Cytokine and free radical responses of alveolar macrophages in vitro to asbestos fibres.
A method for culturing primary rat alveolar macrophages (AMs) for 14 days was used to compare their responses to crocidolite and chrysotile asbestos fibres. Exposure to crocidolite increased production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta), whereas exposure to chrysotile did not; neither fibre altered the production of interleukin 6 (IL-6). IL-1beta production increased progressively, while TNF-alpha was fully elevated from day 1. Conversely, chrysotile, but not crocidolite, increased production of superoxide anion and nitric oxide (NO) radicals. These differential responses were only observed by extending the culture beyond the usual 1-3 days.
MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 9HN, UK.
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Mongan
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Jones
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Patrick
D000818:Animals; D017638:Asbestos, Crocidolite / Q000633:toxicity*; D017632:Asbestos, Serpentine / Q000633:toxicity*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344
D017632:Asbestos, Serpentine; D002273:Carcinogens; D016207:Cytokines; D005609:Free Radicals; D017638:Asbestos, Crocidolite