Factors that influence the suppression of pulmonary antibacterial defenses in mice exposed to ozone

Journal Article · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Experimental Lung Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3109/01902149309064348· OSTI ID:6279405

Gilmour, M I; Park, P; Doerfler, D; Selgrade, M K ^[1]

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1. Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (United States)

Exposure to ozone (O3) has been shown to increase susceptibility of mice to bacterial infection; however, the underlying mechanism has not been well elucidated. This study investigated the effect of O3 exposure on the ability of mice to combat an infectious challenge of Streptococcus zooepidemicus. Following a 3-h exposure to either air, 0.4 ppm O3, or 0.8 ppm O3, 5- and 9-week-old mice received an aerosol infection of bacteria. Intrapulmonary killing of the bacteria was impaired in the O3-exposed mice. The effect was most severe at the higher dose of O3 in the younger mice, and showed good correlation to subsequent mortality assessed over a 20-day period. Alveolar macrophages (AM) from O3-exposed mice had an impaired ability to phagocytose the bacteria. Additionally, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels, which are known to depress AM function, were increased in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of the younger mice following exposure to O3, while pretreatment with indomethacin in the drinking water blunted the increased of PGE2 and reduced O3 enhanced mortality from 53 to 33%. The data show that O3 inhalation can reduce the defensive capability of the murine lung and that this is associated with a reduction in AM phagocytosis. The defect is more marked in young mice, suggesting that they may be more susceptible to oxidant exposure. Further studies are required to distinguish between direct toxicity of O3 on the AM and indirect suppression due to modulation of pharmacologic or inflammatory mediators.

• OSTI ID: 6279405
• Journal Information: Experimental Lung Research; (United States), Journal Name: Experimental Lung Research; (United States) Vol. 19:3; ISSN EXLRDA; ISSN 0190-2148
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550900 -- Pathology
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BACTERIA
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
IMMUNITY
MACROPHAGES
MAMMALS
MICE
MICROORGANISMS
MORTALITY
OZONE
PHAGOCYTES
PHAGOCYTOSIS
PROSTAGLANDINS
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
STREPTOCOCCUS
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES