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Quartz-dust-induced production of reactive oxygen metabolites by human granulocytes

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Abstract

We studied the effect of quartz on the production of reactive oxygen species by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in vitro by a chemiluminescence (CL) assay. Quartz caused a rapid dose-dependent CL response in the cells. Diamond dust used as an inert control did not stimulate the production of reactive oxygen metabolites by PMN. The quartz-induced activation of oxygen metabolism was also demonstrated by measuring oxygen consumption, nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, and superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production by PMN. Poly-vinyl-pyridine N-oxide (a quartz surface modifying agent) completely abolished the quartz-induced response, but had no effect on opsonized zymosan-induced CL response of PMN. The effect of N-acetylcysteine (a known antioxidant) was inhibitory to the CL formation induced by both quartz and opsonized zymosan. Our results are in agreement with the hypothesis that quartz-induced production of reactive oxygen metabolites is a possible mechanism by which quartz dust produces chronic inflammation and tissue injury of the lung. Agents interfering with the generation of reactive oxygen metabolites may provide a rationale for treatment of mineral-dust-induced pulmonary disease.

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  1. Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, SF-00250, Helsinki, Finland

    Mikael Hedenborg & Matti Klockars

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  1. Mikael Hedenborg
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  2. Matti Klockars
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Hedenborg, M., Klockars, M. Quartz-dust-induced production of reactive oxygen metabolites by human granulocytes. Lung 167, 23–32 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02714927

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