The pneumotoxicant paraquat potentiates IL-1 and TNF production by human mononuclear cells.

Interleukin 1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of bleomycin- and silica-induced lung damage. We have studied the effect of paraquat (PQ), a well-known pneumotoxicant, on IL-1 and TNF production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from different healthy donors stimulated with endotoxin. PQ (100 microM) potentiated IL-1 production (2-40 fold) and TNF production (2-18 fold). It is, therefore, possible that IL-1 and TNF are also involved in the pneumotoxic action of PQ.