OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of composite grinding dusts on rat respiratory system.

METHODSRats were administrated with grinding dusts by intratracheal injection. After 2 weeks, the total numbers of cells, the percentage of differential cell, the survival rate of cell, and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were analyzed.

RESULTSAlong with increasing concentration of grinding dusts, the total number of cells in lavage also increased, and was more than that in quartz group. Compared with control group, the percentage of neutrophil in lavage of rats treated with grinding dust and quartz significantly increased and meanwhile that of macrophage significantly decreased[PMN: quartz group (33.83 +/- 4.54)%; grinding dusts group (26.50 +/- 3.99)%, (36.00 +/- 3.58)%, (38.00 +/- 2.10)% at 10, 25, 50 mg/ml respectively. Macrophages: quartz group (62.17 +/- 4.54)%; grinding dusts group (70.83 +/- 3.66)%, (60.83 +/- 2.14)%, (58.17 +/- 2.48)%] while those in control group were (2.83 +/- 0.75)%, (95.67 +/- 1.21)% respectively. The cell survival rate in lavage in control group was 80%, but that in grinding dust and TiO2 group significantly decreased(P < 0.01). The activity of LDH and ALP in all rats treated with dusts obviously increased, and there was significant difference compared with control group(P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Furthermore, there was significant difference between grinding dust group and quartz group, and between grinding dust group and TiO2 group respectively.

CONCLUSIONMetal grinding dust is very harmful to rat's lung cells and may cause fibrogenesis in the lungs.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; cytology ; Dust ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Lung ; pathology ; Metals ; Rats

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; cytology ; Female ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Lung ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Male ; Neutrophils ; cytology ; Peroxidase ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Adult ; Aged ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; cytology ; Chemokine CCL3 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Silicosis ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in the levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and their clinical significance among children with asthma.

METHODSFifty-six children with asthma were divided into moderate or severe asthma (n=37) and mild asthma groups (n=19) and 18 children without asthma were selected as the control group. Cells in BALF were counted under a microscope. The levels of IL-17 and TGF-β1 in serum and BALF were measured using ELISA.

RESULTSwere no significant differences in total cell count and percentage of macrophages between the two asthma groups and the control group (P>0.05). The percentages of neutrophils, eosinophils and epithelial cells in BALF were significantly higher in the two asthma groups than in the control group (P<0.05). The two asthma groups had significantly higher levels of IL-17 and TGF-β1 in serum and BALF than the control group (P<0.05), and the moderate or severe asthma group had significantly higher levels of IL-17 and TGF-β1 in serum and BALF than the mild asthma group (P<0.05). Levels of IL-17 and TGF-β1 in serum were significantly positively correlated with those in BALF (r=0.935 and 0.943, P<0.05 for both). In children with asthma, serum IL-17 level was significantly positively correlated with the percentage of neutrophils, eosinophils and epithelial cells in BALF (r=0.802, 0.799, and 0.674, P<0.05 for all), and a significant positive correlation was also seen between serum levels of IL-17 and TGF-β1 (r=0.878, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLevels of IL-17 and TGF-β1 in serum and BALF are elevated in children with asthma. IL-17 and TGF-β1 may be involved in the occurrence and development of asthma, and they play important roles in asthma attack and aggravation.

Asthma ; immunology ; pathology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; cytology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Interleukin-17 ; analysis ; blood ; physiology ; Male ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; analysis ; blood ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the time-effect of silica on the expression of lung tissue nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in early inflammatory damage stage of silicotic rat.

METHODSAnimal models were established by direct tracheal instillation of silica into rat lungs. Total NOS and induced NOS (iNOS) activities in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were assayed. The expression of iNOS protein in paraffin-embedded lung sections with Streptavidin/peroxidase (SP) immunohistochemistry were measured by tissue microarray and Image-Pro Plus.

RESULTSMost of the expression of iNOS was in the cytoplasm of macrophages and neutrophils. iNOS integrated optical density (IOD) of lung tissue increased 1.47 x 10(5) and 2.73 x 10(5) more respectively in silicatreated rats 3, 7 days after exposure than in control rats (P < 0.05), and decreased 1.11 x 10(5) more 28 days after exposure (P < 0.01). The activities of iNOS in BALF increased by 0.86, 1.89 and 0.92 U/ml respectively 3, 7, 14 days after exposure (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The activities of total NOS in BALF increased by 1.43, 2.05, 2.61 and 2.19 U/ml respectively 1, 3, 7, 14 days after exposure (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAfter silica instillation, the iNOS-positive cells in rat lung tissue were mostly macrophages and neutrophils. There is a parabolic changing trend in the level of expression of lung iNOS during 1 - 28 day exposure to silica.

Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; cytology ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; analysis ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Silicon Dioxide ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of captopril on the histopathology and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in neonatal rats exposed to hyperoxia.

METHODSForty term neonatal Wistar rats were randomly assigned into Air control, Model, Normal saline control and Captopril-treated groups (n=10 each). The Air control group was exposed to air (FiO2=0.21). The remaining three groups were continuously exposed to hyperoxia (FiO2=0.90) . During exposure the Captopril-treated group received intragastric captopril (60 mg/kg daily) and the Normal saline control group was administered with normal saline. The Model group had no treatment. At the 14th and 21st days of exposure, the subjects were sacrificed. The lung coefficient and the protein contents and inflammatory cells in BALF were determined. The changes of lung histomorphology were observed.

RESULTSThe lung coefficient and the protein contents, the total number of cells and the percentage of neutrophils, lymphocytes and eosinophils in BAFL increased significantly in the Model and Normal saline control groups on the 14th and 21st days of exposure compared with those of the Air control group. Captopril treatment significantly reduced the lung coefficient and the protein contents, the total number of cells and the percentage of neutrophils and eosinophils in BALF. On the 14th day the lung coefficient decreased from 9.72 +/- 0.67 mg/g to 8.63 +/- 0.35 mg/g (P < 0.05); the protein contents in BALF from 0.619 +/- 0.023 g/L to 0.486 +/- 0.027 g/L (P < 0.05); and the total number of cells in BALF from (80.57 +/- 9.28)x10(4)/mL to (48.62 +/- 1.53)x10(4)/mL (P < 0.01) compared with the Model group. On the 21st day the lung coefficient decreased from 10.67 +/- 0.87 mg/g to 8.76 +/- 0.89 mg/g (P < 0.05); the protein contents in BALF from 0.978 +/- 0.012 g/L to 0.759 +/- 0.042 g/L (P < 0.05); and the total number of cells in BALF from (92.86 +/- 10.32) x10(4)/mL to (35.52 +/- 3.89) x10(4)/mL (P < 0.05) compared with the Model group. There were however significant differences in these results between the Captopril-treated and Air control groups. The histopathological examination demonstrated different degrees of alveolitis, broaden interstitium and reduced alveolar quantity in the Model and Normal saline control groups. The pathological changes were markedly alleviated after captopril treatment.

CONCLUSIONCaptopril may have protective effects on lung injury induced by hyperoxia.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; cytology ; Captopril ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hyperoxia ; pathology ; Lung ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Proteins ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; cytology ; Lung ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Respiration, Artificial ; adverse effects ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; etiology ; Tidal Volume

OBJECTIVES: We established a Wistar rat model of asthma caused by toluene diisocyanate (TDI) exposure, and investigated the relationship between TDI exposure concentrations and respiratory hypersensitivity, airway inflammation, and cytokine secretions in animals, to better understand the mechanism of TDI induced occupational asthma. METHODS: Wistar rats were exposed to two different concentrations of TDI vapor four hours a day for five consecutive days. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed, and differential leucocytes from the BAL fluid were analyzed. Lung histopathological examination was carried out to investigate the inflammatory status in the airways. Production of cytokines interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 productions in the BAL fluid in vivo was determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. RESULTS: The TDI-exposed rats exhibited greater airway hypersensitivity symptoms than the control rats. The BAL differential cell count and lung histopathological examination demonstrated that inflammation reactions were present in both the central and peripheral airways, characterized with marked infiltration of eosinophils in the TDI-exposed rats. The cytokine assay showed that IL-4 and IL-5 were predominantly produced in the BAL fluid in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: These findings imply that TDI exposure concentrations may greatly affect the occurrence and extent of inflammatory events and that Th2 type cytokines may play an important role in the immunopathogenesis of TDI-induced occupational respiratory hypersensitivity.
Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/chemistry/cytology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophils/cytology/immunology ; Female ; Gases/chemistry ; Hypersensitivity/pathology ; Interleukin-4/*analysis ; Interleukin-5/*analysis ; Lung/*drug effects/pathology/secretion ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate/*toxicity

UNLABELLEDProminent eosinophil airway inflammation is important in the pathogenesis of asthma. There is increasing evidence that the disorder of eosinophil apoptosis contributes to the mechanism. But most of the studies have been done in vitro or on animal models, very few were done among the adult asthmatics in vivo.

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to elucidate the relationship between the apoptotic eosinophils and Bcl-2 in asthmatic children in vivo.

METHODSEleven mild to moderate asthmatic patients were recruited and the range of age was 7 - 14 years (9 males, 2 females), meanwhile 7 patients with lower respiratory infection were recruited as control and the range of age was 9 - 14 years (5 males, 2 females). Before and after inhaled glucocorticoid (GC) induced sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), bronchial mucosa specimens and peripheral blood were obtained for measuring and comparing the changes of apoptotic EG(2)(+) cell by combining the techniques of TUNEL and immunohistochemistry, meanwhile the expression of Bcl-2 in bronchial mucosa specimens was measured by using the immunohistochemical assay.

RESULTSBefore the inhalation of GC, the apoptotic EG(2)(+) cells in asthmatics were significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.01), and the numbers of EG(2)(+) cell in asthmatics group were significantly higher than that in control group (P < 0.001). After the treatment apoptotic EG(2)(+) cells in asthmatics were increased (P < 0.01), and the numbers of EG(2)(+)cell were decreased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05 and P < 0.05, respectively), FEV(1)% was increased (P < 0.05). Before the inhalation of GC, the numbers of Bcl-2(+) cell in asthmatic airway submucosa were higher than that in control group (P < 0.05) but after the treatment the number of Bcl-2(+) cell did not change significantly. (4) Before and after GC treatment the percentages of apoptotic eosinophils of peripheral blood in vivo had no significant changes compared with those of control subjects (P > 0.05). There was a positive correlation between apoptosis of EG(2)(+) cell in sputum, BAL, airway submucosa and FEV(1)% (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONApoptosis of EG(2)(+) cell decreased in the airway of asthmatic children and inducing EOS apoptosis is one of the important mechanism of inhaled GC therapy for asthma.

Adolescent ; Apoptosis ; Asthma ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; Child ; Eosinophils ; cytology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Respiratory Mucosa ; chemistry ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Volatile Oil of Radix Angelicae Sinensis (VOA) on experimental asthma in rat model based on abnormal immune functions of Treg cells.

METHODSAfter grouping, the asthmatic rats were developed through injecting OVA and AI(OH)3 for sensitization and then administering OVA aerosol for challenge, and the respiratory functions, asthmatic behaviors, IL-10 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) (ELISA) and Foxp3 expression (immunohistochemistry) in lung of asthmatic rats were observed.

RESULTSVOA at the doses of 40-160 mg/kg could improve the respiratory functions and the asthmatic behaviors, and upgrade IL-10 levels in BALF and Foxp3 expression in lung of asthmatic rats.

CONCLUSIONVOA has some effects of anti-asthma and one of the mechanisms is to improving the lower immune functions of Treg cells.

Angelica sinensis ; chemistry ; Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Disease Models, Animal ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Interleukin-10 ; chemistry ; Lung ; metabolism ; Oils, Volatile ; pharmacology ; Plant Oils ; pharmacology ; Rats ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology