Enhancement of Antigen-Induced Eosinophilic Inflammation in the Airways of Mice by Urban Particles in Beijing

摘要

It has been reported that ambient particulate matter (PM) in some large cities,such as Beijing,China,causes adverse respiratory health effects.However,there is currently no experimental report on the relationship between bronchial asthma and urban PM (UPM) in northeast Asia.In this study,the microbial and chemical substances adsorbed onto UPM collected in Beijing were excluded by heat-treatment at 360℃ for 30 min.The effects of UPM or heated UPM (H-UPM) toward allergic lung inflammation were compared in murine lungs to investigate the role of organic substances.ICR mice were administrated intratracheally with the two kinds of UPM and/or ovalbumin (OVA) 4 times at 2-week intervals.UPM and H-UPM enhanced eosinophil recruitment induced by OVA in the alveoli and in the submucosa of the airway.UPM and H-UPM synergistically increased Th-2 cytokines-interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13,eosinophil-relevant cytokines and chemokines,such as IL-5 and monocyte chemotactic protein-3 (MCP-3),induced by OVA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).The enhancing effects were much greater in UPM than in H-UPM.These results suggest that the aggravated lung eosinophilia in UPM was due to activation of a Th2-associated immune response.Chemical materials of air pollutant origin contained in UPM,and inorganic components (elemental carbon,mineral elements) in H-UPM,could also cause the aggravation.