Peroxidation of phospholipids promoted by myeloperoxidase.

Myeloperoxidase was found to promote peroxidation of phospholipids under acidic conditions in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and iodide ions. The peroxidation was markedly enhanced by pyrophosphate-chelated ferric iron and was inhibited by desferrioxamine and superoxide dismutase. This observation adds lipid peroxidation to the oxidative damage caused by myeloperoxidase, which is a phagocytic cell enzyme involved in phagocyte-mediated cell destruction.