Lipoxygenase products induce ultraweak light emission from human erythroleukemia cells.

Several lipoxygenase products were able to enhance ultraweak light emission and membrane permeability of human erythroleukemia K562 cells. In particular, 13-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HPOD) was more effective than hydrophilic hydroperoxides, like H2O2 and tert-butyl hydroperoxide. The enhancement of luminescence induced by 13-HPOD was inhibited by superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavengers. The effect of 13-HPOD was inhibited by superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavengers. The effect of 13-HPOD was potentiated by the calcium ionophore A23187 and inhibited by the calcium chelator EDTA, and was observed also in liposomes containing unsaturated lipids. Cholesterol enrichment, which decreases the membrane fluidity, did not modify the effect of 13-HPOD on K562 cells.