Myeloperoxidase (MPO) generates reactive halogenating species that can modify DNA. The aim of this study was to investigate the formation of 8-halogenated 2-deoxyguanosines (8-halo-dGs) during inflammatory events. 8-Bromo-2-dG (8-BrdG) and 8-chloro-2-dG (8-CldG) were generated by treatment of MPO with hydrogen peroxide at physiological concentrations of Cl ؊ and Br ؊ . The formation of 8-halo-dGs with other oxidative stress biomarkers in lipopolysaccharide-treated rats was assessed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and immunohistochemistry using a novel monoclonal antibody (mAb8B3) to 8-BrdG-conjugated keyhole limpet hemocyanin. The antibody recognized both 8-BrdG and 8-CldG. In the liver of lipopolysaccharide-treated rats, immunostaining for 8-halodGs, halogenated tyrosines, and MPO were increased at 8 h, whereas those of 8-oxo-2-dG (8-OxodG) and 3-nitrotyrosine were increased at 24 h. Urinary excretion of both 8-CldG and 8-BrdG was also observed earlier than those of 8-OxodG and modified tyrosines (3-nitrotyrosine, 3-chlorotyrosine, and 3-bromotyrosine). Moreover, the levels of the 8-halo-dGs in urine from human diabetic patients were 8-fold higher than in healthy subjects (n ؍ 10, healthy and diabetic, p < 0.0001), whereas there was a moderate difference in 8-OxodG between the two groups (p < 0.001). Interestingly, positive mAb8B3 antibody staining was observed in liver tissue from hepatocellular carcinoma patients but not in liver tissue from human cirrhosis patients. These data suggest that 8-halo-dGs may be potential biomarkers of early inflammation.Oxidative damage is implicated in the pathogenesis of many diseases including atherosclerosis and cancer (1-4). Involvement of myeloperoxidase (MPO), 2 a heme protein secreted by activated leukocytes such as neutrophils and monocytic cells, is a potential cause of oxidative damage during inflammation. At sites of inflammation, activated leukocytes play a major role in host defense against microorganisms using oxidants such as HOCl and HOBr. However, excessive oxidant release can also induce damage; DNA bases (5-8) and proteins and lipids (9 -12), for instance, are putative targets of oxidants. At plasma halide concentrations (100 mM Cl Ϫ , 20 -100 M Br Ϫ ) (13), MPO converts HOCl to HOBr using Br Ϫ as a halide exchange (14). HOBr is also generated by eosinophil peroxidase using H 2 O 2 and Br Ϫ , such as by the MPO-H 2 O 2 -Cl Ϫ system. Because MPO catalyzes halogenation, oxidation, and nitration (15-17), MPO and its product may be important general markers for evaluating oxidative damage to the body during inflammation. Halogenation is a key reaction for the formation of an MPO activity marker because the presence of halogen in the marker molecule directly indicates a contribution of the halogenating species at the site of oxidative damage. Moreover, no other halogenating pathways have been reported except for MPO and eosinophil peroxidase-derived damage. Therefore, halogenated products have the potential to be specific markers of inflammatio...