| Di-(2-ethylheyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a manufactured chemical that is commonly added to make them flexible. It can be easily found in many kinds of plastic products such as wall veils, table cloth, ceramic tile, furniture, curtain, garden hose, raincoat, toy, medical tube and blood storage bag et al. The exposure of DEHP can cause various adverse effects to human health. Different exposure pathway attributes to different adverse effects. Epidemiological studies have shown significant association between asthma prevalence and exposure to environmental chemicals. One of these chemicals is DEHP. Although some studies have investigated the association of DEHP exposure and asthma, the mechanisms are still unclear and controversial.In the present study, we used a modified acute mouse model to investigate the adjuvant effect of DEHP on the allergic asthma. BALB/c mice were randomly divided into eight groups:(1) saline control group, (2) OVA control group, (3) 30μg/(kg·d) DEHP exposure group, (4) 300μg/(kg·d) DEHP exposure group, (5) 3000μg/(kg·d) DEHP exposure group, (6) 30μg/(kg·d) DEHP exposure OVA-sensitized group, (7) 300μg/(kg·d) DEHP exposure OVA-sensitized group, (8) 3000μg/(kg·d) DEHP exposure OVA-sensitized group. Then lung function, lung histological observations, eosinophil count, IL4 levels, IFNγlevels and IgE levels were measured.The results indicated that 3000μg/(kg·d) DEHP exposure OVA immunized group showed significant changes compared with the saline control group and the OVA control group. Ri and Re of mouse were indicated to be significantly increased in the 3000μg/(kg·d) DEHP exposure OVA immunized group while pulmonary compliance were reduced (P<0.05), with the relevance that DEHP exposure can lead to airway hyperresponsiveness. The ratio of eosinophils to total cells, the IL4 level and the IgE level were all enhanced in this group. The concentration of IFNγshowed no changes compared to the control group. The balance of IL4/IFNγwas interfered and the immune response was turned to a Th2 type reaction. The OVA-IgE level in 300μg/(kg·d) DEHP and 3000μg/(kg·d) DEHP exposure OVA-sensitized group showed a slight increase compared with the saline control group, whereas no significant changes compared with OVA control group.From the recent experiment, it can be easily concluded that DEHP administered at the level of 3000μg/(kg·d) by gastric gavage play an adjuvant effect on allergic asthma in ovalbumin-immunized mouse models. |
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