Hypothiocyanous acid - benign or deadly?
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Hypothiocyanous acid - benign or deadly? / Barrett, Tessa J; Hawkins, Clare L.
In: Chemical Research in Toxicology, Vol. 25, No. 2, 20.02.2012, p. 263-73.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Hypothiocyanous acid - benign or deadly?
AU - Barrett, Tessa J
AU - Hawkins, Clare L
PY - 2012/2/20
Y1 - 2012/2/20
N2 - Hypothiocyanous acid (HOSCN) is produced in biological systems by the peroxidase-catalyzed reaction of thiocyanate (SCN(-)) with H(2)O(2). This oxidant plays an important role in the human immune system, owing to its potent bacteriostatic properties. Significant amounts of HOSCN are also formed by immune cells under inflammatory conditions, yet the reactivity of this oxidant with host tissue is poorly characterized. Traditionally, HOSCN has been viewed as a mild oxidant, which is innocuous to mammalian cells. Indeed, recent studies show that the presence of SCN(-) in airways has a protective function, by preventing the formation of other, more damaging, inflammatory oxidants. However, there is an increasing body of evidence that challenges this dogma, showing that the selectivity of HOSCN for specific thiol-containing cellular targets results in the initiation of significant cellular damage. This propensity to induce cellular dysfunction is gaining considerable interest, particularly in the cardiovascular field, as smokers have elevated plasma SCN(-), the precursor for HOSCN. This review will outline the beneficial and detrimental aspects of HOSCN formation in biological systems.
AB - Hypothiocyanous acid (HOSCN) is produced in biological systems by the peroxidase-catalyzed reaction of thiocyanate (SCN(-)) with H(2)O(2). This oxidant plays an important role in the human immune system, owing to its potent bacteriostatic properties. Significant amounts of HOSCN are also formed by immune cells under inflammatory conditions, yet the reactivity of this oxidant with host tissue is poorly characterized. Traditionally, HOSCN has been viewed as a mild oxidant, which is innocuous to mammalian cells. Indeed, recent studies show that the presence of SCN(-) in airways has a protective function, by preventing the formation of other, more damaging, inflammatory oxidants. However, there is an increasing body of evidence that challenges this dogma, showing that the selectivity of HOSCN for specific thiol-containing cellular targets results in the initiation of significant cellular damage. This propensity to induce cellular dysfunction is gaining considerable interest, particularly in the cardiovascular field, as smokers have elevated plasma SCN(-), the precursor for HOSCN. This review will outline the beneficial and detrimental aspects of HOSCN formation in biological systems.
KW - Animals
KW - Cardiovascular Diseases
KW - Cystic Fibrosis
KW - Humans
KW - Lung
KW - Mouth
KW - Thiocyanates
KW - Journal Article
KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
KW - Review
U2 - 10.1021/tx200219s
DO - 10.1021/tx200219s
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 22053976
VL - 25
SP - 263
EP - 273
JO - Chemical Research in Toxicology
JF - Chemical Research in Toxicology
SN - 0893-228X
IS - 2
ER -
ID: 174497372