Aerosolized Harmful Algal Bloom Toxin Microcystin-LR Induces Type 1/Type 17 Inflammation of Murine Airways

Article (Faculty180)

cited authors

  • Breidenbach, Joshua D; French, Benjamin W; Stanoszek, Lauren M; Lavik, John-Pau P; Maddipati, Krishna Ra R; Premathilaka, Sanduni H; Baliu-Rodriguez, David; Timalsina, Bivek; Aradhyula, Vaishnavi; Patel, Shivani C; Lad, Apurva; Syed, Irum; Kleinhenz, Andrew L; Blomquist, Thomas M; Gohara, Amira; Dube, Prabhatchandra; Zhang, Shungang; Faleel, Dhilhani; Khalaf, Fatimah K; Isailovic, Dragan; Wooten, R Mar M; Willey, James C; Hammersley, Jeffrey R; Modyanov, Nikolai N; Malhotra, Deepak; Dworkin, Lance D; Kennedy, David J; Haller, Steven T

description

  • <p>Harmful algal blooms are increasing globally and pose serious health concerns releasing cyanotoxins. Microcystin-LR (MC-LR), one of the most frequently produced cyanotoxins, has recently been detected in aerosols generated by the normal motions of affected bodies of water. MC-LR aerosol exposure has been linked to a pro-inflammatory influence on the airways of mice; however, little is understood about the underlying mechanism or the potential consequences. This study aimed to investigate the pro-inflammatory effects of aerosolized MC-LR on murine airways. C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice were exposed to MC-LR aerosols, as these strains are predisposed to type 1/type 17 and type 2 immune responses, respectively. Exposure to MC-LR induced granulocytic inflammation in C57BL/6 but not BALB/c mice, as observed by increased expression of cytokines MIP-1α, CXCL1, CCL2, and GM-CSF compared with their respective vehicle controls. Furthermore, the upregulation of interleukins IL-17A and IL-12 is consistent with Th1- and Th17-driven type 1/type 17 inflammation. Histological analysis confirmed inflammation in the C57BL/6 lungs, with elevated neutrophils and macrophages in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and increased pro-inflammatory and pro-resolving oxidized lipids. In contrast, BALB/c mice showed no significant airway inflammation. These results highlight the ability of aerosolized MC-LR to trigger harmful airway inflammation, requiring further research, particularly into populations with predispositions to type 1/type 17 inflammation.</p>

authors

publication date

  • 2024

published in

volume

  • 16