Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2008 Mar;51(3):240-249.

Effects of Repeated Ozone Exposure on Airway Remodeling in Mice

• Kim YM
• Kim IJ
• Kim HS
• Kim AY
• Han WK
• Rha KS

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether repeated long-term exposure of ozone has an effect on airway remodeling and whether ozone exposure has an aggravating effect on airway remodeling during allergen challenge in previously sensitized mice. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Forty female BALB/c mice were divided into four groups as follows: Group I as the control group, Group II the ovalbumin aerosol exposure group, Group III the ozone exposure group, and Group IV the ovalbumin aerosol and ozone exposure group. Twenty-four hours after the last OVA challenge, the concentration of IFN-gamma, IL-5, IL-13 and TGF-beta and the count of eosinophil and lymphocyte were measured in nasal lavage fluid (NLF) and bronchoalvelolar lavage fluid (BALF). Immunohistochemical staining for MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were performed. Trichrome staining was also conducted to evaluate subepithelial fibrosis.
RESULTS
Group II and III exhibited increased IL-5, IL-13, and TGF-beta in NLF and BALF, compared to Group I;Group IV showed more increased pattern for these cytokines, compared to Group II and III. Group II, III, and IV also showed increased expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1, compared to Group I in lung;Group II and IV showed more compared to Group I and III in nasal cavity mucosa. Subepithelial fibrosis was prominent in Group II, III, and IV, compared with group I. In group IV, subepithelial fibrosis was more increased than Group II and III.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that ozone exposure induces remodeling in upper and lower airway and also enhances allergen-mediated airway remodeling in previously sensitized animals.

Keyword

Remodeling; Ozone; Allergic rhinitis

MeSH Terms

Airway Remodeling
Animals
Cytokines
Eosinophils
Female
Fibrosis
Humans
Interleukin-13
Interleukin-5
Lymphocytes
Mice
Mucous Membrane
Nasal Cavity
Nasal Lavage Fluid
Ovalbumin
Ovum
Ozone
Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial
Therapeutic Irrigation
Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1
Transforming Growth Factor beta
Cytokines
Interleukin-13
Interleukin-5
Ovalbumin
Ozone
Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1
Transforming Growth Factor beta