Some lung cellular parameters reflecting inflammation after combined inhalation of amosite dust with cigarette smoke by rats.

SUMMARY Cellular changes were followed in lung cell suspensions after 175 day inhalation by rats of concentrations 30 mg/m 3 or 60 mg/m 3 of amosite asbestos every second day combined with daily exposure to cigarette smoke at 30 mg of total particulate matter (TPM)/m 3 air. Concomitantly, lung inflammation was assessed by changes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). A dose-dependent rise in the BALF inflammatory parameters was found. The rise of the proportion of binucleate (BNC) and multinucleate cells (MNC) in lung cell suspensions was also dose-dependent. It is concluded that, in the experimental assessment of effects of fibrogenic dusts, the number of BNC and of MNC in lung cell suspensions may serve as a useful semiquantitative biomarker of the inflammation.