Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and immunoglobulins synergistically enhance mineral dust-induced production of reactive oxygen metabolites by human monocytes

Abstract

The modulating effect of BCG and polyclonal immunoglobulin on mineral dust-induced production of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) by human monocytes was studied using luminol-dependent chemiluminescence. BCG and immunoglobulin synergistically amplified the ROM production induced by chrysotile asbestos and quartz particles, and BCG caused a sharper dose response for poly-immunoglobulin added to the mineral dusts. Immunoglobulins did not affect zymosan yeast-induced ROM production, which was enhanced strongly by BCG. As there is evidence that phagocyte-derived ROM are of importance in mineral dust-induced lung injury, we suggest that the observed synergism between host response inflammatory mediators (polyimmunoglobulin) and exogenic irritants (BCG) may contribute to the outcome of exposure of mineral dusts, and thus in part explain the individual variations in susceptibility to mineral dust-induced diseases.