[Effect of antioxidants on the production of reactive oxygen metabolites by stimulated alveolar macrophages].

Reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) (O2-, H2O2, 1O2, .OH, OX-) which are produced by stimulated alveolar macrophages (AM), neutrophils and eosinophils, play an important role in the pathogenesis of many acute and chronic lung diseases. With regard to a therapeutic application the influence of the antioxidants ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and alpha-tocopheryl acetate (Vitamin E acetate) on the production of ROM by AM was investigated. The AM were isolated by bronchoalveolar lavage from patients with different lung disorders. The ROM were determined by means of chemiluminescence-measuring. alpha-Tocopheryl acetate solved in peanut oil causes a little increase of the yeast cell wall-induced chemiluminescence. Pure alpha-Tocopheryl acetate has no effect on the chemiluminescence. In contrast to alpha-Tocopheryl acetate the addition Vitamin C to the stimulated AM results in a strong diminution of the chemiluminescence signal. This result suggests that Vitamin C reduces the generation of ROM by AM. Therefore Vitamin C could be a suitable scavenger of radicals and oxidants in different lung diseases.