Benzo[a]pyrene exacerbates allergen-induced airway inflammation through NLRP3-dependent dendritic cell activation and pathogenic T helper cell polarization.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Environmental pollutants are known to aggravate allergic diseases, but the molecular mechanisms by which polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) potentiate allergic airway inflammation remain poorly understood.

Objective

We investigated how BaP co-exposure modifies house dust mite (HDM)-driven allergic airway responses, focusing on the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in dendritic cells (DCs).

Methods

Mice were sensitized and challenged intranasally with HDM with or without BaP. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell counts, lung histopathology, and serum HDM-specific IgE were assessed. Cytokine production and epithelial alarmins were measured by ELISA. The role of NLRP3 was evaluated using Nlrp3^-/

SUBMITTER: Zou H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12672459 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature