Diesel exhaust particles (DEP) induce pulmonary diseases including asthma and chronic bronchitis. Comprehensive evaluation is required to know the effects of pollutants including DEP on these and other lung diseases. Alveolar macrophages (AM) and epithelial cells are important cellular targets for pollutants such as DEP in the lung. Alveolar macrophages encounter and phagocytose DEP in the alveolar space, and their biological responses have been implicated in DEP-induced pulmonary diseases. Expression profiles of genes induced by DEP in AM will lead to better understanding of the mechanisms involved in pulmonary diseases. To characterize the effect of the DEP extract on AM systematically, we analyzed the gene expression in AM exposed to DEP extract using the Atlas Rat Toxicology Array II. The finding in cDNA microarray was further confirmed by Northern blot analysis. AM were exposed to 10 μg/ml of DEP extract for 6 h in order to elucidate early response to DEP extract in AM. Early response to DEP extract in AM may affect the alteration of gene expression in subsequent responses so that it is important to identify the alteration in early response. In this study, the transcription of 6 genes in the cDNA microarray was significantly elevated by exposure of the AM to DEP extract. These genes were heme oxygenase (HO)-1 and -2, thioredoxin peroxidase 2 (TDPX-2), glutathione S-transferase P subunit (GST-P), NAD(P)H dehydrogenase, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The antioxidative enzymes such as HO, TDPX-2, GST-P, and NAD(P)H dehydrogenase may play a role in the pulmonary defense against oxidative stress caused by various pollutants including DEP. PCNA may have contributed to the repair of DNA damage and to cell proliferation caused by exposure to these pollutants. Our results suggest that cDNA microarray analysis is a useful tool to investigate the biological responses to pulmonary toxicants.

Background: Diisononyl phthalate (DINP), a principal plasticizer in many polyvinyl chloride products, has been shown to have an adjuvant effect on immunoglobulin (Ig) production in mice. However, the effects of DINP on allergic diseases have not been fully elucidated. Objectives: In the present study we investigated the effects of DINP on atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions induced by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp) in atopic-prone NC/Nga mice. Methods: Mice were injected intradermally with Dp on their ears and were exposed to DINP (0, 0.15, 1.5, 15, or 150 mg/kg/day) intraperitoneally. We evaluated clinical scores, ear thickening, histologic findings, protein expression of cytokines/chemokines in the ear, and serum levels of Ig and histamine. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of DINP on bone-marrow–derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) or splenocytes in vitro. After exposure to DINP (0–100 μM), cells were evaluated for phenotype and function. Results: DINP aggravated AD-like skin lesions related to Dp. The aggravation was consistent with eosinophilic inflammation, mast cell degranulation, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) expression in the ear. DINP enhanced the expression of cell surface activation markers on BMDCs and their production of TARC/CCL17 (thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine) and MDC/CCL22 (macrophage-derived chemokine), as well as their capacity to stimulate Dp-specific T-cell proliferation. DINP also enhanced interleukin-4 production and Dp-stimulated proliferation of splenocytes. Conclusions: DINP can aggravate AD-like skin lesions related to Dp. The mechanisms of the aggravation might be mediated, at least partly, through the TSLP-related activation of dendritic cells and by direct or indirect activation of the immune cells.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins and found in many consumer products. Previous studies have reported that perinatal exposure to BPA through the oral route promotes the development of allergic airway inflammation. We investigated the effects of exposure to low-dose BPA during the juvenile period of development on allergic airway inflammation. Six-week-old male C3H/HeJ mice were intratracheally administered ovalbumin (OVA, 1 μg) every 2 weeks and/or BPA (0, 0.0625, 1.25, and 25 pmol/animal/week) once per week for 6 weeks. Following the final intratracheal instillation, we examined the cellular profile of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, histological changes and expression of inflammatory/anti-inflammatory mediators in the lungs, OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) production, serum corticosterone levels, and changes in the lymphoid tissues (mediastinal lymph node (MLN) and spleen). Exposure to OVA + BPA enhanced inflammatory cell infiltration and protein expression of Th2 cytokines/chemokines (e.g. interleukin (IL)-13 and IL-33) in the lungs, OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) production, the numbers of total cells and activated antigen-presenting cells (MHC class II⁺ CD86⁺, CD11c⁺), as well as the production of Th2 cytokines (i.e. IL-4 and IL-5) and stromal cell-derived factor-1α in MLN cells compared to OVA exposure alone. These effects were more prominent with 0.0625 or 1.25 pmol/animal/week of BPA. Furthermore, exposure to OVA + BPA altered serum levels of anti-inflammatory corticosterone, estrogen receptor 2 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in the lungs and spleen functionality. These findings suggest that low-dose BPA exposure may aggravate allergic airway inflammation by enhancing Th2 responses via disruption of the immune system.