The effects of zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes on murine, rat and human precision-cut lung slices

PTPN2 copper-sensing rapidly relays copper level fluctuations into EGFR/CREB activation and associated CTR1 transcriptional repression

Fluxes in human intra- and extracellular copper levels recently garnered attention for roles in cellular signaling, including affecting levels of the signaling molecule cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). We herein applied an unbiased temporal evaluation of the whole-genome transcriptional activities modulated by fluctuations in copper levels to identify the copper sensor proteins responsible for driving these activities. We found that fluctuations in physiologically-relevant copper levels rapidly modulate EGFR/MAPK/ERK signal transduction and activation of the transcription factor cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB). Both intracellular and extracellular assays support Cu 1+ inhibition of the EGFR-phosphatase PTPN2 (and potentially the homologous PTPN1)-via direct ligation to the PTPN2 active site cysteine side chain-as the underlying mechanism of copper-stimulated EGFR signal transduction activation. Depletion of copper represses this signaling pathway. We additionally show i ) copper supplementation drives transcriptional repression of the copper importer CTR1 and ii ) CREB activity is inversely correlated with CTR1 expression. In summary, our study reveals PTPN2 as a physiological copper sensor and defines a regulatory mechanism linking feedback control of copper-stimulated MAPK/ERK/CREB-signaling and CTR1 expression, thereby uncovering a previously unrecognized link between copper levels and cellular signal transduction.

Short-term exposure to zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes: Effects on pulmonary function in humans

Zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes typically induce a systemic inflammation indicated by increase in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, also known as welding fume fever. It typically includes symptoms like fever, myalgia or headaches, but only a quarter of patients experience respiratory symptoms, e.g. coughing. This retrospective analysis of data of three studies with either control (filtered air) or zinc- and copper-containing welding fume exposure aims to identify and characterize the effect of the welding fumes on lung function. Spirometry and body plethysmography data of male healthy volunteers were analyzed and comparisons between different timepoints after a 6 h exposure were conducted. For controls no significant changes in spirometry were observed between baseline and 6 h, 24 h and 1 week after exposure. For volunteers exposed to zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes no significant reductions in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and minimal reductions in vital capacity (VC) (52 ml, 0.9%) were detected after 6 h. After 24 h significant reductions in FEV1 (147 ml, 3.2%) and VC (162 ml, 2.9%) could be observed. 1 week after exposure FEV1 was still significantly reduced (102 ml, 2.1%) and airway resistance were increased while no differences in VC were detected. The reduction of FEV1% after 24 week significantly correlated with increases in CRP levels. In conclusion, a single exposure to zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes leads not only to a systemic inflammation but could also induce slight sustained airway constrictions after 24 h and 1 week. The observed slight airway constriction is not caused by immediate effects but possibly inflammatory processes. Although welding fume fever does not necessarily present respiratory symptoms, welders exposed to zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes should be monitored for respiratory symptoms and obstructive ventilation pattern.

Evaluation of an ex vivo fibrogenesis model using human lung slices prepared from small tissues

BACKGROUND

In recent years, there have been breakthroughs in the preclinical research of respiratory diseases, such as organoids and organ tissue chip models, but they still cannot provide insight into human respiratory diseases well. Human lung slices model provides a promising in vitro model for the study of respiratory diseases because of its preservation of lung structure and major cell types.

METHODS

Human lung slices were manually prepared from small pieces of lung tissues obtained from lung cancer patients subjected to lung surgery. To evaluate the suitability of this model for lung fibrosis research, lung slices were treated with CdCl₂ (30 μM), TGF-β1 (1 ng/ml) or CdCl₂ plus TGF-β1 for 3 days followed by toxicity assessment, gene expression analysis and histopathological observations.

RESULTS

CdCl₂ treatment resulted in a concentration-dependent toxicity profile evidenced by MTT assay as well as histopathological observations. In comparison with the untreated group, CdCl₂ and TGF-β1 significantly induces MMP2 and MMP9 gene expression but not MMP1. Interestingly, CdCl₂ plus TGF-β1 significantly induces the expression of MMP1 but not MMP2, MMP7 or MMP9. Microscopic observations reveal the pathogenesis of interstitial lung fibrosis in the lung slices of all groups; however, CdCl₂ plus TGF-β1 treatment leads to a greater alveolar septa thickness and the formation of fibroblast foci-like pathological features. The lung slice model is in short of blood supply and the inflammatory/immune-responses are considered minimal.

CONCLUSIONS

The results are in favor of the hypothesis that idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is mediated by tissue damage and abnormal repair. Induction of MMP1 gene expression and fibroblast foci-like pathogenesis suggest that this model might represent an early stage of IPF.

Welding Fume Instillation in Isolated Perfused Mouse Lungs-Effects of Zinc- and Copper-Containing Welding Fumes

Zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes can cause systemic inflammation after exposure in humans. Recent ex vivo studies have shown that the observed inflammation originates from exposed immune cells. In vitro studies identified the soluble fraction of metal particles as the main effectors. Isolated perfused mouse lungs (IPLs) were perfused and ventilated for 270 min. Lungs were instilled with saline solution (control), welding fume particle suspension (WFs) or the soluble fraction of the welding fumes (SF-WFs). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and perfusate samples were analyzed for cytokine levels and lung tissue mRNA expression levels were analyzed via RT-PCR. All lungs instilled with WFs did not complete the experiments due to a fatal reduction in tidal volume. Accordingly, IL-6 and MPO levels were significantly higher in BALF of WF lungs compared to the control. IL-6 and MPO mRNA expression levels were also increased for WFs. Lungs instilled with SF-WFs only showed mild reactions in tidal volume, with BALF and mRNA expression levels not significantly differing from the control. Zinc- and copper-containing welding fume particles adversely affect IPLs when instilled, as evidenced by the fatal loss in tidal volume and increased cytokine expression and secretion. The effects are mainly caused by the particles, not by the soluble fraction.

The Advantages of EPR Spectroscopy in Exploring Diamagnetic Metal Ion Binding and Transfer Mechanisms in Biological Systems

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy has emerged as an ideal biophysical tool to study complex biological processes. EPR spectroscopy can follow minor conformational changes in various proteins as a function of ligand or protein binding or interactions with high resolution and sensitivity. Resolving cellular mechanisms, involving small ligand binding or metal ion transfer, is not trivial and cannot be studied using conventional biophysical tools. In recent years, our group has been using EPR spectroscopy to study the mechanism underlying copper ion transfer in eukaryotic and prokaryotic systems. This mini-review focuses on our achievements following copper metal coordination in the diamagnetic oxidation state, Cu(I), between biomolecules. We discuss the conformational changes induced in proteins upon Cu(I) binding, as well as the conformational changes induced in two proteins involved in Cu(I) transfer. We also consider how EPR spectroscopy, together with other biophysical and computational tools, can identify the Cu(I)-binding sites. This work describes the advantages of EPR spectroscopy for studying biological processes that involve small ligand binding and transfer between intracellular proteins.

Exposure to welding fumes suppresses the activity of T-helper cells

Welders have an increased susceptibility to airway infections with non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), which implicates immune defects and might promote pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We hypothesized that welding-fume exposure suppresses Th1-lymphocyte activity. Non-effector CD4⁺ T-cells from blood of 45 welders (n = 23 gas metal arc welders, GMAW; n = 16 tungsten inert gas welders, TIG; n = 6 others) and 25 non-welders were ex vivo activated towards Th1 via polyclonal T-cell receptor stimulation and IL-12 (first activation step) and then stimulated with NTHi extract or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (second activation step). IFNγ and IL-2 were measured by ELISA. In the first activation step, IFNγ was reduced in welders compared to non-welders and in the GMAW welders with higher concentrations of respirable particles compared to the lower exposed TIG welders. IFNγ was not influenced by tobacco smoking and correlated negatively with welding-fume exposure, respirable manganese, and iron. In the second activation step, NTHi and LPS induced additional IFNγ, which was reduced in current smokers compared to never smokers in welders as well as in non-welders. Analyzing both activation steps together, IFNγ production was lowest in smoking welders and highest in never smoking non-welders. IL-2 was not associated with any of these parameters. Welding-fume exposure might suppress Th1-based immune responses due to effects of particulate matter, which mainly consists of iron and manganese. For responses to NTHi this is strongest in smoking welders because welding fume suppresses T-cell activation towards Th1 and cigarette smoke suppresses the subsequent Th1-response to NTHi via LPS. Both effects are independent from IL-2-regulated T-cell proliferation. This might explain the increased susceptibility to infections and might promote COPD development.

Increased Neutrophil Granulocyte and Myeloperoxidase Levels Indicate Acute Inflammation Due to the Exposure of Zinc- and Copper-Containing Welding Fumes

OBJECTIVE

Recent studies have shown an increase of C-reactive-protein (CRP) after exposure to zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of exposure to zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes on leukocytes, their subtypes, and myeloperoxidase (MPO).

METHODS

Serum samples of male volunteers were examined after exposures to welding fumes in two settings: repeated exposure on 4 consecutive days for 6 hours and single exposures for different times (3, 4, 5 hours).

RESULTS

Neutrophil granulocyte and MPO levels showed increases 24 hours after single and repeated exposures for 6 hours similar to CRP increases reported in literature. Overall leukocyte levels and levels of monocytes and lymphocytes were not significantly affected.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates the involvement of neutrophil granulocytes in welding fume fever additional to mediator related effects.

The pro-inflammatory stimulus of zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes in whole blood assay via protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibition

An asymptomatic systemic inflammation after exposure to zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes has been described as mild form of metal fume fever in recent studies. Since chronic systemic inflammation leads to a higher cardiovascular risk, examining the inflammation with the underlying pathomechanism is necessary to estimate and hopefully prevent long-term effects of welding. We established a whole blood assay to investigate the effects of zinc- and copper-containing welding fume particles on the blood immune response. Increased levels of IL-6, IL-8, TNFα and IL-1β determined after 24 hours of exposure indicated an acute systemic inflammatory reaction. In vitro increases of IL-6 were comparable to in vivo increases of serum IL-6 levels in a study with welding fume exposure of human subjects. Inhibition of PTP1B was identified as one pathway responsible for the effects of zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes and therefore welding fume fever. In conclusion, the whole blood assay is a reliable and feasible method to investigate effects of zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes on the immune system and as a surrogate for systemic inflammation and welding fume fever. Future research can utilize whole blood assays to reduce and partially replace human exposure studies for further investigations of welding fume fever.