Stimulation of the Hexose Monophosphate Shunt in Human Neutrophils by Ascorbic Acid: Mechanism of Action

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Abstract
The addition of either ascorbic acid or dehydroascorbic acid to a suspension of polymorphonuclear leukocytes caused a dramatic increase in the resting hexose monophosphate shunt activity. A sequence of reactions involving dehydroascorbate, reduced glutathione, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate is described to explain this stimulation. This sequence could provide an alternate method of producing H 2 O 2 and a bactericidal mechanism which is independent of myeloperoxidase.