Enhanced release of reactive oxygen intermediates by immunologically activated rat Kupffer cells.

Release of O2- and H2O2 from isolated rat liver Kupffer cells was studied by making use of the methods of SOD sensitive ferricytochrome c reduction and horseradish peroxidase catalysed scopoletin oxidation, respectively. Kupffer cells from BCG treated rats showed a 1.8 times significantly higher O2- release and a 2.4 times higher H2O2 release as compared to the controls. Moreover the yield of Kupffer cells was also increased with administration of BCG. These results suggest that Kupffer cells can be immunologically activated to secrete larger amounts of O2- and H2O2.