Responses of Human Lung Fibroblasts to Ozone

Abstract

The aim of the present investigation was an assessment of toxic effects of ozone on primary cultures of human lung fibroblasts. It has been performed in order to complement the extensive published knowledge (footnote 1) about ozone-induced responses and mortalities of human tumour cell lines, and alveolar macrophages. Previous studies on cultivated lung fibroblasts have been performed using material from rodents (e.g. BASSETT et al., 1988), but reports on human lung fibroblasts are brief and scarce (e.g. BRAUNSCHWEIGER and SMITH, 1980). Fibroblasts constitute approximately 75% of interstitial lung tissue. By synthesizing collagen, and collagenase, fibroblasts are prominent effector cells in pathological processes leading to lung fibrosis, which can be caused by various agents, including ozone. In view of the high diffusion ability of this gas, it can be assumed that interstitial lung cells are affected by ozone in vivo.