Novel murine model of chronic granulomatous lung inflammation elicited by carbon nanotubes

Isham Huizar, Anagha Malur, Yasmeen A. Midgette, Cindy Kukoly, Pengyu Chen, Pu Chun Ke, Ramakrishna Podila, Apparao M. Rao, Christopher J. Wingard, Larry Dobbs, Barbara P. Barna, Mani S. Kavuru, Mary Jane Thomassen

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71 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Lung granulomas are associated with numerous conditions, including inflammatory disorders, exposure to environmental pollutants, and infection. Osteopontin is a chemotactic cytokine produced by macrophages, and is implicated in extracellular matrix remodeling. Furthermore, osteopontin is up-regulated in granulomatous disease, and osteopontin null mice exhibit reduced granuloma formation. Animal models currently used to investigate chronic lung granulomatous inflammation bear a pathological resemblance, but lack the chronic nature of human granulomatous disease. Carbon nanoparticles are generated as byproducts of combustion. Interestingly, experimental exposures to carbon nanoparticles induce pulmonary granuloma-like lesions. However, the recruited cellular populations and extracellular matrix gene expression profiles within these lesionshave notbeenexplored. Because of the rapid resolution of granulomas in current animal models, the mechanisms responsible for persistence have been elusive. To overcome the limitations of previous models, we investigated whether a model using multiwall carbon nanoparticles would resemble chronic human lung granulomatous inflammation. We hypothesized that pulmonary exposure to multiwall carbon nanoparticles would induce granulomas, elicit a macrophage and T-cell response, and mimic other granulomatous disorders with an up-regulation of osteopontin. This model demonstrates: (1) granulomatous inflammation, with macrophage and T-cell infiltration; (2) resemblance to the chronicity of human granulomas, with persistence up to 90 days; and (3) a marked elevation of osteopontin, metalloproteinases, and cell adhesion molecules in granulomatous foci isolated by laser-capture microdissection and in alveolar macrophages from bronchoalveolar lavage. The establishment of such a model provides an important platform for mechanistic studies on the persistence of granuloma.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)858-866
Number of pages9
JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology
Volume45
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Carbon nanotube
  • Granuloma
  • Matrix metalloproteinases
  • Murine model
  • Osteopontin

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