Alveolar macrophages suppress non-specific inflammation caused by inhalation challenge with trimellitic anhydride conjugated to albumin

• Published in: Archives of toxicology Vol. 80; no. 9; pp. 561 - 571
• Main Authors: VALSTAR, Dingena L, SCHIJF, Marcel A, ARTS, Josje H. E, FRIEKE KUPER, C, NIJKAMP, Frans P, STORM, Gert, BLOKSMA, Nanne, HENRICKS, Paul A. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-09-2006; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Allergens - immunology; Animals; Asthma - chemically induced; Asthma - immunology; Asthma - physiopathology; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Density Conservation Agents - administration & dosage; Bone Density Conservation Agents - pharmacology; Bronchial Hyperreactivity - chemically induced; Bronchial Hyperreactivity - immunology; Bronchial Hyperreactivity - physiopathology; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - chemistry; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - cytology; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - immunology; Cattle; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Clodronic Acid - administration & dosage; Clodronic Acid - pharmacology; Cytokines - analysis; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Haptens - immunology; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Liposomes; Lungs; Macrophages, Alveolar - drug effects; Macrophages, Alveolar - immunology; Medical sciences; Molecular weight; Occupational Diseases - blood; Occupational Diseases - chemically induced; Occupational Diseases - immunology; Phthalic Anhydrides - immunology; Phthalic Anhydrides - metabolism; Pneumology; Protein Binding; Proteins; Rats; Rats, Inbred BN; Respiratory Function Tests; Rodents; Serum Albumin, Bovine - immunology; Serum Albumin, Bovine - metabolism; Toxicology; Norway; Lung disease; Respiratory disease; Albumin; Inflammation; Respiratory system; Alveolar macrophages; Asthma; Inhalation; Respiratory tract; Airway inflammation; Bronchus disease; Early; Early asthmatic response; Obstructive pulmonary disease; Trimellitic anhydride; Occupational medicine; Occupational asthma; Macrophage
• ISSN: 0340-5761; 1432-0738
• DOI: 10.1007/s00204-006-0081-5

Occupational exposure to low molecular weight chemicals, like trimellitic anhydride (TMA), can result in occupational asthma. Alveolar macrophages (AMs) are among the first cells to encounter these inhaled compounds and were previously shown to affect TMA-induced asthma-like symptoms in the Brown Norway rat (Valstar et al., Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacology 211:20-29, 2006). TMA is a hapten that will bind to endogenous proteins upon entrance of the body. Therefore, in the present study we determined if TMA conjugated to albumin is able to induce asthma-like symptoms and if these are affected by AM depletion. Female Brown Norway rats were sensitized by dermal application of TMA or received vehicle alone on days 0 and 7. One day prior to the inhalation challenge the rats were treated intratracheally with either empty liposomes or liposomes containing clodronate (dichloromethylene diphosphonate) to specifically deplete the lungs of AMs. On day 21, all groups of rats were challenged by inhalation of TMA-BSA. Breathing frequency, tidal volume, and minute ventilation were measured before, during, within 1 h, and 24 h after challenge and the gross respiratory rate score was determined during challenge. Total and TMA-specific IgE levels were determined in serum and lung lavage fluid and parameters of inflammation and tissue damage were assessed in lung lavage fluid and/or lung tissue 24 h after challenge. Sensitization with TMA had no effect on the lung function before challenge, but TMA-BSA challenge resulted in an early asthmatic response as compared to the non-sensitized rats, irrespective of AM depletion. AM depletion had no effect on the sensitization-induced serum and lung lavage fluid IgE levels. TMA-BSA inhalation did not induce airway inflammation and tissue damage irrespective of sensitization, unless AM were depleted. Data indicate that AMs inhibit immunologically non-specific damage and inflammatory cell influx into the lungs as caused by TMA-BSA inhalation. Since effects of inhalation challenge with TMA-BSA are partly different from those of TMA, challenge with the latter is to be preferred for hazard identification.