title: Effect of sulfur dioxide on cytokine production of human alveolar macrophages in vitro.
abstract: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and transforming growth factor-beta are cytokines synthesized by alveolar macrophages. We investigated the effect of sulfur dioxide, a major air pollutant, on the production of these cytokines by alveolar macrophages. The cells were layered on a polycarbonate membrane and exposed for 30 min to 0.0, 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 ppm sulfur dioxide at 37 degrees C and 100% air humidity. The cells were incubated for 24 h after exposure, thus allowing cytokine release. Cytotoxic effects of sulfur dioxide were evaluated by trypan blue exclusion. Cytokines were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (i.e., tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, and interleukin-6) or by use of a specific bioassay (i.e., transforming growth factor-beta). The toxicity of sulfur dioxide for alveolar macrophages ranged from 3.1 % to 9.5 %. A 30-min exposure to sulfur dioxide induced a significant decrease in spontaneous and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated tumor necrosis factor-alpha (p < .001) and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated interleukin-1beta release (p < .05). The release of interleukin-6 and transforming growth factor-beta was not affected significantly by sulfur dioxide exposure. Our results demonstrated a functional impairment of alveolar macrophages after sulfur dioxide exposure (i.e., release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta). Neither spontaneous nor stimulated release of interleukin-6 and transforming growth factors were influenced by exposure to sulfur dioxide.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pneumology, IIIrd Department of Internal Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Knorst
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kienast
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Müller-Quernheim
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferlinz
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D007378:Interleukins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide