Authors:
Larcombe AN; Foong RE; Boylen CE; Zosky GR
Authors notes:
Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses. 2012:online
Keywords:
Diesel exhaust particles, Inflammation, Influenza, Lung function
Abstract
Exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEP) is thought to exacerbate many pre-existing respiratory diseases, including asthma, bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, however, there is a paucity of data on whether DEP exacerbates illness due to respiratory viral infection.
To assess the physiological consequences of an acute DEP exposure during the peak of influenza-induced illness.
Influenza infection resulted in significantly increased inflammation, cytokine influx and impairment to lung function.
DEP exposure alone resulted in less inflammation and cytokine influx, and no impairment to lung function.
Mice infected with influenza and exposed to DEP had higher viral titres and neutrophilia compared with infected mice, yet they did not have more impaired lung mechanics than mice infected with influenza alone.
A single dose of DEP is not sufficient to physiologically exacerbate pre-existing respiratory disease caused by influenza infection in mice.