Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0039817
Title (Primary) Volatile organic compounds enhance allergic airway inflammation in an experimental mouse model
Author Bönisch, U.; Böhme, A.; Kohajda, T.; Mögel, I.; Schütze, N.; von Bergen, M.; Simon, J.C.; Lehmann, I.; Polte, T.
Source Titel PLoS ONE
Year 2012
Department OEC; IMMU; PROTEOM
Volume 7
Issue 7
Page From e39817
Language englisch
Abstract

Background

Epidemiological studies suggest an association between exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and adverse allergic and respiratory symptoms. However, whether VOCs exhibit a causal role as adjuvants in asthma development remains unclear.

Methods

To investigate the effect of VOC exposure on the development of allergic airway inflammation Balb/c mice were exposed to VOCs emitted by new polyvinylchloride (PVC) flooring, sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) and characterized in acute and chronic murine asthma models. Furthermore, prevalent evaporated VOCs were analyzed and mice were exposed to selected single VOCs.

Results

Exposure of mice to PVC flooring increased eosinophilic lung inflammation and OVA-specific IgE serum levels compared to un-exposed control mice. The increased inflammation was associated with elevated levels of Th2-cytokines. Long-term exposure to PVC flooring exacerbated chronic airway inflammation. VOCs with the highest concentrations emitted by new PVC flooring were N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate (TXIB). Exposure to NMP or TXIB also increased the allergic immune response in OVA-sensitized mice. In vitro or in vivo exposure to NMP or TXIB reduced IL-12 production in maturing dendritic cells (DCs) and enhanced airway inflammation after adoptive DC transfer into Balb/c mice. At higher concentrations both VOCs induced oxidative stress demonstrated by increased isoprostane and glutathione-S-transferase-pi1 protein levels in the lung of non-sensitized mice. Treatment of PVC flooring-exposed mice with N-acetylcysteine prevented the VOC-induced increase of airway inflammation.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that exposure to VOCs may increase the allergic immune response by interfering with DC function and by inducing oxidative stress and has therefore to be considerate as risk factor for the development of allergic diseases.

Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=12572
Bönisch, U., Böhme, A., Kohajda, T., Mögel, I., Schütze, N., von Bergen, M., Simon, J.C., Lehmann, I., Polte, T. (2012):
Volatile organic compounds enhance allergic airway inflammation in an experimental mouse model
PLoS One 7 (7), e39817 10.1371/journal.pone.0039817