“…In relation to this, macrophages, monocytes and dendritic cells (DCs) of different origins exposed to a-quartz in vitro have been demonstrated to enhance mRNA expression or protein production of IL-8 [a potent chemokine for PMN (Allen & Kurdowska, 2014)] (Xu et al, 2003) and MIP-2 (Rao et al, 2004;Sayes et al, 2007), although Zeidler et al (2003) failed to demonstrate enhanced MIP-2 production in murine bronchoalveolar lavage cells exposed to a-quartz. Alveolar epithelial cells of different origins also produce protein or enhanced expression of mRNA for IL-8 (Monteiller et al, 2007;Øvrevik et al, 2004;Seagrave & Nikula, 2000;Schins et al, 2000;Singh et al, 2007;Steerenberg et al, 1998;Stringer et al, 1996;Xu et al, 2003;Wottrich et al, 2004) and MIP-2 (Driscoll et al, 1996;Øvrevik et al, 2004) in response to a-quartz. Collectively, it is highly likely that inhaled a-quartz directly stimulates epithelial cells to produce PMN chemokines in the lung, but the direct contribution of a-quartz to MIP-2 production in macrophages needs further research.…”