Clara cells protein, prolactin and transcription factors of protein NF-ĸB and c-Jun/AP-1 levels in rats inhaled to stainless steel welding dust and its soluble form

OBJECTIVES: Welding processes that generate fumes containing toxic metals, such as hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), manganese, and nickel (Ni), have been implicated in lung injury, inflammation, and lung tumor promotion in animal models. Bronchiolar epithelium Clara cells/club cells, coordinate these inflammatory responses. Clara cells secretory protein (CC16) with ant-inflammatory role. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The pulmonary toxicity of welding dust (WD) was assessed for Wistar rats exposed to 60 mg/m3 of respirable-size welding dust (mean diameter 1.17 μm for 1 and 2 weeks (6 h/day, 5 days/week)) or the aerosols of soluble form (SWD) in the nose-only exposure chambers. Additionally the effect of antiinflammatory betaine supplementation was assessed. Clara cells secretory protein, differential cell counts, total protein concentrations and cellular enzyme (lactate dehydrogenase - LDH) activities were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and corticosterone and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and prolactin concentrations were assessed in serum. Histopathology examination of lung, brain, liver, kidney, spleen was done. Additionally slices of brain and lung were exanimated in laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Both WD and SWD exposure evoked large bronchiolar infiltration shoved in histopathology examination. In this study, TBARS inversely correlated with a significant decrease of CC16 concentration that occurred after instillation of both WD and SWD indicating decreased anti- inflammatory potential in the lung. In WD exposed rats prolactin correlated with nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), LDH, TBARS and serum levels Cr, Ni and inversely with c-Jun. In SWD exposed rats prolactin correlated with CC16 indicated effect of prolactin on the population of epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: In the current study, deleterious effects of repeated inhalation stainless steel welding dust form on club (Clara) cell secretory protein (CC16) were demonstrated. Clara cells secretory protein relation with prolactin in exposed rats to welding dust were shown and explored whether the NF-κB and c-Jun/activator protein 1 related pathway was involved. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(5):613-632.