induced either by diluted peroxide-containing Tween 20 with ascorbic acid and sodium azide in vitamin E-deficient hamster erythrocytes, or by peroxide-containing Tween 20 in pig erythrocytes containing marginal amounts of vitamin E. Copper(II) is taken up by the erythrocytes, where copper(I)-complexes may contribute to the protection of cells with membrane vitamin E against oxidative radical attack.