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Biomedical subjects

R B Devlin

Publications and source records attributed to R B Devlin.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Stimulation of human and rat alveolar macrophages by urban air particulates: effects on oxidant radical generation and cytokine production.

A number of epidemiological studies have associated increased cardiopulmonary mortality and hospital admissions with episodes of high particulate air pollution. Inhaled particles, with a mass median aerodynamic diameter <10 microm (PM10) reach the lower respiratory tract where they are phagocytized by alveolar macrophages (AM). Depending on particle composition, exposed AM may produce reactive oxygen species and inflammatory mediators resulting in vascular permeability changes, airway constriction, tissue injury, and inflammation. In the present study human and rat AM were reacted with a range of environmental particles, including oil fly ash (OFA), diesel dust (DD), and ambient air particles (UAP) collected in four urban centers. AM were tested for a chemiluminescence response induced by the particles as well as IL-6 and TNF production. While OFA in a dose range of 1000-10 microg/2-3 x 10(5) AM caused acute cytotoxicity above 100 microg in both human and rat AM (LDH release at 2 hr), DD and UAP were found to be nontoxic in the same dose range. However, after 20 hr of coincubation, UAP concentrations >167 microg/ml were also cytotoxic. Subcytotoxic concentrations of OFA induced a strong immediate chemiluminescence response by AM. A small but significant chemiluminescence response was induced by two out of three UAP tested, while no chemiluminescence was generated in response to DD. The magnitude of particle-induced chemiluminescence was not predictive of a cytokine response by either human or rat AM. TNF and IL-6 production was strongly induced by UAP over a range of noncytotoxic concentrations of particles. OFA induced only small amounts of TNF in a subset of human AM preparations, but not in rat AM. The AM cytokine response to UAP was partly inhibitable by polymyxin B, but not by the iron chelator deferoxamine, indicating that endotoxins but not transitional iron were cytokine-inducing moieties in the tested UAP preparations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

2,3,7,8-TCDD induces cytochrome P450 enzyme activity but not proliferation or phenotypical changes in human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

In contrast to the well documented immunosuppressive effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in experimental animals, the impact of dioxin on the human immune system remains controversial, although adverse health effects have been reported in humans accidentally or occupationally exposed to dioxin. More recently, a dose-dependent decrease of specific subpopulations of mitogen-activated human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), including helper-inducer/memory cells (CD4+CD29+) and B cells (CD20+), was reported after in vitro treatment with dioxin concentrations as low as 10(-12)-10(-14) M TCDD [1]. Therefore, the direct effects of dioxin on human PBL subpopulations have been studied in more detail, in order to assess the availability of a sensitive indicator system for human dioxin exposure. PBL from healthy volunteers were stimulated with pokeweed mitogen (PWM) or anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (OKT3) and treated with 10(-7)-10(-14) M TCDD for 3-4 days. Cytochrome P450 (CYP1A1) enzyme induction was determined by the ethoxy-resorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) assay. Percentages of the different lymphocytes subsets, including CD2 (T cells), CD4, CD45 RA (suppressor-inducer/ virgin T cells), CD4, CD29, CD8, CD19 (B cells), as well as interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor (CD25) and class II antigen (human leukocyte antigen HLA-DR) expression, were analyzed by flow cytometry. The proliferative activity was determined by 3H-thymidine uptake after 3-4 days of culture. In the present study, all stimulated lymphocyte cultures showed a significant increase of CYP1A1 activity at dioxin concentrations of 10(-7) and 10(-9) M. In contrast, alterations in surface antigen expression or suppression of proliferative responses did not occur in the mitogen-activated PBL over the whole concentration range of TCDD. These results clearly demonstrate that lymphoproliferation, as well as phenotypes of human PBL, are not affected by dioxin treatment and thus are not useful as sensitive biomarkers in human exposure studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Biomarkers of lung inflammation in recreational joggers exposed to ozone.

Humans exhibit an acute inflammatory response in the lungs after controlled laboratory exposure to ozone. The present study was designed to test whether biomarkers of inflammation are detectable in humans exposed to ozone and associated copollutants under natural conditions outdoors. Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was carried out on 19 normal volunteer joggers from Governors Island, NY, who exercised in the afternoon during the 1992 summer (S1) season. Fifteen subjects were retested during the following, low ozone, winter season (W). The BAL protocol involved an initial instillation of 20 ml saline followed by four sequential 50-ml saline washes carried out in both the right middle lobe and the lingula. The eight 50-ml samples were pooled as the 'alveolar' sample. Analyses performed on the alveolar lavage samples included cell differentials, release of IL-8, TNF-alpha, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) by pooled cells, and levels of IL-8, protein, LDH, fibronectin, alpha1-antitrypsin (alpha1-AT), complement fragment 3a (C3a), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in lavage fluids. Release of ROS by stimulated BAL cells was lower in S1 than in W (p = 0.03). In contrast, LDH levels in BAL fluids were 2-fold higher in S1 than in W (p = 0.02), as were IL-8 (p = 0.12) and PGE2 (p = 0.06). These results suggest a possible ongoing inflammatory response in the lungs of recreational joggers exposed to ozone and associated copollutants during the summer months.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Nasal cytokine production in viral acute upper respiratory infection of childhood.

Children in a day care center underwent serial nasal lavages in order to assess nasal cytokine expression during acute upper respiratory infections (URI). Interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-8, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were markedly elevated in nasal lavage fluid during acute URI compared to baseline, and all except TNF-alpha decreased significantly by 2-4 weeks later. Cytokine patterns in respiratory syncytial virus-positive and -negative illnesses did not differ significantly. A subgroup of children also underwent superficial mucosal biopsy under the inferior nasal turbinate. During acute URI, biopsy cells (90%-95% epithelial) showed increased transcripts for IL-1 beta, IL-8, and IL-6 in 7 of 9 subjects, suggesting that epithelial cells may be one source of cytokines during acute URI. The results show that inflammatory cytokines are elevated in nasal secretions during acute URI in preschool children. Thus, cytokines are likely to participate in regulation of respiratory virus-induced inflammation.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1995

Ozone exposure has both a priming effect on allergen-induced responses and an intrinsic inflammatory action in the nasal airways of perennially allergic asthmatics.

Ozone may play a significant role in the exacerbation of airway disease in asthmatics, either by priming the airway mucosa such that cellular responses to allergen are enhanced or by exerting an intrinsic effect on airway inflammation. Previous investigations of nonasthmatic subjects revealed that ozone induces both nasal and bronchial inflammation, suggesting that nasal responses to ozone may be used as a surrogate marker for the effect of this pollutant on bronchial mucosal inflammation. In this study, the effect of exposure to 0.4 ppm ozone on nasal inflammation in 11 allergic asthmatics sensitive to Dermatophygoides farinae was examined. This study was designed such that the effect of ozone exposure on the late-phase reaction to allergen was emphasized, using eosinophil influx and changes in eosinophil cationic protein as principal endpoints. By employing a "split-nose" design, in which allergen was applied to only one side of the nose while saline was applied to the contralateral side, both the effect of ozone on nasal inflammation due to allergen challenge as well as its direct action on non-allergen-challenged nasal tissues was examined. The results reported herein indicate that ozone exposure has both a priming effect on allergen-induced responses as well as an intrinsic inflammatory action in the nasal airways of perennially allergic asthmatics.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Nasal lavage cytokines in normal, allergic, and asthmatic school-age children.

Inflammation can be demonstrated in the airway mucosa of asthmatics, even in the absence of overt symptoms, but the pathogenesis of this chronic inflammation is incompletely defined. It has been suggested that inflammatory cytokines produced by epithelium may play important roles in this process. Therefore, we measured the cytokines interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-6, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in nasal lavage fluids from school-age children who were (1) "normal" (nonallergic/nonasthmatic), (2) allergic to house-dust mite antigen but nonasthmatic (no history of wheezing), or (3) allergic and asthmatic (history of > or = 10 wheezing episodes). Children underwent a single nasal lavage procedure while asymptomatic and on no anti-inflammatory medications or anti-histamines. In addition to cytokine concentrations, cell counts, differentials, albumin, histamine, and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) concentrations were determined in nasal lavage fluids. Significant increases in IL-8 and ECP were observed in asthmatics compared with both normals and allergic nonasthmatics. Overall, IL-8 in nasal lavage fluids correlated significantly with ECP. Allergic nonasthmatics did not have significant increases in cytokines or other mediators compared with normal subjects. Concentrations of IL-6 did not differ significantly among the three groups, and GM-CSF was undetectable in all samples tested. We conclude that increased IL-8 production and eosinophil activation are characteristic of the airways of asthmatic children when asymptomatic, and we speculate that IL-8 plays a role in the maintenance of airway inflammation in asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Catalase and glutathione reductase protection of human alveolar macrophages during oxidant exposure in vitro.

Because alveolar macrophages generate and release reactive oxygen metabolites but also contain antioxidative enzymes, they have the potential of either damaging or protecting tissues. We investigated the relative role of the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-scavenging antioxidative enzymes in H2O2 disposal and cell protection using freshly isolated (5 h ex vivo) and overnight (24 h ex vivo) cultured human alveolar macrophages. Cell protection was assessed on the basis of maintenance of cellular high-energy phosphates, leakage of intact nucleotides into the extracellular medium, and appearance of the nucleotide catabolic products xanthine, hypoxanthine, and uric acid. To investigate the relative importance of catalase and the glutathione redox cycle, the experiments were conducted in cells pretreated with amino-triazole (ATZ) to inactivate catalase or with 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) to inactivate glutathione reductase. Catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase activities did not change significantly during overnight culture of the cells. Both freshly isolated and cultured cells consumed exogenous H2O2 mainly by the catalase-dependent pathway. When the cells were exposed to H2O2 (100 microM), catalase and the glutathione redox cycle equally participated in maintaining cellular high-energy nucleotides. However, when cultured cells were exposed to formylated peptide (FMLP) (10(-7) M), the glutathione redox cycle was responsible for the maintenance of high-energy nucleotides. Furthermore, in both exposures, the glutathione redox cycle was more important in maintaining cell membrane integrity and preventing nucleotide leakage from the cells. Immunocytochemical labeling showed that catalase was primarily localized in the peroxisomal compartment of these cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenine Nucleotides↗
PubMed1995

[In vitro exposure of a human bronchial epithelial cell line with nitrogen dioxide induces enhanced transcription and liberation of pro-inflammatory cytokines].

Studies of in vivo inhalation of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) have demonstrated a transient pulmonary inflammation. This study was done to determine the contribution of airway epithelial cells to the release of inflammatory mediators following NO2 exposure. Confluent cultures of the human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B on Transwell-Col filters were exposed for 1 h to air or NO2 up to 1.5 ppm with the apical fluids removed with 5% CO2 at 37 degrees C. The cells were hydrated with Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) in the basolateral compartment. Sequential reverse transcription and quantitative cDNA amplification (RT-PCR) was used to measure inflammatory mediator mRNA abundance in BEAS-2B cultures. When compared to air-exposed cells, NO2 induced increases in IL-6 (23.4-fold) and IL-8 (30.9-fold) mRNA abundance. The NO2-dependent increases in mRNA expression reached a maximum between 0 and 1 h post exposure and returned to baseline levels within 24 h. IL-6 and IL-8 proteins as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were also elevated in supernatants recovered from NO2-exposed BEAS-2B cells. These studies suggest that exposure to NO2 induces the synthesis and release of inflammatory mediators from airway epithelial cells that may participate in the pathogenesis of airway disease.

Bronchi↗
PubMed1994

Lack of direct immunosuppressive effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on human peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in vitro.

A wide variety of immunosuppressive effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in experimental animals has been documented. In contrast, the impact of dioxin on the human immune system remains controversial, although adverse health effects have been reported in humans after occupational or accidental exposure to dioxin. Recently, Neubert et al. (1991) found that a dose-dependent decrease of peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) subpopulations in humans and non-human primates, including helper-inducer/memory cells (CD4+CD29+) and B cells (CD20+) occurred in pokeweed mitogen (PWM) stimulated cultures at concentrations as low as 10(-12)-10(-14) M TCDD. Therefore, the direct effects of dioxin on human PBL subpopulations have been studied, in order to determine their usefulness as sensitive biomarkers for human dioxin exposure. Lymphocyte cultures from healthy individuals were treated with 10(-7) M-10(-14) M TCDD in the absence and presence of stimulation with pokeweed mitogen (PWM) or anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (moAb; OKT3) for 3 days. Cytochrome P450 (CYP1A1) enzyme induction, one of the best studied direct biological effects of TCDD on numerous cell types, was assayed in parallel by ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity. Percentages of the different lymphocytes subsets, including CD2 (T cells); CD4; CD45 RA (suppressor-inducer/virgin T cells); CD4 CD29; CD8; CD19 (B cells) as well as interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor (CD25) and class II antigen (HLA-DR) expression, were analyzed by flow cytometry. DNA synthesis was determined by 3H-thymidine uptake after 3 days of culture.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Ozone-induced release of cytokines and fibronectin by alveolar macrophages and airway epithelial cells.

Acute exposure of animals and humans to ozone results in decrements in lung function, development of airway hyperreactivity, inflammation, edema, damage to pulmonary cells, and production of several compounds with tissue damaging, fibrinogenic or fibrotic potential. The contribution of airway epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages to these processes is unclear. In this study we have directly exposed human alveolar macrophages and human airway epithelial cells to ozone in vitro and measured the cytotoxic effects of ozone, as well as the production of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8), and fibronectin, all of which are substantially elevated in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of humans exposed to ozone. Cells were grown on rigid, collagen-impregnated filter supports, and the interaction of cells with ozone facilitated by exposing them to the gas with medium below the support but no medium on top of the cells. The results show that, although macrophages are much more sensitive to ozone than epithelial cells, they do not produce increased amounts of IL-6, IL-8, or fibronectin following ozone exposure. In contrast, epithelial cells produce substantially more of all three proteins following ozone exposure, and both IL-6 and fibronectin are secreted vectorially. An immortalized human airway epithelial cell line (BEAS 2B) was used in these experiments since human airway epithelial cells are infrequently available for in vitro studies. Data from this study extend previous findings which suggest that the BEAS cell line is a useful model to study the interaction between airway epithelial cells and environmental toxicants.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Host determinants of cellular and biochemical constituents of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids. Implications for design of epidemiologic studies.

The effects of demographic characteristics, exercise, environmental exposures, and other host factors on cellular and biochemical constituents of human bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids were investigated by studying more than 300 specimens obtained from normal volunteers and assayed in a single center. The BAL data demonstrated associations with race, smoking, exercise, skin-test reactions, and blood constituents, and weak or no associations with age, sex, pulmonary function tests (PFT), or ambient ozone exposure. The effect of exercise was relatively strong and more clearly characterized than in previous studies. Smoking effects were similar to those observed in other studies; our ability to study age and ambient ozone effects was greatly limited because of the homogeneity of the population under study. Blood constituents of the subjects also showed an association with level of exercise. Analysis of intraindividual and interindividual variability in BAL constituents results suggested that matching, although desirable, is not essential for the maintenance of adequate statistical power in BAL studies, so observational studies of the effects from air pollution on BAL fluids in humans could be effectively conducted using cross-sectional designs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Ozone dose and effect in humans and rats. A comparison using oxygen-18 labeling and bronchoalveolar lavage.

In an effort to improve risk assessments for ozone (O3) we compared the incorporation of inhaled oxygen-18-labeled O3 (18O3) into the lungs of humans and laboratory rats. Cells and fluids obtainable through bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were examined after exposure to 18O3 to determine whether excess 18O concentrations (presumed to be reaction products of 18O3) could be detected and equated to the O3 dose to the lung. Three O3 effect measurements (increased BAL protein and neutrophils and decreased BAL macrophages) were also made in subjects or animals exposed in parallel to determine whether there was a correspondence between dose and effect measurements. Eight human male volunteers 18 to 35 yr of age were exposed to 18O3 (0.4 ppm for 2 h) with 15-min alternating periods of heavy treadmill exercise and rest. Rats (F344) were exposed identically, except without exercise. 18O3 was generated directly from pure 18O2. BAL cells and centrifugally separable surfactant material were freeze-dried and analyzed by mass spectrometer for excess 18O. Results showed that the exercising humans had four- to fivefold higher 18O concentrations in all of their BAL constituents than did the rats. The humans also had significant increases in all of the effects markers after 0.4 ppm O3, whereas the rats did not. Rats that were exposed to higher concentrations of 18O3 (2.0 ppm) had levels of 18O in BAL that were more comparable to but still lower than those of exercising humans. Changes in all of the effects markers in these rats were comparable or higher than in exercising humans.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

In vitro ozone exposure increases release of arachidonic acid products from a human bronchial epithelial cell line.

Eicosanoids released after ozone exposure of a human bronchial epithelial cell line, BEAS-S6, were analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) of supernatants from exposed cells prelabeled with [3H]arachidonic acid. BEAS cells released thromboxane B2 (TxB2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), leukotriene C4 (LTC4), LTD4, LTE4, and 12-hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid (HHT) after exposure to ozone at concentrations of 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 ppm. The eicosanoids were identified by coelution with authentic standards. The largest product from ozone-exposed BEAS cells was the most polar peak, designated Peak 1. Release of cyclooxygenase products such as TxB2, PGE2, and HHT was inhibited by acetylsalicylic acid. Peaks that migrated with authentic standards for LTB4, LTC4, and LTD4 were inhibited by the lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid. The leukotrienes LTB4 and LTC4/D4 could also be detected by immunoassay of concentrated peak fractions. Thus BEAS cells released eicosanoids from cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism following exposure to ozone. Airway epithelial cells may be an important source of eicosanoids following ozone stimulation in humans.

Arachidonic Acid↗
PubMed1993

Identification of subpopulations that are sensitive to ozone exposure: use of end points currently available and potential use of laboratory-based end points under development.

A number of epidemiological studies have attempted to assess the effect of recurrent ozone exposure in humans. For the most part, they have failed to document convincingly an association between chronic ozone exposure and differences in lung function performance or respiratory symptoms. This is not surprising given the small respiratory effects observed in animals chronically exposed to ozone and assuming that people with abnormal respiratory function resulting from other occupational or environmental exposures, such as tobacco smoke, would make up a much larger percentage of the population than people with respiratory effects attributable to ozone. Therefore, either more sensitive end points must be developed to detect subtle changes due to chronic ozone exposure, or ways of selecting subpopulations that are especially sensitive to ozone must be devised. It has been well documented that there are large and reproducible differences in the acute response of individuals to ozone as measured by pulmonary function tests. Recently, it has also been shown that there are large differences in the acute response of individuals to ozone as measured by inflammatory and other biochemical parameters. This paper discusses the problems of selecting individuals who are sensitive to ozone depending on the end point chosen. It also describes potential new sensitive end points that might be available for ozone epidemiology studies in the near future.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1992

Human upper respiratory tract responses to inhaled pollutants with emphasis on nasal lavage.

A set of symptoms has been described during the past two decades. These symptoms, which have been called the sick building syndrome, include eye, nose, and throat irritation; headache; mental fatigue; and respiratory distress. It is likely that VOCs present in synthetic materials used in homes and office buildings contribute to these symptoms. There have been few studies, however, in which humans have been exposed to known amounts of VOCs under carefully controlled conditions. In this study, 14 subjects have been exposed to a mixture of VOCs (25 mg/m3 total hydrocarbon) representative of what is found in new homes and office buildings. Because irritation of the nose and throat are symptoms often associated with the upper respiratory tract and may result from an inflammatory response in the upper airways, we have used NAL to monitor PMN influx into the nasal passages following exposure to VOCs. We report statistically significant increases in PMNs both immediately after a 4-hr exposure to VOCs, as well as 18 hr later.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Avian cardiac tropomyosin gene produces tissue-specific isoforms through alternative RNA splicing.

We have isolated a quail cardiac tropomyosin gene which encodes three distinct isoforms through the use of alternative exon splicing. Characterization of cDNA clones produced by this gene indicate that the gene encodes a unique 284 amino acid cardiac tropomyosin isoform, along with a 248 amino acid cytoskeletal and 284 amino acid smooth muscle isoforms. Northern analyses indicate that the gene is primarily expressed in cardiac muscle, with only minor expression of the cytoskeletal and smooth muscle transcripts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗