“Effect of n-Butanol on macrophage functions: An in vitro study.”

The modern day lifestyle has witnessed an exposure to different concentrations of n-Butanol in our environment. These compounds are found in different states mostly in dissolved form in aerosols, paints, dyes, medicines and cosmetics etc. However the concentration of environmental exposure in normal conditions is not lethal but it induces a reduced macrophage function in terms phagocytic activity and release of ROS (reactive oxygen species) in response to stress conditions. These alcohols have a delayed degradation time in the body due to higher carbon atoms in comparison to ethanol but the effect on macrophage function is not a pronounce as ethanol at similar concentrations. In this invitro experiment, an exposure of upto 5M n-Butanol proved to be lethal for murine macrophage cells (RAW cell lines) significantly causing cell death. However the effect on phagocytosis and ROS species is pronouncedly less at 2M concentration in comparison to ethanol. Therefore, it indicates at places with high exposure of n-butanol, there is a drastic effect of n-Butanol but in places of normal exposure it leads to a suppressed innate immune response by lowering the phagocytic uptake 20-30% and a slightly reduced release of ROS even at 10 cells accumulation.