Chris Gupta
At 08:47 PM 9/1/98 +0200, Jean-Pierre Lentin wrote:
>Hi all ! I just read this fascinating short news story in the new issue of
>French monthly magazine "Science & Vie". Here is a translation :
>
>"White cells (leucocytes) kill bacteria and pathogenic fungus by
>electrocuting them. Discovered by Jacques Schrenzel and Karl Heinz Krause
>(Geneva University Hospital, Switzerland), this defence mechanism is
>triggered as soon as receptors of the white cell detect the microbe's
>presence. This signal activates an enzymatic system on the leucocyte's
>membrane, composed of a "sleeping" enzyme (NADPH oxydase) and co-enzyme
>(NADPH). The reaction begins by the enzyme "waking up", receiving electrons
>from its co-enzyme, and transporting them through the membrane. Ejected out
>of the white cell, this electronic flux is focused towards the bacteria by
>means of oxygen molecules. And the microbe dies. This discovery might open
>new lines of research on immunity deficiencies in patients who are deprived
>of this enzymatic system.".
>
>Sorry, no comment here. I'm still in shock !
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>Jean-Pierre Lentin
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>
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