Increased release of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion from asbestos-primed macrophages. Effect of hydrogen peroxide on the functional activity of alpha 1-protease inhibitor.

The ability of asbestos-elicited murine peritoneal macrophages to release superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, following in vitro triggering, has been investigated. The asbestos-elicited macrophages produced increased levels of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide compared to control macrophages and similar levels to those produced by Corynebacterium parvum elicited macrophages. The supernatants from asbestos-elicited macrophages which had been triggered in vitro were capable of impairing the ability of alpha 1-protease inhibitor to inhibit elastase function. The catalase sensitivity of this effect showed it to be due to hydrogen peroxide.