Diisocyanates are a group of highly reactive, widely used low molecular weight chemicals, and are the most commonly reported cause of occupational asthma in developed countries. Yet, the mechanisms by which diisocyanate-induced asthma and those at risk. It has been theorized that reactive diisocyanates act as low-molecular weight haptens that trigger human T-cell responses. However, considerable uncertainty exists regarding the natural """"""""carrier"""""""" proteins for diisocyanate in vivo and the putative T-cells central to eliciting asthma- related airway inflammation following exposure. We hypothesize that diisocyanates bind to specific proteins in human airways including, albumin and keratin-18, and that these diisocyanate asthmatics and exposed non-asthmatic workers manifest distinct T-cell responses to diisocyanate-conjugated protein antigens that will aid in understanding the pathogenesis of diisocyanate asthma and identifying these subjects. To test these hypotheses we will:
(AIM 1) Further characterize biologically relevant diisocyanate-protein complexes that result following the exposure of normal human airway tissues and proteins, (AIM 2). Evaluate diisocyanate antigenicity at the T-cell based on in vitro responses t specific diisocyanate-protein conjugates, and (AIM 3) Determine the roles of different T cell subsets (i.e. CD4+, CD8+, alpha/beta, gamma/beta) in the pathogenetic immune response to diisocyanate-conjugated proteins, through in vitro studies with T cells derived from airway biopsies and peripheral blood of diisocyanate asthmatic and exposed control subjects. These studies build upon our previous work that has identified novel diisocyanate-protein conjugates that occur in vivo and has generated antigen-specific T-cell lines from human airway endobronchial biopsy samples. The experiments will utilize peripheral blood; bronchial lavage and airway biopsy samples from a well-defined population of diisocyanate asthmatic and control subjects enrolled in ongoing studies at the Yale School of Medicine. Together the results should provide significant insights into the pathogenesis of diisocyanate asthma.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL062622-05
Application #
6624135
Study Section
Lung Biology and Pathology Study Section (LBPA)
Program Officer
Ortega, Hector
Project Start
1999-01-01
Project End
2006-04-30
Budget Start
2003-05-01
Budget End
2004-04-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$245,250
Indirect Cost
Name
Yale University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
043207562
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06520
Wisnewski, Adam V; Xu, Lan; Robinson, Eve et al. (2011) Immune sensitization to methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) resulting from skin exposure: albumin as a carrier protein connecting skin exposure to subsequent respiratory responses. J Occup Med Toxicol 6:6
Wisnewski, A V; Liu, Q; Liu, J et al. (2008) Human innate immune responses to hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and HDI-albumin conjugates. Clin Exp Allergy 38:957-67
Pronk, Anjoeka; Preller, Liesbeth; Raulf-Heimsoth, Monika et al. (2007) Respiratory symptoms, sensitization, and exposure response relationships in spray painters exposed to isocyanates. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 176:1090-7
Campo, P; Wisnewski, A V; Lummus, Z et al. (2007) Diisocyanate conjugate and immunoassay characteristics influence detection of specific antibodies in HDI-exposed workers. Clin Exp Allergy 37:1095-102
Wisnewski, Adam V (2007) Developments in laboratory diagnostics for isocyanate asthma. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 7:138-45
Ye, Young-Min; Kim, Cheol-Woo; Kim, Hyung-Ryul et al. (2006) Biophysical determinants of toluene diisocyanate antigenicity associated with exposure and asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 118:885-91
Wisnewski, A V; Liu, Q; Liu, J et al. (2005) Glutathione protects human airway proteins and epithelial cells from isocyanates. Clin Exp Allergy 35:352-7
Wisnewski, Adam V; Stowe, Meredith H; Cartier, Andre et al. (2004) Isocyanate vapor-induced antigenicity of human albumin. J Allergy Clin Immunol 113:1178-84
Liu, Qing; Wisnewski, Adam V (2003) Recent developments in diisocyanate asthma. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 90:35-41
Herrick, Christina A; Das, Jyoti; Xu, Lan et al. (2003) Differential roles for CD4 and CD8 T cells after diisocyanate sensitization: genetic control of TH2-induced lung inflammation. J Allergy Clin Immunol 111:1087-94

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