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Title: Dual effect of nitrogen dioxide on rat alveolar macrophage arachidonate metabolism

Journal Article · · Experimental Lung Research; (United States)

Significant deficits in alveolar macrophage (AM) function have been associated with acute exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO[sub 2]. The present investigation examined changes in enzymatic production of arachidonate metabolites from rat AM exposed to NO[sub 2]. While in vitro exposure of AM to NO[sub 2] concentrations between 0.1 and 5 ppm alone had small effects on basal synthesis of cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase products, exposure to either 1 ppm (2 or 4 h) or 5 ppm (1h) markedly enhanced the response of AM to stimulation by the calcium ionophore, A23187. This pre-exposure led to significant increases in thromboxane A[sub 2], and 12-hydroxheptadecatrienoic acid (12-HHT)) and lipoxygenase products (leukotriene B (LTB[sub 4]) and monohydroxyeicosatetraenoate isomers) in response to A23187. In contrast, a 1-h exposure to 20 ppm NO[sub 2] alone significantly increased AM synthesis of thromboxane and 12-HHT, but suppressed the effect of subsequently added A23187. Increased synthesis of cyclooxygenase products with 20 ppm NO[sub 2] alone were blocked with the phospholipase inhibitor mepacrine and the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. The lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) significantly reduced release of arachidonate; however, levels of thromboxane and 12 HHT were significantly increased. The results suggest a dual effect of NO[sub 2] on AM arachidonate metabolism in which low concentrations of NO[sub 2] had small effects on basal metabolism but markedly amplified the response to stimuli, while a high concentration of NO[sub 2] did the reverse. Such a complex dose-response effect may have significant impact in explaining the pathologic effects of NO[sub 2]. 33 refs., 7 figs., 1 tab.

OSTI ID:
6656532
Journal Information:
Experimental Lung Research; (United States), Vol. 19:1; ISSN 0190-2148
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English