Erythrocytes decrease myocardial hydrogen peroxide levels and reperfusion injury.

Reperfusion with untreated, carbon monoxide-treated, or glutaraldehyde-fixed human erythrocytes (RBC) increased ventricular function and decreased myocardial hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels [assessed by H2O2-dependent aminotriazole (AMT) inactivation of myocardial catalase activities] of ischemic, isolated rat hearts. In contrast, reperfusion with RBC that lacked catalase (AMT treated) and/or glutathione (N-ethylmaleimide treated) did not increase ventricular function or decrease myocardial H2O2 levels as much as reperfusion with untreated RBC. By comparison, reperfusion with superoxide dismutase-depleted (diethyldithiocarbamate-treated) or anion channel-inhibited (diisothiocyanodisulfonic acid stilbene-treated) RBC increased ventricular function and decreased myocardial H2O2 levels the same as untreated RBC. The results suggest that catalase and/or glutathione in intact RBC can decrease endogenously generated H2O2 and related reperfusion injury in ischemic, isolated perfused hearts.