Tumour necrosis factor enhances the asbestos-induced production of reactive oxygen metabolites by human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN).

摘要

We studied the effect of recombinant tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) on the production of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) by human PMN exposed in vitro to chrysotile and crocidolite asbestos fibres, quartz dusts and opsonized zymosan. TNF caused a significant increase in ROM release by PMN, and significantly and dose-dependently amplified the ROM production induced by asbestos fibres. The amplification of ROM production by TNF can be of crucial importance in the process of lung inflammation and fibrogenesis in pneumoconioses.