Prior exposure to acrolein accelerates pulmonary inflammation in influenza A-infected mice.

The combustion product acrolein contributes to several smoke-related health disorders, but whether this immunomodulatory toxicant alters pulmonary susceptibility to viruses has received little attention. To study the effects of prior acrolein dosing on the severity of influenza A viral infection, male BALB/c mice received acrolein (1mg/kg) or saline (control) via oropharyngeal aspiration either 4- or 7-days prior to intranasal inoculation with either influenza A/PR/8/34 virus or vehicle. At 0, 2, 4 and 7 days post-inoculation, lung samples were assessed for histological changes while pulmonary inflammation was monitored by estimating immune cell numbers and cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).