Role of alveolar macrophages in precipitation of mineral elements inhaled as soluble aerosols

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992 · Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.9297145· OSTI ID:7029906

Galle, P; Berry, J P; Galle, C ^[1]

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1. Laboratoire de Biophysique de la Faculte de Medecine de Creteil (France)

The lysosomes of several varieties of cells such as the tubular proximal cell of the kidney and the alveolar macrophage have the ability to concentrate and precipitate several elements inhaled in water-soluble form, usually as phosphate. The mechanism involved is attributed to the high acid phosphatase activity of lysosomes and can be considered as an in vivo Gomori reaction. Among the elements studied, most of them are chemotoxic or radiotoxic (Cr; group IIIA: Al, Ga, In; rare earths: La, Ce, Tm; actinides: Th, U). In the lung macrophage, this mechanism of intralysosomal concentration and precipitation may prevent the diffusion of these toxic elements through the alveolar membrane. 7 refs., 2 figs.

• OSTI ID: 7029906
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States), Vol. 97; ISSN 0091-6765
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID PHOSPHATASE
ENZYME INDUCTION
ACTINIDES
BIOLOGICAL LOCALIZATION
LYSOSOMES
ENZYME ACTIVITY
MACROPHAGES
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
RARE EARTHS
ANIMAL CELLS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
ELEMENTS
ENZYMES
ESTERASES
GENE REGULATION
HYDROLASES
METALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHAGOCYTES
PHOSPHATASES
PROTEINS
SOMATIC CELLS
550200* - Biochemistry
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology