A LIQUID PERFLUOROCHEMICAL DECREASES THE IN-VITRO PRODUCTION OF REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES BY ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGES

Objective: To determine whether reactive oxygen metabolite production by alveolar macrophages is affected by liquid perfluorochemical exposu re. Design: Controlled, animal laboratory investigation of alveolar ma crophage function in vitro. Setting: Animal research facility of a hea lth sciences university. Subjects: Six adult male New Zealand white ra bbits and six young piglets. Interventions: Alveolar macrophages were obtained after sacrifice from both species by total lung lavage. Macro phages were divided into control and experimental groups. Macrophages in the experimental groups were exposed to perfluorooctylbromide. To d etermine production of reactive oxygen metabolites, hydrogen peroxide production and chemiluminescence were measured in both experimental an d control groups after chemical stimulation. Measurements and Main Res ults: Perfluorooctylbromide-exposed alveolar macrophages produced sign ificantly less hydrogen peroxide (1.4 +/- 1.5 vs. 2.4 +/- 1.6 nmol/10( 6) cells; p = .002). Perfluorooctylbromide-exposed alveolar macrophage s demonstrated significantly less chemiluminescence activity compared with nonexposed cells (0.70 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.5 +/- 0.2 mV of relative act ivity per 3.5 x 10(5) cells; p = .005). Conclusions: Exposure of alveo lar macrophages to perfluorooctylbromide in vitro decreases the respon siveness of macrophages to potent stimuli. This finding may partially explain the decrease in pulmonary inflammation seen in animals treated with partial liquid ventilation during experimentally induced lung in jury.