Effect of two particle surface-modifying agents, polyvinylpyridine-N-oxide and carboxymethylcellulose, on the quartz and asbestos mineral fiber-induced production of reactive oxygen metabolites by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

We studied the capacity of quartz and asbestos fibers to induce the generation of reactive oxygen metabolites in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) with a chemiluminescence (CL) assay. On an equal weight basis, the particulates induced CL in the following order of magnitude: chrysotile, quartz greater than amosite, crocidolite, greater than anthophyllite, wollastonite. The intensity of CL correlated positively with the Alcian blue (a cationic dye) binding capacity of the particles. Polyvinylpyridine-N-oxide (0.5 microgram/ml) inhibited completely the CL induced by quartz but had little effect on the CL induced by asbestos fibers. Carboxymethylcellulose (1.0 microgram/ml), however, reduced the CL caused by chrysotile asbestos but had no effect on the CL induced by the other particulates. Our results suggest that in addition to length and diameter, the effect of quartz and asbestos fibers on inflammatory cells will depend on surface characteristics, including the charge of the particles.