Article Text
Abstract
Background: Repeated daily exposure of healthy human subjects to NO2 induces an acute airway inflammatory response characterised by neutrophil influx in the bronchial mucosa
Aims: To assess the expression of NF-κB, cytokines, and ICAM-1 in the bronchial epithelium.
Methods: Twelve healthy, young non-smoking volunteers were exposed to 2 ppm of NO2/filtered air (four hours/day) for four successive days on separate occasions. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy was performed one hour after air and final NO2 exposures. Bronchial biopsy specimens were immunostained for NF-κB, TNF-α, eotaxin, Gro-α, GM-CSF, IL-5, -6, -8, -10, -13, and ICAM-1 and their expression was quantified using computerised image analysis.
Results: Expression of IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, and ICAM-1 increased following NO2 exposure.
Conclusion: Upregulation of the Th2 cytokines suggests that repeated exposure to NO2 has the potential to exert a “pro-allergic” effect on the bronchial epithelium. Upregulation of ICAM-1 highlights an underlying mechanism for leucocyte influx, and could also explain the predisposition to respiratory tract viral infections following NO2 exposure since ICAM-1 is a major receptor for rhino and respiratory syncytial viruses.
- nitrogen dioxide
- bronchial epithelium
- cytokines
- ICAM-1
- Th2 response
- BHR, bronchial hyperresponsiveness
- CV, coefficient of variation
- FEV, forced expiratory volume
- GMA, glycol methacrylate
- ICAM, intercellular adhesion molecule
- IL, interleukin
- NF, nuclear factor
- TNF, tumour necrosis factor
- ROI, reactive oxygen intermediates