Submesothelial deposition of carbon nanoparticles after toner exposition: Case report

Inhalation of carbon nanoparticles (CNP) from toner dust has been shown to have impact on the respiratory health of persons exposed. Office printers are known emitters of CNP. We report about a female open office worker who developed weight loss and diarrhoea. Laparoscopy done for suspected endometriosis surprisingly revealed black spots within the peritoneum. Submesothelial aggregates of CNP with a diameter of 31-67 nm were found by scanning and transmission electron microscopy in these tissue specimens. Colon biopsies showed inflammatory bowel disease with typically signs of Crohn disease, but no dust deposits. Transport of CNP via lymphatic and blood vessels after inhalation in the lungs has to be assumed. In this case respiratory symptoms were not reported, therefore no lung function tests were done. We have shown that workers with toner dust exposure from laser printers can develop submesothelial deposition of CNP in the peritoneum. Impact of toner dust exposure on the respiratory health of office workers, as suspected in other studies, has to be evaluated further

A comparative ultrastructural and molecular biological study on Chlamydia psittaci infection in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and non-alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency emphysema versus lung tissue of patients with hamartochondroma

BACKGROUND: Chlamydiales are familiar causes of acute and chronic infections in humans and animals. Human pulmonary emphysema is a component of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and a condition in which chronic inflammation manifested as bronchiolitis and intra-alveolar accumulation of macrophages is common. It is generally presumed to be of infectious origin. Previous investigations based on serology and immunohistochemistry indicated Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection in cases of COPD. Furthermore, immunofluorescence with genus-specific antibodies and electron microscopy suggested involvement of chlamydial infection in most cases of pulmonary emphysema, but these findings could not be verified by PCR. Therefore, we examined the possibility of other chlamydial species being present in these patients. METHODS: Tissue samples from patients having undergone lung volume reduction surgery for advanced alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD, n = 6) or non-alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency emphysema (n = 34) or wedge resection for hamartochondroma (n = 14) were examined by transmission electron microscopy and PCR. RESULTS: In all cases of AATD and 79.4% of non-AATD, persistent chlamydial infection was detected by ultrastructural examination. Intra-alveolar accumulation of macrophages and acute as well as chronic bronchiolitis were seen in all positive cases. The presence of Chlamydia psittaci was demonstrated by PCR in lung tissue of 66.7% AATD vs. 29.0% non-AATD emphysema patients. Partial DNA sequencing of four positive samples confirmed the identity of the agent as Chlamydophila psittaci. In contrast, Chlamydophila pneumoniae was detected only in one AATD patient. Lung tissue of the control group of non-smokers with hamartochondroma was completely negative for chlamydial bodies by TEM or chlamydial DNA by PCR. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate a role of Chlamydophila psittaci in pulmonary emphysema by linking this chronic inflammatory process to a chronic infectious condition. This raises interesting questions on pathogenesis and source of infection

Die Bedeutung der peribronchialen Drüsen in der Pathogenese obstruktiver Lungenerkrankungen am Beispiel der Infektion mit dem Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Problem: Das Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) und die peribronchialen Drüsen sind in der Pathogenese der obstruktiven Lungenerkrankungen beteiligt. Einige Aspekte sind insbesondere im Zusammenhang beider noch nicht verstanden. Methode: An humanen peribronchialen Drüsenepithelzellen wurden Infektionen mit RSV-Wildtyp und -Mutante vorgenommen. Es wurden morphologische Untersuchungen zum Infektionsverlauf durchgeführt und die IL-5-Sekretion mittels ELISA gemessen. Ergebnis: Es kommt zur Störung von Zellarchitektur und Sekretion sowie einer vermehrten IL-5-Bildung. Die Infektion mit der Mutante verläuft akzeleriert und führt zum exzessiven intravakuolären Budding. Zwischen dem RSV-M2-Protein und Proteinen des NF$\kappa$B-Komplexes kommt es im Verlauf der Infektion zu verschiedenen Interaktionen. Diskussion: Die vermehrte Bildung von Interleukin 5 und die beschriebenen Einflüsse auf den NF$\kappa$B-Signaltransduktionsweg tragen zur Obstruktion der Atemwege im Verlauf der RSV-Infektion bei.Problem: Respiratory Syncytial virus (RSV) and peribronchial glands participate in the pathogenesis of obstructive lung diseases. Some aspects are still unclear especially regarding the interaction of both. Methods: Human peribronchial gland epithelial cells were infected with wild-type RSV or a mutant. The time course of infection was studied morphologically and the secretion of IL-5 was measured by ELISA. Results: RSV disturbed the cellular architecture and secretory functions and induced an increase in IL-5 secretion. The infection with the mutant was accelerated when compared to the wild-type and excessive intravacuolar budding of the mutant was noted. Several interactions between the M2 protein of the RS-virus and proteins of the NF$\kappa$B signal transduction could be depicted in the time course of infection. Discussion: The increase in IL-5 secretion and the influences on the NF$\kappa$B signal transduction participate in the airway obstruction, that occurs in the course of RSV infection

<it>Chlamydophila spp. </it>infection in horses with recurrent airway obstruction: similarities to human chronic obstructive disease

Abstract Background Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) in horses is a naturally occurring dust-induced disease mainly characterized by bronchiolitis which shows histological and pathophysiological similarities to human chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In human COPD previous investigations indicated an association with Chlamydophila psittaci infection. The present study was designed (1) to clarify a possible role of this infectious agent in RAO and (2) to investigate the suitability of this equine disorder as a model for human COPD. Methods Clinico-pathological parameters of a total of 45 horses (25 horses with clinical signs of RAO and 20 clinically healthy controls) were compared to histological findings in lung tissue samples and infection by Chlamydiaceae using light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and PCR. Results Horses with clinical signs of RAO vs. controls revealed more inflammatory changes in histology (p = 0.01), and a higher detection rate of Chlamydia psittaci antigens in all cells (p OmpA sequencing identified Chlamydophila psittaci (n = 9) and Chlamydophila abortus (n = 13) in both groups with no significant differences. Within the group of clinically healthy horses subgroups with no changes (n = 15) and slight inflammation of the small airways (n = 5) were identified. Also in the group of animals with RAO subgroups with slight (n = 16) and severe (n = 9) bronchiolitis could be formed. These four subgroups can be separated in parts by the number of cells positive for Chlamydia psittaci antigens. Conclusion Chlamydophila psittaci or abortus were present in the lung of both clinically healthy horses and those with RAO. Immunohistochemistry revealed acute chlamydial infections with inflammation in RAO horses, whereas in clinically healthy animals mostly persistent chlamydial infection and no inflammatory reactions were seen. Stable dust as the known fundamental abiotic factor in RAO is comparable to smoking in human disease. These results show that RAO can be used as a model for human COPD.</p