[Tumor necrosis factor alpha in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and its production by alveolar macrophages with asbestos exposure].
It is generally accepted that asbestos exposure causes pulmonary fibrosis and carcinogenesis. Several studies have suggested that TNF alpha is produced principally by mononuclear phagocytes and that it may play a role in inflammation, fibrosis and anti-tumor activity. We studied TNF alpha production by alveolar macrophages and the TNF alpha concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid harvested from asbestos-exposed subjects and healthy controls. TNF alpha production by alveolar macrophages was significantly higher in the asbestos-exposed subjects than in healthy controls (3696 +/- 1606, 1938 +/- 753 pg/ml; p < 0.01). The period from first exposure correlated inversely with TNF alpha production (r = -0.6; p < 0.05). The TNF alpha concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was also significantly higher in the asbestos-exposed subjects than in healthy controls. These results suggest that abnormal TNF alpha production by alveolar macrophages may be related to fibrosis and carcinogenesis due to asbestos.
Tokuyama
T
T
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nara Medical University, Japan.
Yoneda
T
T
Tsukaguchi
K
K
Yoshikawa
M
M
Fu
A
A
Tomoda
K
K
Nakaya
M
M
Narita
N
N
Tamura
M
M
Miyazaki
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000378:metabolism; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D001194:Asbestos