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Immunological responses in C3H/HeJ mice following nose‐only inhalation exposure to different sizes of beryllium metal particles
Author(s) -
Salehi Fariba,
Zayed Joseph,
Audusseau Séverine,
Muller Caroline,
Truchon Ginette,
Plamondon Philippe,
L'Espérance Gilles,
Chevalier Gaston,
Mazer Bruce
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of applied toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.784
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1099-1263
pISSN - 0260-437X
DOI - 10.1002/jat.1383
Subject(s) - inhalation , splenocyte , inhalation exposure , bronchoalveolar lavage , chemistry , immunology , inflammation , cytokine , pathology , medicine , immune system , lung , anatomy
Beryllium is used in a wide variety of industries. Chronic beryllium disease is the most common occupational disease among workers following exposure to Be. The objective of this study was to determine the immunologic effects of two different particle sizes of Be metal, <2.5 µm (fine Be or Be‐F) and <10 µm (inhalable Be or Be‐I) on C3H/HeJ mice following 3 weeks of nose‐only inhalation exposure at a target concentration of 250 µg m −3 . Mice were sacrificed either on day 28 or day 42 (Be‐F group only) after exposure. The mass median aerodynamic diameter obtained in the inhalation chamber was 1.5 ± 0.1 µm for Be‐F and 4.1 ± 0.6 µm for Be‐I. Results showed peri‐bronchial inflammation with early granulomatous changes in exposed mice. The extent of the inflammation appeared more severe for mice sacrificed at day 42. Splenocyte proliferation was higher for mice exposed to fine particles compared with Be‐I and control animals. Flow‐cytometric analysis indicated a significantly greater expression of CD4 + , CD8 + and intracellular IFN‐ γ expression for both Be particle sizes, particularly for fine particles. Cytokine assays of bronchoalveolar lavage revealed significantly greater levels of IL‐12, TNF‐ α and IFN‐ γ for mice exposed to fine particles. Our findings suggest that exposure to fine particles may induce more pronounced immunological effects than inhalable particles. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.