TOBACCO-SMOKE - EFFECTS ON PULMONARY HOST DEFENSE

Tobacco smoke affected both the metabolism and function of pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM). Phagocytosis of viable Staphylococcus aureus and inert starch particles was minimally but consistently depressed in PAM from rats exposed to tobacco smoke for 6 mo. O2 consumption, superoxide and hydrogen peroxide release, and hexose monophosphate shunt activity were elevated in cells from smokers. Oxidation of glucose, labeled in the C-6 position, remained unchanged. All observed effects of tobacco smoke on O2 metabolism occurred during phagocytosis and did not affect the basal metabolism of the nonstimulated cell.