Hormonal and Local Factors Influence Antioxidant Enzyme Activity of Rat Fetal Lung Cells in Vitro

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Monolayer cultures of fetal rat mixed lung cells respond to sublethal concentrations (50%) of oxygen by a reduced growth rate. Exposure to 95% O2 causes growth arrest and cell loss. In the presence of serum the addition of dexamethasone (5.5 nM), tri-iodothyronine (5.5nM), or insulin (5.mu.U/ml) appeared to increase the cytotoxicity of 95% O2. Under growth-arrested conditions, in the absence of serum or elevated O2 concentrations, all three agents influence cellular antioxidant enzyme activities. Dexamethasone (0.055 nM) increased CuZn superoxide dismutase activity by 72% and glutathione peroxidase activity by 94%. Triiodothyronine (5.5 nM) increased CuZn superoxide dismutase activity 93%. Insulin (5.mu.U/ml) increased CuZn superoxide dismutase activity 90%, and catalase activity 58%. Dexamethasone, but not triiodothyronine or insulin, seems to have a protective effect against subsequent acute hyperoxia under serum-free conditions. Local non-hormonal factors may also influence lung cell responses to acute increases in oxygen concentrations, since cells acutely exposed to 50% or 95% O2 release a transferable factor(s) into their culture medium which increases antioxidant enzyme activities of non-hyperoxic lung cells.