Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Diesel Emissions Exert Proallergic Effects in Birch Pollen Allergic Individuals Through Enhanced Mediator Release from Basophils.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Lubitz, Stefanie; Schober, Wolfgang; Pusch, Gudrun; Effner, Renate; Klopp, Norman; Behrendt, Heidrun; Buters, Jeroen T. M.
- Source
- Environmental Toxicology; Apr2010, Vol. 25 Issue 2, p188-197, 10p, 2 Charts, 5 Graphs
- Subject
- DIESEL motor exhaust gas
POLLUTANTS
POLYCYCLIC aromatic compounds
HYDROCARBONS
IMMUNOLOGICAL adjuvants
BASOPHILS
IMMUNOGLOBULIN E
MAST cells
ALLERGIES
- Language
- ISSN
- 15204081
The article focuses on a study which investigates the adjuvant effects of diesel exhaust particles (DEPs)-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the activation of human basophils in allergic reactions by the release of preformed or granule-derived mediators. It reports that at environmental relevant exposure levels, EPA-PAH standard synergized with antigen and significantly increased basophil activation of all birch pollen allergic individuals up to 95%. It notes that none of the basophil samples from healthy individuals showed any PAH effect on mediator release. It remarks that DEP-PAHs exerted proallergic effects on sensitized basophils in an allergen independent fashion suggesting a potential role of the pollutants for allergic breakthrough in atopic individuals.