A study of inflammatory biomarkers in crystalline silica exposed rock drillers.

Background: Crystalline silica (CS) exposure can cause serious lung disease in humans, but mechanisms of pulmonary toxicity have not been completely elucidated.

Aims: To assess pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory biomarkers and biomarkers related to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and fibrosis in serum of rock drillers exposed to CS.

Methods: Rock drillers (N = 123) exposed to CS and non-specified particulate matter (PM) were compared to 48 referents without current or past exposure to PM in a cross-sectional study.

A role for the terminal C5-C9 complement pathway in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic progressive interstitial lung disease characterized by damage to the alveolar epithelium, leading to fibrosis and excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix in the interstitium of the lung. In the present study we performed high-resolution proteomic profiling of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from IPF patients and controls, and found that the complement pathway was highly upregulated in IPF. The proteins C5, C6, C7, C8, and C9, all of which are part of the complement end product, TCC, were all upregulated.

Comparison of different reference values for lung function: implications of inconsistent use among centers.

Background: For interpretation of pulmonary function tests (PFTs), reference values based on sex, age, height and ethnicity are needed. In Norway, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) reference values remain widely used, in spite of recommendations to implement the more recent Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) reference values.

Objective: To assess the effects of changing from ECSC to GLI reference values for spirometry, DLCO and static lung volumes, using a clinical cohort of adults with a broad range in age and lung function.

A study of pneumoproteins in crystalline silica exposed rock drillers.

The objective was to assess serum concentrations of club cell protein 16 (CC-16) and the surfactant proteins A (SPs-A) and D (SP-D) in male rock drillers ( = 123) exposed to crystalline silica and in 48 occupationally non-exposed. The arithmetic mean (AM) duration of exposure was 10.7 years.

DNA methylome-based validation of induced sputum as an effective protocol to study lung immunity: construction of a classifier of pulmonary cell types.

Flow cytometry is a classical approach used to define cell types in peripheral blood. While DNA methylation signatures have been extensively employed in recent years as an alternative to flow cytometry to define cell populations in peripheral blood, this approach has not been tested in lung-derived samples. Here, we compared bronchoalveolar lavage with a more cost-effective and less invasive technique based on sputum induction and developed a DNA methylome-based algorithm that can be used to deconvolute the cell types in such samples.

Relation of sputum neutrophilia to the development of chronic lung allograft dysfunction after lung transplantation.

Chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) is a serious complication after lung transplantation (LuTx) and is associated with elevated proportions of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Induced sputum is a less-invasive sampling method than BAL and assesses markers of inflammation on the surfaces of large central airways. We wanted to examine whether % neutrophil levels in induced sputum were elevated prior to CLAD diagnosis among LuTx recipients, and whether sputum markers of inflammation can be used as a tool for predicting the development of CLAD.

Annual decline in forced expiratory volume and airway inflammatory cells and mediators in a general population-based sample.

Background: Few studies have examined the relationships between sputum inflammatory markers and subsequent annual decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (dFEV). This study investigated whether indices of airway inflammation are predictors of dFEV in a general population-based sample.

Methods: The study, conducted from 2003 to 2005, included 120 healthy Norwegian subjects aged 40 to 70 years old.

Isolating and culturing of sputum macrophages: A potential ex vivo/in vitro model.

Purpose: This paper aimed to test whether induced sputum samples acquired from human volunteers could be used to isolate and culture airway macrophages for in vitro exposures. This was assessed in terms of the culturing success rate, culture purity, viability and responsiveness of cultured cells.

Materials And Methods: The isolation and culturing procedure was performed over three days.

The Role of Airway Inflammation and Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness in Athlete's Asthma.

Purpose: Asthma is frequently reported in endurance athletes. The aim of the present study was to assess the long-term airway inflammatory response to endurance exercise in high-level athletes with and without asthma.

Methods: In a cross-sectional design, 20 asthmatic athletes (10 swimmers and 10 cross-country skiers), 19 athletes without asthma (10 swimmers and 9 cross-country skiers), and 24 healthy nonathletes completed methacholine bronchial challenge, lung function tests, and sputum induction on two separate days.

Military small arms fire in association with acute decrements in lung function.

Objective: After introduction of unleaded ammunition, Norwegian Armed Forces received reports of acute respiratory symptoms in soldiers after exposure to fumes from firing the standard weapon, HK416. The aim of the present study was to examine lung function before and after exposure to fumes from HK416 in a double-blinded standardised study design using three different types of ammunition.

Methods: Fifty-four healthy, non-smoking male volunteers (19-62 years) fired the weapons for 60 min with either leaded, unleaded or 'modified' unleaded ammunition.

Long-term persistence of human donor alveolar macrophages in lung transplant recipients.

Background: Alveolar macrophages (AMFs) are critical regulators of lung function, and may participate in graft rejection following lung transplantation. Recent studies in experimental animals suggest that most AMFs are self-maintaining cells of embryonic origin, but knowledge about the ontogeny and life span of human AMFs is scarce.

Methods: To follow the origin and longevity of AMFs in patients with lung transplantation for more than 100 weeks, we obtained transbronchial biopsies from 10 gender-mismatched patients with lung transplantation.

Sputum neutrophils are elevated in smelter workers, and systemic neutrophils are associated with rapid decline in FEV1.

Objectives: In a previous study on smelter workers we, found significant relationship between exposure to dust and accelerated annual decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). In this cross-sectional study at the end of a follow-up, we aimed to investigate the possible association between annual decline in FEV1 and markers of airways, and systemic inflammation in smelter workers.

Methods: Employees (n=76 (27 current smokers)) who had been part of a longitudinal study (9-13 years) that included spirometry (>6 measurements) and respiratory questionnaires, performed induced sputum, exhaled NO and had blood drawn.

Inflammation in induced sputum after aluminium oxide exposure: an experimental chamber study.

Introduction: Workers in aluminium production are exposed to a complex mixture of particles and gases potentially harmful to the airways, among them aluminium oxide (Al2O3). With the use of an exposure chamber, we aimed to examine the effects of short-term controlled exposure to Al2O3 on lung function and inflammatory markers in healthy volunteers.

Methods: 15 men (age 19-31) were exposed in random order to clean air or Al2O3 particles (3.

Airway inflammation and ammonia exposure among female Palestinian hairdressers: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Little is known about the working conditions and airway inflammation in hairdressers in Palestine. We aimed to investigate if hairdressers in Palestine have a higher level of airway inflammation as compared to a control group. We also assessed the hairdressers' physical working conditions and exposure to ammonia gases at the hair salons.

Health effects after firing small arms comparing leaded and unleaded ammunition.

A number of Norwegian soldiers have reported health problems after live-fire training using the HK416 rifle. The objective of this study was to characterize gaseous and particulate emissions from three different types of ammunition, and record the health effects after exposure to emissions from live-firing. Fifty-five healthy, non-smoking men (mean age 40 years) were recruited and divided randomly into three groups, one for each type of ammunition.

Lung disease, T-cells and inflammation in common variable immunodeficiency disorders.

Introduction: Besides hypogammaglobulinemia and recurrent infections, abnormalities of T-cells might contribute to lung damage in common variable immunodeficiency disorders (CVID).

Materials And Methods: In 16 adult patients, the majority of whom had pulmonary abnormalities, we studied T-cell subsets and markers of inflammation in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and blood and their relations with pulmonary function and high resolution computed tomography (HRCT).

Results: We demonstrated that some of the lymphocyte abnormalities previously demonstrated in peripheral blood from CVID patients, such as low CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio, were also present in BALF.

Recovery from workplace-induced airway inflammation 1 year after cessation of exposure.

Background: Bacterial single-cell protein (BSCP) constitutes of dried bacterial mass which is used as protein enrichment in animal and fish feed. In the production of BSCP, workers are exposed to organic dust containing high levels of endotoxins (arithmetic mean 390 EU/m3 in the moderate exposure and 5800-11,000 EU/m3 in the high exposure groups) and have elevated levels of sputum neutrophils and cytokines associated with exposure.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate if airway inflammation among the workers had declined 1 year after cessation of exposure.

Increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and endothelin-1 in alveolar macrophages from patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Pathophysiological interactions between heart and lungs in heart failure (HF) are well recognized. We investigated whether expression of different factors known to be increased in the myocardium and/or the circulation in HF is also increased in alveolar macrophages in HF.

Methodology/principal Findings: Lung function, hemodynamic parameters, gene expression in alveolar macrophages, and plasma levels in the pulmonary and femoral arteries of HF patients (n = 20) were compared to control subjects (n = 16).

Long-term occupational outcomes of endotoxin exposure and the effect of exposure cessation.

Objective: To study the possible respiratory and haematological effects of endotoxin exposure to bacterial single-cell protein (BSCP) in workers during a follow-up period of 5 years including 4 years of exposure and 1 year without exposure.

Methods: The study included 28 workers examined in 2002-2005 and 1 year after exposure termination in 2007. The arithmetic mean endotoxin exposure was 5800-11,000 EU/m(3) among the high exposure group and 390 EU/m(3) in the low exposure group.

Airway inflammation in cement production workers.

Objective: Cement aerosol exposure is associated with increased morbidity of airway disease among exposed workers. Our aim was to compare levels of inflammatory cells and soluble inflammatory markers in induced sputum samples from cement production workers between exposed and unexposed periods, and to compare these variables between cement workers and references.

Methods: 35 healthy, non-smoking aerosol-exposed cement production workers from Norway provided a blood sample and performed induced sputum and spirometry after 5 days without exposure and during a period of exposure.

Adrenomedullin is increased in alveolar macrophages and released from the lungs into the circulation in severe heart failure.

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a potent vasorelaxing peptide with natriuretic, diuretic, and growth inhibitory properties. Plasma concentrations and myocardial AM expression are increased in heart failure (HF). Since AM and AM binding sites are abundantly expressed in the lungs, we investigated to what extent pulmonary AM and AM receptor subtypes [CRLR/RAMP2 (AM1) and CRLR/RAMP3 (AM2)] are changed in HF and whether the lungs contribute to the increased plasma concentrations of AM reported in HF.

Occupational exposure to bacterial single cell protein induces inflammation in lung and blood.

Bacterial single cell protein (BSCP) is used as a protein enrichment in livestock and fish feed, and is extracted from dried bacterial mass. In the production of BSCP, workers are exposed to organic dust containing high levels of endotoxins that may induce acute airway inflammation. However, the long term effect on the airways of such exposure is not known, and we have examined inflammatory markers in induced sputum and blood among BSCP exposed workers.

Airway inflammation in paper mill workers.

Paper mill workers are exposed to culturable microorganisms (MOs). We hypothesized that inflammatory airway response could be detected in sputum of nonsymptomatic workers. From four paper mills, we included 29 healthy nonsmoking men.