title: Detection of respiratory allergies caused by environmental chemical allergen via measures of hyper-activation and degranulation of mast cells in lungs of NC/Nga mice.
abstract: Respiratory allergy triggered by exposure to environmental chemical allergen is a serious problem in many Asian countries and has the potential to cause severe health problems. Here, we aimed to elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms of this disease and develop an in vivo detection method for respiratory allergy induced by environmental chemical allergen. Both BALB/c and NC/Nga mice were sensitized topically for 3 weeks and were then subjected to inhalation challenge with pulverized trimellitic anhydride into particles measuring 2-μm in diameter. On the day after the final challenge, all mice were sacrificed, and IgE levels, immunocyte counts, and cytokine levels in the serum, hilar lymph nodes, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were measured. We also monitored the expression of genes encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines in the lung. We found that all endpoints were significantly increased in mice of both strains subjected to trimellitic anhydride inhalation as compared with the respective control groups. However, worsening of respiratory status was noted only in NC/Nga mice. Interestingly, type 2 helper T-cell reactions were significantly increased in BALB/c mice compared with that in NC/Nga mice. In contrast, the number of mast cells, levels of mast cell-related cytokine/chemokines, and production of histamine in NC/Nga mice were significantly higher than those in BALB/c mice. Thus, environmental chemical allergen induced respiratory allergy in NC/Nga mice in terms of functional and inflammatory symptoms. Furthermore, mast cells may be involved in the aggravation of airway allergic symptoms induced by environmental chemical allergens.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Environmental Toxicology , Ibaraki , Japan.
authors.forename: Risako
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nishino
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Environmental Toxicology , Ibaraki , Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukuyama
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Environmental Toxicology , Ibaraki , Japan.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Environmental Toxicology , Ibaraki , Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshimi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kurosawa
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Environmental Toxicology , Ibaraki , Japan.
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koasaka
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Environmental Toxicology , Ibaraki , Japan.
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harada
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001208:Asia; D015550:Cell Degranulation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010796:Phthalic Anhydrides / Q000276:immunology*; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D010796:Phthalic Anhydrides; C015559:trimellitic anhydride
keywords: Environmental chemical; NC/Nga mice; mast cell; particulate matter 2.5; respiratory allergy