Diesel exhaust particulates (DEPs) have the capacity to affect lung growth and cause systemic health effects. Recent epidemiologic studies have highlighted the difficulties in understanding the contribution of traffic-related DEPs to allergy and asthma. In this issue of The American Journal of Pathology, Kim et al investigated the effect of DEPs on the inflammatory response and airway hyperre-sponsiveness induced by allergens in a mouse model of asthma. The investigators found that mice exposed to house dust mite extract (HDE) in combination with DEP (HDE/DEP) showed a marked increase in mucus production and greater airway resistance compared with those receiving only HDE. This effect was partly mediated by the neutrophil chemokines KC and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2. These interesting findings further illustrate the important interaction between DEP exposure and asthma. We discuss the investigators' findings in light of other recent research efforts in ambient pollution, DEP, and lung health.
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