The Role of Bacterial Endotoxins in Occupational Diseases Caused by Inhaling Vegetable Dusts

Pernis, B; Vigliani, E. C.; Cavagna, C.; Finulli, M

doi:10.1136/oem.18.2.120

Cited by 73 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…World War II prevented further development of the 'endotoxin hypothesis' which was then forgotten for many years. About 20 years later the hypothesis was revived by the Italian scientists Pernis et al [21] and Cavagna et al [22] who demonstrated by well-designed experiments the role of bacterial endotoxin in causing diseases due to exposure to cotton dust; however, without attributing this hypothesis to any species of Gram-negative bacteria. Cavagna [23], using biological tests in the skin of rabbits, quantified for the first time the 'endotoxin-like substances' in settled and airborne cotton dust.…”

Section: Dust-borne Endotoxins and Allergens Of Pantoea Agglomerans -mentioning

confidence: 99%

<i>Pantoea agglomerans</i>: a marvelous bacterium of evil and good. Part I. Deleterious effects: Dust-borne endotoxins and allergens – focus on cotton dust

Dutkiewicz¹,

Maćkiewicz²,

Lemieszek³

et al. 2015

Ann Agric Environ Med.

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The ubiquitous Gram-negative bacterium Pantoea agglomerans (synonyms: Enterobacter agglomerans, Erwinia herbicola) is known both as an epiphytic microbe developing on the surface of plants, and as an endophytic organism living inside the plants. The bacterium also occurs abundantly in plant and animal products, in the body of arthropods and other animals, in water, soil, dust and air, and occasionally in humans. From the human viewpoint, the role of this organism is ambiguous -both deleterious and beneficial: on one side it causes disorders in people exposed to inhalation of organic dusts and diseases of crops, and on the other it produces substances effective in the treatment of cancer and other diseases of humans and animals, suppresses the development of various plant pathogens, promotes plant growth, and appears as a potentially efficient biofertilizer and bioremediator. P. agglomerans has been identified as a predominant bacterium on cotton plants grown worldwide, usually as an epiphyte, rarely as pathogen. It is particularly numerous on cotton bract after senescence. During the processing of cotton in mills, bacteria and their products are released with cotton dust into the air and are inhaled by workers, causing respiratory and general disorders, usually defined as byssinosis. The most adverse substance is endotoxin, a heteropolymer macromolecule present in the outermost part of the cell wall, consisting of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a major constituent, phospholipids and protein. Numerous experiments carried out in last quarter of 20th century on laboratory animals and human volunteers supported convincing evidence that the inhaled endotoxin produced by P. agglomerans causes numerous pathologic effects similar to those elicited by cotton dust, such as the influx of free lung cells into airways and activation of alveolar macrophages which secrete mediators (prostaglandins, platelet-activating factor, interleukin-1, tumour necrosis factor) that cause the accumulation of platelets in pulmonary capillaries, initiating acute and chronic inflammation, resulting in endothelial cell damage and extravasation of cells and fluids into the lung interstitium. These changes cause bronchoconstriction, the decrement of lung function expressed as reduction of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) and/or diffusion capacity, increase in the airway hyper-reactivity and subjective symptoms such as fever, airway irritation and chest tightness. The conclusions from these experiments, performed mostly 20-30 years ago, did not loose their actuality until recently. This was because to-date no other cotton dust component had been identified as a more important work-related hazard than bacterial endotoxin. Although other microbial and plant constituents are also considered as potential causative agents of byssinosis, the endotoxin produced by Pantoea agglomerans and other Gram-negative bacteria present in cotton dust, is still regarded as a major cause of this mysterious disease. Key wordsPantoea agglomerans, end...

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Section: Dust-borne Endotoxins and Allergens Of Pantoea Agglomerans -mentioning

confidence: 99%

<i>Pantoea agglomerans</i>: a marvelous bacterium of evil and good. Part I. Deleterious effects: Dust-borne endotoxins and allergens – focus on cotton dust

Dutkiewicz¹,

Maćkiewicz²,

Lemieszek³

et al. 2015

Ann Agric Environ Med.

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“…Important work was done by Cavagna et al [1969] and Pernis et al [1961], but not until Cinkotai et al [ 19771 published their findings from an investigation in Lancashire cotton mills could a dose-response relationship be established between the number of airborne Gram-negative bacteria and the prevalence of one of the symptoms after cotton dusts exposure-subjective chest tightness-among workers in cotton mills.…”

Section: Bacterial Endotoxin Historical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of endotoxin for reactions after exposure to cotton dust

Rylander

1987

American J Industrial Med

121

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Gram-negative bacteria and their endotoxins are present on all parts of the cotton plant and occur in large numbers after rain or frost. Endotoxins activate pulmonary macrophages that in turn recruit neutrophils into the airways. Platelets accumulate in pulmonary capillaries. The presence of these cells allows for the initiation of acute and chronic inflammation. Dose-response relationships have been demonstrated between endotoxin and fever, chest tightness, and reduction in air flow (bronchoconstriction) in cotton workers. Limited data suggest that after cotton dust exposure, other symptoms, such as airway hyperreactivity and chronic inflammation, are also related to the endotoxin exposure. Tentative thresholds for airborne endotoxins are presented.

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“…Questioning a random sample of byssinotics who attend Manchester Pneumoconiosis Medical Panel revealed that 26% had suffered from mill fever on first starting work, but the prevalence could well have been higher because some of those questioned were elderly and could not remember what happened to them when they started work at age 12 to 14. The symptoms of mill fever could be the result of a reaction to endotoxin contaminating the dust [30]. It seems in our experience rarely to occur now.…”

Section: Other Diseases and Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 94%

What is Byssinosis? A Review1

Rooke¹

1981

Textile Research Journal

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The pattern of the disease we now know as byssinosis has been established over the years in medical literature. It is not the same as mill fever, mattress-maker's fever, or weaver's cough, which are caused by contaminated batches of fiber. It is distinguishable from bronchitis in its earlier stages, and some disabled byssinotics may never develop sputum. The pathological findings are not those of an extrinsic allergic alveolitis such as farmer's lung, and emphysema is not an invariable finding. It seems unlikely therefore that bacterial endotoxins or allergy play a part in the etiology of the disease. A direct pharmacological effect on the smooth muscle of the airways by water-soluble substances appears likely.Although a fall in FEV 1 over the first shift of the week may occur in a high proportion of byssinotics, it cannot be used as a diagnostic tool in individual cases. The diagnosis of byssinosis for compensation purposes is entirely dependent on the symptomatic history. Smoking certainly aggravates the effect of cotton dust.The proportion of those who develop the early grades of byssinosis and go on to disabling disease does not appear to be large when assessed from compensation cases..

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The Role of Bacterial Endotoxins in Occupational Diseases Caused by Inhaling Vegetable Dusts

Cited by 73 publications

References 14 publications

<i>Pantoea agglomerans</i>: a marvelous bacterium of evil and good. Part I. Deleterious effects: Dust-borne endotoxins and allergens – focus on cotton dust

<i>Pantoea agglomerans</i>: a marvelous bacterium of evil and good. Part I. Deleterious effects: Dust-borne endotoxins and allergens – focus on cotton dust

The role of endotoxin for reactions after exposure to cotton dust

What is Byssinosis? A Review1

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