Pulmonary Macrophage Release of Inflammatory Cytokines After Multi-Day NitricAcid Vapor and Ozone Exposure

摘要

This study measured ex-vivo production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by pulmonarymacrophages. The macrophages were isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) obtained from human subjects who had under gone controlled exposures to ozone (O3), nitric acid (HNO3), or both together. The study was based on the premise that pulmonary macrophages are activated by exposure to O3 and HNO3 vapor, and that they will continue to secrete cytokines after removal from BALF. The cytokines of interest included tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1-beta (IL-1-beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and macrophage inflammatory protein-1-alpha (MIP-1-alpha). Cells from BALF were suspended in culture medium, and were plated in microwells.