[Application of monocyte strains (THP-1 cells) in study on silicosis in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the application of human blood monocyte strain (THP-1 cells) with properties of pulmonary alveolar macrophage in study on pathogenesis of silicosis in vitro.


METHODS
Effects of cell culture supernatant of THP-1 stimulated by silica or induced and differentiated by phorbol ester (PMA) on proliferation of fibroblast (CHL), formation of Ag-NORs granule, migration of pulmonary alveolar epithelium (CCL-64) and occurrence of silicosis-like pathological changes were observed in rats. Chemo-illuminescence stimulated by silica in PMA-primed THP-1 cells was studied, as compared with that by PMA.


RESULTS
Supernatant of silica-stimulated THP-1 cell culture could effectively enhance proliferation of CHL cells and increase the mean number of Ag-NORs granule and their dispersion, with a good dose-response relationship, which correlated highly with cytotoxicity index, pulmonary alveolar macrophage (PAM), caused by silica. And, they could also inhibit the migration of CCL-64 and the repair of epithelial damage. The supernatants from silica-stimulated PAM and THP-1 cell culture could cause early silicotic nodule-like lesions in rats. Chemo-illuminescence response in PMA-primed THP-1 cells and PAM was enhanced by stimulation with silica in a dose-dependent pattern.


CONCLUSIONS
PMA-primed THP-1 cells may have a prospect of wide application in study on pathogenesis of silicosis and production of silicosis-related cytokine and oxygen free radicals in vitro.
Mao
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G
Research Division of Pneumoconiosis, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310031, China.
Ye
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S
Ma
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H
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000187:drug effects; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D010703:Phorbol Esters / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity; D012829:Silicosis / Q000473:pathology*
D010703:Phorbol Esters; D012822:Silicon Dioxide