Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient but human exposure to high level of this metal results in adverse health effects. Oxidative stress is assumed to play a major role in the mechanism of Cu-induced toxicity. The protective role of carnosine, an antioxidant and antiglycating agent, was examined against Cu-induced toxicity in isolated human blood cells. Red blood cells (RBC) were treated with 0.5 mM copper chloride (CuCl₂), a Cu(II) compound, either alone or after treatment with carnosine. Incubation of RBC with CuCl₂ increased protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation, methemoglobin formation and lowered glutathione content. The antioxidant defense system was impaired and production of reactive oxygen (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) was enhanced. Pre-incubation of RBC with carnosine protected the cells against CuCl₂-induced oxidative damage. It restored the activities of several antioxidant, membrane-bound and metabolic enzymes, decreased the generation of ROS and RNS, enhanced the antioxidant power of cells and prevented inactivation of plasma membrane redox system. Carnosine also protected human lymphocytes from CuCl₂-induced DNA damage. The protective effects of carnosine were concentration-dependent while carnosine itself did not exhibit any adverse effect. Carnosine can, therefore, be used as a possible chemoprotectant against the harmful effects of this extremely redox active metal.

铜（Cu）是必不可少的微量营养元素，但是人体暴露于高含量的这种金属会导致不利的健康影响。假定氧化应激在Cu诱导的毒性机制中起主要作用。研究了肌肽（一种抗氧化剂和抗糖化剂）对铜诱导的分离人血细胞毒性的保护作用。单独或在肌肽处理后，用0.5 mM氯化铜（CuCl ₂），Cu（II）化合物处理红细胞（RBC）。RBC与CuCl ₂孵育增加蛋白质氧化，脂质过氧化，高铁血红蛋白形成并降低谷胱甘肽含量。抗氧化剂的防御系统受损，活性氧（ROS）和活性氮物质（RNS）的产生增加。RBC与肌肽的预温育可保护细胞免受CuCl ₂诱导的氧化损伤。它可以恢复多种抗氧化剂，膜结合酶和代谢酶的活性，减少ROS和RNS的生成，增强细胞的抗氧化能力，并防止质膜氧化还原系统失活。肌肽还保护人类淋巴细胞免受CuCl _2的影响-诱导的DNA损伤。肌肽的保护作用是浓度依赖性的，而肌肽本身并未表现出任何不良作用。因此，肌肽可用作抗这种极度氧化还原活性金属有害作用的化学保护剂。