SMOKING IMPAIRS ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGE ACTIVATION AFTER INERT DUST EXPOSURE

Magnetopneumography was applied to investigate intracellular phagosome motion in alveolar macrophage cells of healthy subjects (non-smokers and smokers). Ingested magnetic microparticles are inhaled and phagocy tized by alveolar macrophages within hours. Thereby the particles are transferred into phagolysosomes. After magnetization the particles pro duce a macroscopic magnetic field of the lungs. Cellular motility caus es a decay of the field (relaxation) by stochastic disorientation of t he dipole particles (phagolysosomes) in the cells. Our studies have sh own that the deposition of magnetite test particles induces a non-spec ific activation of the macrophage cells with a faster relaxation. This activation vanishes within the first day after particle deposition. T his macrophage activation due to dust exposure was not present in smok ers. It follows that cigarette smoking either causes a damage of the c ellular defense or causes an adaptation of the macrophage cells to the permanent cigarette smoke inhalation.