Evidence against a role of ketone bodies in the generation of oxidative stress in human erythrocytes by the application of reliable methods for thiol redox form detection

Aim of this study was to reconsider the previously suggested contribution of ketone bodies in causing oxidative damage in human red blood cells (RBCs) in the light of our recent findings demonstrating some methodological pitfalls that can occur during detection of hematic thiols. RBCs were incubated at 37 °C with 20 mM ketone bodies and analyzed with time for their content of glutathione, glutathione disulfide and S-glutathionylated proteins (in both the hemoglobin and membrane skeletal protein fraction). No changes in the concentrations of glutathione and its related forms were evidenced. Differently from previous reports, our results suggest that ketone bodies do not mediate generation of oxidative stress in human RBCs.