Decreased ceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity in cigarette smokers

Eric R. Pacht, W. Bruce Davis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ceruloplasmin is one of the most important antioxidant proteins in serum. Ceruioplosmin functions as a ferroxidase that oxidizes iron to the Fe3+ state, thereby preventing Fe2+-catalyzed lipid peroxidation and cellular damage. Despite increased antigenic amounts of ceruloplasmin, cigarette smoker serum has previously been shown to exhibit significantly less antioxidant activity than non-smoker serum. We demonstrate that the decreased antioxidant activity of cigaret smoker serum may be explained by a decrease in ceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity. Smokers had a 1496 decrease in serum ceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity (units per milliliter) compared with nonsmokers. There was a 24% decrease in ferroxidase activity per milligram of ceruloplasmin In smokers compared with nonsmokers (0.32 ± 0.009 U/mg vs 0.42 ± 0.020 U/mg, p < 0.005). Smoker serum also contained significantly less ceruloplasmin-specific antioxidant activity than nonsmoker serum. These observations may explain the decrement in smoker serum antioxidant activity that could predispose cigarette smokers to increased oxidant injury.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)661-668
Number of pages8
JournalThe Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine
Volume111
Issue number6
StatePublished - Jan 1 1988

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine
  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine

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