Comparative Analysis of Pulmonary Irritation by Measurements of Penh and Protein in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid in Brown Norway Rats and Wistar Rats Exposed to Irritant Aerosols

Phosgene-induced acute lung injury (ALI): differences from chlorine-induced ALI and attempts to translate toxicology to clinical medicine

BACKGROUND

Phosgene (carbonyl dichloride) gas is an indispensable chemical inter-mediate used in numerous industrial processes. There is no clear consensus as to its time- and inhaled-dose-dependent etiopathologies and associated preventive or therapeutic treatment strategies.

METHODS

Cardiopulmonary function was examined in rats exposed by inhalation to the alveolar irritant phosgene or to the airway irritant chlorine during and following exposure. Terminal measurements focused on hematology, protein extravasation in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and increased lung weight. Noninvasive diagnostic and prognostic endpoints in exhaled breath (carbon dioxide and nitric oxide) were used to detect the clinically occult stage of pulmonary edema.

RESULTS

The first event observed in rats following high but sublethal acute exposure to phosgene was the stimulation of alveolar nociceptive vagal receptors. This afferent stimulation resulted in dramatic changes in cardiopulmonary functions, ventilation: perfusion imbalances, and progressive pulmonary edema and phospholipoproteinosis. Hematology revealed hemoconcentration to be an early marker of pulmonary edema and fibrin as a discriminating endpoint that was positive for the airway irritant chlorine and negative for the alveolar irritant phosgene.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of each gas produced typical ALI/ARDS (acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome) characteristics. Phosgene-induced ALI showed evidence of persistent apnea periods, bradycardia, and shifts of vascular fluid from the peripheral to the pulmonary circulation. Carbon dioxide in expired gas was suggestive of increased ventilation dead space and appeared to be a harbinger of progressively developing lung edema. Treatment with the iNOS inhibitor aminoguanidine aerosol by inhalation reduced the severity of phosgene-induced ALI when applied at low dose-rates. Symptomatic treatment regimens were considered inferior to causal modes of treatment.

Analysis of the interrelationship of the pulmonary irritation and elicitation thresholds in rats sensitized with 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI)

This paper summarizes a range of experimental data central for developing a science-based approach for hazard identification of monomeric and polymeric aliphatic 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). The dose–response curve of HDI-induced pulmonary responses in naïve or dermally sensitized rats after one or several inhalation priming exposures was examined in the Brown Norway (BN) rat asthma model. Emphasis was directed to demonstrate the need and the difficulty in selecting an appropriate pulmonary dose when much of the inhaled chemically reactive vapor may concentration dependently be retained in the upper airways of obligate nose-breathing rats. The course taken acknowledges the experimental challenges in identifying an elicitation threshold for HDI-monomer near or above the saturated vapor concentration or in the presence of a HDI-polymer aerosol. The inhalation threshold dose on elicitation was determined based on a fixed concentration (C) × variable exposure duration (t) protocol for improving inhalation dosimetry of the lower airways. Neutrophilic granulocytes (PMN) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in equally inhalation primed naïve and dermally sensitized rats were used to define the inhalation elicitation threshold C × t. Sensitized rats elaborated markedly increased PMN challenged sensitized rats relative to equally challenged naïve rats at 5625 mg HDI/m³ × min (75 mg/m³ for 75 min). PMN were essentially indistinguishable at 900 mg HDI/m³ × min. By applying adjustment factors accounting for both inter-species differences in inhalation dosimetry and intra-species susceptibility, the workplace human-equivalent threshold C × t was estimated to be in the range of the current ACGIH TLV® of HDI. Thus, this rat “asthma” model was suitable to demonstrate elicitation thresholds for HDI-vapor after one or several inhalation priming exposures and seems to be suitable to derive occupational exposure values (OELs) for diisocyanates in general.

Does diisocyanate exposure result in neurotoxicity?

CONTEXT

Diisocyanates have been associated with respiratory and dermal sensitization. Limited number of case reports, and a few case studies, media, and other references suggest potential neurotoxic effects from exposures to toluene diisocyanate (TDI), 1,6 hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), and methylene diisocyanate (MDI). However, a systematic review of the literature evaluating the causal association on humans does not exist to support this alleged association.

OBJECTIVE

To perform systematic review examining the body of epidemiologic evidence and provide assessment of causal association based on principles of the Sir Austin Bradford Hill criteria or considerations for causal analysis.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of public databases for published abstracts, case reports, cross-sectional surveys, and cohort studies using key search terms was conducted. Additional searches included regulatory reviews, EU IUCLID and EU Risk Assessment databases, and unpublished reports in the International Isocyanate Institute database. An expert panel consisting of physicians, toxicologists, and an epidemiologist critically reviewed accepted papers, providing examination of epidemiologic evidence of each report. Finally, the Hill criteria for causation were applied to the summative analysis of identified reports to estimate probability of causal association.

RESULTS

Twelve papers reporting exposed populations with a variety of neurological symptoms or findings suitable for analysis were identified, including eleven case or case series reports, and one cross-sectional study. Three papers reported on the same population. Each of the papers was limited by paucity of diisocyanate exposure estimates, the presence of confounding exposures to known or suspected neurotoxicants, a lack of objective biological measures of exposure or neurotoxic effects, and lack of relative strength of association measures. Additionally, reported health symptoms and syndromes lacked consistency or specificity. No plausible mechanism of toxicity was found. Application of a predictive mathematical model for determining probability of causal association for neurotoxicity was calculated to be 21%.

CONCLUSION

There is insufficient evidence for a causal association of neurotoxic effects and diisocyanate exposure based on lack of evidence in all categories of the Hill criteria for causality except for temporal association of reported symptoms and alleged exposure. Future reports should attempt to address more rigorous exposure assessment and control for confounding exposures.

Lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in rats: comparative assessment of intratracheal instillation and aerosol inhalation

Acute lung injury (ALI) has many possible etiopathologies and is characterized by acute diffuse lung damage with poor prognosis. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is widely used as septic model of ALI in pharmacological research. This study compares intratracheal bolus instillation (IT) with dose-adjusted aerosol inhalation (IH) of LPS in Wistar rats using both non-invasive and terminal endpoints. The former comprised exhaled nitric oxide (NOE) and 'enhanced pause' (Penh) both measured in spontaneous breathing conscious rats. Terminal endpoints included lung weights, LDH, protein, total cell counts, and cytodifferentiation in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Measurements were made 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after IT instillation (5 mg LPS/kg body weight) or 6-hour directed-flow nose-only inhalation exposure to respirable LPS-aerosol at 100 mg/m(3) (thoracic dose: 2.6 mgLPS/kg body weight). Controls received saline (IT) or air only (IH). LDH and protein were significantly different from the control in the LPS-IH group (days 1 and 3) with a somewhat inconclusive outcome in the LPS-IT group due to the effects occurring in the control. Total cell counts were equally elevated with similar time-course changes in the LPS-IT and -IH groups. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) were indistinguishable amongst LPS-dosed rats. Again, IT-dosed control rats displayed markedly higher background levels than those dosed by inhalation. Similarly NOE was significantly elevated on post-LPS day 1 as was Penh. In summary, the LPS-aerosol dose delivered by nose-only exposure over 6 h was equally potent as the 2-times higher LPS-IT bolus dose on post-LPS day 1 with somewhat faster recovery thereafter. The climax and discriminatory power of the non-invasive endpoints matched those determined terminally. This supports the conclusion that the pharmacological efficacy and side effects of inhalation pharmaceuticals designed to mitigate ALI can better be identified by LPS-aerosol than by LPS-IT. Non-invasive time-course measurements may deliver apt information both on the efficacious dose as well as the dosing intervals required to maintain the targeted efficacy using a minimum of experimental animals. The outcome of this comparative study supports the conclusion that the inhalation route produces a more uniform type of injury at lower, more meaningful dosages. When designing studies for screening of effective drugs this mode of delivery appears to better approximate the human condition with less dosimetric uncertainty, less experimental variability and better characterization of what was actually delivered to the entire respiratory tract.

Lung function measurements in rodents in safety pharmacology studies

The ICH guideline S7A requires safety pharmacology tests including measurements of pulmonary function. In the first step – as part of the “core battery” – lung function tests in conscious animals are requested. If potential adverse effects raise concern for human safety, these should be explored in a second step as a “follow-up study”. For these two stages of safety pharmacology testing, both non-invasive and invasive techniques are needed which should be as precise and reliable as possible. A short overview of typical in vivo measurement techniques is given, their advantages and disadvantages are discussed and out of these the non-invasive head-out body plethysmography and the invasive but repeatable body plethysmography in orotracheally intubated rodents are presented in detail. For validation purposes the changes in the respective parameters such as tidal midexpiratory flow (EF₅₀) or lung resistance have been recorded in the same animals in typical bronchoconstriction models and compared. In addition, the technique of head-out body plethysmography has been shown to be useful to measure lung function in juvenile rats starting from day two of age. This allows safety pharmacology testing and toxicological studies in juvenile animals as a model for the young developing organism as requested by the regulatory authorities (e.g., EMEA Guideline 1/2008). It is concluded that both invasive and non-invasive pulmonary function tests are capable of detecting effects and alterations on the respiratory system with different selectivity and area of operation. The use of both techniques in a large number of studies in mice and rats in the last years have demonstrated that they provide useful and reliable information on pulmonary mechanics in safety pharmacology and toxicology testing, in investigations of respiratory disorders, and in pharmacological efficacy studies.

Comparison of unrestrained plethysmography and forced oscillation for identifying genetic variability of airway responsiveness in inbred mice

Lung function detection in mice is currently most accurately measured by invasive techniques, which are costly, labor intensive, and terminal. This limits their use for large-scale or longitudinal studies. Noninvasive assays are often used instead, but their accuracy for measuring lung function parameters such as resistance and elastance has been questioned in studies involving small numbers of mouse strains. Here we compared parameters detected by two different methods using 29 inbred mouse strains: enhanced pause (Penh), detected by unrestrained plethysmography, and central airway resistance and lung elastance, detected by a forced oscillation technique. We further tested whether the phenotypic variations were determined by the same genomic location in genome-wide association studies using a linear mixed model algorithm. Penh, resistance, and elastance were measured in nonexposed mice or mice exposed to saline and increasing doses of aerosolized methacholine. Because Penh differed from airway resistance in several strains and because the peak genetic associations found for Penh, resistance, or elastance were located at different genomic regions, we conclude that using Penh as an indicator for lung function changes in high-throughput genetic studies (i.e., genome-wide association studies or quantitative trait locus studies) measures something fundamentally different than airway resistance and lung elastance.

Acute Nose-Only Exposure of Rats to Phosgene. Part I: Concentration × Time Dependence of LC50s, Nonlethal-Threshold Concentrations, and Analysis of Breathing Patterns

Groups of young adult Wistar rats were acutely exposed to phosgene gas using a directed-flow nose-only mode of exposure. The exposure durations used were 10, 30, 60, and 240 min and the corresponding C x t products bracketed a range from 1538 to 2854 mg/m3 x min. The postexposure period was 2 wk. Subgroups of rats were subjected to respiratory function measurements. With few exceptions, mortality occurred within 24 h after exposure. The median lethal concentration (LC50) and the estimated nonlethal threshold concentrations (LC01) for 10, 30, 60, and 240 min were 253.3 (105.3), 54.5 (29.2), 31.3 (21.1), and 8.6 (5.3) mg/m3, respectively. With regard to the fixed outcome Cn x t product, the exponent n was found to be approximately 0.9 for both the LC50 and the LC01. Due to an apparent rodent-specific transient depression in ventilation, results from 10-min exposures were excluded for the calculation of average C x t products. The average LCt50 (and confidence interval 95%) and LCt01 were 1741 (1547-1929) mg/m3 x min and 1075 mg/m3 x min, respectively, with a LCt50/LCt01 ratio of 1.6. Respiratory function measurements revealed an increased apnea time (AT), which is typical for lower respiratory tract irritants. This response was associated with transiently decreased respiratory minute volumes. Borderline, although distinct, changes in AT occurred at 1.2 x 30 mg/m3 x min and above, which did not show evidence of recovery during a 30-min postexposure period at 47.6 x 30 mg/m3 x min and above. In an ancillary study, one group of rats was exposed to 1008 mg/m3 x min (at 4.2 mg/m3 for 240 min; postexposure period 4 wk). Emphasis was on the time course of nonlethal endpoints (bronchoalveolar lavage, BAL) and histopathology of the lungs of rats sacrificed at the end of the 4-wk postexposure period. The climax of BAL protein was on the first postexposure day and exceeded approximately 70 times the control without causing mortality. The changes in BAL protein resolved within 2 wk. Histopathology did not show evidence of lung remodeling or progressive, potentially irreversible changes 4 wk postexposure. In summary, the analysis of the C x t dependent mortality revealed a steep C x t mortality relationship. The C x t product in the range of the nonlethal threshold concentration (1008 mg/m3 x min) caused pulmonary injury as indicated by markedly increased protein in BAL. Changes resolved almost entirely within the 4-wk postexposure period.

Acute Nose-Only Exposure of Rats to Phosgene. Part II. Concentration × Time Dependence of Changes in Bronchoalveolar Lavage During a Follow-Up Period of 3 Months

Groups of young adult male Wistar rats were acutely exposed to phosgene gas for either 30 or 240 min using a directed-flow nose-only mode of exposure. In 30-min exposed rats the concentrations were 0.94, 2.02, 3.89, 7.35, and 15.36 mg/m3, which relate to C x t products of 28.2, 60.6, 116.7, 220.5, and 460.8 mg/m3 x min. In 240-min exposed rats the concentrations were 0.96, 0.387, 0.786, 1.567, and 4.2 mg/m3, which relate C x t products of 47.0, 92.9, 188.6, 376, and 1008 mg/m3 x min. Six rats/group were sacrificed on postexposure days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 84, while the rats of the 1008 mg/m3 x min group where sacrificed on postexposure days 1, 7, 14, and 28. The focus of measurements was directed toward indicators of inflammatory response and increased transmucosal permeability in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), including lung weights. Lungs from rats sacrificed at the end of the postexposure period were additionally examined by histopathology. Mortality did not occur at any C x t product. The most pronounced changes were related to C x t-dependent increases in the following markers in BAL: protein, soluble collagen, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) counts, and alveolar macrophages with foamy appearance. These indicators were maximal on the first postexposure day, while total cell counts and alveolar macrophages containing increased phospholipids reached their climax around post-exposure day 3. At 1008 mg/m3 x min the most sensitive indicators in BAL, that is, protein, PMN, and collagen, resolved within 2 wk, whereas at lower C x t products they reached the level of the control by postexposure day 7. At 1008 mg/m3 x min (day 28), histopathology revealed a minimal to slight hypercellularity in terminal bronchioles with focal peribronchiolar inflammatory infiltrates and focal septal thickening. At lower C x t products (day 84) the rats from all groups were indistinguishable and Sirius red-stained lungs did not provide evidence of late-onset sequelae, such as fibrotic changes or collagen deposition. At similar C x t products the changes in BAL were slightly less pronounced using 30-min exposure periods when compared to 240-min exposure periods. In summary, the phosgene-induced transmucosal permeability caused a C x t-dependent increase of several BAL indicators, of which those of protein, PMN, and soluble collagen were most pronounced. Exposure intensities up to 116.7 mg/m3 x min did not cause changes different from those observed in controls, while at 188.6 mg/m3 x min distinct differences to the control existed. Despite the extensively increased airway permeability, histopathology did not provide evidence of lung tissue remodeling or irreversible sequelae.

Workshop Summary: Phosgene-Induced Pulmonary Toxicity Revisited: Appraisal of Early and Late Markers of Pulmonary Injury From Animal Models With Emphasis on Human Significance

A workshop was held February 14, 2007, in Arlington, VA, under the auspices of the Phosgene Panel of the American Chemistry Council. The objective of this workshop was to convene inhalation toxicologists and medical experts from academia, industry and regulatory authorities to critically discuss past and recent inhalation studies of phosgene in controlled animal models. This included presentations addressing the benefits and limitations of rodent (mice, rats) and nonrodent (dogs) species to study concentration x time (C x t) relationships of acute and chronic types of pulmonary changes. Toxicological endpoints focused on the primary pulmonary effects associated with the acute inhalation exposure to phosgene gas and responses secondary to injury. A consensus was reached that the phosgene-induced increased pulmonary extravasation of fluid and protein can suitably be probed by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) techniques. BAL fluid analyses rank among the most sensitive methods to detect phosgene-induced noncardiogenic, pulmonary high-permeability edema following acute inhalation exposure. Maximum protein concentrations in BAL fluid occurred within 1 day after exposure, typically followed by a latency period up to about 15 h, which is reciprocal to the C x t exposure relationship. The C x t relationship was constant over a wide range of concentrations and single exposure durations. Following intermittent, repeated exposures of fixed duration, increased tolerance to recurrent exposures occurred. For such exposure regimens, chronic effects appear to be clearly dependent on the concentration rather than the cumulative concentration x time relationship. The threshold C x t product based on an increased BAL fluid protein following single exposure was essentially identical to the respective C x t product following subchronic exposure of rats based on increased pulmonary collagen and influx of inflammatory cells. Thus, the chronic outcome appears to be contingent upon the acute pulmonary threshold dose. Exposure concentrations high enough to elicit an increased acute extravasation of plasma constituents into the alveolus may also be associated with surfactant dysfunction, intra-alveolar accumulation of fibrin and collagen, and increased recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells. Although the exact mechanisms of toxicity have not yet been completely elucidated, consensus was reached that the acute pulmonary toxicity of phosgene gas is consistent with a simple, irritant mode of action at the site of its initial deposition/retention. The acute concentration x time mortality relationship of phosgene gas in rats is extremely steep, which is typical for a local, directly acting pulmonary irritant gas. Due to the high lipophilicity of phosgene gas, it efficiently penetrates the lower respiratory tract. Indeed, more recent published evidence from animals or humans has not revealed appreciable irritant responses in central and upper airways, unless exposure was to almost lethal concentrations. The comparison of acute inhalation studies in rats and dogs with focus on changes in BAL fluid constituents demonstrates that dogs are approximately three to four times less susceptible to phosgene than rats under methodologically similar conditions. There are data to suggest that the dog may be useful particularly for the study of mechanisms associated with the acute extravasation of plasma constituents because of its size and general morphology and physiology of the lung as well as its oronasal breathing patterns. However, the study of the long-term sequelae of acute effects is experimentally markedly more demanding in dogs as compared to rats, precluding the dog model to be applied on a routine base. The striking similarity of threshold concentrations from single exposure (increased protein in BAL fluid) and repeated-exposure 3-mo inhalation studies (increased pulmonary collagen deposition) in rats supports the notion that chronic changes depend on acute threshold mechanisms.

Brown Norway rat asthma model of diphenylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate (MDI): analysis of the elicitation dose-response relationship

The known human asthmagen polymeric diphenylmethane-diisocyanate (MDI) was investigated in the Brown Norway rat skin asthma model. Two types of dose-response relationships are addressed with the following focus: (1) does sensitization dose and surface area influence the subsequent elicitation response and (2) is the elicitation response more dependent on previous elicitation doses or more on skin sensitizing dose? These two aims are investigated in two elaborated experiments, using inflammatory (bronchoalveolar lavage, BAL) and physiologic (Penh) endpoints to characterize asthma-like responses in rats. Postchallenge measurements of Penh focused on responses delayed in onset. Inflammatory endpoints in BAL were performed one day after the fourth challenge. Both protocols utilized a dermal sensitization phase with two administrations on days 0 and 7 followed by four inhalation challenges with approximately 38 mg MDI/m(3) in intervals of 2 weeks. In the first protocol three groups of rats were topically dosed with 40, 10, and 2.5 mul of MDI per rat. Each dose group consisted of three subgroups with dosed surface areas of 3.1-12.6 cm(2), 0.8-3.1 cm(2), and 0.4-0.8 cm(2), respectively. In the second protocol groups of rats were topically dosed with 40 microl of MDI per rat followed by three challenges with 37 mg MDI/m(3). At the fourth challenge subgroups of rats were either challenged with 8, 18, or 39 mg MDI/m(3). Independent of the protocol used, response was characterized by increased influx of neutrophilic granulocytes in BAL and delayed respiratory response. All groups from the first study sensitized to and challenged with MDI elicited a distinct response relative to similarly challenged naive rats. A sensitization dose dependence of the elicitation response was not found. The second protocol revealed that the elicitation dose correlates with increased neutrophils in BAL and delayed-onset respiratory responses. In summary, these data suggest that the vigor of asthma-like responses appear to be more dependent on the inhalation elicitation dose of previously challenged rats rather than the dermal induction dose.

Comparative assessment of early acute lung injury in mice and rats exposed to 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate-polyisocyanate aerosols

The aliphatic diisocyanate monomer 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) is used as a building block for non-volatile polycondensation products, such as HDI-isocyanurate (HDI-IC) and HDI-biuret (HDI-BT). This paper describes the results from acute inhalation studies with these types of polyisocyanate aerosols in OF1 and C57BL/6J mice and in Wistar rats. The modifying role of different concentrations of residual HDI in HDI-BT on pulmonary irritation was also addressed. These data close data gaps for acute mouse inhalation studies in direct comparison with rats. The sensory irritant potency was examined in OF1 mice during a 3h nose-only exposure to the polyisocyanate aerosols. Concurrent with exposure, breathing patterns suitable to distinguish upper/lower respiratory tract irritation where examined. Functional measurements in barometric plethysmographs (Penh) addressed changes in respiratory function in C57BL/6J mice exposed for 6h up to 16h postexposure. These measurements revealed that these polyisocyanates elicit changes slow in onset suggestive of pulmonary irritation rather than upper airway irritation. This conclusion was supported by similarly exposed OF1 mice exposed to non-irritant, surface active respirable particles of amorphous silica. In C57BL/6J mice and Wistar rats, nose-only exposed for 6h to 10mg/m(3) of aerosolized HDI-BT HDI (0.1% or 2% residual HDI), the pulmonary irritation potency was comparatively assessed by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) on postexposure day 1. Similarly air-exposed animals served as concurrent controls. Most changes in BAL suggestive of acute pulmonary irritation were more pronounced in Wistar rats than in C57BL/6J mice. A conclusive dependence of BAL endpoints on the residual content of residual HDI monomer in the polyisocyanate was not found. The results of this study show that mice may be particularly suitable to functionally analyze at which location of the respiratory tract predominant irritation may occur. However, with regard to analysis of lower respiratory tract irritation, rats were demonstrated to be more susceptible than mice. In summary, this study supports the conclusion that data from rat inhalation studies with these types of isocyanates appear to be more conservative and less variable than the respective data from mice.

Brown Norway rat asthma model of diphenylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate (MDI): impact of vehicle for topical induction

The development of this Brown Norway (BN) rat asthma model was focused on the duplication of at least some hallmarks of human diisocyanate asthma using the skin as the initial priming route of exposure. Equal total doses of polymeric diphenylmethane-diisocyanate (MDI) were applied to similar surface areas either dissolved in di-n-octyl sebacic acid ester (20%) (SEBA), in acetone:olive oil (20%) (AOO) or undiluted. The elicitation of respiratory allergy utilized four repeated nose-only inhalation challenges of 30 min with 39 mg/m(3) MDI-aerosol approximately every 2 weeks. Emphasis was directed towards the analysis of respiratory responses delayed in onset. Endpoints suggestive of an allergic inflammatory response were examined by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) 1 day after the last inhalation challenge and comprised protein, LDH, cytodifferentiation of BAL cells, MCP-1, and some Th1 and Th2 cytokines. MCP-1 and cytokines were comparatively determined in three compartments: BAL fluid, BAL cells, and lung-associated lymph nodes (LALN). In all groups sensitized topically to MDI typical delayed-onset respiratory responses occurred. The lung and LALN weights, BAL-protein and -LDH were significantly increased as compared to the naïve control group challenged identically. There was compelling evidence of a neutrophilic rather than an eosinophilic inflammatory response. The patterns of interleukin (IL) IL-1alpha, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, GM-CSF, and IL-4 differed appreciably from one compartment to another and were essentially maximal in BAL cells. In contrast, MCP-1 was increased to the same extent in all compartments measured. Collectively, changes were slightly, although consistently more pronounced when using SEBA as vehicle when compared with the vehicle AOO or undiluted MDI. Notable was a discordance of cytokine profiles and respiratory responses. In conclusion, the priming potency of topically administered MDI and subsequent asthma-like responses following repeated inhalation exposures appear to be dependent on multiple factors, one of them appears to be associated with the type of matrix used to dissolve MDI. This animal model provides a versatile and robust experimental tool to evaluate and assess at least some features of MDI-related asthma.

Effects of oral alpha-tocopherol on lung response in rat model of allergic asthma

OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease in which an oxidant/antioxidant imbalance plays an important role. d-alpha-tocopherol (biologically the most active form of vitamin E) has redox properties and by scavenging the free radicals can act as an antioxidant. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of orally administered alpha-tocopherol in a rat model of allergic asthma.

METHODOLOGY

Actively sensitized rats (OA) were treated with alpha-tocopherol (400 mg/kg/day for 10 days) or vehicle; 1 h after the last dose, they were challenged with antigen aerosol. The antigen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness to direct bronchoconstrictor (serotonin), the inflammatory cell infiltrate and histological changes were determined 1 or 24 h after the antigen challenge.

RESULTS

Alpha-tocopherol pretreatment was not significantly effective at reducing the studied parameters when compared with controls, even though there was a tendency to a reduction in bronchial responsiveness and in eosinophil and neutrophil infiltration.

CONCLUSION

Alpha-tocopherol when administered in the chosen study design in an animal model of asthma had no major effect on airway inflammation. The effect of antioxidants deserves further evaluation.

ADAM33 is not essential for growth and development and does not modulate allergic asthma in mice

A disintegrin and metalloprotease 33 (ADAM33) is a transmembrane protease and integrin ligand that has been identified as an asthma susceptibility gene product. To determine whether ADAM33 plays important roles in mammalian development and the modulation of allergic airway dysfunction, we generated ADAM33-null mice by gene targeting. ADAM33-null mice were born at expected Mendelian ratios, and both male and females developed normally and were fertile. No anatomical or histological abnormalities were detected in any tissues. In an animal model of allergic asthma, ADAM33-null mice showed normal allergen-induced airway hyperreactivity, immunoglobulin E production, mucus metaplasia, and airway inflammation. Our results demonstrate that ADAM33 is not essential for growth or reproduction in the mouse and does not modulate baseline or allergen-induced airway responsiveness.

Mosquito coil smoke inhalation toxicity. Part II: subchronic nose-only inhalation study in rats

This paper addresses the results of a subchronic inhalation study in rats exposed to the smoke of burning mosquito coils manufactured in Indonesia. The objective of the study was a comparative assessment of different mosquito coils, including a blank coil, utilizing the OECD No. 413 testing paradigm, however, with the focus on hazard identification at a single maximum tolerated exposure concentration rather than concentration-response. Groups of rats were nose-only exposed 6 h a day, 5 days a week for 13 weeks to an average particulate concentration of 30 mg m(-3) from either blank coils or coils that contain the insecticidal ingredient transfluthrin. Nose-only air-exposed rats served as a control. A range of markers of exposure have been characterized to define the most critical exposure metrics with regard to total suspended particulate matter (TSP) and potentially noxious volatile products of combustion. During the course of the exposure period the smoke-exposed rats showed clinical signs suggestive of acute upper respiratory tract sensory irritation. Body weights were mildly affected in the male rats, but food and water consumption were indistinguishable amongst the groups. Carboxyhemoglobin concentrations were approximately 11% throughout the exposure period in smoke exposed rats. Hematology, clinical pathology and urinalysis as well as the analysis of organ weights and histopathology of extrapulmonary organs and the lung did not reveal any evidence of adverse systemic or local effects, whereas in the anterior region of the nasal passages, and to some extent also in the larynx, irritant-related changes typical for water-soluble upper respiratory irritants were found. Markers of pulmonary inflammation or increased phagocytosis and lysosomal activity in bronchoalveolar lavage were indistinguishable amongst the groups. gamma-Glutamyltranspeptidase was significantly increased in the smoke exposure groups, which is taken as indirect evidence of an adaptive upregulation of the pulmonary antioxidant glutathione. In rats exposed to mosquito coil smoke containing transfluthrin, a somewhat increased frequency of alveolar macrophages with foamy appearance was identified through cytodifferentiation but not histopathology compared with the blank coil. From the specific staining of intracellular phospholipids, the notion is supported that this equivocal finding is probably related to an increased uptake of modified pulmonary surfactant rather than increased engulfment of insoluble particulate matter since pigmentation or clustering or intra-alveolar cells did not occur. The results of this subchronic inhalation study support the conclusion that smoke from burning mosquito coils in concentrations high enough to elicit acute upper respiratory tract irritation due to the presence of common wood-combustion products (such as aliphatic aldehydes) did not cause any adverse effect in the lower respiratory tract or any other extrapulmonary organ. The most critical mode of action is related to acute and readily perceivable sensory irritation. The concentration tested was estimated to be well above that occurring under more realistic exposure conditions. Therefore, overnight exposure to the smoke from burning mosquito coils (manufactured in Indonesia) is unlikely to be associated with any unreasonable health risk.

Brown Norway rat asthma model of diphenylmethane 4,4'-diisocyanate

Allergic asthma is a complex chronic inflammatory disease of the airways and its etiology is multifactorial. It involves the recruitment and activation of many inflammatory and structural cells, all of which release inflammatory mediators that result in typical pathological changes of asthma. The features of asthma addressed in this Brown Norway (BN) rat animal model include an analysis of cellular infiltrations in the lung, inflammatory factors in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), total immunoglobulin E (IgE) production in serum, and changes in delayed-onset respiratory reactions upon four inhalation challenges (every 2 wk) with polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) aerosol in two groups of topically sensitized rats. The dependence on the induction-related variables was analyzed by using almost identical surface area doses but different total doses per animal. This regimen caused acute exacerbations of delayed-onset respiratory reactions, for which intensity increased with each challenge. After the fourth challenge BAL neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, cell counts, protein, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as well as lung weights were significantly increased in sensitized rats relative to naive but challenged controls. Histopathology revealed activated bronchial lymphatic tissue, increased recruitment of inflammatory cells, the beginning of peribronchial/peribronchiolar fibrosis, thickening of alveolar septae, and vascular hypertrophy. Total IgE in serum was significantly increased in sensitized rats. Thus, high-dose topical induction to, and repeated inhalation challenges with, MDI was associated with a marked neutrophilic and a less consistent eosinophilic inflammatory response. With regard to the relative sensitivity of endpoints, those that integrate independently a series of complex physiological events appeared to be most practical to probe positive responses in this animal model. These include postchallenge changes in Penh to identify respiratory responses delayed in onset as well as inflammatory changes in BAL. In summary, this extension of a previous study that used 16 mg MDI/m(3) instead of 39 mg MDI/m(3) that was used in the current study for challenge exposures demonstrates that protocol variables are most critical for the outcome of test. Moreover, the sensitivity of this bioassay to define the typical asthma phenotype can be markedly improved by measurements of respiratory responses delayed in onset rather than immediate in onset. Accordingly, to increase the efficacy of this asthma model moderately irritant concentrations of the hapten have to be used for challenge and at least three to four adequately spaced challenge exposures are required to elicit a typical asthma phenotype.

Experimental approaches to evaluate respiratory allergy in animal models

Asthma is defined as a chronic disease of the entire lung and asthma attacks may either be immediate, delayed or dual in onset. Allergic asthma is a complex chronic inflammatory disease of the airways and its etiology is multifactorial. It involves the recruitment and activation of many inflammatory and structural cells, all of which release mediators that result in typical pathological changes of asthma. A wealth of clinical and experimental data suggests that allergic asthma is due to an aberrant lung immune response mediated through T-helper type 2 (Th2) cells and associated cytokine-signaling pathways. The pathology of asthma is associated with reversible narrowing of airways, associated with prominent features that involve structural changes in the airway walls and extracellular matrix remodeling including abnormalities of bronchial smooth muscle, eosinophilic inflammation of the bronchial wall, hyperplasia and hypertrophy of mucous glands. The primary objective of respiratory allergy tests is to determine whether a low-molecular-weight chemical (hapten) or high-molecular-weight compound (antigen) exhibits sensitizing properties to the respiratory tract. This may range from reactions occurring in the nose (allergic rhinitis), in the bronchial airways (i.e., allergic bronchitis, asthma) or alveoli (e.g., hypersensitivity pneumonitis). Current assays utilize several phases, viz. an induction phase, which includes multiple exposures to the test compound (sensitization) via the respiratory tract (e.g., by intranasal or intratracheal instillations), by inhalation exposures or by dermal contact, and a single or multiple challenge or elicitation phase. The challenge can either be with the chemical (hapten), the homologous protein conjugate of the hapten or the antigen. The choice depends both on the irritant potency and the physical form (vapor, aerosol) of the hapten. The appropriate selection of concentrations (dosages) both for the induction and elicitation of respiratory allergy appears to be paramount for the outcome of test. Endpoints to characterize positive response range from the induction of immunoglobulins, cytokine or lymphokine patterns in serum (or the lung) to (patho-)physiological reactions typifying asthma. None of the currently applied animal models duplicate all features of human asthma. Accordingly, the specific pros and cons of the selected animal model, including protocol variables, animal species and strain selected, must be interpreted cautiously in order to arrive at a meaningful extrapolation for humans.

Repeated inhalation challenge with diphenylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate in brown Norway rats leads to a time-related increase of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage after topical induction

Diphenylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate (MDI) is a low-molecular-weight chemical known to cause occupational asthma. The objective of this study was to evaluate the topical and inhalation routes of sensitization on the elicitation response of MDI in the Brown Norway (BN) rat model following repeated challenge exposures. BN rats were either induced topically (150 microl MDI on the flanks, booster administration to the skin of the dorsum of both ears using 75 microl/dorsum of each ear) or by inhalation (5x3 h/d, 28.3+/-3.0 mg MDI/m3 [+/-SD]). Inhalation challenge exposures with MDI (15.7+/-1.4 mg/m3, duration 30 min) were made on d 21, 35, 50, and 64. One day after each challenge, rats were rechallenged with methacholine (MCh) aerosol. Respiratory changes were monitored during challenges. One day after the MCh challenge, selected endpoints in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), the weights of lungs, and auricular and lung-associated lymph nodes were determined. After the first and last challenge, lymph nodes and lungs were examined by histopathology. Repeated challenge with MDI or MCh did not elicit marked changes in respiratory patterns at any time point. Mild but consistent time-related increased BAL neutrophils and slightly increased lung and lymph-node weights occurred in topically sensitized rats as compared to the remaining groups. In topically sensitized rats, in the lung histopathology revealed activated lymphatic tissue and an increased recruitment of airway eosinophils. Immunoglobulin (Ig) E determinations (serum and BAL) did not show any differences amongst the groups. Thus, high-dose topical induction with MDI was associated with a neutrophilic and eosinophilic inflammatory response in the lung after repeated inhalation challenge with MDI, with magnitude of effect dependent on the specific methodology used.