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Ultrafine but not fine particulate matter causes airway inflammation and allergic airway sensitization to co‐administered antigen in mice
Author(s) -
De Haar C.,
Hassing I.,
Bol M.,
Bleumink R.,
Pieters R.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2006.02586.x
Subject(s) - ovalbumin , sensitization , immunology , adjuvant , medicine , inflammation , immunoglobulin e , nasal administration , immune system , allergy , allergic inflammation , antibody
Summary Background Airborne particulate matter (PM) is an important factor associated with the enhanced prevalence of respiratory allergy. The PM adjuvant activity on allergic sensitization is a possible mechanism of action involved, and the induction of airway inflammation is suggested to be of importance in PM‐induced adjuvant activity. Objective Because differently sized PM have different toxic potentials, we studied the role of particle size in the induction of airway inflammation and allergic sensitization. This was done using fine (0.250 and 0.260 μm) and ultrafine (0.029 and 0.014 μm) titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) and carbon black particles (CBP) with known differences in airway toxicity. Methods Mice were intranasally exposed to ovalbumin (OVA) alone or in combination with one of the different particles. The induction of airway inflammation and the immune adjuvant activity were studied in the lungs and lung‐draining peribronchial lymph nodes (PBLN) at day 8. OVA‐specific antibodies were measured at day 21, and the development of allergic airway inflammation was studied after OVA challenges (day 28). Results When administered at the same total particle mass (200 μg), exposure to ultrafine TiO 2 and CBP‐induced airway inflammation, and had immune adjuvant activity. The latter was shown by increasing both the PBLN cell numbers and the production of OVA‐specific T‐helper type 2 (Th2) cytokines (IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐10 and IL‐13). Whereas OVA‐specific IgE and IgG1 levels in serum were only increased in animals exposed to the ultrafine TiO 2 , allergic airway inflammation could be detected in both ultrafine TiO 2 ‐and CBP‐treated groups after challenges with OVA. Conclusion Our data show that only the ultrafine particles, with a small diameter and a large total surface area/mass, cause airway inflammation and have immune adjuvant activity in the current model supporting the hypothesis that particle toxicity is site‐dependent and related to adjuvant activity.