Free radicals generation by granulocytes from men during bed rest.

Phagocytes (granulocytes and macrophages) are one of the most important sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the human body. A stimulated phagocyte reaches within a dozen of seconds the functional state known as the respiratory burst. This phenomenon includes three interrelated processes: 1) a several fold increase in the oxygen uptake, 2) generation of large amounts of ROS, and 3) stimulations of glucose metabolism via the pentose phosphate shunt. The main ROS generated during phagocytosis is the superoxide radical anion O2-. The reaction of dismutation of O2- generates hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). O2- and H2O2 do not have strong cytocidal proerties but are supbstrates for the generation of more active biologically ROS, especially the hydroxyl radical (OH) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl). A stimulated phagocyte (especially neutrophil) generates also vast amounts of nitric oxide (NO-). NO- may react with the superoxide radical anion forming peroxynitrate (ONOO-). Reactivity of ONOO- is comparable to that of the hydroxyl radical. ONOO- plays probably a very important role in the so-called oxygen-dependent killing mechanisms during phagocytosis. The role of NO- in the process of phagocytosis is unclear. However, NO-, apart from other biological functions, inhibits aggregation and adhesion of blood platelets. Morevover, it seems to participate in the slefregulation of granulocyte cativity (probably limiting excessive inflammative reaction). Excess of ROS generated by phagocytes may damage biologically important macromolecules. Membrane lipids are particularly vulnerable to peroxidation. It leads to alterations in membrane fluidity and permeability. ROS excreted to the environment of a phagocyte may impair functions of other morphotic elements of blood (erythrocytes and thromobcytes) in this way. Bed rest covers two conditions: 1) limitation of motoric activity (hypodynamia) and 2) restraining the pressure on bones along parallelly to their long axes (hypogravia). Under bed rest conditions organism is subject to many harmful changes. I.a., bed rest affects also leukocyte functions. However, we were not aware of any sutdies concerning the effect of bed rest on the respiratory burst of granulocytes. This study was aimed at an examination of the effect of bed rest on the generation of O; and H2O2 by neutrophils (PMNL).