Analyzing the Impact of Diesel Exhaust Particles on Lung Fibrosis Using Dual PCR Array and Proteomics: YWHAZ Signaling.

Air pollutants are associated with exacerbations of asthma, chronic bronchitis, and airway inflammation. Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) can induce and worsen lung diseases. However, there are insufficient data to guide polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array proteomics studies regarding the impacts of DEPs on respiratory diseases.

Effect of Angiogenesis and Lymphangiogenesis in Diesel Exhaust Particles Inhalation in Mouse Model of LPS Induced Acute Otitis Media.

Lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis might have significant involvement in the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion. This study investigated the effect of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) on inflammation and lymphangiogenesis in a mouse model of acute otitis media (AOM). BALB/c mice were injected with LPS and exposed to 100 µg/m DEP.

Effects of intranasal instillation of nanoparticulate matter in the olfactory bulb.

Nanoparticulate matter activates the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway in the respiratory system in a process involving the AhR nuclear translocator (ARNT) and cytochrome P450 family 1, member A1 (CYP1A1). We examined changes in AhR-related pathways following intranasal instillation of nanoparticulate matter in the olfactory bulb and cerebral cortex. Twice a day for 5 days per week for 1 week or 2 weeks, 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were intranasally instilled with 10 µL nanoparticulate matter (nano group; n = 36).

Impact of capsaicin concentration evoking coughs on clinical variables in patients with asthma.

Inhaled capsaicin (8-methyl--vanillyl-6-nonenamide) has been used to induce cough in a safe and dose-dependent manner. Chronic cough is associated with an increased sensitivity to inhaled capsaicin in patients with asthma. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical impact of capsaicin provocation test for chronic cough, and to find relationship between capsaicin concentration producing coughs and clinical variables in patients with asthma.

Combined Effects of and Egg Oral Immunotherapy in a Mouse Model of Egg Allergy.

Purpose: Recent clinical trials have successfully used oral immunotherapy (OIT) to treat food allergies. Probiotics have immunomodulatory effects by balancing Th1/Th2 immunity and enhancing regulatory T-cell activity. In this study, we analyzed the effects of OIT, probiotics alone, and probiotics administered simultaneously with OIT in a mouse model of egg allergy.

Neuronal and perineuronal changes of cerebral cortex after exposure to inhaled particulate matter.

The inhalation of particulate matter (PM) increases the perineuronal nets (PNNs) in the cerebral cortex; however, little is known about the related molecular changes. We explored how PM exposure impacted cognitive function and the levels of PNN-related genes. BALB/c mice (6-week-old females, n = 32) were exposed to 1-5-μm diesel-extracted particles (DEPs) (100 µg/m, 5 hours per day, 5 days per week) and categorized into the following four groups: 1) 4-week DEP exposure (n = 8); 2) 4-week control (n = 8); 3) 8-week DEP exposure (n = 8); and 4) 8-week control (n = 8).

Gene Expression Analysis to Investigate Biological Networks Underlying Nasal Inflammatory Dysfunctions Induced by Diesel Exhaust Particles Using an System.

Objectives: Diesel exhaust particles (DEP)s are notorious ambient pollutants composed of a complex mixture of a carbon core and diverse chemical irritants. Several studies have demonstrated significant relationships between DEP exposure and serious nasal inflammatory response , but available information regarding underlying networks in terms of gene expression changes has not sufficiently explained potential mechanisms of DEP-induced nasal damage, especially .

Methods: In the present study, we identified DEP-induced gene expression profiles under short-term and long-term exposure, and identified signaling pathways based on microarray data for understanding effects of DEP exposure in the mouse nasal cavity.

Effects of nanoparticles on neuroinflammation in a mouse model of asthma.

The interaction between chronic inflammation and neural dysfunction points to a link between the nervous and immune systems in the airways. In particular, environmental exposure to nanoparticles (NPs), defined as particulate matter having one dimension <100 nm, is associated with an enhanced risk of childhood and adult asthma. However, the impact of NPs on the neural response in asthma remains to be determined.

Claudins, VEGF, Nrf2, Keap1, and Nonspecific Airway Hyper-Reactivity Are Increased in Mice Co-Exposed to Allergen and Acrolein.

Acrolein, an α/β-unsaturated aldehyde, is volatile at room temperature. It is a respiratory irritant found in environmental tobacco smoke, which can be generated during cooking or endogenously at sites of injury. An acute high concentration of uncontrolled irritant exposure can lead to an asthma-like syndrome known as reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS).

Annexin A5 Protein as a Potential Biomarker for the Diagnosis of Asthma.

Purpose: Annexin A5 (ANXA5) has a potential role in cellular signal transduction, inflammation, and fibrosis. However, the exact role of ANXA5 in asthma remains to be clarified. The aims of the present study were to investigate ANXA5 protein expression in a mouse model of asthma and pollutant exposure and to elucidate the relationships between clinical variables and plasma ANXA5 levels in patients with asthma.

Impact of the Endothelial Tight Junction Protein Claudin-5 on Clinical Profiles of Patients With COPD.

Purpose: The tight junction protein claudin-5 (CLDN5) is critical to the control of endothelial cellular polarity and pericellular permeability. The role of CLDN5 in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between CLDN5 levels and clinical variables in patients with COPD.

Effects of inhaled particulate matter on the central nervous system in mice.

Little is known regarding the adverse effects of chronic particulate matter (PM) inhalation on the central nervous system (CNS). The present study aimed to examine how PM exposure impacts on oxidative stress and inflammatory processes, as well as the expression of interneurons and perineuronal nets (PNNs) in the CNS. BALB/c mice (6-week-old females, n = 32) were exposed to 1 to 5 μm size diesel-extracted particles (DEPs) (100 μg/m, 5 d/week, 5 h/day) and categorized into the following four groups: 1) 4-week DEP (n = 8); 2) 4-week control (n = 8), 3) 8-week DEP (n = 8); and 4) 8-week control (n = 8).

Impact of ozone on claudins and tight junctions in the lungs.

Claudins (CLDNs) are a major transmembrane protein component of tight junctions (TJs) in endothelia and epithelia. CLDNs are not only essential for sustaining the role of TJs in cell permeability but are also vital for cell signaling through protein-protein interactions. Ozone induces oxidative stress and lung inflammation in humans and experimental models, but the impact of ozone on claudins remains poorly understood.

Proteomic identification of moesin upon exposure to acrolein.

Background: Acrolein (allyl Aldehyde) as one of smoke irritant exacerbates chronic airway diseases and increased in sputum of patients with asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease. But underlying mechanism remains unresolved. The aim of study was to identify protein expression in human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC-L) exposed to acrolein.

Methacholine bronchial provocation test in patients with asthma: serial measurements and clinical significance.

Background/aims: The methacholine bronchial provocation test (MBPT) is used to detect and quantify airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR). Since improvements in the severity of asthma are associated with improvements in AHR, clinical studies of asthma therapies routinely use the change of airway responsiveness as an objective outcome. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between serial MBPT and clinical profiles in patients with asthma.

Annexin A1 in plasma from patients with bronchial asthma: its association with lung function.

Background: Annexin-A1 (ANXA1) is a glucocorticoid-induced protein with multiple actions in the regulation of inflammatory cell activation. The anti-inflammatory protein ANXA1 and its N-formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) have protective effects on organ fibrosis. However, the exact role of ANXA1 in asthma remains to be determined.

Alteration in Claudin-4 Contributes to Airway Inflammation and Responsiveness in Asthma.

Purpose: Claudin-4 has been reported to function as a paracellular sodium barrier and is one of the 3 major claudins expressed in lung alveolar epithelial cells. However, the possible role of claudin-4 in bronchial asthma has not yet been fully studied. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the role of claudin-4 in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma.

Effect of TiO₂ Nanoparticles on Inflammasome-Mediated Airway Inflammation and Responsiveness.

Purpose: Nanoparticles (NPs) may cause cell and tissue damage, leading to local and systemic inflammatory responses and adverse effects on health due to the inhalation of particulate matter. The inflammasome is a major regulator of inflammation through its activation of pro-caspase-1, which cleaves pro-interleukin-1β (pro-IL-1β) into its mature form and may induce acute and chronic immune responses to NPs. However, little is known about the response of the inflammasome to NP exposure via the airways in asthma.

Long-Term Effects of Diesel Exhaust Particles on Airway Inflammation and Remodeling in a Mouse Model.

Purpose: Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) can induce and trigger airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of long-term DEP exposure on AHR, inflammation, lung fibrosis, and goblet cell hyperplasia in a mouse model.

Methods: BALB/c mice were exposed to DEPs 1 hour a day for 5 days a week for 3 months in a closed-system chamber attached to a ultrasonic nebulizer (low dose: 100 μg/m³ DEPs, high dose: 3 mg/m³ DEPs).

Circulating angiopoietin-1 and -2 in patients with stable and exacerbated asthma.

Background: Angiopoietin (Ang)-1 and -2 are involved in the pathogenesis of asthma and have been identified as markers of asthma severity.

Objective: To determine the relation between circulating angiopoietins and clinical variables of patients with asthma.

Methods: Fifty patients with bronchial asthma and 25 healthy controls were enrolled.