Kwak Hyun-Ho, Park Ji-Hwan, Kim Hyang-Sook, Lee Hyun Min, Kim Sung-Dong, Mun Sue Jean, Cho Kyu-Sup
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan 50612, Republic of Korea.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan 50612, Republic of Korea.
Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Jun 19;26(12):5885. doi: 10.3390/ijms26125885.
Particulate matter (PM) is a major environmental pollutant implicated in various respiratory diseases. However, its impact on the upper respiratory tract, particularly the nasal and paranasal sinus mucosa, remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the acute inflammatory effects of PM exposure on the sinonasal mucosa and evaluate the natural recovery process in a controlled rat model. Ten-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to incense-derived PM in a custom-designed exposure chamber for 2 h daily for seven consecutive days. Rats were sacrificed at 3, 7, and 14 days post-exposure. Histopathologic changes were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin and Alcian blue staining, and mucosal gene expression of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, and IL-5 and MUC5AC was quantified using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. PM exposure induced significant histological alterations, including epithelial thickening, inflammatory cell infiltration, and goblet cell hyperplasia, which peaked at 7 days post-exposure. Expression levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ were significantly elevated at 7 days compared to controls. The sinonasal mucosa in the 14-day post-exposure groups exhibited a remarkable decrease in goblet cell numbers, and IL-1β and TNF-α expression. Short-term exposure to high concentrations of PM resulted in acute inflammatory changes in the sinonasal mucosa of rats, including epithelial thickening and goblet cell hyperplasia. These changes were partially resolved after exposure ended, indicating that PM-induced sinonasal inflammation may be at least partially reversible.
颗粒物（PM）是一种主要的环境污染物，与多种呼吸系统疾病有关。然而，其对上呼吸道，尤其是鼻和鼻窦黏膜的影响仍知之甚少。本研究旨在探讨暴露于PM对鼻窦黏膜的急性炎症作用，并在可控的大鼠模型中评估其自然恢复过程。将10周龄雄性Sprague Dawley大鼠置于定制设计的暴露舱中，每天暴露于香薰衍生的PM中2小时，连续7天。在暴露后3天、7天和14天处死大鼠。使用苏木精和伊红以及阿尔辛蓝染色评估组织病理学变化，并使用实时逆转录聚合酶链反应对包括白细胞介素（IL）-1β、IL-6、肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）-α、干扰素（IFN）-γ、IL-5和MUC5AC在内的炎症细胞因子的黏膜基因表达进行定量。暴露于PM引起了显著的组织学改变，包括上皮增厚、炎症细胞浸润和杯状细胞增生，在暴露后7天达到峰值。与对照组相比，TNF-α和IFN-γ的表达水平在7天时显著升高。暴露后14天组的鼻窦黏膜杯状细胞数量、IL-1β和TNF-α表达显著下降。短期暴露于高浓度PM导致大鼠鼻窦黏膜出现急性炎症变化，包括上皮增厚和杯状细胞增生。暴露结束后，这些变化部分得到缓解，表明PM诱导的鼻窦炎症可能至少部分是可逆的。
