title: Effects on asthma and induction of interleukin-8 caused by Asian dust particles collected in western Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Asian dust storms (ADS) contain various airborne particles that may augment airway inflammation by increasing the level of interleukin-8. The objective of the study was to investigate the association of exposure to an ADS with worsening of symptoms of adult asthma and the effect of ADS particles on interleukin-8 transcriptional activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were 112 patients with mild to moderate asthma who recorded scores for their daily upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms and measured morning peak expiratory flow (PEF) from March to May 2011. Interleukin-8 transcriptional activity was assessed in THP-G8 cells that were exposed to airborne particles collected during days of ADS exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 112 patients, 31 had comorbid allergic rhinitis (AR) and/or chronic sinusitis (CS), and had worsened scores for upper respiratory tract symptoms on ADS days compared to non-ADS days. Scores for lower respiratory tract symptoms during ADS days were higher than non-ADS days in all patients. Three patients also had unscheduled hospital visits for exacerbation of asthma on ADS days. However, there was no significant difference in daily morning PEF between ADS and non-ADS days. Airborne particles collected on ADS days induced interleukin-8 transcriptional activity in THP-G8 cells compared to the original soil of the ADS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure to an ADS aggravates upper and lower tract respiratory symptoms in patients with adult asthma. ADS airborne particles may increase airway inflammation through enhancement of interleukin-8 transcriptional activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University , Yonago , Tottori .
authors.forename: Masanari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kurai
authors.forename: Katsuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Rumiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Sayaka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minato
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Igishi
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Burioka
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sako
authors.forename: Kazuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mikami
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurita
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tokuyasu
authors.forename: Yasuto
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Konishi
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.forename: Setsuya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aiba
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oshimura
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shimizu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D014919:Wind
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust; D016209:Interleukin-8; D052638:Particulate Matter; D008156:Luciferases
keywords: Asian dust storms; THP-G8 cells; interleukin-8; luciferase assay; respiratory tract