Enhancement of nitric oxide production by pulmonary cells following silica exposure.

• DOI: 10.1289/ehp.98106s51165
• Publication Date: 2011-05-16T13:38:49Z
• Authors: V Castranova; L J Huffman; D J Judy; J E Bylander; L N Lapp; S L Weber; J A Blackford; R D Dey
• Keywords: Silicosis; Chest radiograph; Coal dust

In vivo exposure of rat lungs to crystalline silica either by intratracheal instillation or inhalation results in an increase mRNA levels for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) bronchoalveolar lavage cells (BALC), elevated (.NO) production BALC, and .NO-dependent chemiluminescence (CL) from alveolar macrophages (AM). Induction iNOS message occurs both AM polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) harvested silica-exposed but is not significantly lavaged lung tissue. vitro does stimulate .NO enhance message. However, treatment naive with conditioned media BALC rats these AM. The potency this medium dependent on interaction between PMN. the model, a relationship exists ability various dusts cause PMN recruitment protein leakage into space induction i.e., > coal mine dust carbonyl iron titanium dioxide. Similarly, comparison healthy volunteer, miner normal chest radiograph, abnormal radiograph shows correlation pathology level magnitude CL These data suggest that may play role silicosis human pulmonary phagocytes exhibit enhanced response inflammatory insult.