Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Interaction Of Cd14 Haplotypes And Soluble Cd14 On Pulmonary Function In Agricultural Workers., Tricia D. Levan, Lynette M. Smith, Art J. Heires, Ted R. Mikuls, Jane L. Meza, Lisa A. Weissenburger-Moser, Debra J. Romberger

Journal Articles: Internal Medicine

BACKGROUND: Agricultural environments are contaminated with organic dusts containing bacterial components. Chronic inhalation of organic dusts is implicated in respiratory diseases. CD14 is a critical receptor for gram-negative lipopolysaccharide; however, its association with respiratory disease among agricultural workers is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine if serum soluble CD14 (sCD14) levels are associated with lung function among agricultural workers and if this association is modified by genetic variants in CD14.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 584 veterans with >2 years of farming experience and that were between the ages of 40 and 80 years. Participants underwent spirometry …

A Role For B Cells In Organic Dust Induced Lung Inflammation, Jill A. Poole, Ted R. Mikuls, Michael J. Duryee, Kristi J. Warren, Todd A. Wyatt, Amy J. Nelson, Debra J. Romberger, William W. West, Geoffrey M. Thiele

Journal Articles: Internal Medicine

BACKGROUND: Agriculture organic dust exposures induce lung disease with lymphoid aggregates comprised of both T and B cells. The precise role of B cells in mediating lung inflammation is unknown, yet might be relevant given the emerging role of B cells in obstructive pulmonary disease and associated autoimmunity.

METHODS: Using an established animal model, C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and B-cell receptor (BCR) knock-out (KO) mice were repetitively treated with intranasal inhalation of swine confinement organic dust extract (ODE) daily for 3 weeks and lavage fluid, lung tissues, and serum were collected.

RESULTS: ODE-induced neutrophil influx in lavage fluid was not reduced …