Exposure to dibenzofuran affects lung mitochondrial function<i>in vitro</i>

Abstract

Environmental pollutants, such as dioxins and furans, are extremely toxic and related with pulmonary diseases development. Impairment of mitochondrial function has been shown in pollutant-induced hepatic injury, but it has not been addressed in lungs, even though lung mitochondria are primary cellular targets for pollutants-induced toxicity. In isolated lung mitochondria, dibenzofuran significantly increased the lag phase preceding mitochondrial repolarization, suggesting a decrease in the efficiency of the mitochondrial phosphorylative system.