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Abstract
Alveolar type II epithelial cells (AIIE) and pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM)
are involved in pulmonary toxicity of JP-8 jet fuel exposure. To further elucidate
their inflammatory mechanisms, the effect(s) of JP-8 jet fuel on cytokine secretion
were examined in a transformed rat AIIE cell line (RLE-6TN) culture alone, primary
PAM (from Fischer 344 rats) culture alone, and the co-culture of AIIE and primary
PAM. A series of JP-8 jet fuel concentrations (0-0.8 microg/ml), which may actually
be encountered in alveolar space of lungs exposed in vivo, were placed in cell culture
for 24 h. Cultured AIIE alone secreted spontaneously interleukin (IL)-1beta and -6
[below detectable limits for IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)], whereas
cultured PAM alone secreted IL-1beta, -10, and TNF-alpha, in a concentration-dependent
manner. These data suggest that the release of cytokines, not only from PAM but also
from AIIE cells, may contribute to JP-8 jet fuel-induced inflammatory response in
the alveolar space. However, the co-cultures of AIIE and PAM showed no significant
changes in IL-1beta, -6, and TNF-alpha at any JP-8 jet fuel concentration compared
to control values. These cytokine levels in co-cultures of AIIE and PAM were inversely
related to these of cultured AIIE or PAM alone. Interestingly, IL-10 levels in the
co-culture system were concentration-dependently increased up to 1058% at JP-8 concentrations
of 0.8 microg/ml, although under detectable limits in cultured AIIE alone and no significant
concentration change in cultured PAM alone. It appears that PAM may possibly act via
paracrine and/or autocrine pathways to signal AIIE cells to regulate cytokine release.