The role of nitric oxide and cytokines in asthma-like syndrome induced by sulfur dioxide exposure in agricultural environment.
BACKGROUND
We previously demonstrated that apricot sulfurization workers are exposed to high concentrations of SO(2), subsequently causing asthma-like syndrome. This study investigated the effects of SO(2) exposure on serum TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, nitrite and nitrate levels to understand the mechanism of SO(2)-induced bronchoconstriction in asthma-like syndrome.


METHODS
We measured the serum levels of the cytokines, direct nitrite, total nitrite and nitrate obtained from 40 volunteer workers after an hour of exposure to SO(2) and 23 healthy controls.


RESULTS
The concentrations of the cytokines, direct nitrite, total nitrite and nitrate were significantly (p<0.0001) higher in the workers than in the controls. The mean serum concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, direct nitrite, total nitrite and nitrate were 430.60+/-397.03 pg/ml, 436.67+/-316.31 pg/ml, 752.11+/-394.95 pg/ml, 262.12+/-287.99 pg/ml, 7.75+/-3.34 micromol/l, 115.72+/-48.78 micromol/l and 107.97+/-46.19 micromol/l in the workers, while they were 9.83+/-3.12 pg/ml, <5 pg/ml, 7.49+/-1.27 pg/ml, 9.38+/-1.99 pg/ml, 2.17+/-0.77 micromol/l, 59.91+/-7.56 micromol/l and 57.74+/-7.20 micromol/l in the controls, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8 and nitric oxide may play a role in the pathogenesis of bronchoconstriction in asthma-like syndrome due to the SO(2) exposure.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000378:metabolism / Q000506:poisoning*; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000506:poisoning*; D013577:Syndrome
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D016207:Cytokines; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D009569:Nitric Oxide