The effects of silica and fly ash dust inhalation on alveolar macrophage effector cell function

Inhalation of silica was found to cause significant enhancement of alveolar macrophage antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) after 14, 42, and 70 days of exposure, while similar treatment using fly ash resulted in significant suppression of ADCC after 42 days of exposure. Both silica and fly ash inhalation depressed the ability of alveolar macrophages from BCG-primed and BCG-rechallenged animals to mediate tumor cell lysis. Fly ash exposure also significantly suppressed the ability of BCG-activated macrophages to lyse target cells by the ADCC mechanism.