Abstract
The aims of this work were (1) to determine the dose-response relationship between ex vivo exposure to oxidizing pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), the aldehyde acrolein, and ozone (O3), and the reactivity to agonists in isolated human bronchial smooth muscle; and (2) to investigate the alterations in the cellular mechanisms of human airway smooth muscle contraction induced by such exposures. Experiments were performed in isolated human bronchi obtained at thoracotomy. Isometric contraction in response to a variety of agonists was compared between pollutant-exposed preparations and paired controls. Short exposures to NO2, acrolein, or O3 altered the subsequent airway smooth muscle responsiveness in a dose-dependent manner. The cellular mechanisms producing the airway hyperresponsiveness observed in vitro are shared by the three pollutants and include alterations in airway smooth muscle excitation-contraction coupling as well as indirect effects on neutral endopeptidase activity.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.