Increased superoxide anion production in polymorphonuclear leucocytes on exposure to isobutyl-2-cyanoacrylate

Alkyl-2-cyanoacrylates have been employed in a variety of surgical procedures, although the pathophysiological basis for their cytotoxicity has not been resolved. Previous reports indicated that leucocytes infiltrate the site of cyanoacrylate application in situ. Consequently, human polymorphonuclear leucocytes were treated with 0-200 mM cyanoacrylate isobutyl-2- and superoxide anion radical production, lactate dehydrogenase release, and intracellular reduced glutathione content were quantitated following this treatment. In addition, some cells were also treated with 0-20 mM ascorbic acid before exposure to the adhesive. Pretreatment with ascorbic acid resulted in a statistically significant decrease in superoxide production (up to 111%), decrease in lactate dehydrogenase release (up to 26.4%) and a like increase in glutathione content (up to 26.6%). These results indicated that the cytotoxic properties of isobutyl-2-cyanoacrylate were diminished in a dose-dependent manner with addition of ascorbic acid, a free radical trapping agent. Moreover, isobutyl-2-cyanoacrylate appeared to increase specifically the production of superoxide anion. These findings suggested that the cytotoxicity of this class of adhesives may be associated with the formation of reactive oxygen intermediates.