Author:

Keywords:

Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Toxicology, Silica, Silicosis, Diesel exhaust particles, Autoimmunity, Mice, Lung inflammation, CRYSTALLINE SILICA, OCCUPATIONAL-EXPOSURE, LUNG, INFLAMMATION, DISEASE, MICE, HYPERRESPONSIVENESS, EMISSIONS, MODEL, DUST, Animals, Vehicle Emissions, Lung Injury, Silicon Dioxide, Autoantibodies, Antibodies, Antinuclear, X-Ray Microtomography, Mice, Inbred NOD, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Lung, Cytokines, Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid, Inflammation, Asthma, Particulate Matter, C3/20/126#56125214, C24/18/085#54689707, 0303 Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry, 0304 Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry, 1199 Other Medical and Health Sciences, 3206 Medical biotechnology, 3404 Medicinal and biomolecular chemistry

Abstract:

Inhalation of airborne particulate matter, such as silica and diesel exhaust particles, poses serious long-term respiratory and systemic health risks. Silica exposure can lead to silicosis and systemic autoimmune diseases, while DEP exposure is linked to asthma and cancer. Combined exposure to silica and DEP, common in mining, may have more severe effects. This study investigates the separate and combined effects of occupational-level silica and ambient-level DEP on lung injury, inflammation, and autoantibody formation in two genetically distinct mouse strains, thereby aiming at understanding the interplay between genetic susceptibility, particulate exposure, and disease outcomes. Silica and diesel exhaust particles were administered to mice via oropharyngeal aspiration. Assessments of lung injury and host response included in vivo lung micro-computed tomography, lung function tests, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis including inflammatory cytokines and antinuclear antibodies, and histopathology with particle colocalization.