Respiratory response to endotoxin and dust predicts evidence of inflammatory response in volunteers in a swine barn.
BACKGROUND
It has been shown that exposure in intense exposure in swine barn facilities is associated with increased respiratory symptoms and reduction in pulmonary functions. This study investigated if systemic response could be predicted by FEV(1) response following swine barn exposure.


METHODS
Naïve males were tested at baseline, low and high endotoxin and dust levels. Subjects were classified as "more responsive" (n = 9) or "less responsive" (n = 11) based on FEV(1) reduction following high endotoxin exposure. Health measures included pulmonary function testing, blood samples and nasal lavage. Environmental samples were collected from the barn.


RESULTS
White blood cells and blood lymphocytes at low exposure were significantly greater in those who were "more responsive" compared to those who were "less responsive". There was a significant increase in blood lymphocytes, serum IL6, total nasal lavage cells and nasal IL8 at high exposure among "more responsive" subjects compared to "less responsive" subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Respiratory response to high-level endotoxin and dust exposure predicts evidence of inflammatory response throughout a range of endotoxin and dust exposures.
Dosman
J A
JA
Institute of Agricultural Rural and Environmental Health, IAREH, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada. dosman@sask.usask.ca
Fukushima
Y
Y
Senthilselvan
A
A
Kirychuk
S P
SP
Lawson
J A
JA
Pahwa
P
P
Cormier
Y
Y
Hurst
T
T
Barber
E M
EM
Rhodes
C S
CS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D006799:Housing, Animal; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013552:Swine
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; D004391:Dust; D004731:Endotoxins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8