Ozone therapy is an alternative form of therapy that has gained attention in the last
couple of years. It is believed that O3 may exert a stimulatory effect on the antioxidant
defence and immune systems and may therefore be effective in the treatment of ischemic
disorders. diabetes mellitus. AIDS and other diseases. On the other hand. it is well known
that O3 is a reactive molecule that is toxic to the pulmonary system. Therefore. there
remains scepticism regarding its use as a form of therapy. In order to shed some light on
this. the effects of ozone autohemotherapy (O3-AHT) on the energy homeostasis of white
blood cells were investigated. The possible protective effects of the plasma antioxidant
defence system during O3-AHT, were also investigated.
Venous blood from six apparently healthy human donors was collected in heparin. In
one aliquot a precise volume of blood was mixed with an equal volume of O2/O3 gas
mixture containing 20 or 80 μg/ml O3 for 20 minutes. In the other aliquot, the plasma
was washed out and the cells resuspended in a buffered phosphate solution. The buffered
blood cells were treated with the same concentrations of O3. Control samples was either
not treated or treated with a corresponding volume of O2 . Various biochemical analyses
were done on the whole blood and buffered cells to determine the oxidant/antioxidant
status, cell viability, apoptosis and mitochondrial function.
The higher concentration of O3 increased oxidative stress and caused death of white
blood cells. Antioxidant enzyme (catalase, glutathione reductase and glutathione
peroxidase) activity and the plasma antioxidant capacity decreased, whereas superoxide
dismutase levels increased slightly. Exposure to O3 also increased caspase 3/7 activity. A
decrease in mitochondrial function was measured by a decrease in ATP levels and an
increase in NADH/NAD+ ratio. Complex IV of the respiratory chain was almost
completely inhibited by both O3 concentrations. These results indicated that the death of
white blood cells was probably through apoptosis. These effects were more evident in the
absence of plasma antioxidants. Therefore. high concentrations of O3 were damaging to
the cells, but this effect was lessened by antioxidants present in plasma. In view of the
results, the use of O3 as a therapy needs to be reconsidered. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Biochemistry))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:NWUBOLOKA1/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/1134 |
| Date | January 2006 |
| Creators | Du Plessis, Lissinda Hester |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | North-West University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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