Secretion of interleukin 1 and tumour necrosis factor by alveolar macrophages following exposure to particulate and fibrous dusts.

Inflammatory leukocytes have been implicated in the pathogenesis of lung disease in persons exposed to asbestos. Inflammatory leukocyte-derived cytokines may play an important part in the disease process through their ability to modulate the function of other cell types. We have previously shown that long and short fibre amosite asbestos samples have different pathological potential. In this study, we have therefore examined cytokine secretion by bronchoalveolar leukocytes exposed to long and short fibre amosite asbestos in vivo and in vitro. We have shown that both in vivo and in vitro exposure to amosite results in increased secretion of IL-1 and TNF which was greater with the long fibre sample. The relationship between long term pathology and increased secretion of TNF and IL-1 suggests that cytokines may play a part in the pathogenesis of lung disease in workers exposed to asbestos.