Antibody-Catalyzed Ozone Production And Its Potential Effects On Pathogenesis Of Atherosclerosis

The recent discovery of a new property of the antibody molecule suggests a previously unexplored effector function of the immune system. All immunoglobulins, regardless of source or antigenic specificity, can catalyze the reaction between ¹O₂ and water to facilitate the production of a number of water oxidants, including hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and ozone (O₃), thus resulting in direct killing of foreign antigens or pathogens. The discovery of this pathway doubtless enriches greatly our knowledge about the ability of antibody of destructing foreign pathogens. At the same time, however, it also hints that there might be some potential pathophysiologic effects in this antibody- mediated activity. O₃ is a highly chemically reactive gas, and H₂O₂ is also a strong oxidant. Besides the efficient killing of pathogens, they may also lead to oxidative damage on tissues.In view of atherosclerosis as a chronic inflammatory disease concerned with the oxidative damage of lipid , we speculate whether the antibody-catalyzed water oxidation has some connection with the pathogenesis...