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Biomedical subjects

G E Hatch

Publications and source records attributed to G E Hatch.

59 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Nasal lavage as a tool in assessing acute inflammation in response to inhaled pollutants.

The upper airway, especially the nose, is a major target of toxic damage. Nasal challenges followed by nasal lavage (NAL) have been applied to studies of hypersensitivity, in particular as a method to identify the allergen in patients with allergic situations such as rhinitis. The NAL method has not been extensively used to determine the effects of air pollutants on the upper airways in humans. Ozone is known to interact avidly with various tissues in the respiratory tract and to cause decrements in lung function tests. This oxidant pollutant has also been shown to induce inflammation in the lower airways of humans and animals. In this study, we have examined the effect of an acute (2 h) exposure of ozone at 0.4 ppm on the inflammatory response in the upper airways of 10 normal volunteers and compared these results to those obtained in the lower airways assessed by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). The results indicate significant increases in the number of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) in NAL immediately post exposure (7.7-fold). This increase is still detectable 18 h post exposure (6-fold) which is similar to the increase of PMN in BAL. Tryptase, released by mast cells was also increased in the NAL fluid immediately post exposure (2-fold). While the albumin level, which is an indicator of epithelial cell permeability, was elevated 18 h post exposure (1.5-fold), tryptase level, was not anymore elevated at that time point. Interestingly, several other markers of acute inflammation such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), C3a, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (U-PA), which were found to be significantly elevated in the BAL of the same group of subjects (18 h post exposure), were not elevated in the NAL either immediately post or 18 h post exposure. The level of uric acid, thought to be an important anti-oxidant molecule, was also unchanged in the NAL fluid but was elevated in the BAL fluid. Collectively the data suggest that NAL may serve as a sensitive and reliable technique to detect inflammation in the upper airways of subjects exposed to ozone. Moreover, in the case of this particular oxidant pollutant, the NAL seems to mirror the inflammatory response in the lower airways, 18 h post exposure, relative to the number of PMN and albumin levels.

Adult↗

Antioxidants in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cells isolated from ozone--exposed normal and ascorbate-deficient guinea pigs.

Previous studies have indicated that systemic deficiency in one of the critical antioxidants, ascorbate, does not significantly exacerbate ozone-induced lung injury and changes in lung antioxidants following longer-term exposure. Because alveolar cells encounter the highest ozone dose upon exposure and lack direct blood supply, systemic ascorbate deficiency may exacerbate ozone response on antioxidants within these cells. Female Hartley guinea pigs (30 days old) were fed either a regular guinea pig chow or chow that lacked ascorbate. The dietary regimen was started 1 week prior to exposure, continued through ozone exposure (0, 0.2, 0.4, or 0.8 ppm, 23 h/day, 1 week), and during 1 week recovery in clean air following exposure. Immediately after 1 week of exposure or recovery, lungs were lavaged and cells were counted in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Protein, ascorbate, uric acid, total glutathione (GSH), and alpha-tocopherol were analyzed in these cells. Ozone caused an increase in total BALF cells and total cellular protein after 0.4 and 0.8 ppm ozone. The increase was more pronounced in ascorbate-deficient guinea pigs. Protein per million cells, however, was not changed by ozone or diet. In ascorbate-sufficient guinea pigs, ascorbate levels were increased only after 0.2 ppm ozone. However, uric acid (at 0.4 and 0.8 ppm ozone) and GSH (at all concentrations of ozone) levels were increased in both dietary groups. Ascorbate deficiency did not affect basal uric acid or GSH levels in BALF cells. There was a small diet-related depletion in cellular alpha-tocopherol. Ozone exposure also decreased alpha-tocopherol regardless of diet. The above changes except for alpha-tocopherol appeared to be reversed after 1 week of recovery in both dietary groups. In summary, ozone is capable of inducing a mechanism that increases antioxidants such as ascorbate, GSH, and uric acid. GSH and uric acid are not affected by ascorbate deficiency, but alpha-tocopherol is depleted. GSH and uric acid may be critical in ozone-induced adaptation during ascorbate deficiency.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Depletion of iron and ascorbate in rodents diminishes lung injury after silica.

Exposures of the lung to iron chelates can be associated with an injury. The catalysis of oxygen-based free radicals is postulated to participate in this injury. Such oxidant generation by mineral oxide particles can be dependent on availability of both iron and a reductant. We tested the study hypothesis that lung injury after silica is associated with the availability of both iron and ascorbate in the host by depleting this metal and reductant in the lungs of rats and guinea pigs, respectively. Rats were fed either a normal diet or a diet deficient of iron. After 30 days, animals were instilled with either saline or 1.0 mg Minusil-5 silica. Relative to saline, silica significantly increased neutrophils and lavage protein. Iron depletion significantly diminished both the cellular influx and injury but only at 1 week after silica exposure. Guinea pigs were provided either a normal diet supplemented with 1,000 ppm vitamin C or a diet deficient in ascorbate. After 14 days, the guinea pigs were instilled with either saline or 1.0 mg silica. Silica exposure significantly increased neutrophils and lavage protein. Ascorbate depletion significantly diminished the influx of inflammatory cells and injury at both 1 day and 1 week after silica exposure. We conclude that host concentrations of both iron and ascorbate can affect lung injury after silica exposure.

Animals↗