Iron oxide-based oxygen scavenger

Mediators of both the infiammatoiy and fibrotic responses have been associated with exposure to oxidants. Similarly, mediator release after incubation of cells with silica and asbestos can be the result of oxygen-based free radicals catalyzed by iron associated with the mineral oxide (Fig. 1). The increase in arachidonic acid metabolism after exposures of cells to particles and fibers can result from the eooxidation of arachidonate by metal-catalyzed oxidants. This is a lipid peroxidation that can be mediated by free radical production by the dust (83). In support of an association between metal-catalyzed oxidant generation and arachidonic acid products, the release of LTB4 by alveolar macrophages can increase with the eoneentrations of iron complexed to the surface of silica and asbestos (84). Similarly, the eellular release of eytokines postulated to participate in the infiammatory and fibrotic responses ean be associated with exposures to metal-dependent radicals (see Fig. 1). TNF-a produetion by alveolar macrophages after mineral oxide exposure can be inhibited by both the metal chelator deferoxamine and hydroxyl radical scavengers (74). The release of other cytokines pertinent to silica and asbestos exposure ean also be responsive to oxidative stress (85,86). The release of these pertinent mediators after dust exposures is likely to be controlled by oxidant-sensitive promoters such as nuclear factor (NF)-kB (87). After exposure to silica and asbestos, NF-kB can function as a promoter... 

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