Peroxidation of Lipids in Alveolar Macrophages

Abstract
Incubation of sonicates of rabbit alveolar macrophages and pulmonary protective factor with an aqueous extract of cigarette smoke (AECS) resulted in peroxidation of lipids, as estimated by the 2-thiobarbituric acid reaction (TBA). The accumulation of malonaldehyde was not reduced by supplementing the incubation media with cysteine. These studies suggest that oxidants or free radicals in AECS-induce peroxidation of unsaturated lipids in alveolar macrophages and in an acellular material that coats the cells in the lung.