Exposure to welding fumes and lower airway infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Welders are at increased risk of pneumococcal pneumonia. The mechanism for this association is not known. The capacity of pneumococci to adhere to and infect lower airway cells is mediated by host-expressed platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR).

Objective

We sought to assess the effect of mild steel welding fumes (MS-WF) on PAFR-dependent pneumococcal adhesion and infection to human airway cells in vitro and on pneumococcal airway infection in a mouse model.

Methods

The oxidative potential of MS-WF was assessed by their capacity to reduce antioxidants in vitro. Pneumococcal adhesion and infection of A549, BEAS-2B, and primary human bronchial airway cells were assessed by means of quantitative bacterial culture and expressed as colony-forming units (CFU

SUBMITTER: Suri R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4747856 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature