Redox Buffering of Hypochlorous Acid by Thiocyanate in Physiologic Fluids

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Abstract
The major antimicrobial products of neutrophilic myeloperoxidase (MPO) in physiologic fluids are hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and hypothiocyanite (OSCN-), and the former is generally believed to be the killing agent. However, we have determined that HOCl oxidizes SCN- in a facile nonenzymic reaction. The observed kinetics and computational models substantiate the hypothesis that SCN- serves to moderate the potential autotoxicity of HOCl by restricting its lifetime in physiologic fluids. Furthermore, the oxidizing equivalents of HOCl are preserved in OSCN-, a more discriminate biocide that is not lethal to mammalian cells.