Repeated daily exposure to 2 ppm nitrogen dioxide upregulates the expression of IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, and ICAM-1 in the bronchial epithelium of healthy human airways.
BACKGROUND
Repeated daily exposure of healthy human subjects to NO2 induces an acute airway inflammatory response characterised by neutrophil influx in the bronchial mucosa


OBJECTIVE
To assess the expression of NF-kappaB, 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-kappaB, TNF-alpha, eotaxin, Gro-alpha, 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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Pathmanathan
S
S
University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
Krishna
M T
MT
Blomberg
A
A
Helleday
R
R
Kelly
F J
FJ
Sandström
T
T
Holgate
S T
ST
Wilson
S J
SJ
Frew
A J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000378:metabolism; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
D000393:Air Pollutants; D018793:Interleukin-13; D015848:Interleukin-5; D007378:Interleukins; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D016753:Interleukin-10; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide