Polyanions protect against the in vitro pulmonary toxicity of polycationic paint components associated with the Ardystil syndrome.

The polycationic paint components of the Acramin F system have led to severe pulmonary disease in textile printing sprayers in Spain and Algeria (Ardystil syndrome). In order to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the toxicity of these nitrogen-containing polymeric paint components, Acramin FWR (FWR), Acramin FWN (FWN), and Acrafix FHN (FHN), we have studied the effect of coincubation with polyanionic compounds, Sulodexide (heparin-like substance), DNA and poly-l-glutamic acid (of different lengths) in different pulmonary cell types. This study shows that the cytotoxicity of the three polycationic paint components FWR (a polyurea), FWN (a polyamide-amine), and FHN (a polyamine) is markedly decreased in the presence of the polyanions. It is concluded that the paint components FWR, FWN, and FHN execute their cytotoxicity at least partly by the abundant positive charges these molecules carry at physiological pH.