Enzymes of Oxidative Metabolism in the Human Eosinophil

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Abstract
Human eosinophils exhibited reduced pyridine nucleotide oxidase activity toward NADH and NADPH. This activity was more active toward NADPH and appeared in the 500g pellet and 27,000g pellet upon differential centrifugation. Activity toward both substrates was greater in eosinophils than neutrophils, consistent with the greater respiratory burst observed in eosinophils upon phagocytosis. Other enzymes involved in detoxification of oxygen metabolites were at least as active in eosinophils as in neutrophils, and in many cases appeared to be more active. These included catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. The enzyme content of the eosinophil would prepare the cell for a role which involves generation of active oxidizing agents.