The Effect of Seasonal Variations in Airborne Particulate Matter on Asthma-Related Airway Inflammation in Mice.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of winter and spring particulate matter (PM) on airway inflammation and allergies in a mouse asthma model. PM was collected during 7-28 February 2013 (winter) and during 7-28 April 2013 (spring) in Yonago, Japan. NC/Nga mice were co-sensitized using intranasal instillation of the PMs and Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) for 5 consecutive days, and were subsequently challenged using intranasal Df at 7 days after the last sensitization. At 24 h after the challenge, serum immunoglobulin levels, differential leukocyte counts, and inflammatory cytokines levels were measured in the mice's bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Compared to co-sensitization using spring PM and Df, winter PM and Df induced greater increases in the BALF neutrophil and eosinophil counts and total serum IgE and IgG2a levels. Furthermore, winter PM-sensitized mice exhibited higher BALF levels of interleukin-5, interleukin-13, interleukin-6, and keratinocyte-derived chemokine. Therefore, we observed seasonal variations in the effects of PM on asthma-related airway inflammation. These findings suggest that the compositions of PM vary according to season, and that it is important to evaluate PM compositions in order to understand the associations between asthma and PM.

1. Introduction

Air pollution, including particulate matter (PM), is now the third leading global cause of disability-adjusted life years that are associated with health disorders [1]. Several studies have demonstrated that PM exposure is associated with exacerbated asthma and increased primary care visits, respiratory symptoms, cardiovascular mortality, and lung cancer [2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. Furthermore, other studies have demonstrated that PM is associated with respiratory diseases [9,10] and cardiopulmonary mortality [11]. However, other studies have reported conflicting findings [12,13], and results regarding the relationship between airborne PM and asthma are inconsistent. Moreover, no study has performed a comprehensive quantitative evaluation of PM’s effect on asthma [14], and the reported effects of PM on health disorders, including asthma, are also inconsistent.

Airborne PM is usually categorized based on median aerodynamic particle diameters of <10 μm (PM10) and <2.5 μm (PM2.5). Thus, previous studies have primarily focused on PM10 and PM2.5 levels to estimate the associations between airborne PM and health disorders. Airborne PM usually consists of various components from different sources, such as crystal materials and materials from traffic, biomass combustion, waste incineration, industrial processes, transported air pollution, road abrasion and resuspension, car brake debris, and bacterial and fungal dust [15]. In this context, several recent studies have reported that the effects of airborne PM on respiratory diseases vary according to each report [16,17]. Other studies have also demonstrated that airborne PM has city- and season-specific inflammatory potentials [18,19,20,21]. Thus, the toxic effects of airborne PM may vary according to its composition [22].

Airborne PM increases airway inflammation and has immune adjuvant effects in the ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mouse model [23,24,25], which indicates that substances in airborne PM may provoke asthma exacerbation. However, the OVA-induced asthma mouse model uses aluminum as an adjuvant, and airborne PM contains aluminum [23]. In this context, an innovative asthma mouse model that was developed by Shibamori et al. exhibits allergic asthma-like reactions after intranasal sensitization using Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) [26]. Therefore, this model may be more useful for evaluating the effects of PM on asthma, as the Df-induced asthma model does not require an adjuvant, unlike the OVA-induced model.

The increased levels of airborne PM in China is a serious environmental problem [27,28], and the long-range transportation of aerosols from East Asia to Japan has increased the PM levels in Japan [29,30,31]. Furthermore, the increased use of heating fuel during January and February can worsen the air quality in China. Therefore, we hypothesized that the inflammatory effects of airborne PM on asthma may vary according to season in western Japan, based on the long-range transportation of air pollutants. In this study, we evaluated airway inflammation and immune adjuvant effect in a Df-induced asthma model, where we co-sensitized the mice using Df and winter or spring PM, in order to evaluate the seasonal influences of short-term PM exposure.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Animals

Specific pathogen-free 7-week-old male NC/Nga mice were purchased from Japan SLC Inc. (Hamamatsu, Japan) and acclimatized for 7 days before starting the study. Animals were kept in a vivarium at a constant temperature of 22 °C and were illuminated in 12-h light/dark cycles. Animals were fed standard animal chow daily and had ad libitum access to drinking water. The experimental protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University (12-Y-55).

2.2. PM Preparation

Winter PM (PM1) was collected in the city of Tottori, Japan during 7–28 February 2013, and spring PM (PM2) was collected during 7–28 April 2013. The PM collections were performed using a high-volume air sampler (HV-1000R; Shibata Co., Tokyo, Japan) that was fixed to a building’s roof. The PM was separated according to aerodynamic diameter using five filters (<1.1 µm, 1.1–2.0 µm, 2.0–3.3 µm, 3.3–7.0 µm, and >7.0 μm), and each filter was weighed before and after the sampling (post-sampling weight was obtained after drying the filters in a desiccator). We used PM with a diameter of 3.3–7.0 μm, which contains common ambient urban PM that exhibits a peak at an approximately median aerodynamic diameter of 5 μm [32]. The PM was sterilized at 121 °C for 30 min in an autoclave (Tomy SX-300; Tomy Co., Tokyo, Japan) and stored in a freezer at −20 °C to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi. The PM was subsequently suspended in normal saline (NS) before being administered to the mice.

2.3. Experimental Protocol

After a 7-day acclimatization period, the NC/Nga mice were randomly divided into six groups (n = 8 per group) and sensitized to Df (Greer Laboratories Inc., Lenoir, NC, USA), as previously described [26]. For sensitization, the mice were anesthetized using isoflurane inhalation and we performed intranasal installations of a crude Df extract (50 μg in 25 μL of NS) for 5 consecutive days (days 0–4). The Df-sensitized mice were then intranasally challenged using Df at 7 days after the last Df sensitization (day 11) and were subsequently sacrificed at 24 h after the Df challenge. The control group received NS without the Df extract.

To observe the immune adjuvant effects and airway inflammation that was induced by the PM, mice were co-sensitized using intranasal instillations of NS or PM (0.1 mg in 25 μL of NS) and Df for 5 consecutive days (days 0–4). The three groups were: (i) co-sensitization using NS and Df with a Df challenge (NS + Df/Df mice); (ii) co-sensitization using PM1 and Df with a Df challenge (PM1 + Df/Df mice); and (iii) co-sensitization using PM2 and Df with a Df challenge (PM2 + Df/Df mice). The one-time PM instillation dose (0.1 mg/mouse) was conducted according to a previous report [25,33].

2.4. Bronchoalveolar Lavage

After the mice were anesthetized using isoflurane, their tracheas were cannulated. The BALF was obtained after five installations of NS (1.0 mL) into the lungs, with gentle handling to maximize the BALF recovery. The BALF from each mouse was centrifuged at 300× g for 5 min at 4 °C. The cell pellet was used for the cell counting, and the supernatant was used for the cytokine analyses. The cells were diluted in Turk’s fluid and a total count was obtained using a hemocytometer. The differential leukocyte counts were obtained using microscopic evaluations and quantitative analyses of methanol-fixed cytospin preparations that were stained using Diff Quick (Fisher Scientific, Pittsburgh, PA, USA).

2.5. Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays for Serum Total Immunoglobulin

Serum total IgE and IgG2a levels were measured using OptEIA Mouse kits (BD Pharmingen, San Diego, CA, USA), according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The assays were quantified based on optical density (450 nm), which was read using a calibrated Sunrise microplate reader (Tecan Group, Kawasaki, Japan) and XFluor4 software (Tecan Group).

2.6. Quantitative Evaluation of Cytokine and Chemokine Levels

We evaluated the BALF levels of interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-13, IL-5, IL-6, keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC/CXCL1), and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2 (KC/CXCL1 and MIP-2/CXCL2 are murine homologues of human IL-8) using the appropriate enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kits (R&D Systems Europe, Abingdon, UK). The BALF was not diluted for the IFN-γ assay, and was diluted to 1:5 for the IL-13, IL-5, IL-6, KC/CXCL1, and MIP-2/CXCL2 assays. All EIAs were performed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

2.7. Endotoxin Analysis

Levels of endotoxin were evaluated using the ToxinSensor Chromogenic LAL endotoxin assay (GenScript, Piscataway, NJ, USA), according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This assay has a sensitivity range of 0.01–1 EU/mL. The pH of the PM was measured using a MP220 meter (Mettler Toledo, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland).

2.8. Statistical Analysis

Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Inter-group comparisons were performed using one-way analysis of variance. All analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism software (version 5.02; GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA, USA), and differences were considered statistically significant at a p-value of <0.05.

3. Results

3.1. Co-Sensitization Using PM and Df Induced the Greatest Increase in Airway Inflammation

The PM1 + Df/Df mice and PM2 + Df/Df mice exhibited significant increases in their total BALF cell counts, compared to the NS + Df/Df mice (p < 0.05). Compared to the differential counts from the control mice, the greatest increase was observed in the neutrophil counts. In addition, compared to the PM2 + Df/Df mice, the PM1 + Df/Df mice exhibited a greater increase in the total cell count (1.3-fold increase vs. PM2 + Df/Df), which was related to increases in the neutrophil count (1.6-fold) and eosinophil count (2.4-fold) (Figure 1). These data indicate that PM1 induced the greatest recruitment of inflammatory cells into the lung tissues.

Figure 1

Total and differential leukocyte counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Mice were divided to three sensitized groups that were all subsequently challenged using Dermatophagoides farina (Df): normal saline with Df (NS + Df/Df), particulate matter 1 (7–28 February 2013) with Df (PM1 + Df/Df), and particulate matter 2 (7–28 April 2013) with Df (PM2 + Df/Df). Cell counts (eosinophils, macrophages, neutrophils, and lymphocytes) in the BALF were obtained at 24 h after the challenge on day 11. The total cell counts from PM1 + Df/Df mice were significantly higher, compared to those from PM2 + Df/Df mice. Data for each group are expressed as mean ± standard deviation, and the results are from eight mice per group. * p < 0.05.

3.2. Co-Sensitization Using PM and Df Induced the Greatest Production of Th2 and Inflammatory Cytokines

We measured BALF cytokine levels to investigate the mechanisms through which PM caused an allergic airway response in our Df-induced asthma model. Similar to the PM-induced inflammatory cell recruitment, PM induced the production of several important asthma-related cytokines. Compared to the NS + Df/Df mice, the PM2 + Df/Df mice exhibited higher BALF levels of Th2 cytokines (IL-5 and IL-13). Moreover, compared to the NS + Df/Df mice and the PM2 + Df/Df mice, the PM1 + Df/Df mice exhibited higher BALF levels of Th2 cytokines (IL-5 and IL-13) and inflammatory cytokines (KC and IL-6), with the exception of MIP-2 (a neutrophil activation chemokine) (Figure 2). The administration of PM1 and PM2 did not induce an increase in the BALF levels of IFN-γ (a Th1 cytokine).

Figure 2

Cytokine and chemokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The BALF cytokine and chemokine expression profiles were analyzed using enzyme immunoassays for interferon-γ, interleukin-5, interleukin-13, keratinocyte-derived chemokine, macrophage inflammatory protein-2, and interleukin-6. Data for each group are expressed as mean ± standard deviation, and the results are from six mice per group. * p < 0.05.

3.3. Co-Sensitization Using PM and Df Provided the Strongest Immune Adjuvant Effects

Serum immunoglobulin levels were evaluated on day 12 to examine the immune adjuvant effects of PM in Df-sensitized mice. Compared to the NS + Df/Df mice, the PM1 + Df/Df mice and PM2 + Df/Df mice exhibited significantly increased serum total IgE levels (2.1-fold and 1.5-fold, respectively, as immunoglobulin concentrations, p < 0.05) and serum total IgG2a levels (1.9-fold and 1.4-fold, respectively, as immunoglobulin concentrations, p < 0.05) (Figure 3). Furthermore, the PM1 + Df/Df mice exhibited a greater increase in the total IgE and IgG2a levels, compared to the PM2 + Df/Df mice. These data indicate that PM1 provided the most potent immune adjuvant effects.

Figure 3

Total IgE and total IgG2a levels in serum. The levels of serum total IgE and total IgG2a were detected using enzyme immunoassays and presented as serum concentrations. Data for each group are expressed as mean ± standard deviation, and the results are from six mice per group. * p < 0.05.

3.4. Endotoxin Concentrations and pH Values in the PM

At a PM concentration of 1 mg/mL, the endotoxin levels were 1.10 EU/mL in PM1 and in 0.89 EU/mL in PM2. At the same PM concentration, the pH values were 7.8 in PM1 and 7.7 in PM2.

4. Discussion

These findings indicate that PM from different seasons (winter and spring) in western Japan had significantly different immune adjuvant effects and effects on airway inflammation in a mouse model of asthma. For example, compared to the spring PM, the winter PM significantly increased the number of eosinophils and neutrophils in the BALF, and significantly augmented the airway inflammation. The winter PM also induced the greatest increases in serum total IgE and IgG2a levels, and the production of Th2 cytokines (IL-5 and IL-13) and inflammatory cytokines (KC and IL-6). These results suggest that winter PM from western Japan has greater potential for allergic toxicity, compared to spring PM.

It has been hypothesized that the seasonal toxicity of PM exposure might be linked to differences in PM composition and variations in the proportional size distributions [34,35]. A previous study found that PM from Italy that was collected during different seasons (summer and winter) caused different acute toxic effects in a mouse model [36]. However, another researcher did not find any seasonal effects or significant interactions between season and particle size or between sampling location and in vitro exposure [37]. These discrepancies may be related to differences in the composition of the PM.

Inhaled endotoxin is associated with neutrophilic airway inflammation in patients with asthma and healthy individuals [38,39]. Endotoxin in environmental aerosols can also augment airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma [40]. Thus, endotoxin plays an important role in airborne PM-induced airway inflammation. In the present study, the winter PM exhibited higher endotoxin levels, compared to the spring PM, and endotoxin may be an important factor that partially explains the seasonal effects that we observed. In addition, KC and IL-6 may be key inflammatory mediators for the increase in airway inflammation. In contrast, MIP–2 and IFN-γ had no effect on airway inflammation that was augmented using airborne PM.

Kumar et al. [21] compared the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines after exposure to various PM sources, and suggested that the iron content of airborne PM might be an important mediator of airway epithelial injury. A recent in vivo study also revealed an association between the iron content of inhaled particulates and pulmonary function deficits [41]. Thus, in addition to endotoxin in environmental aerosols, metal components (e.g., iron) may also play important roles in PM-induced airway inflammation. However, we were unable to analyze the specific compositions of our PM samples, based on the small amounts that we collected. Therefore, we were unable to identify the component(s) that may play important roles in induced airway inflammation, and further studies are needed to identify the component(s) that are responsible for the seasonal variations in PM-induced airway inflammation.

In January 2013, high concentrations of air pollution and PM were identified in various Chinese cities [42]. Furthermore, Yamazaki et al. found that the mean monthly PM concentrations in western Japan during January–March 2013 (winter) were slightly higher than the concentrations during the winters of 2011 or 2012 [2]. They also found that ozone levels may be associated with primary care visits at night for asthma attacks, although there was no association between the daily mean concentrations of fine PM and primary care visits [2]. Nevertheless, our findings that winter PM from the same period had greater allergic toxicity, compared to spring PM, may support their epidemiological findings.

February is a boundary between winter and spring in East Asia, which allowed us to compare the seasonal variations in East Asian air pollution, [43,44]. In East Asia, PM10 levels change in March and are maintained near their highest levels from March to April [45]. A high atmospheric level of Japanese cedar pollen is also present during March in Japan [46]. Therefore, the present study defined winter PM as PM that was collected in February and spring PM as PM that was collected in April.

Inhaled airborne PM can affect different parts of the respiratory tract according to particulate size [47]. Coarse PM (PM2.5–10) is primarily deposited in the bronchus, and fine PM (PM2.5) is more likely to be deposited deeper in the alveolar regions. As we aimed to investigate the seasonal differences in the inflammatory effects of airborne PM on asthma, we used PM with a diameter of 3.3–7.0 µm.

5. Conclusions

We conclude that winter PM from western Japan had greater immune adjuvant effects and increased neutrophilic airway inflammation, compared to spring PM. This relationship may be mediated by endotoxins that are attached to airborne particles. Therefore, further studies are needed to identify the substances that are responsible for the seasonal differences in the effects of PM.