Mechanisms of Airway Disease Development Following Inhalation Exposure to Indoor Fungal Contaminants Stachybotrys chartarum and Aspergillus versicolor

Details

• Personal Author:
  Beezhold, Donald H. ; Blackwood C ; Croston T ; Germolec D ; Green B ; Lemons, Angela R. ; McKinney W ; Rush R
• Description:
  Rationale: Fungi are found ubiquitously in the environment and chronic repeated exposures have been associated with pulmonary and cognitive effects in humans. Previous studies have shown that two prominent indoor fungal contaminants, Stachybotrys chartarum and Aspergillus versicolor, are associated with allergic airway disease, airway remodeling, and Th2-mediated immunological effects. To understand the mechanisms of disease development, genetically modified murine models are an invaluable tool. Methods: To examine the immunotoxicological response to each fungal species, a nose-only acoustical generation system was used to deliver dry aerosolized spores to C57BL/6J (WT) and IL-13 and RAG-2 knockout mice, twice weekly for 4 or 13 weeks. Twenty-four-hours after final exposure, the immune response was examined via flow cytometry, antibody quantification, and histology. Results: Wild-type mice had a strong inflammatory immune response to repeated fungal exposure by 13 weeks, which was significantly diminished in knockout mice. The response to S. chartarum resulted in increased T cells and eosinophils, whereas A. versicolor exposure in WT mice was characterized by an increase of B cells in the airways and total serum IgE antibodies. Mice lacking IL-13 or RAG-2 demonstrated a significant reduction of each, indicating that the cytokine IL-13 is necessary for the adaptive immune response to fungal exposure, as are mature B and T cells, as indicated in RAG-2-/- mice. Conclusions: This study identifies the mechanistic role of IL-13 during fungal exposure. Understanding the interplay of the immune system and indoor fungal contaminants is vital for identifying potential biomarkers and benchmarks for assessment of disease development. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomarkers Fungi Immune System Occupational Health Respiratory System Safety
• Keywords:
  Immune Reaction Immunology Indoor Environments Inhalation
• ISSN:
  0091-6749
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  151
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20070240
• Citation:
  J Allergy Clin Immunol 2023 Feb; 151(2)(Suppl):AB189
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2023
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
• Supplement:
  Suppl
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:adc410babf1267a84bfb361e54721ae37224b0a3c86cbe9ed9dab9d262f1e029944a4f1dc4d5a86c0bc909ace7809080f2291edcfa45762bd0e3fb1d1edc02de
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/208489/cdc_208489_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 104.88 KB ]