A new method for detection of HNE-histidine conjugates in rat inflammatory cells

Abstract

Oxidative stress, excessive production of reactive oxygen species, is considered an important part of different disorders, as well as of physiological processes (inflammation). The difference between physiological and pathological oxidative stress is often the occurrence of lipid peroxidation and its final toxic products, among which is 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), a reactive aldehyde that forms protein conjugates. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of HNE-histidine conjugates in leukocytes during systemic inflammation. We used genuine monoclonal antibodies against HNE-histidine conjugates for immuno-cytochemical, immuno-histochemical and immuno-electron microscopical analyses of HNE in inflammatory cells. Spleen tissue, leukocytes from blood and macrophages from the peritoneum of rats intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with micronized zeolite (MZ) were analyzed. HNE-histidine conjugates were predominantly detected near cell membranes, phagosomes and macrophage granules. Immunodetection of HNE-histidine conjugates may be used as an analytical immunochemical method to study HNE formation in pathological and physiological processes and for pathomorphological diagnostic procedures.