Lymphocyte infiltration and increased macrophage phagocytosis in the lungs of HNO sub 3 -exposed humans

Conference · Mon Mar 11 00:00:00 EST 1991 · FASEB Journal (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology); (United States)

OSTI ID:5751646

Becker, S; Roger, L J; Devlin, R B; Koren, H S ^[1]

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1. Environmental Protection Agency, Chapel Hill, NC (United States)

Nitric acid is a common air pollutant possibly associated with airway inflammation. Therefore the authors have exposed healthy, non-smoking volunteers, 18-35 yr of age, once to HNO{sub 3} and once to filtered air for 2 hr with 100 min of moderate exercise. Eighteen hr after exposure bronchoalveolar lavage was performed and the cells and fluid were analyzed for indicators of inflammation. Compared to air, the number of lymphocytes in lavage fluid was increased after HNO{sub 3}; macrophage and PMN counts were unchanged. In a phagocytosis assay, the number of macrophages ingesting unopsinized C. albicans increased from 12% (air to 33%) (HNO{sub 3}); the number ingesting opsonized yeast increased from 58% to 78%. Lavage fluid protein concentration was increased. These preliminary data suggest that HNO{sub 3} exposure results in permeability changes accompanied by lymphocyte infiltration and stimulation of macrophage phagocytosis in the lower airways. The lack of LDH and PMN increases in the lavage, under the conditions tested, suggests that this pollutant does not cause tissue damage in the airways as previously reported with O{sub 3}.

• OSTI ID: 5751646
• Report Number(s): CONF-9104107-; CODEN: FAJOE
• Journal Information: FASEB Journal (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology); (United States), Vol. 5:4; Conference: 75. annual meeting of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), Atlanta, GA (United States), 21-25 Apr 1991; ISSN 0892-6638
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
MACROPHAGES
PHAGOCYTOSIS
NITRIC ACID
TOXICITY
AIR POLLUTION
CANDIDA
EXERCISE
LAVAGE
LUNGS
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ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
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CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
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FUNGI
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
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MAMMALS
MICROORGANISMS
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PRIMATES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SOMATIC CELLS
VERTEBRATES
YEASTS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology