ABSTRACT
Objective:To study the effects of vitamin C (VC) on the injury of alveolar macrophages exposed to Ni2O3 in vitro and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Method:The alveolar macrophages were cultured with exposure to Ni2O3 in vitro. Meanwhile,VC with different concentrations (25,50 and 100 ?mol/L) were added to the medium, respectively. The cell activity,nitric oxide(NO),reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and activities of SOD, GSH-Px,CAT and iNOS were detected. iNOS mRNA expression was detected by using RT-PCR. Results:VC could decrease mortality and increase survival activity of alveolar macrophages. VC could also decrease ROS,NO and NOS activity,increase SOD,GSH-Px, CAT activities and downregulate the expression of iNOS mRNA. Conclusion:The lipid peroxidation of alveolar macrophage could be induced by Ni2O3. VC could downregulate the expression of iNOS mRNA and reduce the production of ROS and NO through increasing the activity of antioxidative enzymes and antagonize the oxidative damage induced by Ni2O3.