1 research outputs found
Effects of Simulated Smog Atmospheres in Rodent Models of Metabolic and Immunologic Dysfunction
Air
pollution is a diverse and dynamic mixture of gaseous and particulate
matter, limiting our understanding of associated adverse health outcomes.
The biological effects of two simulated smog atmospheres (SA) with
different compositions but similar air quality health indexes were
compared in a nonobese diabetic rat model (Goto-Kakizaki, GK) and
three mouse immune models (house dust mite (HDM) allergy, antibody
response to heat-killed pneumococcus, and resistance to influenza
A infection). In GK rats, both SA-PM (high particulate matter) and
SA-O<sub>3</sub> (high ozone) decreased cholesterol levels immediately
after a 4-h exposure, whereas only SA-O<sub>3</sub> increased airflow
limitation. Airway responsiveness to methacholine was increased in
HDM-allergic mice compared with nonallergic mice, but exposure to
SA-PM or SA-O<sub>3</sub> did not significantly alter responsiveness.
Exposure to SA-PM did not affect the IgM response to pneumococcus,
and SA-O<sub>3</sub> did not affect virus titers, although inflammatory
cytokine levels were decreased in mice infected at the end of a 7-day
exposure. Collectively, acute SA exposures produced limited health
effects in animal models of metabolic and immune diseases. Effects
of SA-O<sub>3</sub> tended to be greater than those of SA-PM, suggesting
that gas-phase components in photochemically derived multipollutant
mixtures may be of greater concern than secondary organic aerosol
PM