title: Diesel exhaust exposure enhances the expression of IL-13 in the bronchial epithelium of healthy subjects.
abstract: Epidemiological studies have demonstrated adverse health effects of environmental pollution. Diesel exhaust (DE) is an important contributor to ambient particulate matter pollution. DE exposure has been shown to induce a pronounced inflammatory response in the airways, with an enhanced epithelial expression of IL-8, and Gro-alpha in healthy subjects. The present investigation was aimed to further characterise the epithelial response to DE in vivo, with particular reference to possible TH2 response, in non-atopic healthy subjects. To determine this response, 15 healthy, non-atopic non-smoking subjects with normal lung function were exposed to DE (PM10 300 microg/m3) and filtered air during 1 h on two separate randomised occasions. Bronchoscopy sampling of bronchial mucosal biopsies was performed 6 h after exposure. Immunohistochemical staining were performed using mAb for IL-10, IL-13 and IL-18 expression. DE exposure induced a significant increase in the expression of IL-13 in the bronchial epithelium cells, 2.1 (1.35-4.88) Md (Q1-Q3) vs. air 0.94 (0.53-1.23); P = 0.009. No significant changes were seen in IL-10 and IL-18 expression. This finding suggests an TH2-inflammatory response in the airways of non-atopic healthy individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, University Hospital, Umeå SE-901 85, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jamshid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pourazar
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Frew
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blomberg
authors.forename: Ragnberth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Helleday
authors.forename: Frank J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sandström
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000276:immunology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D018793:Interleukin-13; D001335:Vehicle Emissions