Invited Commentary:Superoxide, Iron, Vascular Endothelium and Reperfusion Injury

It is proposed that vascular endothelium has an intrinsic capacity to generate O2- for regulatory purposes such as inactivation of endothelium-derived relaxing factor. Ischaemia can disrupt the functioning of this oxidant-generating system. resulting in greater O2- generation when O2- is restored. Ischaemia-induced cellular injury can also lead to release of iron ions. that, upon reperfusion. cause conversion of O2- and H2O2 to powerfully-oxidizing species (such as. OH) that further injure the endothelium.