The microbial exposure associated with health complaints in moldy houses consists of a heterogeneous group of components, including both living and dead bacteria, fungi, and their metabolites and active compounds. However, little is known about the interactions between different microbes and their metabolites, although the cytotoxicity and inflammatory potential of certain individual microbes have been reported. In this study, we investigated the inflammatory responses of mouse RAW264.7 macrophages after exposure to six indoor air microbes (Aspergillus versicolor, Penicillium spinulosum, Stachybotrys chartarum, Bacillus cereus, Mycobacterium terrae, and Pseudomonas fluorescens) alone and together with the actinomycete Streptomyces californicus. The production of nitric oxide, levels of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and cytotoxicity were measured. The coexposure to Sta. chartarum and Str. californicus caused a synergistic increase in the production of IL-6 but not other cytokines. In further experiments, the metabolites from Sta. chartarum or from closely related fungi (atranones B and E, satratoxin G, trichodermin, 7-α-hydroxytrichodermol, staplabin, and SMTP-7) and the known fungal toxins sterigmatocystin, citrinin, and ochratoxin A were each tested with Str. californicus. The testing revealed a synergistic response in TNF-α and IL-6 production after coexposure to Str. californicus with both trichodermin and 7-α-hydroxytrichodermol. Finally, the synergistic inflammatory response caused by Str. californicus and trichodermin together was studied by analyzing for the presence of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in nuclear extracts of the exposed cells. The exposure to Str. californicus induced the binding of NF-κB proteins to the NF-κB consensus sequence as well as to the natural NF-κB site of the IL-6 promoter. Adding trichodermin to the exposure did not increase the DNA binding.

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Microbial growth in moisture-damaged buildings has been associated with respiratory health effects, and the spores of the mycotoxin producing fungus Aspergillus versicolor are frequently present in the indoor air. To characterize the potential of these spores to cause harmful respiratory effects, mice were exposed via intratracheal instillation to a single dose of the spores of A. versicolor (1 x 10(5), 1 x 10(6), 5 x 10(6), 1 x 10(7), or 1 x 10(8) spores), isolated from the indoor air of a moisture-damaged building. Inflammation and toxicity in lungs were evaluated 24 h later by assessment of biochemical markers and histopathology. The time course of the effects was investigated with the dose of 5 x 10(6) spores for up to 28 days. The exposure to the spores increased transiently proinflammatory cytokine levels (tumor necrosis factor [TNF] alpha and interleukin [IL]-6) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The cytokine responses were dose and time dependent. The highest cytokine concentrations were measured at 6 h after the dose, and they returned to the control level by 3 days. Moreover, the spores of A. versicolor recruited inflammatory cells into airways: Neutrophils peaked transiently at 24 h, macrophages at 3 days, and lymphocytes at 7 days after the dosing. The inflammatory cell response did not completely disappear during the subsequent 28 days, though no histopathological changes were seen at that time point. The spores did not induce expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in lavaged cells. Only the highest spore dose (1 x 10(8)) markedly increased serum IL-6, increased vascular leakage, and caused cytotoxicity (i.e., increased levels of albumin, total protein, lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], and hemoglobin in BALF) in the airways. In summary, the spores of A. versicolor caused acute inflammation in mouse lungs. This indicates that they have potential to provoke adverse health effects in the occupants of moisture-damaged buildings.

Microbial growth in moisture-damaged buildings is associated with respiratory and other symptoms in the occupants. Streptomyces spp. are frequently isolated from such buildings. In the present study, we evaluated the responses of mice after repeated exposure to spores of Streptomyces californicus. Mice were exposed via intratracheal instillation to six doses (at 7-day intervals) of the spores of S. californicus, originally isolated from the indoor air of a moisture-damaged building, at three dose levels (2 ؋ 10 3 , 2 ؋ 10 5 , and 2 ؋ 10 7 spores). Inflammation and toxicity, including changes in cell populations in the lungs, lymph nodes, and spleen, were evaluated 24 h after the last dosage. The exposure provoked a dose-dependent inflammatory cell response, as detected by the intense recruitment of neutrophils, but the numbers of macrophages and lymphocytes in the airways also increased. The cellular responses corresponded to the dose-dependent increases in inflammationand cytotoxicity-associated biochemical markers (i.e., levels of albumin, total protein, and lactate dehydrogenase) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The spore exposure increased the number of both activated and nonactivated T lymphocytes. Also, the amounts of CD3 ؊ CD4 ؊ and unconventional CD3 ؊ CD4 ؉ lymphocytes in the lung tissue were augmented. Interestingly, the spore exposure decreased cells in the spleen. This effect was strongest at the dose of 2 ؋ 10 5 spores. These results indicate that the spores of S. californicus are capable of provoking both immunostimulation in lungs (inflammation) and systemic immunotoxicity, especially in the spleen. The immunotoxic effect resembled that caused by chemotherapeutic agents, originally isolated from Streptomyces spp. Thus, S. californicus must be considered a microbial species with potential to cause systemic adverse health effects in occupants of moisture-damaged buildings.Microbial growth subsequent to moisture damage in buildings has been connected to increased adverse respiratory and other harmful health effects (7,32,33,37,38,44). Increased numbers of microbial spores are present in the indoor air of moisture-damaged buildings (15,16,27). Moreover, several of the microbial species that are frequently detected in moisturedamaged buildings are rarely observed in reference buildings (34). The spores are inhaled deeply into the lungs due to their relatively small particle size (23). Since the spores may also deliver nonvolatile microbial toxins into the lungs (36), they presumably play a role in provoking adverse health effects.Streptomyces californicus is a sporulating gram-positive bacterium that is used as a moisture indicator and that is frequently isolated from the indoor air of moisture-damaged buildings (27,34). Streptomycetes have the genetic capability to produce many bioactive secondary metabolites, such as antibiotics, immunosuppressive agents, antitumor substances, and inhibitors of Ca 2ϩ -and calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases, which are important enzymes involved ...

Occupants in moisture-damaged buildings suffer frequently from respiratory symptoms. This may be partly due to the presence of abnormal microbial growth or the altered microbial flora in the damaged buildings. However, the specific effects of the microbes on respiratory health and the way they provoke clinical manifestations are poorly understood. In the present study, we exposed mice via intratracheal instillation to a single dose of Mycobacterium terrae isolated from the indoor air of a moisture-damaged building (1 X 10(7), 5 X 10(7), or 1 X 10(8) microbes). Inflammation and toxicity in lungs were evaluated 2 hr later. The time course of the effects was assessed with the dose of 1 X 10(8) bacterial cells for up to 28 days. M. terrae caused a sustained biphasic inflammation in mouse lungs. The characteristic features for the first phase, which lasted from 6 hr to 3 days, were elevated proinflammatory cytokine [i.e., tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)] levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). TNF-alpha was produced in the lungs more intensively than was IL-6. Neutrophils were the most abundant cells in the airways during the first phase, although their numbers in BALF remained elevated up to 21 days. The characteristics of the second phase, which lasted from 7 to 28 days, were elevated TNF-alpha levels in BALF, expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in BAL cells, and recruitment of mononuclear cells such as lymphocytes and macrophages into the airways. Moreover, total protein, albumin, and lactate dehydrogenase concentrations were elevated in both phases in BALF. The bacteria were detected in lungs up to 28 days. In summary, these observations indicate that M. terrae is capable of provoking a sustained, biphasic inflammation in mouse lungs and can cause a moderate degree of cytotoxicity. Thus, M. terrae can be considered a species with potential to adversely affect the health of the occupants of moisture-damaged buildings.