Active oxygen radicals produced by the leukocytes in patients with malignant lymphoma

The electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of the active oxygen radicals produced during the respiratory burst of PMA-stimulated leukocytes and the oxygen consumption were studied with ESR spin trapping technique and spin probe oximetry for 31 times in 17 cases of malignant lymphoma. The results showed that the spectra produced from the PMA-stimulated patients' leukocytes were dominantly spin adducts of DMPO-hydroxyl radicals, DMPO-OH; and the decrease of oxygen consumption during respiratory burst suggested that the function on respiratory burst, was inhibited. From the results of kinetic observations of the patients conditions, it was shown that the respiratory burst and oxygen consumption were improved, even close to normal, when the patient's condition was in remission or amelioration. This paper is the first to report the active oxygen radicals produced from malignant lymphoma patient's leukocytes with ESR. This is helpful for a better understanding of the mechanism of cancerous proliferation and metastasis.