title: Studies on the biological effects of ozone 1. Induction of interferon gamma on human leucocytes.
abstract: In this study we have investigated the effects of ozone on human blood, as well as on resuspended buffy coats and Ficoll-purified mononuclear cells. Samples were exposed at different ozone concentrations (from 2.2 micrograms to 108 micrograms/ml) for 30 sec and then incubated for different times at 37 degrees C in a 95% air-5% CO2 humidified atmosphere. Supernatants were collected and frozen at-20 degrees C until tested for interferon (IFN) activity. We have determined that the ozone concentration is critical for lymphokine induction. In fact, while low concentrations (2.2 micrograms/ml) are effective in lymphocytes, they do not induce IFN in either whole or diluted (1:1) human blood, or resuspended buffy coats. In such cases levels as high as 42 micrograms/ml are required. On the other hand, a very high ozone concentration (108 micrograms/ml) is not effective and probably toxic. Maximal IFN production occurs 72-96 h after ozone exposure, and the kinetics of IFN release is similar to that after Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B addition. Because ozonization of blood is a medical procedure followed in several countries for treatment of viral diseases, this study can open a new field of investigation that may yield useful results both in biological and practical terms.
authors: Istituto di Fisiologia Generale, Università di Siena, Italy.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Bocci
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Paulesu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005609:Free Radicals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007369:Interferon Inducers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010126:Ozone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005609:Free Radicals; D007369:Interferon Inducers; D010126:Ozone; D007371:Interferon-gamma