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Comparison of the phagocytic response of rat and hamster alveolar macrophages to man-made vitreous fibers in vitro

S Münzing

A-M Allmeling

Institute for Surgical Research, University of Munich, D-81366 Munich, Germany

F Krombach

Institute for Surgical Research, University of Munich, Marchioninistrasse 15, D-81366 Munich, Germany

Rats and hamsters are well known for their disparate response to inhaled mineral fibers/particles. Alveolar macrophages (AM) play an important role in the pulmonary clearance and retention of mineral fibers/particles mainly through the process of phagocytosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there exist differences in the phagocytic response and release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) between rat and hamster AM upon exposure to man-made vitreous fibers (MMVF) in vitro. AM were obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage and macrophage-enriched cultures were exposed to MMVFlo and MMVF21 fibers for 20 h. The phagocytic response of macrophages was determined by computer-assisted video-microscopy and the superoxide anion production was evaluated by cytochrome c reduction. A significantly higher percentage of rat AM underwent frustrated phagocytosis of both types of MMVF compared to hamster AM. This was associated with a higher ROS release by rat AM compared to hamster AM. These data may help to explain the cellular mechanisms underlying the disparate pulmonary response of rat and hamster to inhaled particulate matter.

Key Words: species differences • phagocytosis • superoxide anion • macrophage

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