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).