title: Exposure to negatively charged-particle dominant air-conditions on human lymphocytes in vitro activates immunological responses.
abstract: Indoor air-conditions may play an important role in human health. Investigation of house conditions that promote health revealed that negatively charged-particle dominant indoor air-conditions (NAC) induced immune stimulation. NAC was established using fine charcoal powder on walls and ceilings and utilizing forced negatively charged particles (approximate diameter: 20 nm) dominant in indoor air-conditions created by applying an electric voltage (72 V) between the backside of the walls and the ground. We reported previously that these conditions induced a slight and significant increase of interleukin-2 during 2.5 h stay, and an increase of natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, when examining human subjects after a two-week night stay under these conditions. In the present study, we investigated whether exposure to NAC in vitro affects immune conditions. Although the concentrations of particles were different, an incubator for cell culture with NAC was set and cellular compositions and functions of various freshly isolated human lymphocytes derived from healthy donors were assayed in the NAC incubator and compared with those of cultures in a standard (STD) incubator. Results showed that NAC cultivation caused an increase of CD25 and PD-1 expressing cells in the CD4 positive fraction, enhancement of NK cell cytotoxicity, production of interferon-y (IFNγ), and slight enhancement of regulatory T cell function. In addition, the formula designated as the "immune-index" clearly differed between STD and NAC culture conditions. Thus, NAC conditions may promote human health through slight activation of the immune system against cancer cells and virus infection as shown by this in vitro study and our previously reported human studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Mastushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0192 Japan.
authors.forename: Yasumitsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Housing R&D Institute, SEKISUI HOUSE, Ltd., 6-6-4 Kabutodai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0224 Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Housing R&D Institute, SEKISUI HOUSE, Ltd., 6-6-4 Kabutodai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0224 Japan.
authors.forename: Akinori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mase
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Housing R&D Institute, SEKISUI HOUSE, Ltd., 6-6-4 Kabutodai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0224 Japan; Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd., 1Higashi 3-chome, Komaki, Aichi 485-8550 Japan.
authors.forename: Muneo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kotani
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Housing R&D Institute, SEKISUI HOUSE, Ltd., 6-6-4 Kabutodai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0224 Japan; Yamada SXL Home. Ltd., 5F OAP Tower, 1-8-30 Tenma-bashi, Kita-Ku, Osaka, 530-0043, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ami
authors.affiliation: Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Bioscience, Okayama University Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, 1-1-1 Tsushima-Naka, Okayama 700-0082, Japan.
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.affiliation: Artech Kohbou, Co. Ltd., 57-29, Hattandago, Higashisonogi-town, Higashisonogi, Nagasaki 859-3922, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shirahama
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Mastushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0192 Japan.
authors.forename: Suni
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Mastushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0192 Japan.
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsuzaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Mastushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0192 Japan.
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumagai-Takei
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Mastushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0192 Japan.
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshitome
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Mastushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0192 Japan. Electronic address: takemi@med.kawasaki-m.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Takemi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Otsuki
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry*; D055672:Static Electricity; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Immune Stimulation; Indoor air; NK cell; Negatively-charged particle; Regulatory T cell; T cell