Triphenyltin chloride inhibits superoxide production by human neutrophils stimulated with a surface active agent.

Treatment of human neutrophils with triphenyltin chloride (TPTCl)-inhibited superoxide (O-2) production stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). TPTCl was more potent as inhibitor of O-2 production than other phenyltin compounds. The O-2 production by the xanthine oxidase-acetaldehyde system was not inhibited by TPTCl. This finding indicates that TPTCl does not itself react with O-2. Furthermore, TPTCl did not influence the isolated NADPH oxidase at all, though O-2 production of neutrophils stimulated with PMA in the presence of TPTCl was inhibited. These results indicate that TPTCl inhibits the activation process of the O-2 generating system.