Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons enhance the production of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced superoxide ions in human monocytes

Abstract

Monocytes, separated from peripheral blood, preincubated with a mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) show an enhanced production of superoxide ions (O 2 −) when the cells are stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, direct activator of protein kinase C). When opsonized-zymosan is used as a stimulus (receptor-dependent stimulus), no enhanced production of O 2 − is observed. Superoxide production increases dose dependently up to a PAH concentration of 5 μg/ml. Although the effect was rather small (125–145% of the control value), it was significant and reproducible. Similar enhancing activity was also observed in the production of hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2) excluding an inhibitory effect of PAHs on the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD). Since the effect is related to the concentration of PMA and in the absence of stimulus, the O 2 − is undetectable in both the control and in the PAHs-treated cells, it is concluded that the over production of O 2 − is due to an increased activity of the NADPH oxidase.