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Abstract
Hypohalous acids (HOX), produced by peroxidase-catalysed reactions of halide and pseudohalide ions with H2O2, play an important role in the human immune system. However, there is compelling evidence that these oxidants also mediate host tissue damage and contribute to the progression of a number of inflammatory diseases. Although it is well established that significant amounts of hypothiocyanous acid (HOSCN) are formed under physiological conditions, the reactions of this oxidant with host biological systems are relatively poorly characterized. It is generally accepted that HOSCN is a mild oxidant that reacts selectively with thiols. However, it is becoming increasingly recognized that this selectivity can result in the induction of significant cellular damage, which may contribute to disease. This review will outline the formation and reactivity of HOSCN and the role of this oxidant in biological systems.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia) and National Heart Foundation (Australia). The author would like to thank Professor Michael Davies and Dr David Pattison for helpful discussions and critical reading of this manuscript.
Declaration of interest: The author reports no conflicts of interest. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of the paper.
This paper was first published online on Early Online on 3 December 2009.