[The effects of deferoxamine on bovine pulmonary endothelial cell injury induced by hydrogen peroxide].

The effect of deferoxamine (DFX), the ferric iron chelator, on bovine pulmonary endothelial cell (BPAEC) injury induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was examined in vitro. It was found that, when compared with unpretreated cells, H2O2-induced the release of lactate dehydrogenase and the production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were decreased, at the meantime the cellular activites of catalase and superoxide dismutase were maintained in DFX (2 mmol.L-1) pretreated BPAECs challenged by 1 mmol.L-1 H2O2. These data indicate that DFX provided almost complete protection against H2O2-mediated cytotoxicity. This suggests that intracellular iron may play an essential role in the endothelial cell injury mediated by H2O2.