LUNG INJURY IN MICE INDUCED BY FACTORS ACTING SYNERGISTICALLY WITH INHALED PARTICULATE ANTIGEN

The pulmonary humoral immune response and pathologic changes caused by a combined aerogenic exposure of mice to an airborne contaminant (sulfuric acid, H2SO4) or an adjuvant (Bordetella pertussis) in conjunction with a particulate antigen (sheep red blood cells, SRBC) were studied. Daily inhalation of H2SO4 with consequent weekly intranasal instillation of SRBC induced severe pulmonary injury. Serum and bronchial wash hemagglutinating antibody titers reached higher levels in mice that were exposed to H2SO4 aerosol. An adjuvant (B. pertussis) in conjunction with SRBC, instilled intranasally and followed by weekly SRBC intranasal immunization, produced pulmonary inflammation without exposure to H2SO4. This animal model allows study of the role of environmental factors acting synergistically with inhaled antigens in induction of various types of immune lung injury. © 1979.