EFFECTS OF TRINITROTOLUENE (TNT) METABOLITES ON CHEMILUMINESCENCE RESPONSE OF PHAGOCYTIC-CELLS

The effects of TNT metabolites on the generation of activated oxygen species was investigated by a sensitive luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (CL) assay. Spleen cell suspensions containing 2,4-diaminotoluene, 2,4,6-triaminotoluene, 2-amino-6-nitrotoluene, 4-amino-3,5-dinitrotoluene and 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene were stimulated with zymosan. Aminotoluenes and amino-nitrotoluenes induced a dose-dependent inhibition of CL response. The mixed substituted toluenes generally required higher doses than aminotoluenes for the suppression of CL response which was not due to the cytotoxic reduction of cell viability. CL appears to be a well-suited assay for determination of the immunotoxic potential of diverse molecules on phagocytic cells of the immune system.