Optical probes for detection and quantification of neutrophils' oxidative burst. A review

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2009

Authors

Marisa Freitas (Author) Other; Jose L F C Lima (Author) FFUP; Eduarda Fernandes (Author) FFUP

Journal

Title: Analytica Chimica Acta

Vol. 649 No. 1

Pages: 8-23

ISSN: 0003-2670

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 106 Citations

Scopus - 123 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Chemical sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-FWR

DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2009.06.063

Abstract (EN): Neutrophils. also known as polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), are the most common type of white blood cells, comprising about 50-70% of all white blood cells. In the event of inflammatory processes, neutrophils display increased mobility, tissue influx ability, prolonged life span, and an increased phagocytic capacity, constituting the initial participants in the cellular defense of the organism. One of the most important defense systems of neutrophils corresponds to their ability to mediate a strong oxidative burst through the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). While oxidative burst is important for the elimination of invading microorganisms, the overproduction of ROS and RNS or the impairment of endogenous antioxidant defenses may result to detrimental effects to the host. The nature and the extent of ROS and RNS production by neutrophils in response to different stimuli is, consequently, a matter of extensive research, with scientific reports showing an enormous variability on the detection methodologies employed. This review attempts to provide a critical assessment of the most common approaches to identify and quantify reactive species formed during the neutrophils' oxidative burst. The detection mechanisms and performance, as well as advantages and limitations of the different methodologies, are scrutinized, focusing on the use of fluorimetric, chemiluminometric and colorimetric probes.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 16