EFFECTS OF TRINITROTOLUENE (TNT) METABOLITES ON CHEMILUMINESCENCE RESPONSE OF PHAGOCYTIC-CELLS

The effects of TNT metabolites on the generation of activated oxygen s pecies was investigated by a sensitive luminol-dependent chemiluminesc ence (CL) assay. Spleen cell suspensions containing 2,4-diaminotoluene , 2,4,6-triaminotoluene, 2-amino-6-nitrotoluene, 4-amino-3,5-dinitroto luene and 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene were stimulated with zymosan. Ami notoluenes and amino-nitrotoluenes induced a dose-dependent inhibition of CL response. The mixed substituted toluenes generally required hig her doses than aminotoluenes for the suppression of CL response which was not due to the cytotoxic reduction of cell viability. CL appears t o be a well-suited assay for determination of the immunotoxic potentia l of diverse molecules on phagocytic cells of the immune system.