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METALS, PARTICLES AND IMPACT UPON PULMONARY ALLERGIC RESPONSES
Citation:
Gilmour, M I. METALS, PARTICLES AND IMPACT UPON PULMONARY ALLERGIC RESPONSES. Presented at Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, March 06 - 10, 2005.
Description:
The increase in allergic asthma over the past few decades has prompted investigations into whether air pollution may affect either the incidence or severity of allergic lung disease. Population studies have demonstrated that as air pollution rises, symptoms, medication use and hospital admissions for asthma attacks increase, and this has been confirmed in a variety of animal models. There is less epidemiological evidence for air pollution exposure directly contributing to increased incidence of asthma, although recent studies are showing that proximity to highways is a risk factor for development of disease. Clinical experiments have demonstrated that diesel particles can potentiate de novo allergic immune responses in human volunteers, and these effects are amply supported by a large body of animal experiments. These effects have recently been associated with increased oxidative stress in the mitochondria of pulmonary epithelial cells. While the ability of metals themselves to act as immunological adjuvants has received less attention, a study comparing two towns in Germany found that the town of Hettstedt, with more metal-related industries and metals in the ambient air, had increased incidence of allergic disease than a nearby town Zerbst, which was largely agricultural and office-based with less metals in the air. Mice treated with filter extracts from Hettstedt had increased allergic immune responses after sensitization with ovalbumin allergen compared to Zerbst treated animals and there was also increased lung disease following antigen challenge. This presentation will describe the how metals potentiate allergic lung disease and discuss connections with altered iron homeostasis and oxidative stress. This abstract does not reflect EPA policy.