title: Effect of environmental contaminants on nasal lysozyme secretions.
abstract: Human nasal secretions are comprised of lysozyme and albumin as their main protein components. Lysozyme, an anti-microbial substance, is produced by nasal serous cells while albumin is obtained, primarily, from increased nasal vasculature permeability. We measured lysozyme levels in nasal secretions following challenge by a variety of non-infectious environmental contaminants. The methodology given presents a simple and rapid method of collecting nasal secretions and determining their lysozyme content, a technique which can be used for a host of environmental irritants.
authors.affiliation: Cathedral Hill Obesity Clinic, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA. rnoble7777@aol.com
authors.forename: Rudolf E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Noble
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000418:Albumins / Q000032:analysis*; D004391:Dust; D004586:Electrophoresis; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006197:Hair; D006801:Humans; D009113:Muramidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009666:Nose / Q000737:chemistry*; D010476:Perfume; D010539:Permeability; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D004391:Dust; D010476:Perfume; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D009113:Muramidase