A. Kantar et al., POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTE-GENERATED OXYGEN METABOLITES DECREASE BEAT FREQUENCY OF HUMAN RESPIRATORY CILIA, Lung, 172(4), 1994, pp. 215-222
We investigated the effect of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)-genera
ted oxygen metabolites on the ciliary beat frequency. PMNs were incuba
ted with human respiratory cilia obtained by nasal brushing. The oxida
tive metabolism was stimulated by opsonized zymosan, and ciliary beat
frequency was evaluated before and after activation of PMNs. Ciliary b
eat frequency was studied using video microscopy. Our results demonstr
ate a significant decrease in ciliary beat frequency after activation
of PMNs. This effect was reduced by catalase. These data suggest that
the PMN-generated oxygen metabolites, particularly H2O2, decrease beat
frequency of human respiratory cilia.