Traffic-related air pollutants induce the release of allergen-containing cytoplasmic granules from grass pollen

Alexandre Motta 1 Maryse Marliere 2 Gabriel Peltre 3 P.A. Steerenberg 4 Ghislaine Lacroix 2
1 Laboratory of Allergology and Pulmonary Diseases / Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
2 INERIS - Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques
3 Allergie et Environnement
4 Center for Substances and Integrated Risk Assessement
Abstract : Background/Aim: Pollen cytoplasmic granules (PCG) are loaded with allergens. They are released from grass pollen grains following contact with water and can form a respirable allergenic aerosol. On the other hand, the traffic-related air pollutants NO2 and O-3 are known to be involved in the current increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases via their adjuvant effects. Our objective was to determine the effects of air pollutants on the release of PCG from Phleum pratense (timothy grass) pollen. Methods: P. pratense pollen was exposed to several concentrations of NO2 and O-3. The induced morphological damages were observed by environmental scanning electron microscopy, and the amount of PCG released from the pollen upon contact with water was measured. Results: The percentages of damaged grain were 6.4% in air-treated controls, 15% after treatment with the highest NO2 dose (50 ppm) and 13.5% after exposure to 0.5 ppm O-3. In treated samples, a fraction of the grains spontaneously released their PCG. Upon subsequent contact with water, the remaining intact grains released more PCG than pollen exposed to air only. Conclusions: Traffic-related pollutants can trigger the release of allergen-containing granules from grass pollen, and increase the bioavailability of airborne pollen allergens. This is a new mechanism by which air pollution concurs with the current increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases.
Keywords : ALLERGY ASTHMA CYTOPLASMIC GRANULES GRASS POLLEN POLLUTANTS
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Journal articles
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Submitted on : Friday, March 21, 2014 - 2:07:07 PM
Last modification on : Saturday, November 18, 2017 - 6:26:01 PM

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Alexandre Motta, Maryse Marliere, Gabriel Peltre, P.A. Steerenberg, Ghislaine Lacroix. Traffic-related air pollutants induce the release of allergen-containing cytoplasmic granules from grass pollen. International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, Karger, 2006, 139 (4), pp.294-298. ⟨10.1159/000091600⟩. ⟨ineris-00963000⟩

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