Ceruloplasmin: an acute phase reactant that scavenges oxygen-derived free radicals.

Superoxide anion radicals have been implicated recently as mediators of inflammation and tissue injury. Protection from superoxide anion radicals is provided primarily by a copper-containing, intracellular enzyme (superoxide dismutase) (SOD) that catalyzes the dismutation of superoxide to hydrogen peroxide and oxygen. We have found that the action of cytoplasmic SOD to scavenge superoxide and thereby to inhibit superoxide-mediated reactions can be mimicked by the copper-containing plasma protein and acute-phase reactant, ceruloplasmin. Ceruloplasmin, at concentrations present in normal plasma, inhibited reduction of both cytochrome c and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) mediated by the aerobic action of xanthine oxidase on hypoxanthine (a superoxide-generating system). Ceruloplasmin neither inhibited formation of uric acid by xanthine oxidase nor accelerated autooxidation of cytochrome c. Furthermore, in an experimental system in which contact between ceruloplasmin and indicator was prevented by a relatively impermeable lipid membrane barrier, ceruloplasmin inhibited reduction of NBT trapped within liposomes exposed to xanthine oxidase and hypoxanthine. Ceruloplasmin also inhibited reduction of cytochrome c and NBT mediated by the aerobic action of xanthine oxidase on acetaldehyde (another superoxide-generating system) and mimicked the activity of purified human erythrocyte SOD by inhibiting photoreduction of NBT and by accelerating aerobic photooxidation of dianisidine. Ceruloplasmin could be separated from purified human erythrocyte SOD by electrophoresis on alkaline 12% polyacrylamide gels and identified by its superoxide-scavenging activity. These results suggest that ceruloplasmin may function as a circulating scavenger of oxygen-derived free radicals.