Increased release of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion from asbestos-primed macrophages: effect of hydrogen peroxide on the functional activity of alpha-1 protease inhibitor

The ability of asbestos-elicited murine peritoneal macrophages to release superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, followingin vitro triggering, has been investigated. The asbestos-elicited macrophages produced increased levels of super oxide and hydrogen peroxide compared to control macrophages and similar levels to those produced byCorynebacterium parvum elicited macrophages. The supernatants from asbestos-elicited macrophages which had been triggered invitro were capable of impairing the ability of α1protease inhibitor to inhibit elastase function. The catalase sensitivity of this effect showed it to be due to hydrogen peroxide.