Inflammatory potential of
the spores of Penicillium spinulosum isolated from indoor air of a
moisture-damaged building in mouse lungs
Juha Jussila, , a, Hannu
Komulainena, Veli-Matti Kosmab,
Jukka Pelkonenc, d and Maija-Riitta Hirvonena
a Laboratory of Toxicology,
Division of Environmental
Health, National Public Health Institute, P.O. Box 95, FIN-
70701, Kuopio, Finland
b Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, University
of Kuopio and Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 1627,
FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland
c Department of Clinical Microbiology, University of
Kuopio, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland
d Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kuopio University
Hospital, P.O. Box 1777, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland
Received 12 February 2002; revised
5 April 2002; accepted
8 April 2002. Available online 8 May 2002.
Abstract
Excess moisture and microbial growth have been associated
with adverse health effects, especially in the airways, of
the inhabitants of moisture-damaged buildings. The spores
of Penicillium spp. are commonly present in the indoor air,
both in moisture-damaged and in reference buildings, though
their numbers seem to be significantly higher in the
damaged buildings. To assess the potential of Penicillium
spinulosum to evoke harmful respiratory effects, mice were
exposed via intratracheal instillation to a single dose of
the spores of P. spinulosum, isolated from the indoor air
of a moisture-damaged building (1×105, 1×106, 5×106, 1×107
or 5×107 spores). Inflammation and toxicity in lungs were
evaluated 24 h later. The time-course of the effects was
investigated with the dose of 5×106 spores for 28 days. The
fungal spores caused mild transient inflammation. The spore
exposure transiently increased proinflammatory cytokine
(TNF and IL-6) levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
(BALF) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The highest
concentrations of both cytokines were measured at 6 h after
a single dosage. The spore exposure did not cause
expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in lavaged
cells. Neutrophils were acutely recruited into airways, but
the response leveled off in 3 days. Neither cytotoxicity
nor major changes in vascular permeability (i.e. increases
in albumin, total protein, lactate dehydrogenase or
hemoglobin levels in BALF) were observed in the lungs.
Considering the profile and magnitude of the changes and
the dose of the spores, we conclude that P. spinulosum has
a low potential to cause acute respiratory inflammation,
nor does it cause direct cytotoxicity.
Author Keywords: Penicillium
spinulosum; Inflammation;
Cytokine; Nitric oxide; Intratracheal instillation;
Bronchoalveolar lavage
Corresponding author. Tel.: +358-17-201320; fax: +358-17-
201265; email: juha.jussila@ktl.fi
Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology
Volume 12, Issue 3, October 2002, Pages 137-145
Copyright © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.