El recobriment dels embotits : una causa poc coneguda de pneumonitits per hipersensibilitat

La pneumonitis per hipersensibilitat (PH) comprèn un grup de malalties pulmonars produïdes per la inhalació de certes substàncies, principalment orgàniques, que, en individus susceptibles, poden desencadenar una reacció inflamatòria a nivell dels alvèols, els bronquíols i l'interstici pulmonar. Investigadors del Departament de Medicina de la UAB han tret a la llum els casos de PH causada per la inhalació continuada de pols del recobriment dels embotits per part dels xarcuters, en el seu lloc de treball. Durant la seva elaboració, els embotits són submergits en un bany que conté fongs per millorar-ne el gust. Al final del procés, el recobriment de fongs del producte és eliminat mitjantçant una raspallada que genera la pols en qüestió.La neumonitis por hipersensibilidad (PH) comprende un grupo deenfermedades pulmonares producidas por la inhalación de ciertas sustancias, principalmente orgánicas, que, en individuos susceptibles,pueden desencadenar una reacción inflamatoria a nivel de los alvéolos,los bronquiolos y el intersticio pulmonar. Investigadores delDepartamento de Medicina de la UAB han sacado a la luz los casos de PH causada por la inhalación continuada de polvo del recubrimiento delos embutidos por parte de los charcuteros, en su lugar de trabajo. Durante su elaboración, los embutidos son sumergidos en un baño que contiene hongos para mejorar su sabor. Al final del proceso, el recubrimiento de hongos del producto es eliminado mediante un cepillado que genera el polvo en cuestión.Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) comprises a group of lung diseasescaused by inhaling certain substances, mainly organic, which insusceptible individuals can trigger an inflammatory reaction of alveoli,bronchioles and pulmonary interstices. Researchers of the Departmentof Medicine at UAB have revealed cases of HP in butchers caused bycontinuous inhalation of the dust coating cured meats in the work place.During its preparation, the meat is submerged in a bath containing fungito improve its taste. At the end of the process, the fungal coating isremoved with a brush, which is what generates the dust

Les afeccions respiratòries dels soldadors

Les contínues inhalacions, per part dels soldadors, de partícules en suspensió d'òxids metàl·lics i diversos gasos suposen un risc per a la seva salut. Aquests treballadors estan més exposats a patir símptomes respiratoris i alteracions de la funció pulmonar. En concret, la febre per fum de metalls és la més probable de ser patida pels soldadors que treballen amb ferro galvanitzat. Els metalls que estan combinats en aquest tipus de material (níquel, crom o cobalt) poden ser els causants d'aquesta patologia i, segons estudis realitzats per l'equip del Dr. Muñoz, la sola exposició als fums de soldadura podria ser la causa de l'asma. En qualsevol cas, es necessiten més estudis clínics per poder establir els mecanismes que hi són implicats.Las continuas inhalaciones, por parte de los soldadores, de partículas en suspensión de óxidos metálicos y diversos gases suponen un riesgo para su salud. Estos trabajadores están más expuestos a padecer síntomas respiratorios y alteraciones de la función pulmonar. En concreto, la fiebre por humo de metales es la más probable de ser padecida por los soldadores que trabajan con hierro galvanizado. Los metales que están combinados en este tipo de material (níquel, cromo o cobalto) pueden ser los causantes de esta patología y, según estudios realizados por el equipo del Dr. Muñoz, la sola exposición a los humos de soldadura podría ser la causa del asma. En cualquier caso, se necesitan más estudios clínicos para poder establecer los mecanismos implicados

Is asthma a risk factor for COVID-19? Are phenotypes important?

Asthma is a major health problem all over the world [1]. Since severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a respiratory pathogen, it is important to quantify the risk that the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may represent for patients with asthma. These results reaffirm the idea that asthma does not appear to be a risk factor for the development of #COVID19. However, most of the asthma patients in this study had a non-T2 phenotype

El decolorant i els bronquis del perruquer

L'exposició a les sals de persulfat, molt freqüents en la indústria cosmètica, són una de les causes més freqüents de l'asma ocupacional, especialment dins del gremi de la perruqueria. Aquest estudi analitza l'evolució de 10 pacients en funció del seu grau d'exposició al agent. Els que van evitar el contacte van mostrar una millor hiperresposta bronquial, mentre que els que el van mantenir van mostrar un pitjor pronòstic de l'asma ocupacional.La exposición a las sales de persulfato, muy frecuentes en los productos decolorantes, son una de las causas más frecuentes del asma ocupacional, especialmente en el gremio de la peluquería. Este estudio analiza la evolución de 10 pacientes en función de su grado de exposición al agente. Quienes evitaron el contacto mostraron una mejor hiperrespuesta bronquial, mientras que quienes lo mantuvieron mostraron un peor pronóstico del asma ocupaciona

Is asthma a risk factor for COVID-19? Are phenotypes important?

Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; 2019-nCoV; Infeccions respiratòries i tuberculosi; Asma i al·lèrgiaCoronavirus SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; 2019-nCoV; COVID-19; Infecciones respiratorias y tuberculosis; Asma y alergiaCoronavirus SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; 2019-nCoV; Respiratory infections and tuberculosis; Asthma and allergyThese results reaffirm the idea that asthma does not appear to be a risk factor for the development of #COVID19. However, most of the asthma patients in this study had a non-T2 phenotype

Expansion of different subpopulations of CD26−/low T cells in allergic and non-allergic asthmatics

Asthma; Allergy; CD26Asma; Al·lèrgia; CD26Asma; Alergia; CD26CD26 displays variable levels between effector (TH17 ≫ TH1 > TH2 > Treg) and naïve/memory (memory > naïve) CD4+ T lymphocytes. Besides, IL-6/IL-6R is associated with TH17-differentiation and asthma severity. Allergic/atopic asthma (AA) is dominated by TH2 responses, while TH17 immunity might either modulate the TH2-dependent inflammation in AA or be an important mechanism boosting non-allergic asthma (NAA). Therefore, in this work we have compared the expression of CD26 and CD126 (IL-6Rα) in lymphocytes from different groups of donors: allergic (AA) and non-allergic (NAA) asthma, rhinitis, and healthy subjects. For this purpose, flow cytometry, haematological/biochemical, and in vitro proliferation assays were performed. Our results show a strong CD26-CD126 correlation and an over-representation of CD26- subsets with a highly-differentiated effector phenotype in AA (CD4+CD26-/low T cells) and NAA (CD4-CD26- γδ-T cells). In addition, we found that circulating levels of CD26 (sCD26) were reduced in both AA and NAA, while loss of CD126 expression on different leukocytes correlated with higher disease severity. Finally, selective inhibition of CD26-mRNA translation led to enhanced T cell proliferation in vitro. These findings support that CD26 down-modulation could play a role in facilitating the expansion of highly-differentiated effector T cell subsets in asthma

Sensitization to avian and fungal proteins in different work environments

Birds; Fungi; Hypersensitivity pneumonitisOcells; Fongs; Pneumonitis per hipersensibilitatAves; Hongos; Neumonitis por hipersensibilidadIntroduction Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is usually caused by the inhalation of avian and fungal proteins. The present study assesses a cohort of Urban Pest Surveillance and Control Service (UPSCS) workers with high exposure to avian and fungal antigens, in order to identify their degree of sensitization and the potential risk of developing HP. Methods Workers were divided according to their work activity into Nest pruners (Group 1) and Others (Group 2). All individuals underwent a medical interview, pulmonary function tests and the determination of specific IgG antibodies. Antigenic proteins of pigeon sera were analysed using two-dimensional immunoblotting. Proteins of interest were sequenced by liquid-chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). Results 101 workers were recruited (76 men, average age: 42 yrs); (Group 1 = 41, Group 2 = 60). Up to 30% of the study population exhibited increased levels of IgGs to pigeon, small parrot and parrot, and up to 60% showed high levels of Aspergillus and Penicillium IgGs. In Group 1, specific parakeet and Mucor IgGs were higher (p = 0.044 and 0.003 respectively) while DLCO/VA% were lower (p = 0.008) than in Group 2. Two-dimensional immunoblotting showed protein bands of 20–30 KDa recognized by HP patients but not by workers. LC–MS analysis identified Ig Lambda chain and Apolipoprotein A-I as candidate proteins for distinguishing HP patients from exposed workers. Conclusions Two pigeon proteins were identified that may play a role in the development of pathological differences between HP patients and exposed workers. DLCO/VA may have a predictive value in the development of HP disease.SSD is a researcher supported by CIBER, MJC is supported by the Miguel Servet program of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (MSII17/00025) and IO is a researcher supported by the Pla Estrategic de Recerca i Innovaci en Salut (PERIS) 2016–2020 (SLT008/18/00108; G60594009). This project received funding from FIS PI PI15/01954, Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER), Fundació Catalana de Pneumologia (FUCAP) and Sociedad Española de Patología respiratoria (SEPAR). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Asbestos Exposure and Severity of COVID-19

COVID-19; Asbestos exposure; Occupational exposureCOVID-19; Exposició a l'amiant; Exposició laboralCOVID-19; Exposición al amianto; Exposición laboralBackground: The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between occupational exposure to asbestos and the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: We evaluated patients who survived admission in our centre for COVID-19 pneumonia. Demographic, analytical, and clinical variables were collected during admission. After discharge, a previously validated occupational exposure to asbestos questionnaire was administered. Spirometry, CO diffusion test, the 6-min walk test, and high-resolution chest CT were performed. Patients who required respiratory support (oxygen, CPAP, or NIV) were considered severe. Results: In total, 293 patients (mean age 54 + 13 years) were included. Occupational exposure to asbestos was detected in 67 (24%). Patients with occupational exposure to asbestos had a higher frequency of COVID-19 pneumonia requiring respiratory support (n = 52, 77.6%) than their unexposed peers (n = 139, 61.5%) (p = 0.015). Asbestos exposure was associated with COVID-19 severity in the univariate but not in the multivariate analysis. No differences were found regarding follow-up variables including spirometry and the DLCO diffusion, the 6-min walk test, and CT alterations. Conclusions: In hospitalised patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, those with occupational exposure to asbestos more frequently needed respiratory support. However, an independent association between asbestos exposure and COVID-19 severity could not be confirmed.M.-J.C. is a member of the Miguel Servet research program of the Carlos III Health Institute (MSII17/00025). This project was funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI20/01134) and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER). The sponsors played no part in the study design, data collection and analysis, the decision to publish, or the preparation of the manuscript

Persistence of respiratory and inflammatory responses after dermal sensitization to persulfate salts in a mouse model of non-atopic asthma

Exposure to ammonium persulfate (AP) has been reported to be the main cause of occupational asthma in hairdressers. The aim of this study is to assess how long the asthmatic response to AP can be induced after dermal sensitization in a mouse model. BALB/c mice received dermal applications of AP or dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) (control) on days 1 and 8. They then received a single nasal instillation (challenge) of AP or saline on days 15, 22, 29, 36, 45, 60 and 90. Respiratory responsiveness to methacholine was measured 24 h after the challenge using a non-specific methacholine provocation test. Pulmonary inflammation was analysed in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and total serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E, IgG1 and IgG2a were measured in serum samples. Histological analysis of lung slides was performed. Mice dermally sensitized and intranasally challenged with AP showed respiratory responsiveness to methacholine as long as 45 days after initial sensitization, as well as increased percentage of neutrophils in BAL compared with the control group. At day 60, dermally sensitized mice still presented bronchial hyperresponsiveness, while the percentage of neutrophils returned to baseline levels similar to those of controls. Total serum IgE increased significantly on day 22 after dermal sensitization. Total serum IgG1 and IgG2a increased from 45 days after dermal sensitization and remained high at 90 days. Both respiratory responsiveness to methacholine and airway inflammation responses decrease with increasing time between sensitization and challenge. Respiratory responsiveness to methacholine tends to persist longer than inflammation

Expansion of different subpopulations of CD26 −/low T cells in allergic and non-allergic asthmatics

CD26 displays variable levels between effector (TH ≫ TH > TH > Treg) and naïve/memory (memory > naïve) CD4 T lymphocytes. Besides, IL-6/IL 6R is associated with TH -differentiation and asthma severity. Allergic/atopic asthma (AA) is dominated by TH responses, while TH immunity might either modulate the TH -dependent inflammation in AA or be an important mechanism boosting non-allergic asthma (NAA). Therefore, in this work we have compared the expression of CD26 and CD126 (IL-6Rα) in lymphocytes from different groups of donors: allergic (AA) and non-allergic (NAA) asthma, rhinitis, and healthy subjects. For this purpose, flow cytometry, haematological/biochemical, and in vitro proliferation assays were performed. Our results show a strong CD26-CD126 correlation and an over-representation of CD26 subsets with a highly-differentiated effector phenotype in AA (CD4 CD26 T cells) and NAA (CD4 CD26 γδ-T cells). In addition, we found that circulating levels of CD26 (sCD26) were reduced in both AA and NAA, while loss of CD126 expression on different leukocytes correlated with higher disease severity. Finally, selective inhibition of CD26-mRNA translation led to enhanced T cell proliferation in vitro. These findings support that CD26 down-modulation could play a role in facilitating the expansion of highly-differentiated effector T cell subsets in asthma