Susceptibility to ozone-induced inflammation. I. Genetic control of the response to subacute exposure

Toxicity of environmental ozone exposure on mice olfactory bulbs, using Western blot technique

Environmental ozone (O₃) exposure has adverse effects on different body systems. This experimental work aimed to study the effect(s) of O₃ exposure on the olfactory bulbs (OB) of Swiss Webster and C57BL/6J mouse strains, using Western blot technique. Both mice strains were exposed to different O₃ doses for different number of exposures and durations. The results indicated that O₃ exposure caused a significant increase in the level of the proteins involved in the oxidative stress state such as 4-hydroxynonenal (4HNE) and Cytochrome P450, family 1, subfamily A, polypeptide 1 (CYP1A1), in addition to the total OB proteins in Swiss Webster mouse strain. However, this effect was not observed in C57BL/6J mouse strain. Furthermore, CYP1A1 was completely absent in the Green fluorescent protein (GFP) C57BL/6J O₃ exposed mice. Moreover, O₃ exposure caused a significant decrease in the body weight of the tested mice from the two strains.

γδ T Cells Are Required for M2 Macrophage Polarization and Resolution of Ozone-Induced Pulmonary Inflammation in Mice

We examined the role of γδ T cells in the induction of alternatively activated M2 macrophages and the resolution of inflammation after ozone exposure. Wildtype (WT) mice and mice deficient in γδ T cells (TCRδ^-/- mice) were exposed to air or to ozone (0.3 ppm for up to 72h) and euthanized immediately or 1, 3, or 5 days after cessation of exposure. In WT mice, M2 macrophages accumulated in the lungs over the course of ozone exposure. Pulmonary mRNA abundance of the M2 genes, Arg1, Retnla, and Clec10a, also increased after ozone. In contrast, no evidence of M2 polarization was observed in TCRδ^-/- mice. WT but not TCRδ^-/- mice expressed the M2c polarizing cytokine, IL-17A, after ozone exposure and WT mice treated with an IL-17A neutralizing antibody exhibited attenuated ozone-induced M2 gene expression. In WT mice, ozone-induced increases in bronchoalveolar lavage neutrophils and macrophages resolved quickly after cessation of ozone exposure returning to air exposed levels within 3 days. However, lack of M2 macrophages in TCRδ^-/- mice was associated with delayed clearance of inflammatory cells after cessation of ozone and increased accumulation of apoptotic macrophages in the lungs. Delayed restoration of normal lung architecture was also observed in TCRδ^-/- mice. In summary, our data indicate that γδ T cells are required for the resolution of ozone-induced inflammation, likely because γδ T cells, through their secretion of IL-17A, contribute to changes in macrophage polarization that promote clearance of apoptotic cells.

Pivotal role of IL-6 in the hyperinflammatory responses to subacute ozone in adiponectin-deficient mice

Adiponectin is an adipose-derived hormone with anti-inflammatory activity. Following subacute ozone exposure (0.3 ppm for 24-72 h), neutrophilic inflammation and IL-6 are augmented in adiponectin-deficient (Adipo(-/-)) mice. The IL-17/granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) axis is required for this increased neutrophilia. We hypothesized that elevated IL-6 in Adipo(-/-) mice contributes to their augmented responses to ozone via effects on IL-17A expression. Therefore, we generated mice deficient in both adiponectin and IL-6 (Adipo(-/-)/IL-6(-/-)) and exposed them to ozone or air. In ozone-exposed mice, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) neutrophils, IL-6, and G-CSF, and pulmonary Il17a mRNA expression were greater in Adipo(-/-) vs. wild-type mice, but reduced in Adipo(-/-)/IL-6(-/-) vs. Adipo(-/-) mice. IL-17A(+) F4/80(+) cells and IL-17A(+) γδ T cells were also reduced in Adipo(-/-)/IL-6(-/-) vs. Adipo(-/-) mice exposed to ozone. Only BAL neutrophils were reduced in IL-6(-/-) vs. wild-type mice. In wild-type mice, IL-6 was expressed in Gr-1(+)F4/80(-)CD11c(-) cells, whereas in Adipo(-/-) mice F4/80(+)CD11c(+) cells also expressed IL-6, suggesting that IL-6 is regulated by adiponectin in these alveolar macrophages. Transcriptomic analysis identified serum amyloid A3 (Saa3), which promotes IL-17A expression, as the gene most differentially augmented by ozone in Adipo(-/-) vs. wild-type mice. After ozone, Saa3 mRNA expression was markedly greater in Adipo(-/-) vs. wild-type mice but reduced in Adipo(-/-)/IL-6(-/-) vs. Adipo(-/-) mice. In conclusion, our data support a pivotal role of IL-6 in the hyperinflammatory condition observed in Adipo(-/-) mice after ozone exposure and suggest that this role of IL-6 involves its ability to induce Saa3, IL-17A, and G-CSF.

Role of the adiponectin binding protein, T-cadherin (cdh13), in pulmonary responses to subacute ozone

Adiponectin, an adipose derived hormone with pleiotropic functions, binds to several proteins, including T-cadherin. We have previously reported that adiponectin deficient (Adipo(-/-)) mice have increased IL-17A-dependent neutrophil accumulation in their lungs after subacute exposure to ozone (0.3 ppm for 72 hrs). The purpose of this study was to determine whether this anti-inflammatory effect of adiponectin required adiponectin binding to T-cadherin. Wildtype, Adipo(-/-) , T-cadherin deficient (T-cad(-/-) ), and bideficient (Adipo(-/-)/T-cad(-/-) ) mice were exposed to subacute ozone or air. Compared to wildtype mice, ozone-induced increases in pulmonary IL-17A mRNA expression were augmented in T-cad(-/-) and Adipo(-/-) mice. Compared to T-cad(-/-) mice, there was no further increase in IL-17A in Adipo(-/-)/T-cad(-/-) mice, indicating that adiponectin binding to T-cadherin is required for suppression of ozone-induced IL-17A expression. Similar results were obtained for pulmonary mRNA expression of saa3, an acute phase protein capable of inducing IL-17A expression. Comparison of lung histological sections across genotypes also indicated that adiponectin attenuation of ozone-induced inflammatory lesions at bronchiolar branch points required T-cadherin. BAL neutrophils and G-CSF were augmented in T-cad(-/-) mice and further augmented in Adipo(-/-)/T-cad(-/-) mice. Taken together with previous observations indicating that augmentation of these moieties in ozone exposed Adipo(-/-) mice is partially IL-17A dependent, the results indicate that effects of T-cadherin deficiency on BAL neutrophils and G-CSF are likely secondary to changes in IL-17A, but that adiponectin also acts via T-cadherin independent pathways. Our results indicate that T-cadherin is required for the ability of adiponectin to suppress some but not all aspects of ozone-induced pulmonary inflammation.

Pulmonary inflammation induced by subacute ozone is augmented in adiponectin-deficient mice: role of IL-17A

Pulmonary responses to ozone, a common air pollutant, are augmented in obese individuals. Adiponectin, an adipose-derived hormone that declines in obesity, has regulatory effects on the immune system. To determine the role of adiponectin in the pulmonary inflammation induced by extended (48-72 h) low-dose (0.3 parts per million) exposure to ozone, adiponectin-deficient (Adipo(-/-)) and wild-type mice were exposed to ozone or to room air. In wild-type mice, ozone exposure increased total bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) adiponectin. Ozone-induced lung inflammation, including increases in BAL neutrophils, protein (an index of lung injury), IL-6, keratinocyte-derived chemokine, LPS-induced CXC chemokine, and G-CSF were augmented in Adipo(-/-) versus wild-type mice. Ozone also increased IL-17A mRNA expression to a greater extent in Adipo(-/-) versus wild-type mice. Moreover, compared with control Ab, anti-IL-17A Ab attenuated ozone-induced increases in BAL neutrophils and G-CSF in Adipo(-/-) but not in wild-type mice, suggesting that IL-17A, by promoting G-CSF release, contributed to augmented neutrophilia in Adipo(-/-) mice. Flow cytometric analysis of lung cells revealed that the number of CD45(+)/F4/80(+)/IL-17A(+) macrophages and γδ T cells expressing IL-17A increased after ozone exposure in wild-type mice and further increased in Adipo(-/-) mice. The IL-17(+) macrophages were CD11c(-) (interstitial macrophages), whereas CD11c(+) macrophages (alveolar macrophages) did not express IL-17A. Taken together, the data are consistent with the hypothesis that adiponectin protects against neutrophil recruitment induced by extended low-dose ozone exposure by inhibiting the induction and/or recruitment of IL-17A in interstitial macrophages and/or γδ T cells.

Glutathione deficient C57BL/6J mice are not sensitized to ozone-induced lung injury

In this study we examined the role of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) in pulmonary susceptibility to ozone toxicity, utilizing GSH deficient C57BL/6J mice that lack the expression of glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM). Gclm(-/-) knockout mice had 70% GSH depletion in the lung. Gclm(+/+) wild-type and Gclm(-/-) mice were exposed to either 0.3 ppm ozone or filtered air for 48h. Ozone-induced lung hyperpermeability, as measured by total protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, was surprisingly lower in Gclm(-/-) mice than in wild-type mice. Lung hyperpermeability did not correlate with the degree of neutrophilia or with inflammatory gene expression. Pulmonary antioxidant response to ozone, assessed by increased mRNA levels of metallothionein 1 and 2, alpha-tocopherol transporter protein, and solute carrier family 23 member 2 (sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter) was greater in Gclm(-/-) mice than in Gclm(+/+) mice. These results suggest that compensatory augmentation of antioxidant defenses in Gclm(-/-) mice may confer increased resistance to ozone-induced lung injury.

Pulmonary responses to subacute ozone exposure in obese vs. lean mice

The purpose of this study was to determine whether obesity affects pulmonary responses following a 3-day ozone exposure. Obese db/db and lean wild-type mice were exposed to ozone (0.3 ppm) for 72 h. In wild-type mice, ozone exposure caused pulmonary injury and inflammation, and these events were associated with reduced pulmonary compliance. In db/db mice, ozone-induced neutrophil recruitment to the lung was reduced and no reduction in compliance was observed. Similar results were obtained in obese Cpe(fat) mice, indicating that loss of leptin signaling in db/db mice does not account for these obesity-related changes. To examine the role of interleukin (IL)-6 in this obesity-related difference in ozone responsiveness, wild-type and IL-6-deficient mice were raised on 10% or 60% fat diets. Compared with 10% fat-fed mice, wild-type 60% fat-fed mice were obese and had reduced neutrophil recruitment following ozone. IL-6 deficiency reduced ozone-induced neutrophil recruitment in 10% fat-fed mice. In contrast, in obese mice, no effect of IL-6 deficiency on neutrophil recruitment was observed. Obesity-related differences in the effect of ozone on compliance were observed in both wild-type and IL-6-deficient mice. Obesity-related differences in serum IL-6 were observed and may account for obesity-related differences in the effect of IL-6 deficiency on neutrophil recruitment. In summary, the neutrophilic inflammation induced by prolonged low level ozone exposure was attenuated in obese mice and appeared to result from an absence of IL-6-dependent neutrophil recruitment in the obese mice.

Role of interleukin-6 in murine airway responses to ozone

This study sought to examine the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in ozone (O(3))-induced airway injury, inflammation, and hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Subacute (72 h) exposure to 0.3 ppm O(3) significantly elevated bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) protein, neutrophils, and soluble TNF receptors (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2) in wild-type C57BL/6 (IL-6(+/+)) mice; however, all four outcome indicators were significantly reduced in IL-6-deficient (IL-6(-/-)) compared with IL-6(+/+) mice. Acute O(3) exposure (2 ppm for 3 h) increased BALF protein, KC, macrophage inflammatory protein(MIP)-2, eotaxin, sTNFR1, and sTNFR2 in IL-6(+/+) mice. However, MIP-2 and sTNFR2 were not significantly increased following O(3) exposure in IL-6(-/-) mice. Increases in BALF neutrophils induced by O(3) (2 ppm for 3 h) were also significantly reduced in IL-6(-/-) vs. IL-6(+/+) mice. Airway responsiveness to methacholine was measured by whole body plethysmography before and following acute (3 h) or subacute (72 h) exposure to 0.3 ppm O(3). Acute O(3) exposure caused AHR in both groups of mice, but there was no genotype-related difference in the magnitude of O(3)-induced AHR. AHR was absent in mice of either genotype exposed for 72 h. Our results indicate that IL-6 deficiency reduces airway neutrophilia, as well as the levels of BALF sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 following acute high dose and/or subacute low-dose O(3) exposure, but has no effect on O(3)-induced AHR.

Ozone-induced acute pulmonary injury in inbred mouse strains

To determine if host factors influence the time course and extent of lung injury after acute inhalation of ozone (O3), we evaluated the physiologic and biologic response of nine genetically diverse inbred strains of mice (C57BL/6J, 129/SvIm, BTBR, BALB/cJ, DBA/2J, A/J, FVB/NJ, CAST/Ei, and C3H/HeJ) exposed to O3 (2.0 ppm x 3 h). Whole lung lavage determined that 129/Svlm, BTBR, DBA/2J, and FVB/NJ had a peak increase in polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) at 6 h, whereas C57BL/6J and CAST/Ei had a peak increase at 24 h after exposure; airway PMNs were minimally elevated in A/J and C3H/HeJ; BALB/cJ had a predominant lymphocytic influx. Interleukin-6 concentration in the lavage fluid was associated with the influx of PMNs, whereas the total protein in the lavage fluid did not always correlate with lavage cellularity. Respiratory responses were monitored using whole body plethysmography and enhanced pause index. C57BL/6J, BALB/cJ, 129/SvIm, and BTBR were highly sensitive to O3 and exhibited significant increases in enhanced pause to methacholine aerosol stimulation at 6 and 24 h after exposure to O3. In contrast, DBA/2J, A/J, FVB/NJ, CAST/Ei, and C3H/HeJ strains had demonstrated increases in sensitivity to MCh at 6 h after exposure, but responses had returned to near baseline by 24 h after exposure to O3. Epithelial cell proliferation as assessed by proliferating cell nuclear antigen staining was evident at 24 h after exposure to O3. C57BL/6J and A/J showed 4% proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells; 129/SvIm, DBA/2J, and FVB/NJ had 1-3%; and BTBR, BALB/cJ, CAST/Ei, and C3H/HeJ had < 1%. Phenotypic measurements in six inbred strains were used for an in silico genome analysis based on the Roche mouse database. Consistent loci on chromosomes 1, 7, and 15 were among those identified to have a significant association with the phenotypes studied. In aggregate, our approach has identified O3-resistant (C3H/HeJ and A/J) and -vulnerable (C57BL/6J and 129/SvIm) strains of mice, and determined novel genomic loci, suggesting a clear genetic basis for the lung response to inhaled O3.

Genetic susceptibility to nickel-induced acute lung injury

Human exposure to insoluble and soluble nickel compounds is extensive. Besides wide usage in many industries, nickel compounds are contained in cigarette smoke and, in low levels, in ambient particulate matter. Soluble nickel particulate, especially nickel sulfate (NiSO(4)), has been associated with acute lung injury. To begin identifying genes controlling susceptibility to NiSO(4), mean survival times (MSTs) of eight inbred mouse strains were determined after aerosol exposure. Whereas A/J (A) mice were sensitive, C57BL/6J (B6) mice survived nearly twice as long (resistant). Their offspring were similarly resistant, demonstrating heritability as a dominant trait. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of backcross mice generated from these strains identified a region on chromosome 6 significantly linked to survival time. Regions on chromosomes 1 and 12 were suggestive of linkage and regions on chromosomes 8, 9, and 16 contributed to the response. Haplotype analysis demonstrated that QTLs on chromosomes 6, 9, 12, and 16 could explain the MST difference between the parental strains. To complement QTL analysis results, cDNA microarray analysis was assessed following NiSO(4) exposure of A and B6 mice. Significant expression changes were identified in one or both strains for >100 known genes. Closer evaluation of these changes revealed a temporal pattern of increased cell proliferation, extracellular matrix repair, hypoxia, and oxidative stress, followed by diminished surfactant proteins. Certain expressed sequence tags clustered with known genes, suggesting possible co-regulation and novel roles in pulmonary injury. Together, results from QTL and microarray analyses of nickel-induced acute lung injury survival allowed us to generate a short list of candidate genes.

Genetic variability in the development of pulmonary tolerance to inhaled pollutants in inbred mice

After repeated exposures, many individuals develop tolerance to the adverse health effects of inhaled pollutants. Pulmonary tolerance can be characterized as the ability of the lung to withstand the adverse actions of a toxic compound after repeated exposures. To determine whether genetic background is important to the development of pulmonary tolerance to inhaled pollutants, 11 inbred strains of mice were exposed once (1x) or for 5 consecutive days (5x) to 1.0 mg/m(3) of zinc oxide (ZnO). Development of pulmonary tolerance was assessed by measuring polymorphonuclear leukocyte and protein levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and comparing the responses of the 1x and 5x groups. Significant interstrain variation in polymorphonuclear leukocyte and protein responses was observed between the groups with 1x and 5x exposures, which indicates that genetic background has an important role in the development of pulmonary tolerance. The BALB/cByJ strain and the DBA/2J strain were the most tolerant and nontolerant, respectively. The CByD2F1/J offspring were uniformly nontolerant. The development of tolerance was also investigated in BALB/cByJ and DBA/2J mice after 1x and 5x exposure to ozone and aerosolized endotoxin. Discordance in the phenotypic pattern of pulmonary tolerance among strains after exposure to ZnO, ozone, and endotoxin suggested that different mechanisms may be responsible for the development of pulmonary tolerance to these agents.

Airway responses to chronic ozone exposure are partially mediated through mast cells

Airways inflammation and epithelial injury induced by chronic ozone (O(3)) in genetically mast cell-deficient mice (Kit(W)/Kit(W-v)) were compared with those in mast cell-sufficient mice (+/+) and Kit(W)/Kit(W-v) mice repleted of mast cells (Kit(W)/Kit(W-v)-BMT). Mice were exposed to 0.26 ppm O(3) 8 h/day, 5 days/wk, for 1-90 days. Background was 0.06 ppm O(3). Age-matched mice were exposed to filtered air for O(3) controls. Reversibility of lesions was evaluated 35 days after exposure. Compared with Kit(W)/Kit(W-v), O(3) caused greater increases in lavageable macrophages, epithelial cells, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes in +/+ and Kit(W)/Kit(W-v)-BMT mice. O(3) also caused lung hyperpermeability, but the genotypic groups were not different. Cells and permeability returned to air control levels after O(3). O(3) induced lung cell proliferation only in +/+ and Kit(W)/Kit(W-v)-BMT mice; proliferation remained elevated or increased in +/+ and Kit(W)/Kit(W-v)-BMT mice after O(3). Greater O(3)-induced cell proliferation was found in nasal epithelium of +/+ and Kit(W)/Kit(W-v)-BMT mice compared with Kit(W)/Kit(W-v) mice. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that mast cells affect airway responses induced by chronic O(3) exposure.

Genetic susceptibility to irritant-induced acute lung injury in mice

Recent studies suggest that genetic variability can influence irritant-induced lung injury and inflammation. To begin identifying genes controlling susceptibility to inhaled irritants, seven inbred mouse strains were continuously exposed to nickel sulfate (NiSO(4)), polytetrafluoroethylene, or ozone (O(3)), and survival time was recorded. The A/J (A) mouse strain was sensitive, the C3H/He (C3) strain was intermediate, and the C57BL/6 (B6) strain was resistant to NiSO(4)-induced acute lung injury. The B6AF(1) offspring were also resistant. The strain sensitivity pattern for NiSO(4) exposure was similar to that of polytetrafluoroethylene or ozone (O(3)). Pulmonary pathology was comparable for A and B6 mice. In the A strain, 15 microg/m(3) of NiSO(4) produced 20% mortality. The strain sensitivity patterns for lavage fluid proteins (B6 > C3 > A) and neutrophils (A >/= B6 > C3) differed from those for acute lung injury. This phenotype discordance suggests that these traits are not causally linked (i.e., controlled by independent arrays of genes). As in acute lung injury, B6C3F(1) offspring exhibited phenotypes (lavage fluid proteins and neutrophils) resembling those of the resistant parental strain. Agreement of acute lung injury strain sensitivity patterns among irritants suggested a common mechanism, possibly oxidative stress, and offspring resistance suggested that sensitivity is inherited as a recessive trait.

Genetic susceptibility to ozone-induced lung hyperpermeability: role of toll-like receptor 4

The pollutant ozone (O(3)) induces lung hyperpermeability and inflammation in humans and animal models. Among inbred strains of mice, there is a 3-fold difference in total protein (a marker of permeability) recovered in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid after a 72-h exposure to 0.3 ppm O(3). To determine the chromosomal locations of susceptibility genes, we performed a genome screen using recombinant inbred (RI) strains of mice derived from O(3)-susceptible C57BL/6J (B6) and O(3)-resistant C3H/HeJ (HeJ) progenitors. Each RI strain was phenotyped for O(3)-induced hyperpermeability, and linkage was assessed for 558 markers using Map Manager QTb27. A significant quantitative trait locus (QTL) was identified on chromosome 4. The likelihood ratio chi(2) statistic (16.6) for the peak of the QTL was greater than the significance threshold (16.3) determined empirically by permutation test. This QTL contains a candidate gene, Toll-like receptor 4 (Tlr4 ), that recently has been implicated in innate immunity and endotoxin susceptibility. The amount of the total trait variance explained by the QTL at Tlr4, the gene with the highest likelihood ratio statistic in the QTL, was approximately 70%. To test the role of Tlr4 in O(3)-induced hyperpermeability, BAL protein responses to O(3) were compared in C3H/HeOuJ (OuJ) and HeJ mice that differ only at a polymorphism in the coding region of Tlr4. Significantly greater protein concentrations (430 +/- 35 microg/ml) were found in OuJ mice compared with HeJ mice (258 +/- 18 microg/ml) after exposure to O(3). Furthermore, reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated differential expression of Tlr4 message levels between HeJ and OuJ mice after O(3) exposure. Together, results indicate that a QTL on mouse chromosome 4 explains a significant portion of the genetic variance in O(3)-induced hyperpermeability, and support a role for Tlr4 as a strong candidate susceptibility gene.

Interstrain variation in murine susceptibility to inhaled acid-coated particles

Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between concentration of acid aerosol and increased morbidity and mortality in many urban environments. To determine whether genetic background is an important risk factor for susceptibility to the toxic effects of inhaled particles, we studied the interstrain (genetic) and intrastrain (environmental) variance of lung responses to acid-coated particle (ACP) aerosol in nine strains of inbred mice. A flow-past nose-only inhalation system was used to expose mice to ACPs produced by the cogeneration of a carbon black aerosol-sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) mixture at high humidity. Three days after a single 4-h exposure to ACPs or filtered air, mice underwent bronchoalveolar lavage, and cell differentials and total protein were determined as indexes of inflammation and epithelial permeability, respectively. To determine the effect of ACPs on alveolar macrophage (AM) function, lavaged AMs were isolated from exposed animals and Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis was evaluated. Compared with air-exposed animals, there was a slight but significant exposure effect of ACPs on the mean number of lavageable polymorphonuclear leukocytes in C3H/HeJ and C3H/HeOuJ mice. ACP exposure also caused a significant decrease in AM phagocytosis. Relative to respective air-exposed animals, Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis was suppressed in eight of nine strains. The order of strain-specific effect of ACPs on phagocytosis was C57BL/6J > 129/J > SJL/J > BALB/cJ > C3H/HeOuJ > A/J > SWR/J > AKR/J. There was no effect of ACP exposure on AM phagocytosis in C3H/HeJ mice. The significant interstrain variation in AM response to particle challenge indicates that genetic background has an important role in susceptibility. The effects of ACPs on AM function, inflammation, and epithelial hyperpermeability were not correlated (i.e., no cosegregation). This model may have important implications concerning interindividual variation in particle-induced compromise of host defense.

Ozone-induced airway inflammatory changes differ between individuals and are reproducible

To study whether the individual inflammatory response to ozone was reproducible, dose-dependent, and time-dependent, we performed two exposures to 250 ppb ozone, one to 125 ppb and one to filtered air, each for 3 h of intermittent exercise and separated by at least 1 wk. Twenty-one healthy and 15 asthmatic subjects participated in the study. One hour after the two exposures to 250 ppb ozone we observed a mean increase in sputum neutrophils of 17.9 and 17.9% in healthy and of 20.3 and 15.2% in asthmatic subjects (p < 0.05 each). Twenty-four hours after exposure, the respective values were 11.9 and 14.8%, and 9.1 and 16.1% (p < 0.05 each). In the whole group of subjects, individual changes in the percentage of neutrophils were significantly correlated between the two exposure days 1 h (r = 0.87, p < 0.001; intraclass correlation coefficient [Ri] = 0.86) as well as 24 h (r = 0.79, p < 0.001; Ri = 0.71) after exposure. The percentages of lymphocytes were increased 24 h after exposures (all subjects combined: p < 0.05). The decrease in FEV1 in both groups (p < 0.01), was also reproducible (r = 0.77, p < 0.001), but there were no correlations between changes in sputum parameters and lung function. Exposure to 125 ppb ozone caused a small increase (p < 0. 05) in the percentage of neutrophils in asthmatic subjects and in the concentrations of interleukin-8 in both groups combined. Our data demonstrate that inflammatory and lung function responses to ozone differ between individuals and are reproducible but not related to each other. Therefore, these responses appear to represent two independent factors underlying the airway response to ozone.

Inflammatory and epithelial responses in mouse strains that differ in sensitivity to hyperoxic injury

The pulmonary response to various toxicants including bleomycin, ozone, ionizing radiation, and hyperoxia is highly variable among mouse strains. The current study tests the hypothesis that at a similar stage of injury, regardless of strain, expression of inflammatory cytokine and epithelial marker genes would be similar, indicating a common pathway of injury progression. Three strains of mice, C57B1/6J, 129/J, and C3H/HeJ, ranging from sensitive to resistant, were exposed to > 95% O2 for varying times. Ribonuclease protection was used to quantify changes in cytokine mRNA. Despite differences in the kinetics, each strain demonstrated similar hyperoxia-induced changes in the abundance of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1 beta, IL-3, and tumor neucrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. For each strain, death was accompanied by similar increases in cytokine mRNAs above steady-state control levels. Other inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1 alpha, IL-4, and interferon (IFN)-gamma, were unaltered in all strains at all times. In situ hybridization analysis of the epithelial markers, surfactant protein B (SPB), and clara cell secretory protein (CCSP) at the time of proinflammatory induction showed a similar pattern of expression in all strains. Increased SPB was detected in bronchiolar epithelium, while the number of type II cells expressing this message declined. Both the number of cells expressing CCSP as well as abundance per cell declined. These results suggest that although differences in acute sensitivity to hyperoxia exist between mouse strains, once initiated, acute epithelial cell injury and associated inflammatory changes follow the same pattern in all strains.