Toxic Indoor Air Is a Potential Risk of Causing Immuno Suppression and Morbidity—A Pilot Study

We aimed to establish an etiology-based connection between the symptoms experienced by the occupants of a workplace and the presence in the building of toxic dampness microbiota. The occupants (5/6) underwent a medical examination and urine samples (2/6) were analyzed by LC-MS/MS for mycotoxins at two time-points. The magnitude of inhaled water was estimated. Building-derived bacteria and fungi were identified and assessed for toxicity. Separate cytotoxicity tests using human THP-1 macrophages were performed from the office’s indoor air water condensates. Office-derived indoor water samples (n = 4/4) were toxic to human THP-1 macrophages. Penicillium, Acremonium sensu lato, Aspergillus ochraceus group and Aspergillus section Aspergillus grew from the building material samples. These colonies were toxic in boar sperm tests (n = 11/32); four were toxic to BHK-21 cells. Mycophenolic acid, which is a potential immunosuppressant, was detected in the initial and follow-up urine samples of (2/2) office workers who did not take immunosuppressive drugs. Their urinary mycotoxin profiles differed from household and unrelated controls. Our study suggests that the presence of mycotoxins in indoor air is linked to the morbidity of the occupants. The cytotoxicity test of the indoor air condensate is a promising tool for risk assessment in moisture-damaged buildings

Toxic Indoor Air Is a Potential Risk of Causing Immuno Suppression and Morbidity—A Pilot Study

We aimed to establish an etiology-based connection between the symptoms experienced by the occupants of a workplace and the presence in the building of toxic dampness microbiota. The occupants (5/6) underwent a medical examination and urine samples (2/6) were analyzed by LC-MS/MS for mycotoxins at two time-points. The magnitude of inhaled water was estimated. Building-derived bacteria and fungi were identified and assessed for toxicity. Separate cytotoxicity tests using human THP-1 macrophages were performed from the office’s indoor air water condensates. Office-derived indoor water samples (n = 4/4) were toxic to human THP-1 macrophages. Penicillium, Acremonium sensu lato, Aspergillus ochraceus group and Aspergillus section Aspergillus grew from the building material samples. These colonies were toxic in boar sperm tests (n = 11/32); four were toxic to BHK-21 cells. Mycophenolic acid, which is a potential immunosuppressant, was detected in the initial and follow-up urine samples of (2/2) office workers who did not take immunosuppressive drugs. Their urinary mycotoxin profiles differed from household and unrelated controls. Our study suggests that the presence of mycotoxins in indoor air is linked to the morbidity of the occupants. The cytotoxicity test of the indoor air condensate is a promising tool for risk assessment in moisture-damaged buildings

Toxic Indoor Air Is a Potential Risk of Causing Immuno Suppression and Morbidity-A Pilot Study

We aimed to establish an etiology-based connection between the symptoms experienced by the occupants of a workplace and the presence in the building of toxic dampness microbiota. The occupants (5/6) underwent a medical examination and urine samples (2/6) were analyzed by LC-MS/MS for mycotoxins at two time-points. The magnitude of inhaled water was estimated. Building-derived bacteria and fungi were identified and assessed for toxicity. Separate cytotoxicity tests using human THP-1 macrophages were performed from the office's indoor air water condensates. Office-derived indoor water samples (n = 4/4) were toxic to human THP-1 macrophages. Penicillium, Acremonium sensu lato, Aspergillus ochraceus group and Aspergillus section Aspergillus grew from the building material samples. These colonies were toxic in boar sperm tests (n = 11/32); four were toxic to BHK-21 cells. Mycophenolic acid, which is a potential immunosuppressant, was detected in the initial and follow-up urine samples of (2/2) office workers who did not take immunosuppressive drugs. Their urinary mycotoxin profiles differed from household and unrelated controls. Our study suggests that the presence of mycotoxins in indoor air is linked to the morbidity of the occupants. The cytotoxicity test of the indoor air condensate is a promising tool for risk assessment in moisture-damaged buildings.Peer reviewe

In Search of Clinical Markers: Indicators of Exposure in Dampness and Mold Hypersensitivity Syndrome (DMHS)

Potential markers were sought to diagnose mold hypersensitivity. Indoor air condensed water and human macrophage THP-1 test were applied to evaluate the buildings. Basophil activation tests (BAT) were conducted and mold-specific immunoglobulins (IgE, IgG, IgA, and IgD) were measured in study subjects’ serum and feces. Exposed subjects reported markedly more symptoms from occupational air than controls. Basophils from exposed subjects died/lost activity at 225 times lower concentrations of toxic extracts from the target building than recommended in the common BAT protocol. Fecal IgG and IgD levels against Acrostalagmus luteoalbus and Aspergillus versicolor produced receiver operating curves (ROC) of 0.928 and 0.916, respectively, when plotted against the inflammation marker MRP8/14. Assaying serum immunoglobulin concentrations against the toxic Chaetomium globosum (MTAV35) from another building, a test control, did not differentiate study individuals. However, if liver metabolism produced the same core molecule from other Chaetomium globosum strains, this would explain the increased response in fecal immunoglobulins in the exposed. The altered immunoglobulin values in the samples of exposed when compared to controls revealed the route of mold exposure. The toxicity of indoor air condensed water samples, BAT and serology confirmed the severity of symptoms in the target building’s employees, supporting earlier findings of toxicity in this building

Hemin and Cobalt Protoporphyrin Inhibit NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation by Enhancing Autophagy : A Novel Mechanism of Inflammasome Regulation

Inflammasomes are intracellular protein platforms, which, upon activation, produce the highly proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1 beta and IL-18. Heme, hemin and their degradation products possess significant immunomodulatory functions. Here, we studied whether hemin regulates inflammasome function in macrophages. Both hemin and its derivative, cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP), significantly reduced IL-1 beta secretion by cultured human primary macrophages, the human monocytic leukemia cell line and also mouse bone marrow-derived and peritoneal macrophages. Intraperitoneal administration of CoPP to mice prior to urate crystal-induced peritonitis alleviated IL-1 beta secretion to the peritoneal cavity. In cultured macrophages, hemin and CoPP inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome assembly by reducing the amount of intracellular apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-recruitment domain (ASC). The reduction of ASC was associated with enhanced autophagosome formation and autophagic flux. Inhibition of autophagy prevented the CoPP-induced depletion of ASC, implying that the depletion was caused by increased autophagy. Our data indicate that hemin functions as an endogenous negative regulator of the NLRP3 inflammasome. The inhibition is mediated via enhanced autophagy that results in increased degradation of ASC. This regulatory mechanism may provide a novel approach for the treatment of inflammasome-related diseases. (C) 2016 S. Karger AG, BaselPeer reviewe

Association of toxic indoor air with multi-organ symptoms in pupils attending a moisture-damaged school in Finland

publishedVersionPeer reviewe

Food allergy alters jejunal circular muscle contractility and induces local inflammatory cytokine expression in a mouse model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We hypothesized that food allergy causes a state of non-specific jejunal dysmotility. This was tested in a mouse model.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Balb/c mice were epicutaneously sensitized with ovalbumin and challenged with 10 intragastric ovalbumin administrations every second day. Smooth muscle contractility of isolated circular jejunal sections was studied in organ bath with increasing concentrations of carbamylcholine chloride (carbachol). Smooth muscle layer thickness and mast cell protease-1 (MMCP-1) positive cell density were assayed histologically. Serum MMCP-1 and immunoglobulins were quantified by ELISA, and mRNA expressions of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-6 and TGFβ-1 from jejunal and ileal tissue segments were analyzed with quantitative real-time PCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Ovalbumin-specific serum IgE correlated with jejunal MMCP-1⁺cell density. In the allergic mice, higher concentrations of carbachol were required to reach submaximal muscular stimulation, particularly in preparations derived from mice with diarrhoea. Decreased sensitivity to carbachol was associated with increased expression of IL-4 and IL-6 mRNA in jejunum. Smooth muscle layer thickness, as well as mRNA of IFN-γ and TGF-β1 remained unchanged.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this mouse model of food allergy, we demonstrated a decreased response to a muscarinic agonist, and increased levels of proinflammatory IL-6 and Th2-related IL-4, but not Th1-related IFN-γ mRNAs in jejunum. IgE levels in serum correlated with the number of jejunal MMCP-1⁺cells, and predicted diarrhoea. Overall, these changes may reflect a protective mechanism of the gut in food allergy.</p

Kosteusturvalliset ja ympäristöystävälliset kutterinlastueristeiset puurakenteet : ECOSAFE- JA ECOSAFE 2-hankkeiden loppuraportti

ECOSAFE- hankkeissa on tarkasteltu kutterinlastueristepohjaisten rakenneratkaisujen rakennusfysikaalista toimintaa laskennallisesti ja kokeellisesti, ja määritetty edellytykset toteuttaa kosteusturvallisia rakenteita nykyisissä ja tulevaisuuden ilmasto-olosuhteissa. ECOSAFE 2 -hankkeessa on tarkasteltu savetuksen edullista vaikutusta kutterinlastueristeen rakennusfysikaaliseen toimivuuteen sekä laajennettu ECOSAFE-tutkimuksia akustiikan, palotekniikan, hiilijalanjälkilaskennan ja mikrobiologian osa-alueille. Tutkimus on osoittanut mahdollisuuden hyödyntää luonnonmukaisia materiaaleja tämän päivän rakentamisessa huomattavasti nykyistä laajemmin sekä tuottanut käytännön työkaluja, mm. suositusrakennetyyppejä sekä materiaalidataa. Tulokset ovat hyödynnettävissä sekä uudis- että korjausrakentamisessa. Kutterinlastueristettä voidaan tutkimustulosten mukaan käyttää nykyvaatimusten mukaisissa ulkovaipparakenteissa. Erityisesti savetetulla kutterinlastulla eristetyt rakenteet ovat osoittautuneet hyvin toimiviksi. Kuten avohuokoisella lämmöneristyksellä varustetut ulkoseinärakenteet yleensä, myös kutterinlastueristeiset rakenteet toimivat parhaiten riittävän lämmönvastuksen omaavan tuulensuojalevyn kanssa. Kutterinlastueristeellä ja tuulensuojamineraalivillalla varustetut ulkoseinät osoittautuivat testatuista rakenteista parhaiten toimiviksi rakennusfysiikan näkökulmasta. Tutkimuksessa käytettyjen materiaalien käyttö mahdollistaa myös rakenteiden hiilijalanjäljen huomattavan pienentämisen tyypillisiin nykyrakenteisiin verrattuna. Ulkovaipparakenteiden ääneneristävyys on tulosten perusteella samaa suuruusluokkaa tyypillisten nykyaikaisten puurankarakenteiden kanssa. Tämä mahdollistaa ääneneristysvaatimukset täyttävien rakenteiden toteuttamisen sellaisissa tapauksissa, joissa puurankarakenteiden käyttö ylipäänsä on mielekästä ääneneristyksen kannalta. Kutterinlastueristeellä ja puualustan päälle tehdyllä savirappauksella varustetut rakenteet täyttävät oikein toteutettuna asuinhuoneistojen väliset ääneneristysvaatimukset. Palokokeissa seinä saatiin myös täyttämään 60 minuutin palonkestovaatimus ei-kantavana osastoivana rakenteena. Useiden erilaisten kutterinlastueristeiden rakennusfysikaaliset materiaaliominaisuudet mitattiin kattavasti. Mitattuja ominaisuuksia voidaan hyödyntää tutkittaessa rakenteiden rakennusfysikaalista toimintaa niin käsinlaskentamenetelmillä kuin tietokonemallinnuksellakin. Erityyppisille saville mitattiin fysikaaliset ja kemialliset ominaisuudet niiden luokittelua varten. Materiaalien savetuksen todettiin lisäksi vähentävän haitallisten yhdisteiden muodostumista mikrobitoiminnan seurauksena, kun materiaali on kosteudelle alttiina

Toxic Indoor Air Is a Potential Risk of Causing Immuno Suppression and Morbidity&mdash;A Pilot Study

We aimed to establish an etiology-based connection between the symptoms experienced by the occupants of a workplace and the presence in the building of toxic dampness microbiota. The occupants (5/6) underwent a medical examination and urine samples (2/6) were analyzed by LC-MS/MS for mycotoxins at two time-points. The magnitude of inhaled water was estimated. Building-derived bacteria and fungi were identified and assessed for toxicity. Separate cytotoxicity tests using human THP-1 macrophages were performed from the office&rsquo;s indoor air water condensates. Office-derived indoor water samples (n = 4/4) were toxic to human THP-1 macrophages. Penicillium, Acremonium sensu lato, Aspergillus ochraceus group and Aspergillus section Aspergillus grew from the building material samples. These colonies were toxic in boar sperm tests (n = 11/32); four were toxic to BHK-21 cells. Mycophenolic acid, which is a potential immunosuppressant, was detected in the initial and follow-up urine samples of (2/2) office workers who did not take immunosuppressive drugs. Their urinary mycotoxin profiles differed from household and unrelated controls. Our study suggests that the presence of mycotoxins in indoor air is linked to the morbidity of the occupants. The cytotoxicity test of the indoor air condensate is a promising tool for risk assessment in moisture-damaged buildings