AU  - Bocci V
AU  - Valacchi G
AU  - Corradeschi F
AU  - Aldinucci C
AU  - Silvestri S
AU  - Paccagnini E
AU  - Gerli R


TI  - Studies on the biological effects of ozone: 7. Generation 
      of reactive oxygen species (ROS) after exposure of human 
      blood to ozone.


AB  - The acceptance of any complementary medical approach is 
      conditioned by the results obtained after the same scientific 
      scrutiny applied in orthodox medicine. Otherwise any claim 
      of efficacy remains in the realm of fiction. In the case 
      of ozone therapy, the mechanisms of action have remained 
      nebulous and in a series of publications we are trying 
      to present the biochemical, immunological and morphological 
      evidence in favour or against ozone therapy. We have now 
      shown that ozone (O3) dissolved in the water of either 
      plasma or serum or physiological saline generates reactive 
      oxygen species (ROS), of which hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
      can be unequivocally demonstrated by using specific methods 
      for its detection. Lipids present in plasma preferentially 
      those present in lipoproteins, undergo peroxidation that 
      is somewhat O3-dose dependent and can be observed by the 
      measurement of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances 
      (TBARS). While the generation of H2O2 is crucial in activating 
      both biochemical (hexose monophosphate shunt) and immunological 
      (via the transcription factor NF-kB) mechanisms, the role 
      of lipid oxidation products (LOP) remains to be investigated.
      We have shown here that there is a small but consistent 
      induction of some cytokines (TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-
      2) when human blood is directly exposed to O3 concentrations 
      up to 100 micrograms/ml per g of blood. On the other hand,
      isolated blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in tissue culture 
      medium are far more sensitive to the oxidant action of 
      O3 as shown by a progressive reduction of the proliferation 
      index with comparatively far lower O3, concentrations. 
      On the whole, these results support the concept that much 
      of the O3 toxicity is neutralized by the powerful antioxidant 
      system of blood. The minimal hemolysis supports this idea 
      but as far as platelets are concerned, we must mention 
      that they tend to aggregate in heparinized blood, even 
      when it is exposed to an O3 concentration of 40 micrograms/
      ml. In spite of the lack of side-effects after autohemotherapy,
      this drawback must be kept in mind and avoided in clinical 
      practice.


MH  - Blood|*DE/*ME
MH  - Cytokines|*ME
MH  - Ozone|*PD
MH  - Reactive Oxygen Species|*ME
SO  - J Biol Regul Homeost Agents 1998 Jul; 12(3):67-75
DP  - 1998 Jul
TA  - J Biol Regul Homeost Agents
PG  - 67-75
IP  - 3
VI  - 12
UI  - 99011926