In vitro assessment of plutonium uptake and release using the human macrophage-like THP-1 cells

摘要

Plutonium (Pu) intake by inhalation is one of the major potential consequences following an accident in the nuclear industry or after improvised nuclear device explosion. Macrophages are essential players in retention and clearance of inhaled compounds. However, the extent to which these phagocytic cells are involved in these processes highly depends on the solubility properties of the Pu deposited in the lungs. Our objectives were to develop an in vitro model representative of the human pulmonary macrophage capacity to internalize and release Pu compounds in presence or not of the chelating drug diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (DTPA).