Andrew R. Cross

NADPH-dependent superoxide production by the solubilized oxidase of neutrophils was inhibited 36% by diphenylene iodonium at a 1:1 stoichiometry with the enzyme flavoprotein content. Addition of diphenylene iodonium strongly inhibited the NADPH-dependent reduction of both FAD and cytochrome b-245 in steady-state kinetic experiments. Incubation of solubilized enzyme with diphenylene [125I]iodonium resulted in the specific labelling of a polypeptide of Mr 45,000. In the presence of NADPH the amount of label incorporated into the polypeptide was reduced. There was no difference in labelling between enzyme prepared from stimulated or unstimulated cells.

The heme-containing protein cytochrome b-245 has been proposed as a primary component of the microbicidal oxidase system of phagocytes that normally generates superoxide-free radicals but when defective is associated with chronic granulomatous disease. We measured this cytochrome in granulocytes from 27 patients with chronic granulomatous disease and from 64 members of their families. It was undetectable in all 19 of the men in whom the defect appeared to be located on the X chromosome. Female relatives who were heterozygous carriers had reduced concentrations of the cytochrome and variable proportions of cells that were unable to generate superoxide; these two characteristics were closely related (r = 0.93 in the 16 mothers and 0.85 in all 24 carriers, P less than 0.001). In contrast, in all eight patients (seven women) with a probable autosomal recessive inheritance the cytochrome was present but nonfunctional. The properties tested, including midpoint potential, carbon monoxide binding, and organelle distribution, were normal, but the cytochrome did not undergo reduction on cellular stimulation. Thus, absence or malfunction of the cytochrome b-245 may be the causal molecular defect in chronic granulomatous disease, implicating it in the microbicidal oxidase system.