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Decreased phagocytosis and superoxide anion production in alveolar macrophages of rats exposed to nitrogen dioxide

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Abstract

Effects of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on pulmonary defense systems were investigated by determining phagocytosis and Superoxide anion (O −2 ) production by alveolar macrophages (AM) of rats. Rats were exposed to 8 ppm NO2 for 1 to 7 days and 4 ppm NO2 for 1 to 10 days, respectively. The phagocytic activity of AM was determined by taking yeast particles into the cells. The O −2 production by AM was determined at rest during phagocytosis of zymosan particles and stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). The suppression of phagocytosis of AM was observed in cells from rats exposed to 8 ppm NO2 for 5 and 7 days. The suppression was also shown in AM from rats exposed to 4 ppm NO2 for 7 days. There were remarkable decreases in the O −2 production by AM from 8 ppm NO2-exposed rats at rest during zymosan phagocytosis and PMA stimulation on and after day 3. The O −2 production by AM from 4 ppm NO2-exposed rats at rest and during zymosan phagocytosis decreased on days 3, 5, and 10, but remained unchanged on day 7. The O −2 production by PMA-stimulated AM from 4 ppm NO2-exposed rats decreased on day 3. The results suggest that such diminution in phagocytosis and O −2 production by AM from NO2-exposed rats demonstrated the adverse effects on the pulmonary early defense systems and potentially causes bacterial infections.

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  1. Department of Environmental Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Research Laboratory of Public Health, 24-1, Hyakunincho 3 chome, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Takahito Suzuki, Shingo Ikeda, Takako Kanoh & Isao Mizoguchi

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  1. Takahito Suzuki
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  2. Shingo Ikeda
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  3. Takako Kanoh
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  4. Isao Mizoguchi
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Suzuki, T., Ikeda, S., Kanoh, T. et al. Decreased phagocytosis and superoxide anion production in alveolar macrophages of rats exposed to nitrogen dioxide. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 15, 733–739 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01054920

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01054920

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