Effects of xenobiotics on macrophage function: evaluation in vitro

Macrophages participate in a variety of inflammatory and immunologic functions (e.g., phagocytosis, cytokine production, killing of microbes and tumor cells, and processing and presentation of antigen to T lymphocytes). Because these cells are widely distributed in the circulation and throughout tissue, the effects of xenobiotics on macrophage function can be significant. Measures in vitro of altered function elicited by xenobiotic exposure can include changes in expression of cell surface proteins, in production of oxygen and nitrogen free radicals, in production of cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha)], in expression of adhesion molecules (ICAM-1), in phagocytosis and intracellular killing, and in antigen presentation.