A liquid perfluorochemical decreases the in vitro production of reactive oxygen species by alveolar macrophages

Objective: To determine whether reactive oxygen metabolite production by alveolar macrophages is affected by liquid perfluorochemical exposure. Design: Controlled, animal laboratory investigation of alveolar macrophage function in vitro. Setting: Animal research facility of a health sciences university. Subjects: Six adult male New Zealand white rabbits and six young piglets. Interventions: Alveolar macrophages were obtained after sacrifice from both species by total lung lavage. Macrophages were divided into control and experimental groups. Macrophages in the experimental groups were exposed to perfluorooctylbromide. To determine production of reactive oxygen metabolites, hydrogen peroxide production and chemiluminescence were measured in both experimental and control groups after chemical stimulation. Measurements and Main Results: Perfluorooctylbromide-exposed alveolar macrophages produced significantly less hydrogen peroxide (1.4 ± 1.5 vs. 2.4 ± 1.6 nmol/10⁶ cells; p = .002). Perfluorooctylbromide-exposed alveolar macrophages demonstrated significantly less chemiluminescence activity compared with nonexposed cells (0.70 ± 0.2 vs. 1.5 ± 0.2 mV of relative activity per 3.5 x 10⁵ cells; p = .005). Conclusions: Exposure of alveolar macrophages to perfluorooctylbromide in vitro decreases the responsiveness of macrophages to potent stimuli. This finding may partially explain the decrease in pulmonary inflammation seen in animals treated with partial liquid ventilation during experimentally induced lung injury.