Neutrophil-mediated methemoglobin formation in the erythrocyte. The role of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide.

Human neutrophils incubated with phorbol myristate acetate oxidized hemoglobin within the intact erythrocyte by a mechanism dependent on cell-cell contact but independent of phagocytosis. Spectrophotometric examination of the erythrocyte lysates revealed that the major component formed was methemoglobin along with small amounts of a species with spectral characteristics similar to choleglobin. Methemoglobin formation was directly related to the neutrophil concentration and the time of incubation. The addition of superoxide dismutase or catalase modestly inhibited the formation of methemoglobin, while a combination of the enzymes provided the most dramatic protection. Methemoglobin of hydroxyl radical or hypochlorous acid scavengers. Apparently, either O2.- or H2O2 alone was capable of mediating methemoglobin formation in the intact erythrocyte. Maintenance of the intraerythrocytic hemoglobin in its oxygenated state or its derivatization to carbon monoxyhemoglobin markedly inhibited methemoglobin formation. Blockade of the anion channels in the intact erythrocyte with sulfonated stilbenes inhibited O2.- but not H2O2 from oxidizing intracellular hemoglobin. It appears that neutrophil-derived O2.- and H2O2 can cross the erythrocyte membrane through the anion channel or diffuse directly into the intracellular space and react with oxyhemoglobin or deoxyhemoglobin to form a mixture of hemoglobin oxidation products within the intact cell.