Protein profiles of nasal lavage fluid from individuals with work-related upper airway symptoms associated with moldy and damp buildings.

Upper airway irritation is common among individuals working in moldy and damp buildings. The aim of this study was to investigate effects on the protein composition of the nasal lining fluid. The prevalence of symptoms in relation to work environment was examined in 37 individuals working in two damp buildings. Microbial growth was confirmed in one of the buildings. Nasal lavage fluid was collected from 29 of the exposed subjects and 13 controls, not working in a damp building. Protein profiles were investigated with a proteomic approach and evaluated by multivariate statistical models. Subjects from both workplaces reported upper airway and ocular symptoms. Based on protein profiles, symptomatic subjects in the two workplaces were discriminated from each other and separated from healthy controls. The groups differed in proteins involved in inflammation and host defense. Measurements of innate immunity proteins showed a significant increase in protein S100-A8 and decrease in SPLUNC1 in subjects from one workplace, while alpha-1-antitrypsin was elevated in subjects from the other workplace, compared with healthy controls. The results show that protein profiles in nasal lavage fluid can be used to monitor airway mucosal effects in personnel working in damp buildings and indicate that the profile may be separated when the dampness is associated with the presence of molds.

Association of sick building syndrome with neuropathy target esterase (NTE) activity in Japanese.

Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a set of several clinically recognizable symptoms reported by occupants of a building without a clear cause. Neuropathy target esterase (NTE) is a membrane bound serine esterase and its reaction with organophosphates (OPs) can lead to OP-induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN) and nerve axon degeneration. The aim of our study was to determine whether there was a difference in NTE activity in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of Japanese patients with SBS and healthy controls and whether PNPLA6 (alias NTE) gene polymorphisms were associated with SBS. We found that the enzymatic activity of NTE was significantly higher (P < 0.0005) in SBS patients compared with controls. Moreover, population with an AA genotype of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs480208, in intron 21 of the PNPLA6 gene strongly reduced the activity of NTE. Fifty-eight SNP markers within the PNPLA6 gene were tested for association in a case-control study of 188 affected individuals and 401 age-matched controls. Only one SNP, rs480208, was statistically different in genotype distribution (P = 0.005) and allele frequency (P = 0.006) between the cases and controls (uncorrected for testing multiple SNP sites), but these were not significant by multiple corrections. The findings of the association between the enzymatic activity of NTE and SBS in Japanese show for the first time that NTE activity might be involved with SBS.

Influence of various growth parameters on fungal growth and volatile metabolite production by indoor molds.

A Penicillium polonicum, an Aspergillus ustus and a Periconia britannica strain were isolated from water-damaged environments and the production of microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) was investigated by means of headspace solid-phase microextraction followed by GC-MS analysis. The most important MVOCs produced were 2-methylisoborneol, geosmin and daucane-type sesquiterpenes for P. polonicum, 1-octen-3-ol, 3-octanone, germacrene D, δ-cadinene and other sesquiterpenes for A. ustus and the volatile mycotoxin precursor aristolochene together with valencene, α-selinene and ß-selinene for P. britannica. Different growth conditions (substrate, temperature, relative humidity) were selected, resembling indoor parameters, to investigate their influence on fungal metabolism in relation with the sick building syndrome and the results were compared with two other fungal strains previously analyzed under the same conditions. In general, the range of MVOCs and the emitted quantities were larger on malt extract agar than on wallpaper and plasterboard, but, overall, the main MVOC profile was conserved also on the two building materials tested. The influence of temperature and relative humidity on growth and metabolism is different for different fungal species, and two main patterns of behavior could be distinguished. Results show that, even at suboptimal conditions for growth, production of fungal volatiles can be significant.

Oxidative stress associated with indoor air pollution and sick building syndrome-related symptoms among office workers in Taiwan.

This study investigated whether sick building syndrome (SBS) complaints and indoor air pollution for office workers are associated with oxidative stress indicated by urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). With informed consent, 389 employees in 87 government offices of 8 high-rise buildings in Taipei city completed self-reported questionnaires on SBS complaints at work in the past month. Urinary 8-OHdG was determined for each study participant and on-site air pollutants were measured for each office in both indoor and outdoor air. The results showed that urinary 8-OHdG had significant associations with volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide levels in offices, and with urinary cotinine levels. The mean urinary 8-OHdG level was also significantly higher in participants with SBS symptoms than in those without such complaints (6.16 vs. 5.45 mug/g creatinine, p = .047). The mean 8-OHdG increased as the number of SBS symptoms increased. The multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that the adjusted odds ratios (OR) in relation to micrograms per gram creatinine increase in 8-OHdG were statistically significant for eye dryness (1.12), upper respiratory syndrome (1.17) with particularly nose itching (1.25), sneezing (1.51), dry throat (1.21), skin dryness (1.31), and dizziness (1.19). This study indicates that the 8-OHdG level was significantly associated with SBS complaints after controlling for air pollution and smoking. Whether the 8-OHdG can be used as an effective predictor for SBS symptoms deserves further study.

The vanilloid receptor as a putative target of diverse chemicals in multiple chemical sensitivity.

The vanilloid receptor (TRPV1 or VR1), widely distributed in the central and peripheral nervous system, is activated by a broad range of chemicals similar to those implicated in Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) Syndrome. The vanilloid receptor is reportedly hyperresponsive in MCS and can increase nitric oxide levels and stimulate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activity, both of which are important features in the previously proposed central role of nitric oxide and NMDA receptors in MCS. Vanilloid receptor activity is markedly altered by multiple mechanisms, possibly providing an explanation for the increased activity in MCS and symptom masking by previous chemical exposure. Activation of this receptor by certain mycotoxins may account for some cases of sick building syndrome, a frequent precursor of MCS. Twelve types of evidence implicate the vanilloid receptor as the major target of chemicals, including volatile organic solvents (but not pesticides) in MCS.