The results of laboratory toxicology study which exposed human alveolar macrophages and airway epithelial cells to particles in vitro and followed them for endpoints of inflammation and oxidant stress were reported in Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology.

These are the two main airway cell types likely to interact with inhaled particles. This study found that the proinflammatory response in alveolar macrophages was driven by material present in the coarse PM.

Cultures of bronchial epithelial cells also responded to the coarse fraction with higher levels of certain markers of inflammation than induced by fine or ultrafine PM. These epithelial cells also showed evidence of oxidant stress in response to coarse particle exposure, as well as to other size fractions of PM. This study adds to our understanding of potential mechanisms.

Becker S, Mundandhara S, Devlin RB, Madden M. Regulation of Cytokine Production in Human Alveolar Macrophages and Airway Epithelial Cells in Response to Ambient Air Pollution Particles: Further Mechanistic Studies. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2005; 207(2 Suppl):269-75.

For a copy of the abstract click here.

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 28th, 2006 at 2:52 pm and is filed under 2005.