title: Brief inhalation of asbestos compromises superoxide production in cells from bronchoalveolar lavage.
abstract: Production of superoxide (O-.2) was measured in alveolar macrophages (AM) exposed to asbestos in vitro and in cells obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of rats inhaling asbestos. Steady state levels of O-.2 released by AM in vitro were dose and time dependent in response to crocidolite, chrysotile, and opsonized zymosan, a particulate used to trigger O-.2 generation. In contrast, an inhalation exposure for 1 h to crocidolite or for 6 days to either crocidolite or chrysotile asbestos resulted in a decreased production of O-.2 by BAL cells. Likewise, BAL cells from rats inhaling chrysotile for 1 h or crocidolite for 9 days exhibited a diminished capacity to secrete O-.2 when challenged with the particulate opsonized zymosan. Diminished generation of O-.2 by asbestos occurred in BAL cell populations containing either significantly increased numbers of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and lymphocytes (6- and 9-day exposures) or 99% AM (1-h exposure). Thus, these novel observations suggest that short-term inhalation of asbestos compromises the ability of BAL cells to produce O-.2 in the presence or absence of an additional phagocytic stimulus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington 05405.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Petruska
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergeron
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Mossman
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001194:Asbestos / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017638:Asbestos, Crocidolite; D017632:Asbestos, Serpentine; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D007700:Kinetics; D008214:Lymphocytes; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012457:Salicylamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*; D015054:Zymosan / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D017632:Asbestos, Serpentine; D012457:Salicylamides; D013481:Superoxides; D017638:Asbestos, Crocidolite; D001194:Asbestos; C005703:salicylhydroxamic acid; D015054:Zymosan