Pro-inflammatory effects of inhaled Great Salt Lake dust particles.

Background: Climate change and human activities have caused the drying of marine environments around the world. An example is the Great Salt Lake in Utah, USA which is at a near record low water level. Adverse health effects have been associated with exposure to windblown dust originating from dried lakebed sediments, but mechanistic studies evaluating the health effects of these dusts are limited.

Pro-Inflammatory Effects of Inhaled Great Salt Lake Dust Particles.

Background: Climatological shifts and human activities have decimated lakes worldwide. Water in the Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA is at near record lows which has increased risks for exposure to windblown dust from dried lakebed sediments. Formal studies evaluating the health effects of inhaled Great Salt Lake dust (GSLD) have not been performed despite the belief that the dust is harmful.

The Cytochrome P450 2C8*3 Variant (rs11572080) Is Associated with Improved Asthma Symptom Control in Children and Altered Lipid Mediator Production and Inflammatory Response in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells.

This study investigated an association between the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C8*3 polymorphism with asthma symptom control in children and changes in lipid metabolism and pro-inflammatory signaling by human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) treated with cigarette smoke condensate (CSC). CYP genes are inherently variable in sequence, and while such variations are known to produce clinically relevant effects on drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, the effects on endogenous substrate metabolism and associated physiologic processes are less understood. In this study, CYP2C8*3 was associated with improved asthma symptom control among children: Mean asthma control scores were 3.

Mechanisms and Consequences of Variable TRPA1 Expression by Airway Epithelial Cells: Effects of Genotype and Environmental Agonists on Cellular Responses to Pollutants and Asthma.

Background: Transient receptor potential ankyrin-1 [transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily A member 1 (TRPA1)] and vanilloid-1 [transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1)] detect inhaled irritants, including air pollutants and have roles in the development and exacerbation of asthma.

Objectives: This study tested the hypothesis that increased expression of TRPA1, stemming from expression of the loss-of-function (I585V; rs8065080) polymorphic variant by airway epithelial cells may explain prior observations of worse asthma symptom control among children with the I585I/V genotype, by virtue of sensitizing epithelial cells to particulate materials and other TRPA1 agonists.

Methods: TRP agonists, antagonists, small interfering RNA (siRNA), a nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-) pathway inhibitor, and kinase activators and inhibitors were used to modulate TRPA1 and TRPV1 expression and function.

Dynamic Expression of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid-3 and Integrated Signaling with Growth Factor Pathways during Lung Epithelial Wound Repair following Wood Smoke Particle and Other Forms of Lung Cell Injury.

Prior studies revealed increased expression of the transient receptor potential vanilloid-3 (TRPV3) ion channel after wood smoke particulate matter (WSPM) treatment of human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs). TRPV3 attenuated pathologic endoplasmic reticulum stress and cytotoxicity mediated by transient receptor potential ankyrin-1. Here, the basis for how TRPV3 expression is regulated by cell injury and the effects this has on HBEC physiology and WSPM-induced airway remodeling in mice was investigated.

Laboratory simulations of mate-guarding as a component of the pair-bond in male titi monkeys, Callicebus cupreus.

Mate-guarding and territorial aggression (both intra- and inter-sexual) are behavioral components of social monogamy seen in male coppery titi monkeys (Callicebus cupreus) both in the field and in the laboratory. Methodology for studying these behaviors in captivity facilitates the translation of questions between field and laboratory. In this study, we tested whether exposure to a mirror would stimulate mate-guarding behavior in male titi monkeys, and whether this exposure was accompanied by hormonal changes.