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Exposure of erythrocytes to methylene blue shows the active role of catalase in removing hydrogen peroxide
Author(s) -
Gaetani Gian Franco,
Rapezzi Davide,
Mangerini Rosa,
Racchi Omar,
Rolfo Michela,
Ferraris Anna Maria
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2141.2002.03865.x
Subject(s) - catalase , hydrogen peroxide , methylene blue , chemistry , enzyme , glutathione , biochemistry , in vitro , antioxidant , detoxification (alternative medicine) , catalysis , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , photocatalysis
Summary. Methylene blue (MB) is a powerful reducing agent that is widely used in clinical practice as well as for metabolic studies of the erythrocyte. We have investigated the role of catalase as a specific enzyme for the removal of hydrogen peroxide by measuring the in vitro effects of MB on human red cells. In the presence of MB, catalase underwent inactivation even with the co‐existence of active generation of NADPH, leaving the glutathione concentration unaffected. The data obtained in the present investigation show, using a different tool (MB), that catalase is the active enzyme in H 2 O 2 detoxification and that its integrity is largely dependent on an adequate generation of NADPH.