[Method of comparative evaluation of cytotoxicity of low-soluble dust by lowered activity of 5-nucleotidase in macrophage culture].

The authors suggest a new method to evaluate cytotoxicity of silicosis-dangerous dust through lowered activity of 5'-nucleotidase, a marker of cytolemma, in macrophageal culture. The scientists used the new method to compare cytotoxicity of 4 groups of industrial dust and correlated the results with those obtained in the test of lowered viability of macrophages (by incorporation of trypan blue). Both tests appeared to have correlation of the dust ranks according to cytotoxicity grade. Damage and activation of macrophages by products of their destruction change the cytotoxicity grade in the same direction, so the results could be considered more easily than for the tests where the changes are in opposite directions.