Faculty Bibliography

An important aspect of risk assessment is identification of subpopulations particularly susceptible to the effects of inhaled pollutants. The present study examined whether female rats were more sensitive during lactation to the acute pulmonary injury produced by inhaled endotoxin. Lactating and age-matched virgin female rats were exposed to aerosols of saline or endotoxin for 3 h and lavaged at 24 h after exposure. No significant differences in lactate dehydrogenase, beta-glucuronidase, total protein, and total cell and PMN counts were observed between virgin and lactating rats after exposure to saline. Each marker of pulmonary injury except beta-glucuronidase was 1.5- to 3-fold greater in lactating than in virgin female rats exposed to 29.6 micrograms/m3 endotoxin. PMNs (6-fold), total cell counts, and protein were also significantly increased (p < 0.05) in lactating rats exposed to 1.3 micrograms/m3 endotoxin, a concentration reported to occur in a number of agricultural settings. These results demonstrate that the physiologic state of lactation is associated with an increased sensitivity to the acute pulmonary injury produced by inhaled endotoxin and are consistent with previous work demonstrating a similar increased sensitivity to ozone exposure. The possibility of a similar pattern of enhanced response in analogous groups of humans merits examination

As a cell wall component of gram-negative bacteria, endotoxin is thought to play a significant role in the respiratory effects of inhaled organic dusts which are microbially contaminated. Assessment of occupational survey data and clinical studies suggests that few measureable, acute functional changes occur below 30-50 ng/m3 endotoxin (as sampled in airborne dust with a vertical elutriator). Little information is available on the inflammatory effects of inhaled endotoxin at these low concentrations. The present study examined the dose-response relationship between inhaled endotoxin and functional, biochemical, and histological endpoints in the lungs of guinea pigs. Animals were exposed to 0.03 to 50.5 micrograms/m3 aerosolized endotoxin or the vehicle water for 4 hr. At 2 hr into exposure, significant decreases in specific airway conductance were observed only in animals exposed to 9.6 and 50.5 micrograms/m3 endotoxin (17.3 +/- 1.2 and 35.5 +/- 0.5% decreases from baseline values, respectively (mean +/- SE)). Total cell count and lactate dehydrogenase levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were significantly elevated at 24 hr after exposure in all endotoxin-exposed groups except the lowest dose, 0.03 micrograms/m3 (P < 0.05). Polymorphonuclear leukocyte influx into the alveolar region was also dependent on the concentration of inhaled endotoxin. Thus, LDH activity, a biochemical marker of cell injury, and total cell counts and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, markers of inflammation, were more sensitive indices of adverse pulmonary effects from inhaled endotoxin than a functional measurement. These results suggest that subtle inflammatory changes may occur at airborne endotoxin concentrations which may produce no acute respiratory symptoms

We have conducted exposures in rats to determine pulmonary responses following inhalation of two common components of welding fumes, zinc oxide and ozone. To examine their effects on target-inducible gene expression, we measured mRNA levels of two metal-responsive genes, metallothionein (MT) and heme oxygenase (HO), in lung tissue by RNA slot-blot analysis. A 3-hr exposure to ZnO fume via a combustion furnace caused a substantial elevation in lung MT mRNA at all concentrations tested. Exposures to 5 and 2.5 mg/m3 ZnO resulted in peak 8-fold increases in MT mRNA levels (compared to air-exposed control animal values) immediately after exposure, while 1 mg/m3 ZnO exposure caused a 3.5-fold elevation in MT mRNA. These levels returned to approximate control gene expression values 24 hr after exposure. In addition, ZnO exposure caused an immediate elevation in lung HO gene expression levels, with 8-, 11-, and 5-fold increases observed after the same ZnO exposure levels (p < 0.05). Like MT gene induction, HO mRNA values returned to approximate control levels 24 hr after exposure. In striking contrast to the induction of MT and HO gene expression after ZnO exposures, there was no elevation in gene expression following a 6-hr exposure to 0.5 and 1 ppm ozone, even when lungs were examined as late as 72 hr after exposure. Our results demonstrate the induction of target gene expression following the inhalation of ZnO at concentrations equal to, and below, the current recommended threshold limit value of 5 mg/m3 ZnO. Furthermore, the lack of effect of ozone exposure on MT and HO gene expression suggests no involvement of these genes in the acute respiratory response to this oxidant compound

Occupational exposure to freshly formed zinc oxide (ZnO) particles (less than 1.0 micron aerodynamic diameter) produces a well-characterized response known as metal fume fever. An 8-hr threshold limit value (TLV) of 5 mg/m3 has been established to prevent adverse health effects because of exposure to ZnO fumes. Because animal toxicity studies have demonstrated pulmonary effects near the current TLV, the present study examined the time course and dose-response of the pulmonary injury produced by inhaled ZnO in guinea pigs, rats, rabbits, and human volunteers. The test animals were exposed to 0, 2.5, or 5.0 mg/m3 ZnO for up to 3 hr and their lungs lavaged. Both the lavage fluid and recovered cells were examined for evidence of inflammation or altered cell function. The lavage fluid from guinea pigs and rats exposed to 5 mg/m3 had significant increases in total cells, lactate dehydrogenase, beta-glucuronidase, and protein content. These changes were greatest 24 hr after exposure. Guinea pig alveolar macrophage function was depressed as evidenced by in vitro phagocytosis of opsonized latex beads. Significant changes in lavage fluid parameters were also observed in guinea pigs and rats exposed to 2.5 mg/m3 ZnO. In contrast, rabbits showed no increase in biochemical or cellular parameters following a 2-hr exposure to 5 mg/m3 ZnO. Differences in total lung burden of ZnO, as determined in additional animals by atomic absorption spectroscopy, appeared to account for the observed differences in species responses. Although the lungs of guinea pigs and rats retained approximately 20% and 12% of the inhaled dose, respectively, rabbits retained only 5%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Exposure to machining fluid aerosols in the automotive industry is associated with a variety of respiratory symptoms including cross-shift changes in pulmonary function, cough, asthma, and phlegm. Lubricating and cooling fluids used in machining operations are predominantly water and thus are susceptible to microbial growth. In the present study, the role of endotoxin in the acute pulmonary injury produced by machining fluid aerosols was examined in guinea pigs. Animals were exposed to nebulized water, unused machining fluid, or used machining fluid. At the end of a 3-hr exposure, specific airway conductance (SGaw) was not affected by exposure to the vehicle water, but was decreased in a dose-dependent manner by exposure to aerosols of the used machining fluid. SGaw decreased from preexposure baseline values by 0, 7, and 40% in animals exposed to 1, 10, and 100 mg/m3 used machining fluid, respectively. These exposure levels also produced acute lung injury as evidenced by changes in cellular and biochemical indices in lavage fluid. These adverse respiratory effects may have been due to microbial contamination of the used machining fluid as the aerosol exposures were associated with airborne endotoxin concentrations of 0.3, 1.9, and 5.3 micrograms/m3, respectively. Animals exposed to aerosols of the endotoxin-free unused machining fluid had no statistically significant adverse functional, cellular, or biochemical effects except for a fourfold increase in neutrophils at 100 mg/m3. These results suggest that contamination of machining fluid during use or storage may lead to the adverse respiratory effects of aerosolized machining fluids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Although several epidemiological studies have provided evidence that airborne sulfate particles can produce adverse health effects in susceptible individuals, there is only limited data demonstrating respiratory effects in human volunteers and experimental animals at near ambient concentrations. We have demonstrated previously that the mixing of metal oxide particles with SO2 under humid conditions produces acid-coated particles that are significantly more potent in causing pulmonary function changes than pure acid droplets. The present study examined the nonspecific airway responsiveness to acetylcholine in guinea pigs exposed to acid-coated zinc oxide particles. One and a half hours after a 1-h exposure to the aerosols or a control atmosphere, pulmonary resistance (RL) was measured in awake, spontaneously breathing animals before and during a challenge with increasing doses of iv acetylcholine (Ach). The provocative infusion rate of Ach that resulted in a 100% increase in RL (PR100) was significantly decreased (p less than .05) in animals exposed to sulfuric acid-coated metal oxide particles (approximately 30 micrograms/m3 sulfate) compared to control animals exposed to furnace gases (79.6 +/- 19.4 vs. 179.6 +/- 16.2 micrograms/kg/min, mean +/- SE, respectively). The PR100 of animals exposed to SO2 (109.1 +/- 45.4) or metal oxide particles (106.7 +/- 38.1) alone was not significantly different from that of furnace gas control animals, indicating that the acid coating on the metal oxide particles and not the particles themselves or the SO2 was responsible for the decrease in the PR100. Moreover, a 10-fold greater amount of total sulfate as a pure aqueous sulfuric acid aerosol was necessary to produce a decrease in PR100 (88.6 +/- 11.0 micrograms/kg/min) equivalent to that produced by coated particles. These results suggest that acute exposure to near-ambient concentrations of sulfuric acid under conditions that promote the formation of acid as a surface coating in respirable particles can induce a nonspecific airway hyperresponsiveness. In a similar manner, a dose-dependent significant decrease in PR100 was also produced in animals exposed to sodium sulfite droplets. Thus a single exposure to different forms of sulfur oxide aerosols can induce an alteration in the responsiveness of airway smooth muscle in the guinea pig

Acidic sulfate is the most toxicologically important sulfur oxide which exists in the ambient air. To determine if particle size influences toxic effects of sulfuric acid, we investigated the effects of sulfuric acid aerosols of two different sizes on biochemical and cellular parameters of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from exposed guinea pigs. Guinea pigs were exposed to fine (mass median diameter, 0.3 micron), and ultrafine (mass median diameter, 0.04 micron) sulfuric acid aerosols at 300 micrograms/m3 for 3 hr/day. The animals were euthanized immediately and 24 hr after 1 and 4 days of exposure and lungs were lavaged. Elevated beta-glucuronidase, lactate dehydrogenase activities, and total protein concentration as well as decreased cell viability were observed in the lavage after a single exposure to sulfuric acid aerosols of both sizes. These alterations were small, though statistically significant, and transient. No alteration in these parameters was observed after 4 days of exposure to acid aerosols. In contrast, sulfuric acid-induced alterations in alveolar macrophage function were more pronounced and longer lasting. Immediately after a single exposure to fine acid, there was a 2.7-fold increase in the spontaneous tumor necrosis factor (TNF) release over that in the control group while endotoxin-stimulated TNF release was increased by 2.2-fold. In addition, acid aerosols of both sizes increased the TNF release from macrophages after 4 days of exposure, although there was no clear temporal pattern of induction or recovery. Furthermore, immediately after 4 days of exposure to either fine or ultrafine acid, the amount of H2O2 that could be induced from baseline production by alveolar macrophages was 2.2-fold higher than that of the controls. The phagocytic function of macrophages was also altered by exposure to sulfuric acid aerosols. Twenty-four hours after single or multiple exposure, fine acid enhanced (as high as 78% above control) the in vitro phagocytic activity of alveolar macrophages while ultrafine acid depressed the phagocytic capacity (as much as 50% below that in the control). In addition to these biochemical parameters and cellular functions, we also measured the intracellular pH (pHi) of macrophages harvested after exposures to these acid aerosols using a pH-sensitive fluorescent dye. The resting pHi was depressed after a single exposure to both acid aerosols. The depression in pHi persisted 24 hr after ultrafine acid exposure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Protein extravasation and airway conductance (SGaw) were examined in awake guinea pigs exposed to inhaled endotoxin or saline for three hours. A significant increase in protein extravasation (as estimated by the leakage of protein bound Evans blue dye) was seen in the conducting airways of endotoxin exposed animals compared with saline exposed animals. Mean dye extravasation was significantly increased by one to threefold in the mainstem and hilar bronchi of endotoxin exposed animals. These changes in extravasation were accompanied by decrements in pulmonary function and by an influx of polymorphonuclear leucocytes into the airway wall. The SGaw decreased significantly by 60-90 minutes into exposure to endotoxin and had decreased by 22% and 34% at the end of exposure in the low and high dose endotoxin groups, respectively. Similar findings were obtained in animals exposed to cotton dust. Contrary to studies suggesting that platelet activating factor (PAF) is involved in the systemic and peripheral lung effects of endotoxin, pretreatment with the PAF antagonist WEB2086 did not prevent the conducting airway injury produced by inhaled endotoxin