title: Quartz-dust-induced production of reactive oxygen metabolites by human granulocytes.
abstract: We studied the effect of quartz on the production of reactive oxygen species by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in vitro by a chemiluminescence (CL) assay. Quartz caused a rapid dose-dependent CL response in the cells. Diamond dust used as an inert control did not stimulate the production of reactive oxygen metabolite by PMN. The quartz-induced activation of oxygen metabolism was also demonstrated by measuring oxygen consumption, nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, and superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production by PMN. Poly-vinyl-pyridine N-oxide (a quartz surface modifying agent) completely abolished the quartz-induced response, but had no effect on opsonized zymosan-induced CL response of PMN. The effect of N-acetylcysteine (a known antioxidant) was inhibitory to the CL formation induced by both quartz and opsonized zymosan. Our results are in agreement with the hypothesis that quartz-induced production of reactive oxygen metabolites is a possible mechanism by which quartz dust produces chronic inflammation and tissue injury of the lung. Agents interfering with the generation of reactive oxygen metabolites may provide a rationale for treatment of mineral-dust-induced pulmonary disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hedenborg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klockars
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D011144:Polyvinylpyridine N-Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D011791:Quartz / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D015054:Zymosan
chemical_list: D013481:Superoxides; D011791:Quartz; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D015054:Zymosan; D011144:Polyvinylpyridine N-Oxide; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D000111:Acetylcysteine