Ozone-induced augmentation of eicosanoid metabolism in human nasal mucosa in vitro.

The increase in airway responsiveness induced by ozone exposure is associated with airway inflammation as evidenced by an increase in inflammatory mediators such as cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase product formation found in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, nasal lavage fluid and epithelial cell cultures. To examine eicosanoid metabolism after exposure to ozone, human nasal mucosa derived from 21 patients undergoing surgical therapy for chronic nasal obstruction was cultured with a specially designed in vitro organ culture device and exposed to 0.1 ppm ozone for 24 h.