Toxicity of metallic ions in the lung: effects of alveolar macrophages and alveolar type II cells

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984 · J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15287398409530545· OSTI ID:6135235

Castranova, V; Bowman, L; Wright, J R; Colby, H; Miles, P R

Airborne metallic particulates are associated with fossil-fueled power plants, automobile exhausts, metal mining, and metallurgical smelters. Therefore, the possible toxic effects of metals on the lung are of environmental and occupational concern. In this investigation the effects of in vitro exposure to metallic ions on the following parameters were determined: oxygen consumption and membrane integrity of alveolar macrophages and type II cells, and chemiluminescence of zymosan-stimulated alveolar macrophages. Cu/sup 2 +/ and Zn/sup 2 +/ exhibited marked toxicity to isolated alveolar macrophages and type II cells, while V/sup 3 +/ exhibited intermediate toxicity. In contrast, short-term in vitro exposure to As/sup 5 +/ and Se/sup 4 +/ had little effect on alveolar macrophages and type II cells. Although the data suggest that exposure to certain metals may be harmful to the lung, the various pulmonary parameters tested in this investigation displsay differing susceptibility to metal exposure. That is, metals are less toxic to alveolar type II cells than to alveolar macrophages. Our data also indicate that chemiluminescence is the most sensitive assay for monitoring the viability of alveolar macrophages, while oxygen consumption is a sensitive assay for type II cells. 34 references, 3 figures, 4 tables.

• Research Organization: West Virginia Univ., Morgantown
• OSTI ID: 6135235
• Journal Information: J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States), Vol. 13:4-6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
TOXICITY
COPPER COMPOUNDS
MACROPHAGES
SENSITIVITY
SELENIUM COMPOUNDS
VANADIUM COMPOUNDS
ZINC COMPOUNDS
ANIMAL CELLS
BIOLOGICAL VARIABILITY
CATIONS
CHEMILUMINESCENCE
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
IN VITRO
LUNGS
BODY
CHARGED PARTICLES
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DATA
INFORMATION
IONS
LUMINESCENCE
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANS
PHAGOCYTES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SOMATIC CELLS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
560301* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Cells- (-1987)