Airborne particulate matter induces nonallergic eosinophilic sinonasal inflammation in mice

Murugappan Ramanathan, Nyall R. London, Anuj Tharakan, Nitya Surya, Thomas E. Sussan, Xiaoquan Rao, Sandra Y. Lin, Elina Toskala, Sanjay Rajagopalan, Shyam Biswal

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

72 Scopus citations

Abstract

Exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM) has been linked to aggravation of respiratory symptoms, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality. Although the health effects of PM on the lower pulmonary airway have been extensively studied, little is known regarding the impact of chronic PM exposure on the upper sinonasal airway. We sought to test the impact of chronic airborne PM exposure on the upper respiratory system in vivo. Mice were subjected, by inhalation, to concentrated fine (2.5 mm) PM 6 h/d, 5 d/wk, for 16 weeks. Mean airborne fine PM concentration was 60.92 mm/m3, a concentration of fine PM lower than that reported in some major global cities. Mice were then killed and analyzed for evidence of inflammation and barrier breakdown compared with control mice. Evidence of the destructive effects of chronic airborne PM on sinonasal health in vivo, including proinflammatory cytokine release, and macrophage and neutrophil inflammatory cell accumulation was observed. A significant increase in epithelial barrier dysfunction was observed, as assessed by serum albumin accumulation in nasal airway lavage fluid, as well as decreased expression of adhesion molecules, including claudin-1 and epithelial cadherin. A significant increase in eosinophilic inflammation, including increased IL-13, eotaxin-1, and eosinophil accumulation, was also observed. Collectively, although largely observational, these studies demonstrate the destructive effects of chronic airborne PM exposure on the sinonasal airway barrier disruption and nonallergic eosinophilic inflammation in mice.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)59-65
Number of pages7
JournalAmerican journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology
Volume57
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2017

Keywords

  • Air pollution
  • Inflammation
  • Particulate matter
  • Permeability
  • Rhinitis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology

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