[Effect of chrysotile on nitric oxide production and anti-oxidasic activity in rabbit alveolar macrophages]

This study aimed to explore the role of nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in chrysotile asbestos-caused diseases. The production of NO2-/NO3- (the final product of NO) and the alterations of NOS, SOD and GSH-Px activity were investigated when rabbit alveolar macrophages (AM) were stimulated by UICC chrysotile. The results revealed that with the dosage elevation of UICC chrysotile, the rabbit alveolar macrophages showed: (1) increased mortality, decreased survival activity; (2) increased product of NO2-/NO3-, decreased SOD and GSH-Px activity; (3) increased NOS activity in the lower dosage groups, but decreased NOS activity in the higher dosage groups. There was significantly negative correlation between NO release and SOD (or GSH-Px) activity (r1 = -0.7125, P < 0.05; r2 = -0.8496, P < 0.05 respectively). Moreover, the significantly positive correlation between NO release and NOS activity was found in the lower dosage groups, but significantly negative correlation in the higher dosage groups. These findings suggest that chrysotile could induce the alveolar macrophages to increase NO release and to decrease SOD and GSH-Px activity, which may play a role in the process of asbestos-caused diseases.