Perflubron decreases inflammatory cytokine production by human alveolar macrophages

Objective: To determine whether inflammatory cytokine production by stimulated human alveolar macrophages is affected by perflubron exposure. Design: Controlled laboratory investigation of alveolar macrophage function in vitro, Setting: Research laboratory, Subjects: Cultured alveolar macrophages obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage from eleven normal volunteers. interventions: Endotoxin stimulated alveolar macrophages were treated with perflubron. Measurements and Main Results: Alveolar macrophages were stimulated for 1 hr with lipopolysaccharide and then treated with perflubron for 23 hrs. Cell free supernatants were collected and cytokines were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-l, and interleukin-g were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) and all of these cytokines were significantly (p <.05) inhibited by perflubron. Cell viability was not affected by perflubron, Basal cytokine concentrations from unstimulated alveolar macrophages were not altered by perflubron. Conclusions: Exposure of stimulated human alveolar macrophages to perflubron in vitro decreases cytokine production. This observation suggests that perflubron may have anti-inflammatory activity.