ARACHIDONIC-ACID ACTIVATION OF MONOCYTE AND NEUTROPHIL REACTIVE OXYGEN IN LUNG-CANCER PATIENTS UNDERGOING PULMONARY RESECTION

Reactive oxygen intermediate (roi) generation was investigated in phag ocytes of 39 patients undergoing pulmonary resection for lung cancer a nd 39 paired healthy controls. Generation of roi in monocytes and neut rophils was monitored using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate. Activa tion associated with hydrophobic interactions was probed by analysis o f phagocyte roi activation by arachidonic acid and gamma-linolenic aci d. Patient roi was measured pre-operatively and 2 and 7 days post-oper atively. Elevated (P < 0.01) roi production was detected in neutrophil s of lung cancer patients. Surgery was associated with an increase (P < 0.05-P < 0.01) in phagocyte roi at 2 and 7 days post-op. Phagocyte r oi was stimulated by arachidonic acid and gamma-linolenic acid (1-40 m u M) both pre- and post-operatively. Differences in arachidonic acid a nd gamma-linolenic acid stimulation between patient and control and pr e- and post-op patient phagocytes suggest arachidonic acid involvement in phagocyte activation during reactive responses to lung carcinoma a nd surgery. (C) 1996 The international Association of Biological Stand ardization.