title: Effect of acrolein, a hazardous air pollutant in smoke, on human middle ear epithelial cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acrolein is a hazardous air pollutant. Tobacco smoke and indoor air pollution are the main causes of human exposure. Acrolein has been shown to cause cytotoxicity in the airways and induce inflammation and mucin production in pulmonary cells. We investigated whether acrolein caused cytotoxicity, induced inflammation or increased expression of mucin in immortalized human middle ear epithelial cell lines (HMEECs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cytotoxicity following acrolein treatment was investigated using the MTT assay, flow cytometry, and Hoechst 33342 staining of HMEECs. We measured expression of inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 and the mucin gene MUC5AC using semi-quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exposure to >50 μg/mL acrolein caused a decrease in cell viability. Acrolein induced apoptosis and necrosis at 50 μg/mL. Acrolein at 5-50 μg/mL increased expression of TNF-α and COX-2, as shown by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Acrolein exposure at 5-50 μg/mL for 2-24h increased MUC5AC expression, as determined by RT-PCR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acrolein decreased cell viability, induced an inflammatory response, and increased mucin gene expression in HMEECs. These findings support the hypothesis that acrolein, a hazardous air pollutant in tobacco smoke and ambient air, is a risk factor for otitis media.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Dongguk University Ilsan hospital, Ilsan, South Korea.
authors: Jae-Jun
authors: JJ
authors: Song
authors: Jong Dae
authors: JD
authors: Lee
authors: Byung Don
authors: BD
authors: Lee
authors: Sung Won
authors: SW
authors: Chae
authors: Moo Kyun
authors: MK
authors: Park
mesh_terms: D000171:Acrolein / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000166:cytology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D055271:Mucin 5AC / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012906:Smoke; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D016207:Cytokines; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D012906:Smoke; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000171:Acrolein; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human
keywords: Acrolein; Human middle ear epithelial cells; Middle ear; Otitis media