title: Effects of Asian sand dust on mucin gene expression and activation of nasal polyp epithelial cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asian sand dust (ASD) contains a variety of chemical and microbiological materials such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and beta-glucan that can cause inflammation. The increase in the atmospheric concentration of ASD has been associated with asthma severity and adverse effects on respiratory function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ASD on the inflammatory process and mucin gene expression in nasal epithelial cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary nasal polyp epithelial cells were exposed to ASD for 72 hours, and then the supernatants were collected. To determine the activation of the epithelial cells, IL-6, IL-8, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor were measured. In addition, the potential cytotoxic effects of ASD on the epithelial cells were evaluated. Quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction for MUC4, MUC5AC, MUC5B, and MUC8 mRNA expression, in the nasal epithelial cells, was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ASD stimulated the production of chemical mediators in a time-dependent manner. The cytokine production was highest at 100 micrograms/mL of ASD. MUC4 and MUC5B mRNA expression was significantly increased at 10 and 50 micrograms/mL of ASD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Atomospheric exposure to various chemical species and microbiological materials carrying ASD may affect upper airway inflammation through the production of inflammatory cytokines and mucin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Graduate School of Medicine and Science, Gachon University, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seon-Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mi-Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Seung-Heon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004391:Dust / Q000276:immunology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009077:Mucins / Q000235:genetics*; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D009077:Mucins; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor