Effect of iron on leukocyte function: inactivation of H2O2 BY IRON.

We investigated the effect of FeSO4 on phagocytosis-associated, increased oxidative metabolism via the hexose monophosphate shunt, with special attention to its effect on H2O2 levels. The availability of glutathione eroxidase and glutathione reductase for H2O2 disposal and hexose monophosphate shunt stimulation also are evaluated. The results show an impairment of phagocytosis-associated hexose monophosphate shunt activity together with an increase both of resting and phagocytosing formate oxidation. These apparently paradoxical findings are resolved by demonstrating a direct enhancement of formate oxidation by FeSO4 in a cell-free system. In addition, measurement of H2O2 concentrations via scopoletin fluorescence shows reduction of H2O2 by Feso4. There is no effect on either glutathione peroxidase or glutathione reductase activities. These data suggest that one mechanism of FeSO4 imairment of microbicidal activity is by its removal of H2O2.