title: Long-Term Effects of Diesel Exhaust Particles on Airway Inflammation and Remodeling in a Mouse Model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) can induce and trigger airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of long-term DEP exposure on AHR, inflammation, lung fibrosis, and goblet cell hyperplasia in a mouse model.
  
  
  METHODS
  BALB/c mice were exposed to DEPs 1 hour a day for 5 days a week for 3 months in a closed-system chamber attached to a ultrasonic nebulizer (low dose: 100 μg/m³ DEPs, high dose: 3 mg/m³ DEPs). The control group was exposed to saline. Enhanced pause was measured as an indicator of AHR. Animals were subjected to whole-body plethysmography and then sacrificed to determine the performance of bronchoalveolar lavage and histology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AHR was higher in the DEP group than in the control group, and higher in the high-dose DEP than in the low-dose DEP groups at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The numbers of neutrophils and lymphocytes were higher in the high-dose DEP group than in the low-dose DEP group and control group at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The levels of interleukin (IL)-5, IL-13, and interferon-γ were higher in the low-dose DEP group than in the control group at 12 weeks. The level of IL-10 was higher in the high-dose DEP group than in the control group at 12 weeks. The level of vascular endothelial growth factor was higher in the low-dose and high-dose DEP groups than in the control group at 12 weeks. The level of IL-6 was higher in the low-dose DEP group than in the control group at 12 weeks. The level of transforming growth factor-β was higher in the high-dose DEP group than in the control group at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The collagen content and lung fibrosis in lung tissue was higher in the high-dose DEP group at 8 and 12 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that long-term DEP exposure may increase AHR, inflammation, lung fibrosis, and goblet cell hyperplasia in a mouse model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Byeong Gon
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Pureun Haneul
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Shin Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Young En
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Mee Yong
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Yena
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Taiyoun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rhim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Choon Sik
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea. jas877@schmc.ac.kr.
authors.forename: An Soo
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Jang
keywords: Chronic; airway remodeling; diesel exhaust particles