Youngsub Eom1, Jong Suk Song1, Hyun Kyu Lee1, Boram Kang1, Hyeon Chang Kim2, Hyung Keun Lee3, Hyo Myung Kim1. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. 2. Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. 3. Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the ocular immune response following exposure to airborne titanium dioxide (TiO2) microparticles. Methods: Rats in the TiO2-exposed group (n = 10) were exposed to TiO2 particles for 2 hours twice daily for 5 days, while the controls (n = 10) were not. Corneal staining score and tear lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were measured to evaluate ocular surface damage, serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G and E were assayed by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the size of cervical lymph nodes was measured. In addition, the expression of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-17, and interferon (IFN)-γ in the anterior segment of the eyeball and cervical lymph nodes was measured by immunohistochemistry, real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and Western blot analysis. Results: Median corneal staining score (3.0), tear LDH activity (0.24 optical density [OD]), and cervical lymph node size (36.9 mm2) were significantly higher in the TiO2-exposed group than in the control group (1.0, 0.13 OD, and 26.7 mm2, respectively). Serum IgG and IgE levels were found to be significantly elevated in the TiO2-exposed group (P = 0.021 and P = 0.021, respectively). Interleukin 4 expression was increased in the anterior segment of the eyeball and lymph nodes following TiO2 exposure, as measured by immunostaining, real-time RT-PCR, and Western blot. In addition, IL-17 and IFN-γ levels were also increased following TiO2 exposure compared to controls as measured by immunostaining. Conclusions: Exposure to airborne TiO2 induced ocular surface damage. The Type 2 helper T-cell pathway seems to play a dominant role in the ocular immune response following airborne TiO2 exposure.
Purpose: To investigate the ocular immune response following exposure to airborne titanium dioxide (TiO2) microparticles. Methods:Rats in the TiO2-exposed group (n = 10) were exposed to TiO2 particles for 2 hours twice daily for 5 days, while the controls (n = 10) were not. Corneal staining score and tear lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were measured to evaluate ocular surface damage, serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G and E were assayed by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the size of cervical lymph nodes was measured. In addition, the expression of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-17, and interferon (IFN)-γ in the anterior segment of the eyeball and cervical lymph nodes was measured by immunohistochemistry, real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and Western blot analysis. Results: Median corneal staining score (3.0), tear LDH activity (0.24 optical density [OD]), and cervical lymph node size (36.9 mm2) were significantly higher in the TiO2-exposed group than in the control group (1.0, 0.13 OD, and 26.7 mm2, respectively). Serum IgG and IgE levels were found to be significantly elevated in the TiO2-exposed group (P = 0.021 and P = 0.021, respectively). Interleukin 4 expression was increased in the anterior segment of the eyeball and lymph nodes following TiO2 exposure, as measured by immunostaining, real-time RT-PCR, and Western blot. In addition, IL-17 and IFN-γ levels were also increased following TiO2 exposure compared to controls as measured by immunostaining. Conclusions: Exposure to airborne TiO2 induced ocular surface damage. The Type 2 helper T-cell pathway seems to play a dominant role in the ocular immune response following airborne TiO2 exposure.
Authors: Violetta Borelli; Elisa Trevisan; Vita Francesca; Giuliano Zabucchi Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2018-01-10 Impact factor: 3.390