Abstract
Background: Damp conditions indoors favour the growth of microorganisms, and these contain several agents that may cause inflammation when inhaled. Moulds contain a polyglucose in their cell wall, defined as (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan, exhibiting effects on inflammatory cells.Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether an inhalation challenge to purified (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan (grifolan) in humans could induce effects on inflammatory markers in blood, and to evaluate whether the reactions were related to the home exposure to (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan.Methods: Seventeen subjects in homes with high levels of airborne (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan (G-high) and 18 subjects in homes with low levels of (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan (G-low) underwent two randomised, double-blind inhalation challenges, one to (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan suspended in saline and one to saline alone. A blood sample was taken before and after the challenges, and differential cell count, granulocyte enzymes in serum and the secretion of cytokines from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were measured.Results: Inhalation challenge with (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan induced a decrease in the secretion of tumour necrosis factor α from endotoxin-stimulated PBMC in the G-high group as well as in the G-low group. In the G-high group, the inhalation of (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan induced an increase in blood lymphocytes that was significantly different from the saline-induced effect.Conclusions: The results suggest that an inhalation challenge to (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan has an effect on inflammatory cells and this effect may be related to a chronic exposure to moulds at home.
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