Role of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the activation of lipid peroxidation in uveitis (experimental study)

Activation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PL) involving in the occurrence of inflammation results in inflammatory area accumulation of cytotoxic products, such as lipid peroxidation (LPO) initiators, which in turn may cause an increase and extent of inflammation. The regularities of changes in the functional activity of PL and plasma LPO parameters in the rabbit plasma and ocular tissue in the course of experimental toxic and allergic uveitis are studied. The level of the functional activity of PL, which was determined by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence was shown to correlate with the degree of uveitis. The peak was on days 3-7 and coincided with that of inflammatory changes in ocular tissues. Measurements of the plasma levels of PLO products, tocopherol (T), the activity of ceruloplasmin and total plasma antioxidative activity (AOA) led to the conclusion that there was a exhaustion of the antioxidative system and a drastic LPO activity on days 7 of uveitis. At the same time there were increased PLO products, decreased T levels and lower activity of superoxide dismutase in the ocular tissue. The use of antioxidants dibunol and pipolfen alleviated uveitis, reduced PL functional activity, normalized the ocular tissue and plasma levels of LPO products and enhanced the total plasma AOA. The fact that there is a close correlation between the level of the functional activity of PL, the degree of PLO activation in the plasma and ocular tissue has led to the conclusion that PL activation along with high functional activity is one of the main causes of enhanced PLO in uveitis.