Effects of Asian Dust Particles on the Early-Stage Antigen-Induced Immune Response of Asthma in NC/Nga Mice

Respiratory and Systemic Toxicity of Inhaled Artificial Asian Sand Dust in Pigs

Air pollution, particularly caused by Asian sand dust (ASD) and particulate matter (PM), has become one of the leading threats to public health. However, the majority of studies have primarily focused on epidemiological assessment, and in vivo toxicities of certain air pollutants have been poorly elucidated in medium/large-size laboratory animals. To investigate the impact of ASD in domestic animals, 16 Landrace pigs were exposed to an artificial ASD sandstorm for 6 h. All animals were divided in four cages, and a commercial yellow soil was used for generating artificial mineralogical particles. Blood samples were collected, and necropsies were performed before exposure and 6, 12, 24, and 72 h after exposure. Complete blood cell count and the levels of serum biochemical enzymes, blood gas, electrolytes, and a variety of inflammatory cytokines were evaluated. In addition, histopathological examination was conducted. Various test results proved acute lower airway disorders with systemic inflammation in pigs. To our knowledge, this study is the first to describe experimental research in domestic animals concerning the damage caused by artificial ASD exposure. The results of this study suggest that ASD has importance in terms of not only public health but also of ultimate economic losses in the pork industry.

The impact of exposure to desert dust on infants' symptoms and countermeasures to reduce the effects

BACKGROUND

The association between particulate matter (PM), including desert dust, and allergic symptoms has not been well studied. We examined whether PM exacerbated nose/eye/respiratory symptoms in infants, with a focus on the desert dust element, and assessed possible countermeasures.

METHODS

We conducted a panel study of 1492 infants from October 2014 to July 2016 in 3 regions in Japan as an adjunct study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study. Infants' daily symptom scores and behaviors were acquired by web-based questionnaires sent to mothers, who answered within a day using mobile phones. Odds ratios (OR) for symptom development per increased fine PM or desert dust exposure were estimated. Regular use of medications and behaviors on the day of exposure were investigated as possible effect modifiers.

RESULTS

Infants developed nose/eye/respiratory symptoms significantly more often in accordance with fine particulate levels (adjusted OR per 10 µg/m³ increase: 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.07). A model including both fine particulates and desert dust showed reduced OR for fine particulates and robust OR for desert dust (adjusted OR per 0.1/km increase: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.09-1.23). An increased OR was observed both in infants who had previously wheezed and in those who had never wheezed. Receiving information on the particulate forecast, reducing time outdoors, closing windows, and regular use of leukotriene receptor antagonists were significant effect modifiers.

CONCLUSIONS

Transborder desert dust arrival increased the risk of nose/eye/respiratory symptoms development in infants. Regular use of leukotriene receptor antagonists and other countermeasures reduced the risk.

Fine particulate matter increases airway hyperresponsiveness through kallikrein-bradykinin pathway

Epidemiological studies have reported short-term fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure to increase incidence of asthma, related to the increase of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR); however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Aim of this study was to elucidate the role of kallikrein in PM2.5-induced airway hyperresponsiveness and understand the underlying mechanism. Nose-only PM2.5 exposure system was used to generate a mouse model of airway hyperresponsiveness. Compared with the control group, PM2.5 exposure could significantly increase airway resistance, lung inflammation, kallikrein expression of bronchi-lung tissue and bradykinin (BK) secretion. However, these changes could be alleviated by kallikrein inhibitor. In addition，PM2.5 could increase the viability of human airway smooth muscle cells (hASMCs), accompanied by increased expression of kallikrein 14 (Klk14), bradykinin 2 receptor (B2R), bradykinin secretion and cytosol calcium level, while kallikrein 14 gene knockdown could significantly amelioratethe above response induced by PM2.5. Taken together, the data suggested kallikrein to play a key role in PM2.5-induced airway hyperresponsiveness, and that it could be a potential therapeutic target in asthma.

Inhale, exhale: Why particulate matter exposure in animal models are so acute? Data and facts behind the history

We present a dataset obtained by extracting information from an extensive literature search of toxicological experiments using mice and rat animal models to study the effects of exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM). Our dataset covers results reported from 75 research articles considering paper published in 2017 and seminal papers from previous years. The compiled data and normalization were processed with an equation based on a PM dosimetry model. This equation allows the comparison of different toxicological experiments using instillation and inhalation as PM exposure protocols with respect to inhalation rates, concentrations and PM exposure doses of the toxicological experiments performed by different protocols using instillation and inhalation PM as exposure methods. This data complements the discussions and interpretations presented in the research article “Inhale, exhale: why particulate matter exposure in animal models are so acute?” Curbani et al., 2019.