Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2012 Jul;4(4):206-213. 10.4168/aair.2012.4.4.206.

Asian Sand Dust Enhances Allergen-Induced Th2 Allergic Inflammatory Changes and Mucin Production in BALB/c Mouse Lungs

• Kang IG
• Jung JH
• Kim ST

• KMID: 1970709
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2012.4.4.206

Abstract

PURPOSE
Recent studies have reported that Asian sand dust (ASD) has a potential risk of aggravating airway inflammation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ASD on inflammation and mucin production in the airways of allergic mice.
METHODS
Forty BALB/c female mice were divided into four groups: saline (group 1); ASD (group 2); ovalbumin (OVA) alone (group 3); and OVA+ASD (group 4). OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) in serum and interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13, and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) and Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining was performed on lung tissues. In addition, immunohistochemical staining for IL-4, IL-5, MUC5AC, and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) was conducted.
RESULTS
Serum IgE levels were significantly higher in group 4 than in group 3 (P<0.05). IL-4 and IL-5 in BALF were significantly higher in group 4 than in group 3 (P<0.05, respectively). Based on H&E staining, inflammatory cell numbers were significantly greater in group 4 than in the other groups (P<0.05). The number of PAS-positive cells was also significantly greater in groups 3 and 4 than in groups 1 and 2 (P<0.05). The numbers of IL-4 and IL-5-positive cells were higher in group 4 than in group 3 (P<0.05). The number of MUC5AC and TGF-alpha-positive cells were also higher in group 4 than in group 3 (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that ASD increases cytokine expression and mucin production in an allergic murine model. The increased inflammatory reactions were related to cytokine production.

Keyword

Asian sand dust; airway inflammation; mucin

MeSH Terms

Animals
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
Cell Count
Dust
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Eosine Yellowish-(YS)
Female
Hematoxylin
Humans
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulins
Inflammation
Interferon-gamma
Interleukin-13
Interleukin-4
Interleukin-5
Interleukins
Lung
Mice
Mucins
Ovalbumin
Silicon Dioxide
Transforming Growth Factor alpha
Dust
Eosine Yellowish-(YS)
Hematoxylin
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulins
Interferon-gamma
Interleukin-13
Interleukin-4
Interleukin-5
Interleukins
Mucins
Ovalbumin
Silicon Dioxide
Transforming Growth Factor alpha

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Allergic mouse model. After intraperitoneal injection of a mixture of 25 µg OVA and 1 mg Al(OH)3 gel, mice were nebulized with 2% OVA for 4 days. Mice were then stimulated with continuous 2% OVA alone (OVA group) or a mixture of 2% OVA and ASD (OVA+ASD group).IP, intraperitoneal; ASD, Asian sand dust; OVA, ovalbumin.

• 

  Fig. 2 Serum OVA-specific IgE level. OVA-specific IgE levels were significantly increased in the OVA and OVA+ASD groups as compared with the control and ASD groups. The concentration of OVA-specific IgE was also significantly increased in the OVA+ASD group as compared with the OVA group. *P<0.05 vs. the control group, †P<0.05 vs. the ASD group, ‡P<0.05 vs. the OVA group. ASD, Asian sand dust; OVA, ovalbumin.

• 

  Fig. 3 Hematoxylin & eosin staining. Inflammatory cells in the bronchi were increased in the OVA and OVA+ASD groups as compared with the control group. Inflammatory cells (black arrows) were more prominent in the OVA+ASD group than in the OVA group (original magnification ×200, A: Control, B: ASD, C: OVA, D: OVA+ASD). *P<0.05 vs. the control group, †P<0.05 vs. the ASD group, ‡P<0.05 vs. the OVA group.ASD, Asian sand dust; OVA, ovalbumin, HPF, high-power field.

• 

  Fig. 4 Periodic acid-Schiff staining. Mucin-containing epithelial cells were significantly increased in the OVA+ASD group as compared with the control and OVA groups (×200). Black arrows indicate PAS-positive cells (original magnification ×200 for A: Control, B: ASD, C: OVA, D: OVA+ASD and ×400 for E: OVA+ASD). *P<0.05 vs. the control group, †P<0.05 vs. the ASD group, ‡P<0.05 vs. the OVA group.ASD, Asian sand dust; OVA, ovalbumin, HPF, high-power field.

• 

  Fig. 5 Immunohistochemical staining of lung tissue for IL-4. IL-4-positive cells (black arrows) were significantly increased in the OVA+ASD group as compared with the control and OVA groups (original magnification×200 for A: Control, B: ASD, C: OVA, D: OVA+ASD and original magnification×400 for E: OVA+ASD). *P<0.05 vs. the control group, P<0.05 vs. the ASD group, ‡P<0.05 vs. the OVA group.ASD, Asian sand dust; OVA, ovalbumin; HPF, high-power field.

• 

  Fig. 6 Immunohistochemical staining of lung tissue for IL-5. IL-5-positive cells (black arrows) were significantly increased in the OVA+ASD group as compared with the other groups (original magnification ×200, A: Control, B: ASD, C: OVA, D: OVA+ASD). *P<0.05 vs. the control group, †P<0.05 vs. the ASD group, ‡P<0.05 vs. the OVA group.ASD, Asian sand dust; OVA, ovalbumin; HPF, high-power field.

• 

  Fig. 7 Immunohistochemical staining for MUC5AC. MUC5AC-positive epithelial cells (black arrows) were significantly increased in the OVA+ASD group as compared with the control and OVA groups (original magnification ×200 for A: Control, B: ASD, C: OVA, D: OVA+ASD and ×400 for E: OVA+ASD). *P<0.05 vs. the control group, †P<0.05 vs. the ASD group, ‡P<0.05 vs. the OVA group.ASD, Asian sand dust; OVA, ovalbumin; HPF, high power field.

• 

  Fig. 8 Immunohistochemical staining of lung tissue for TGF-α. TGF-α-positive cells (black arrows) were significantly increased in the OVA+ASD group as compared with the control and OVA groups (original magnification ×200 for A: Control, B: ASD, C: OVA, D: OVA+ASD and original magnification ×400 for E: OVA+ASD). *P<0.05 vs. the control group, †P<0.05 vs. the ASD group, ‡P<0.05 vs. the OVA group.TGF-α, transforming growth factor alpha; ASD, Asian sand dust; OVA, ovalbumin; HPF, high-power field.

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