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INDOOR MOLDS AND ALLERGIC POTENTIAL
Citation:
WARD, M. D., Y. CHUNG, L. B. COPELAND, M. K. SELGRADE, AND S. J. VESPER. INDOOR MOLDS AND ALLERGIC POTENTIAL. Presented at American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Annual Meeting 2007, San Diego, CA, February 23 - 27, 2007.
Description:
Rationale: Damp/moldy environments have been associated with asthma exacerbation, but mold¿s role in allergic asthma induction is less clear. Recently, 5 molds were statistically associated with water-damaged asthmatic homes in the Cleveland area. The asthma exacerbations were lower for asthmatic children from remediated homes compared to control asthmatics (non-remediated homes). This study¿s objective was to assess 2 (Scopulariopsis brevicaulis (SBE), Penicillium crustosum Group (PCG)) of these molds¿ potential to induce allergic responses relative to house dust mite (HDM) in our mouse allergy/asthma model. Cladosporium cladosporiodes (CCE), a mold negatively associated with asthma in the Cleveland study, was included. Methods: 8-10 week old, female BALB/c mice were exposed by intratracheal aspiration to doubling doses (5-80 µg) of mold extracts or HDM either 1X or 4X. Immediate airway responses following each exposure and methacholine challenge 1 day (D1) after the final exposure were assessed (penH). On D2 serum, bronchoaveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and lungs were harvested. Results: Multiple exposures to CCE and HDM induced significant increase in BALF total cells, eosinophils, and neutrophils compared to other treatments. One exposure to CCE induced induced significant neutrophilia. Only CCE induced significant levels of total IgE in BALF (40-80µg) or serum (10, 40-80µg). However, PCG (80µg) induced elevated penH following each exposure. Conclusions: The data suggest that CCE may be as or more potent at allergen/asthma induction then HDM. Additionally, PCG does not appear to be a potent allergen but may be an airway irritant (asthma exacerbation).
(This abstract does not reflect EPA policies.)