Prior oral exposure to environmental immunosuppressive chemicals methoxychlor, parathion, or piperonyl butoxide aggravates allergic airway inflammation in NC/Nga mice.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Immunosuppressive environmental chemicals may increase the potency of allergens and thereby play a role in the development of respiratory tract allergies, such as allergic rhinitis and asthma.

OBJECTIVES:

We investigated the association between environmental immunosuppressive chemicals and the allergic airway inflammation development.

METHODS:

We used a mouse model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic airway inflammation. NC/Nga mice were exposed orally to pesticides parathion (an organophosphate compound) or methoxychlor (an organochlorine compound), or to an insecticide synergist piperonyl butoxide, prior to OVA intraperitoneal sensitization and inhalation challenge. We assessed serum IgE levels, B-cell counts, cytokine production, IgE production in hilar lymph nodes, eosinophil counts, chemokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and cytokine gene expression in the lung.

RESULTS:

Exposure to environmental immunosuppressive chemicals markedly increased serum IgE - IgE-positive B-cells, IgE and cytokines in lymph nodes - eosinophils and chemokines in BALF - IL-10a and IL-17 in the lung.

CONCLUSIONS:

Allergic airway inflammation can be aggravated by prior exposure to immunosuppressive environmental chemicals.

• Authors: R Nishino, T Fukuyama, Y Tajima, L Miyashita, Y Watanabe, H Ueda, T Kosaka
• Journal: Toxicology (Toxicology) Vol. 309 Pg. 1-8 (Jul 05 2013) ISSN: 1879-3185 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 23583882 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Inflammation Mediators
• Parathion
• Piperonyl Butoxide
• Methoxychlor

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Animals
• Bronchitis (chemically induced, immunology, pathology)
• Environmental Exposure (adverse effects)
• Female
• Hypersensitivity (etiology, immunology, pathology)
• Immunosuppressive Agents (toxicity)
• Inflammation Mediators (toxicity)
• Methoxychlor (administration & dosage, toxicity)
• Mice
• Parathion (administration & dosage, toxicity)
• Piperonyl Butoxide (toxicity)
• Random Allocation
• Time Factors