In vitro response of human bone marrow progenitor cells to superoxide radicals.

Human bone marrow progenitor cells, grown on solid agar, developed colonies of the white blood cell series, principally granulocytes, monocytes and macrophages. Following exposure to superoxide radicals, generated photochemically, a fraction of the progenitor cells was inactivated as evidenced by loss of colony formation. The loss in proliferative capacity depended on the illumination time and individual nature of the donated specimens. Protection of the progenitor cells by active superoxide dismutase depended on the illumination time and temperature. Inactive superoxide dismutase and active catalase did not protect the cells from the photochemical inactivation process.