[The effect of formaldehyde exposure on cytokine production in murine alveolar macrophages]

The vapor of formaldehyde has been reported to represent a potential health hazard, resulting in respiratory dysfunction. To determine the potential role of alterations in the alveolar macrophages induced by inhalation of formaldehyde, we studied the cytokine production of murine alveolar macrophages. Mice were exposed at 0, 2.5, 5, 10 ppm of formaldehyde for 16 hrs daily, respectively. Durations of inhalation were 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. Immediately after the formaldehyde exposure, murine alveolar macrophages were harvested from the mice. 18 hrs after LPS stimulation, the cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha) were measured in the supernatant of cultured murine alveolar macrophages using the ELISA method. No levels of formaldehyde exposure changed these cytokine productions. Either our dose or duration of formaldehyde exposure might not have been enough to produce significant changes of cytokine production of murine alveolar macrophages. Further experiments with low but longer formaldehyde exposure may be needed to understand the effect of formaldehyde on cytokine production.