Phm. Hoet et al., Polyanions protect against the in vitro pulmonary toxicity of polycationicpaint components associated with the Ardystil syndrome, TOX APPL PH, 175(2), 2001, pp. 184-190
The polycationic paint components of the Acramin F system have led to sever
e pulmonary disease in textile printing sprayers in Spain and Algeria (Ardy
stil syndrome). In order to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the toxi
city of these nitrogen-containing polymeric paint components, Acramin FWR (
FWR), Acramin FWN (FWN), and Acrafix FHN (FHN), we have studied the effect
of coincubation with polyanionic compounds, Sulodexide (heparin-like substa
nce), DNA and poly-L-glutamic acid (of different lengths) in different pulm
onary cell types. This study shows that the cytotoxicity of the three polyc
ationic paint components FWR (a polyurea), FWN (a polyamide-amine), and FHN
(a polyamine) is markedly decreased in the presence of the polyanions. It
is concluded that the paint components FWR, FWN, and FHN execute their cyto
toxicity at least partly by the abundant positive charges these molecules c
arry at physiological pH. (C) 2001 Academic Press.