Chlorine-induced injury to the airways in mice.
Exposure to chlorine gas (Cl2) causes occupational asthma that we hypothesized occurs through the induction of airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness by oxidative damage. Respiratory mechanics and airway responsiveness to methacholine were assessed in A/J mice 24 hours after a 5-minute exposure to 100, 200, 400, or 800 ppm Cl2 and 2 and 7 days after inhalation of 400 ppm Cl2. Airway responsiveness was higher 24 hours after 400 and 800 ppm Cl2. Responsiveness after inhalation of 400 ppm Cl2 returned to normal by 2 days but was again elevated at 7 days. Airway epithelial loss, patchy alveolar damage, proteinaceous exudates, and inflammatory cells within alveolar walls were observed in animals exposed to 800 ppm Cl2. Macrophages, granulocytes, epithelial cells, and nitrate/nitrite levels increased in lung lavage fluid. Increased inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and oxidation of lung proteins were observed. Epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages from mice exposed to 800 ppm Cl2 stained for 3-nitrotyrosine residues. Inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase with 1400W (1 mg/kg) abrogated the Cl2-induced changes in responsiveness. We conclude that chlorine exposure causes functional and pathological changes in the airways associated with oxidative stress. Inducible nitric oxide synthase is involved in the induction of changes in responsiveness to methacholine.
Meakins-Christie Laboratories, 3626 St Urbain, Montreal, Province of Quebec, H2X 2P2 Canada. james.martin@mcgill.ca
James G
JG
Martin
Holly R
HR
Campbell
Hiroaki
H
Iijima
Denyse
D
Gautrin
Jean-Luc
JL
Malo
David H
DH
Eidelman
Qutayba
Q
Hamid
Karim
K
Maghni
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002713:Chlorine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D051379:Mice; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D002713:Chlorine