Investigating antibody-catalyzed ozone generation by human neutrophils

Recent studies have suggested that antibodies can catalyze the generation of previously unknown oxidants including dihydrogen trioxide (H2O3) and ozone (O-3) from singlet oxygen (O-1(2)*) and water. Given that neutrophils have the potential both to produce O-1(2)* and to bind antibodies, we considered that these cells could be a biological source of O-3. We report here further analytical evidence that antibody-coated neutrophils, after activation, produce an oxidant with the chemical signature of O-3. This process is independent of surface antibody concentration down to 50% of the resting concentration, suggesting that surface IgG is highly efficient at intercepting the neutrophil-generated O-1(2)*. Vinylbenzoic acid, an orthogonal probe for ozone detection, is oxidized by activated neutrophils to 4-carboxybenzaldehyde in a manner analogous to that obtained for its oxidation by ozone in solution. This discovery of the production of such a powerful oxidant in a biological context raises questions about not only the capacity of O-3 to kill invading microorganisms but also its role in amplification of the inflammatory response by signaling and gene activation.