Exposure to crystalline silica results in serious adverse health effects, most notably, silicosis. An understanding of the mechanism(s) underlying silica-induced pulmonary toxicity is critical for the intervention and/or prevention of its adverse health effects. Rats were exposed by inhalation to crystalline silica at a concentration of 15 mg/m3, 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for 3, 6 or 12 weeks. Pulmonary toxicity and global gene expression profiles were determined in lungs at the end of each exposure period. Crystalline silica was visible in lungs of rats especially in the 12-week group. Pulmonary toxicity, as evidenced by an increase in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and albumin content and accumulation of macrophages and neutrophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), was seen in animals depending upon silica exposure duration. The most severe histological changes, noted in the 12-week exposure group, consisted of chronic active inflammation, type II pneumocyte hyperplasia, and fibrosis. Microarray analysis of lung gene expression profiles detected significant differential expression of 38, 77, and 99 genes in rats exposed to silica for 3-, 6-, or 12-weeks, respectively, compared to time-matched controls. Among the significantly differentially expressed genes (SDEG), 32 genes were common in all exposure groups. Bioinformatics analysis of the SDEG identified enrichment of functions, networks and canonical pathways related to inflammation, cancer, oxidative stress, fibrosis, and tissue remodeling in response to silica exposure. Collectively, these results provided insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying pulmonary toxicity following sub-chronic inhalation exposure to crystalline silica in rats.

An understanding of the mechanisms underlying diseases is critical for their prevention. Excessive exposure to crystalline silica is a risk factor for silicosis, a potentially fatal pulmonary disease. Male Fischer 344 rats were exposed by inhalation to crystalline silica (15 mg/m3, six hours/day, five days) and pulmonary response was determined at 44 weeks following termination of silica exposure. Additionally, global gene expression profiling in lungs and BAL cells and bioinformatic analysis of the gene expression data were done to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of pulmonary response to silica. A significant increase in lactate dehydrogenase activity and albumin content in BAL fluid (BALF) suggested silica-induced pulmonary toxicity in the rats. A significant increase in the number of alveolar macrophages and infiltrating neutrophils in the lungs and elevation in monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in BALF suggested the induction of pulmonary inflammation in the silica exposed rats. Histological changes in the lungs included granuloma formation, type II pneumocyte hyperplasia, thickening of alveolar septa and positive response to Masson's trichrome stain. Microarray analysis of global gene expression detected 94 and 225 significantly differentially expressed genes in the lungs and BAL cells, respectively. Bioinformatic analysis of the gene expression data identified significant enrichment of several disease and biological function categories and canonical pathways related to pulmonary toxicity, especially inflammation. Taken together, these data suggested the involvement of chronic inflammation as a mechanism underlying the progression of pulmonary response to exposure of rats to crystalline silica at 44 weeks following termination of exposure.

Pulmonary toxicity studies often use bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) to investigate potential adverse lung responses to a particulate exposure. The BAL cellular fraction is counted, using automated (i.e. Coulter Counter(R)), flow cytometry or manual (i.e. hemocytometer) methods, to determine inflammatory cell influx. The goal of the study was to compare the different counting methods to determine which is optimal for examining BAL cell influx after exposure by inhalation or intratracheal instillation (ITI) to different particles with varying inherent pulmonary toxicities in both rat and mouse models. General findings indicate that total BAL cell counts using the automated and manual methods tended to agree after inhalation or ITI exposure to particle samples that are relatively nontoxic or at later time points after exposure to a pneumotoxic particle when the response resolves. However, when the initial lung inflammation and cytotoxicity was high after exposure to a pneumotoxic particle, significant differences were observed when comparing cell counts from the automated, flow cytometry and manual methods. When using total BAL cell count for differential calculations from the automated method, depending on the cell diameter size range cutoff, the data suggest that the number of lung polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) varies. Importantly, the automated counts, regardless of the size cutoff, still indicated a greater number of total lung PMN when compared with the manual method, which agreed more closely with flow cytometry. The results suggest that either the manual method or flow cytometry would be better suited for BAL studies where cytotoxicity is an unknown variable.

Welding fume is an exposure that consists of a mixture of metal-rich particulate matter with gases (ozone, carbon monoxide) and/or vapors (VOCs). Data suggests that welders are immune compromised. Given the inability of pulmonary leukocytes to properly respond to a secondary infection in animal models, the question arose whether the dysfunction persisted systemically. Our aim was to evaluate the circulating leukocyte population in terms of cellular activation, presence of oxidative stress, and functionality after a secondary challenge, following welding fume exposure. Rats were intratracheally instilled (ITI) with PBS or 2 mg of welding fume collected from a stainless steel weld. Rats were sacrificed 4 and 24 h post-exposure and whole blood was collected. Whole blood was used for cellular differential counts, RNA isolation with subsequent microarray and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, and secondary stimulation with LPS utilizing TruCulture technology. In addition, mononuclear cells were isolated 24 h post-exposure to measure oxidative stress by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Welding fume exposure had rapid effects on the circulating leukocyte population as identified by relative mRNA expression changes. Instillation of welding fume reduced inflammatory protein production of circulating leukocytes when challenged with the secondary stimulus LPS. The effects were not related to transcription, but were observed in conjunction with oxidative stress. These findings support previous studies of an inadequate pulmonary immune response following a metal-rich exposure and extend those findings showing leukocyte dysfunction occurs systemically.

Cerium compounds have been used as a fuel-borne catalyst to lower the generation of diesel exhaust particles (DEPs), but are emitted as cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2) along with DEP in the diesel exhaust. The present study investigates the effects of the combined exposure to DEP and CeO2 on the pulmonary system in a rat model. Specific pathogen-free male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to CeO2 and/or DEP via a single intratracheal instillation and were sacrificed at various time points post-exposure. This investigation demonstrated that CeO2 induces a sustained inflammatory response, whereas DEP elicits a switch of the pulmonary immune response from Th1 to Th2. Both CeO2 and DEP activated AM and lymphocyte secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-12 and IFN-gamma, respectively. However, only DEP enhanced the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 production in response to ex vivo LPS or Concanavalin A challenge that was not affected by the presence of CeO2, suggesting that DEP suppresses host defense capability by inducing the Th2 immunity. The micrographs of lymph nodes show that the particle clumps in DEP+CeO2 were significantly larger than CeO2 or DEP, exhibiting dense clumps continuous throughout the lymph nodes. Morphometric analysis demonstrates that the localization of collagen in the lung tissue after DEP+CeO2 reflects the combination of DEP-exposure plus CeO2-exposure. At 4weeks post-exposure, the histological features demonstrated that CeO2 induced lung phospholipidosis and fibrosis. DEP induced lung granulomas that were not significantly affected by the presence of CeO2 in the combined exposure. Using CeO2 as diesel fuel catalyst may cause health concerns.

Carbon nanotubes are commercially-important products of nanotechnology; however, their low density and small size makes carbon nanotube respiratory exposures likely during their production or processing. We have previously shown mitotic spindle aberrations in cultured primary and immortalized human airway epithelial cells exposed to single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT). In this study, we examined whether multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) cause mitotic spindle damage in cultured cells at doses equivalent to 34 years of exposure at the NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL). MWCNT induced a dose responsive increase in disrupted centrosomes, abnormal mitotic spindles and aneuploid chromosome number 24 hours after exposure to 0.024, 0.24, 2.4 and 24 mug/cm(2) MWCNT. Monopolar mitotic spindles comprised 95% of disrupted mitoses. Three-dimensional reconstructions of 0.1 mum optical sections showed carbon nanotubes integrated with microtubules, DNA and within the centrosome structure. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated a greater number of cells in S-phase and fewer cells in the G2 phase in MWCNT-treated compared to diluent control, indicating a G1/S block in the cell cycle. The monopolar phenotype of the disrupted mitotic spindles and the G1/S block in the cell cycle is in sharp contrast to the multi-polar spindle and G2 block in the cell cycle previously observed following exposure to SWCNT. One month following exposure to MWCNT there was a dramatic increase in both size and number of colonies compared to diluent control cultures, indicating a potential to pass the genetic damage to daughter cells. Our results demonstrate significant disruption of the mitotic spindle by MWCNT at occupationally relevant exposure levels.

BACKGROUND: The potential use of quantum dots (QD) in biomedical applications, as well as in other systems that take advantage of their unique physiochemical properties, has led to concern regarding their toxicity, potential systemic distribution, and biopersistence. In addition, little is known about workplace exposure to QD in research, manufacturing, or medical settings. The goal of the present study was to assess pulmonary toxicity, clearance, and biodistribution of QD with different functional groups in rats after pulmonary exposure. METHODS: QD were composed of a cadmium-selenide (CdSe) core (~5nm) with a zinc sulfide (ZnS) shell functionalized with carboxyl (QD-COOH) or amine (QD-NH2) terminal groups. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were intratracheally-instilled (IT) with saline, QD-COOH, or QD-NH2 (12.5, 5.0, or 1.25 mug/rat). On days 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, and 28 post-IT, the left lung, lung-associated lymph nodes (LALN), heart, kidneys, spleen, liver, brain, and blood were collected for metal analysis of Cd content by neutron activation to evaluate clearance and biodistribution. One right lobe was ligated and fixed for microscopy and histopathological analysis. The remaining right lobes from rats in each group were subjected to bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) to retrieve BAL fluid and cells for analysis of injury and inflammation. RESULTS: Lung injury and inflammation was found to be dose-dependent and peaked at days 7 and 14 post-exposure for both forms of QD, with slight variations in degree of toxicity at early and later time points. Both QD appeared to lose their fluorescent properties and destabilize after 1 week in the lung. Cd persisted up to 28 days for both forms of QD; however, clearance rate was slightly greater for QD-COOH over time. No Cd was detected in the liver, spleen, heart, brain, or blood at any time point. Cd appeared in the LALN and kidneys beginning at 1-2 weeks post-exposure. CONCLUSIONS: QD-COOH and QD-NH2 differed in clearance rate and differed slightly in degree of toxicity at different time points; however, the overall pattern of toxicity and biodistribution was similar between the two particles. Toxicity may be dependent on the dissolution rate and bioavailability of free Cd.

An association has been observed between indoor mold contamination and lung allergy and asthma. This relationship is not fully understood. 1-->3-beta-Glucan is the major cell wall component of fungi and a good marker of fungi exposure. The objective was to evaluate the adjuvant effect of zymosan, a crude yeast cell wall preparation of 1-->3-beta-glucan, during ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization in an allergy model. BALB/c mice were sensitized by pharyngeal aspiration with saline, 50 mcg of OVA, or OVA with 1, 10, 50, or 75 mcg of zymosan on days 0, 7, and 14. One week after sensitization, each sensitized animal group was challenged with an aspiration dose of 50 mcg of OVA once a week for 2 weeks. At 1 day after the last aspiration, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and blood was collected, and markers of lung allergy and inflammation were assessed. An adjuvant effect of zymosan on OVA allergy during sensitization was observed as indicated by significant elevations in lung eosinophils, serum OVA-specific IgE, and lung IL-5 in the groups sensitized with zymosan and OVA. Pulmonary treatment with zymosan also amplified lung inflammation. Elevations were observed in lung neutrophils, TNF-alpha, and parameters of lung injury in the groups primed with both zymosan and OVA. In nearly all parameters, a non-linear dose-response relationship was observed in the groups primed with OVA and zymosan. The optimum adjuvant dose of zymosan was 10 mcg. This study demonstrated an adjuvant effect of zymosan when exposures occurred during the sensitization phase in an OVA-induced allergy model in BALB/c mice.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are newly discovered material of crystalline carbon that forms single-carbon layer cylinders with nanometer diameters and varying lengths. Although SWCNTs are potentially suitable for a range of novel applications, their extremely small size, fiber-like shape, large surface area, and unique surface chemistry raise potential hazard to humans, including lung toxicity and fibrosis. The molecular mechanisms by which SWCNTs cause lung damage remain elusive. Here we show that SWCNTs dose and time-dependently caused toxicity in cultured human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B), alveolar epithelial (A549), and lung fibroblast (WI38) cells. At molecular levels, SWCNTs induced significant mitochondrial depolarization and ROS production at subtoxic doses. SWCNTs stimulated the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines TNFalpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-10 and MCP1 from macrophages (Raw 264.7), which was attributed to the activation of the canonical signaling pathway of NF-kappaB by SWCNT. Finally, SWCNTs stimulated profibrogenic growth factors TGFbeta1 production and fibroblast-to-myofibroblast-transformation. These results indicate that SWCNTs has a potential to induce human lung damage and fibrosis by damaging mitochondria, generating ROS, and stimulating production of proinflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines and growth factors.

Minimally invasive approaches to detect/predict target organ toxicity have significant practical applications in occupational toxicology. The potential application of peripheral blood transcriptomics as a practical approach to study the mechanisms of silica-induced pulmonary toxicity was investigated. Rats were exposed by inhalation to crystalline silica (15 mg/m(3), 6 h/day, 5 days) and pulmonary toxicity and global gene expression profiles of lungs and peripheral blood were determined at 32 weeks following termination of exposure. A significant elevation in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid lactate dehydrogenase activity and moderate histological changes in the lungs, including type II pneumocyte hyperplasia and fibrosis, indicated pulmonary toxicity in the rats. Similarly, significant infiltration of neutrophils and elevated monocyte chemotactic protein-1 levels in the lungs showed pulmonary inflammation in the rats. Microarray analysis of global gene expression profiles identified significant differential expression [>1.5-fold change and false discovery rate (FDR) p < 0.01] of 520 and 537 genes, respectively, in the lungs and blood of the exposed rats. Bioinformatics analysis of the differentially expressed genes demonstrated significant similarity in the biological processes, molecular networks, and canonical pathways enriched by silica exposure in the lungs and blood of the rats. Several genes involved in functions relevant to silica-induced pulmonary toxicity such as inflammation, respiratory diseases, cancer, cellular movement, fibrosis, etc, were found significantly differentially expressed in the lungs and blood of the silica-exposed rats. The results of this study suggested the potential application of peripheral blood gene expression profiling as a toxicologically relevant and minimally invasive surrogate approach to study the mechanisms underlying silica-induced pulmonary toxicity.

A number of commercially available metal/metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) such as superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPION) are utilized by the medical field for a wide variety of applications. These NPs may able to induce dermal toxicity via their physical nature and reactive surface properties. We hypothesize that SPION may be toxic to skin via the ability of particles to be internalized and thereby initiate oxidative stress, inducing redox-sensitive transcription factors affecting/leading to inflammation. Due to the skin's susceptibility to UV radiation, it is also of importance to address the combined effect of UVB and NPs co-exposure. To test this hypothesis, the effects of dextran-coated SPION of different sizes (15-50 nm) and manufacturers (MicroMod, Rostock-Warnemunde, Germany and KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden) were evaluated in two cell lines: normal human epidermal keratinocytes (HEK) and murine epidermal cells (JB6 P(+)). HEK cells exposed to 20 nm (KTH and MicroMod) had a decrease in viability, while the 15 and 50 nm particles were not cytotoxic. HEK cells were also capable of internalizing the KTH particles (15 and 20 nm) but not the MicroMod SPION (20 and 50 nm). IL-8 and IL-6 were also elevated in HEK cells following exposure to SPION. Exposure of JB6 P(+) cells to all SPIONs evaluated resulted in activation of AP-1. Exposure to SPION alone was not sufficient to induce NF-kappaB activation; however, co-exposure with UVB resulted in significant NF-kappaB induction in cells exposed to 15 and 20 nm KTH SPION and 50 nm MicroMod particles. Pre-exposure of JB6 P(+) cells to UVB followed by NPs induced a significant depletion of glutathione, release of cytokines, and cell damage as assessed by release of lactate dehydrogenase. Altogether, these data indicate that co-exposure to UVB and SPIONs was associated with induction of oxidative stress and release of inflammatory mediators. These results verify the need to thoroughly evaluate the adverse effects of UVB when evaluating dermal toxicity of engineered NPs on skin.

Welding fume inhalation affects the immune system of exposed workers. Manganese (Mn) in welding fume may induce immunosuppressive effects. The goal was to determine if Mn in welding fume alters immunity by reducing the number of circulating total leukocytes and specific leukocyte sub-populations. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated by intratracheal instillation (ITI) with either a single dose (2.00 mg/rat) or repeated doses (0.125 or 2.00 mg/rat for 7 weeks) with welding fumes that contained different levels of Mn. Additional rats were treated by ITI once a week for 7 weeks with the two doses of manganese chloride (MnCl(2)). Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed to assess lung inflammation. Also, whole blood was recovered, and the number of circulating total leukocytes, as well as specific lymphocyte subsets, was determined by flow cytometry. The welding fume highest in Mn content significantly increased lung inflammation, injury, and production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines compared to all other treatment groups. In addition, the same group expressed significant decreases in the number of circulating CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-lymphocytes after a single exposure, and significant reductions in the number of circulating total lymphocytes, primarily CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-lymphocytes, after repeated exposures (compared to control values). Repeated MnCl(2) exposure led to a trend of a reduction (but not statistically significant) in circulating total lymphocytes, attributable to the changes in the CD4(+) T-lymphocyte population levels. The welding fume with the lower concentration of Mn had no significant effect on the numbers of blood lymphocytes and lymphocyte subsets compared to control values. Evidence from this study indicates that pulmonary exposure to certain welding fumes cause decrements in systemic immune cell populations, specifically circulating T-lymphocytes, and these alterations in immune cell number are not dependent exclusively on Mn, but likely a combination of other metals present in welding fume.

Carbon nanotubes were among the earliest products of nanotechnology and have many potential applications in medicine, electronics, and manufacturing. The low density, small size, and biological persistence of carbon nanotubes create challenges for exposure control and monitoring and make respiratory exposures to workers likely. We have previously shown mitotic spindle aberrations in cultured primary and immortalized human airway epithelial cells exposed to 24, 48 and 96mcg/cm(2) single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT). To investigate mitotic spindle aberrations at concentrations anticipated in exposed workers, primary and immortalized human airway epithelial cells were exposed to SWCNT for 24-72h at doses equivalent to 20 weeks of exposure at the Permissible Exposure Limit for particulates not otherwise regulated. We have now demonstrated fragmented centrosomes, disrupted mitotic spindles and aneuploid chromosome number at those doses. The data further demonstrated multipolar mitotic spindles comprised 95% of the disrupted mitoses. The increased multipolar mitotic spindles were associated with an increased number of cells in the G2 phase of mitosis, indicating a mitotic checkpoint response. Nanotubes were observed in association with mitotic spindle microtubules, the centrosomes and condensed chromatin in cells exposed to 0.024, 0.24, 2.4 and 24mcg/cm(2) SWCNT. Three-dimensional reconstructions showed carbon nanotubes within the centrosome structure. The lower doses did not cause cytotoxicity or reduction in colony formation after 24h; however, after three days, significant cytotoxicity was observed in the SWCNT-exposed cells. Colony formation assays showed an increased proliferation seven days after exposure. Our results show significant disruption of the mitotic spindle by SWCNT at occupationally relevant doses. The increased proliferation that was observed in carbon nanotube-exposed cells indicates a greater potential to pass the genetic damage to daughter cells. Disruption of the centrosome is common in many solid tumors including lung cancer. The resulting aneuploidy is an early event in the progression of many cancers, suggesting that it may play a role in both tumorigenesis and tumor progression. These results suggest caution should be used in the handling and processing of carbon nanotubes.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are novel materials with unique electronic and mechanical properties. The extremely small size, fiberlike shape, large surface area, and unique surface chemistry render their distinctive chemical and physical characteristics and raise potential hazards to humans. Several reports have shown that pulmonary exposure to CNTs caused inflammation and lung fibrosis in rodents. The molecular mechanisms that govern CNT lung toxicity remain largely unaddressed. Here, we report that multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have potent, dose-dependent toxicity on cultured human lung cells (BEAS-2B, A549, and WI38-VA13). Mechanistic analyses were carried out at subtoxic doses (≤20 mcg/mL, ≤ 24 h). MWCNTs induced substantial ROS production and mitochondrial damage, implicating oxidative stress in cellular damage by MWCNT. MWCNTs activated the NF-kB signaling pathway in macrophages (RAW264.7) to increase the secretion of a panel of cytokines and chemokines (TNFa, IL-1b, IL-6, IL-10, and MCP1) that promote inflammation. Activation of NF-kB involved rapid degradation of IkBa, nuclear accumulation of NF-kBp65, binding of NF-kB to specific DNA-binding sequences, and transactivation of target gene promoters. Finally, MWCNTs induced the production of profibrogenic growth factors TGFb1 and PDGF from macrophages that function as paracrine signals to promote the transformation of lung fibroblasts (WI38-VA13) into myofibroblasts, a key step in the development of fibrosis. Our results revealed that MWCNTs elicit multiple and intertwining signaling events involving oxidative damage, inflammatory cytokine production, and myofibroblast transformation, which potentially underlie the toxicity and fibrosis in human lungs by MWCNTs.

The inhalation of engineered nanoparticles stimulates the development of atherosclerosis and impairs vascular function. However, the cardiac effects of inhaled engineered nanoparticles are unknown. Here, we investigate the effects of ultrafine titanium dioxide (UFTiO(2)) on the heart, and we define the possible mechanisms underlying the measured effects. Pulmonary exposure of rats to UFTiO(2) increased the phosphorylation levels of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and cardiac troponin I, but not Akt, in the heart and substance P synthesis in nodose ganglia. Circulatory levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and blood cell counts and differentials were not significantly changed after pulmonary exposure. Separately, the incubation of cardiac myocytes isolated from naive adult rat hearts in vitro with UFTiO(2) did not alter the phosphorylation status of the same cardiac proteins. In conclusion, the inhalation of UFTiO(2) enhanced the phosphorylation levels of cardiac proteins. Such responses are likely independent of systemic inflammation, but may involve a lung-neuron-regulated pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Interest exists for early monitoring of worker exposure to engineered nanomaterials. Here, we highlight quantitative systemic markers of early effects after carbon nanotube (CNT) exposure. METHODS: Mice were exposed by pharyngeal aspiration to 40-mug CNT and harvested 24 hours, 7 days, and 28 days postexposure for measurements of whole blood, lung and extrapulmonary tissue gene expression, blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) differentials, and serum protein profiling. RESULTS: Early effects included increased inflammatory blood gene expression and serum cytokines followed by an acute phase response (eg, CRP, SAA-1, SAP). Beyond 24 hours, there was a consistent increase in blood and BAL eosinophils. At 28 day, serum acute phase proteins with immune function including complement C3, apolipoproteins A-I and A-II, and alpha-macroglobulin were increased. CONCLUSIONS: Carbon nanotube exposure resulted in measurable systemic markers but lacked specificity to distinguish from other pulmonary exposures.

Pharyngeal aspiration of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) caused inflammation, pulmonary damage, and an altered cytokine network in the lung. Local inflammatory response in vivo was accompanied by modified systemic immunity as documented by decreased proliferation of splenic T cells. Preincubation of naive T cells in vitro with SWCNT-treated dendritic cells reduced proliferation of T cells. Our data suggest that in vivo exposure to SWCNT modifies systemic immunity by modulating dendritic cell function.

Blood gene expression profiling was investigated as a minimally invasive surrogate approach to detect silica exposure and resulting pulmonary toxicity. Rats were exposed by inhalation to crystalline silica (15 mg/m(3), 6 hours/day, 5 days), and pulmonary damage and blood gene expression profiles were determined after latency periods (0 - 16 weeks). Silica exposure resulted in pulmonary toxicity as evidenced by histological and biochemical changes in the lungs. The number of significantly differentially expressed genes in the blood, identified by microarray analysis, correlated with the severity of silica-induced pulmonary toxicity. Functional analysis of the differentially expressed genes identified activation of inflammatory response as the major biological signal. Induction of pulmonary inflammation, as suggested by the blood gene expression data, was supported by significant increases in the number of macrophages and infiltrating neutrophils as well as the activity of pro-inflammatory chemokines observed in the lungs of the silica exposed rats. A gene expression signature developed using the blood gene expression data predicted the exposure of rats to lower, minimally toxic and non-toxic concentrations of silica. Taken together our findings suggest the potential application of peripheral blood gene expression profiling as a minimally invasive surrogate approach to detect pulmonary toxicity induced by silica in the rat. However, further research is required to determine the potential application of our findings specifically to monitor human exposure to silica and the resulting pulmonary effects.

Debate exists as to whether welding fume is carcinogenic, but epidemiological evidence suggests that welders are an at-risk population for development of lung cancer. Our objective was to expose, by inhalation, lung tumor susceptible (A/J) and resistant C57BL/6J (B6) mice to stainless steel (SS) welding fume containing carcinogenic metals and characterize the lung-inflammatory and tumorigenic response. Male mice were exposed to air or gas metal arc (GMA)-SS welding fume at 40 mg/m(3)x3 h/day for 6 and 10 days. At 1, 4, 7, 10, 14, and 28 days after 10 days of exposure, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was done. Lung cytotoxicity, permeability, inflammatory cytokines, and cell differentials were analyzed. For the lung tumor study, gross tumor counts and histopathological changes were assessed in A/J mice at 78 weeks after 6 and 10 days of exposure. Inhalation of GMA-SS fume caused an early, sustained macrophage and lymphocyte response followed by a gradual neutrophil influx and the magnitudes of these differed between the mouse strains. Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) were increased in both strains while the B6 also had increased interleukin-6 (IL-6) protein. BAL measures of cytotoxicity and damage were similar between the strains and significantly increased at all time points. Histopathology and tumorigenesis were unremarkable at 78 weeks. In conclusion, GMA-SS welding fume induced a significant and sustained inflammatory response in both mouse strains with no recovery by 28 days. Under our exposure conditions, GMA-SS exposure resulted in no significant tumor development in A/J mice.

Titanium dioxide (TiO(2)), a commercially important material, is used in a wide variety of products. Although TiO(2) is generally regarded as nontoxic, the cytotoxicity, pathogenicity, and carcinogenicity of TiO(2) nanoparticles have been recently recognized. The present study investigated TiO(2) nanoparticle-induced cell apoptosis and molecular mechanisms involved in this process in a mouse epidermal (JB6) cell line. Using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, TiO(2) nanoparticles were found to exhibit higher cytotoxicity than fine particles. YO-PRO-1 iodide (YP) staining demonstrated that both TiO(2) nanoparticles and fine particles induced cell death through apoptosis. The signaling pathways involved in TiO(2) particle-induced apoptosis were investigated. Western-blot analysis showed an activation of caspase-8, Bid, BAX, and caspase-3 and a decrease of Bcl-2 in JB6 cells treated with TiO(2) particles. Time-dependent poly(ADP)ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage induced by TiO(2) nanoparticles was observed. TiO(2) particles also induced cytochrome c release from mitochondria to cytosol. Further studies demonstrated that TiO(2) nanoparticles induced significant changes in mitochondrial membrane permeability, suggesting the involvement of mitochondria in the apoptotic process. In conclusion, evidence indicated that TiO(2) nanoparticles exhibit higher cytotoxicity and apoptotic induction compared to fine particles in JB6 cells. Caspase-8/Bid and mitochondrial signaling may play a major role in TiO(2) nanoparticle-induced apoptosis involving the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway. Unraveling the complex mechanisms associated with these events may provide further insights into TiO(2) nanoparticle-induced pathogenicity and potential to induce carcinogenicity.

Chronic exposure to low levels of mold has been reported to increase susceptibility to respiratory infections. In the current study, the authors investigate the lungs' ability to clear an infection after repeated low-dose zymosan exposure. Exposure was conducted at a zymosan dose of 0.6 mg/kg body weight (bw) of rat, for a total of 4 doses, via intratracheal instillation during a 2 week period. Treated animals were allowed to recover for 1 week before pulmonary inoculation with Listeria monocytogenes. Bacterial clearance was determined by measuring colony-forming units cultured from the left lungs on days 3, 5, and 7 post bacteria infection. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed on the right lungs to recover phagocytes and BAL fluid to measure lung injury and the inflammatory cytokines. In contrast to the authors' previously published study that showed a single high dose (2.5 mg/kg bw) of zymosan prior to infection accelerated bacteria clearance, the repeated low-dose zymosan suppressed bacteria clearance from the lungs early after infection and induced higher lung injury and inflammation compared to control. The innate immune response was downregulated and a Th2 immune response was preferentially induced rather than a Th1 response, the latter being more effective toward the resolution of a L. monocytogenes infection.