House dust induces IL-6 and IL-8 response in A549 epithelial cells

The in vitro potency of house dust to induce cytokine response in A549 lung epithelial cells was studied. Dusts collected from carpet, bed, shelf and floor of a villa and an apartment by vacuuming were found to trigger the pr oduction of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in a dose-depende nt manner, and the interleukin production was several-fold higher than of s wine dust (used as a positive control). The IL-8 and IL-6 production of pur e Escherichia coil lipopolysaccharide was significantly lower than of the d usts and a peptidoglycan-polysaccharide complex did not show any stimulator y effect at all. The lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan contents of the s amples were determined by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analy sis of, respectively, 3-hydroxy fatty acids and muramic acid; in addition, ergosterol was monitored for fungal biomass. The inflammatory properties of house dust upon inhalation may be reflected in its high potency to induce cytokine response in lung epithelial cells.