Indoor microbial exposure increases complement component C3a and C-reactive protein concentrations in serum
Outi Karhuvaara,
Liisa Vilén,
Jari Nuutila,
Tuula Putus,
Janne Atosuo
Affiliations
Outi Karhuvaara
The Laboratory of Immunochemistry, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Environmental Medicine and Occupational Health, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Corresponding author. The Laboratory of Immunochemistry, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Liisa Vilén
Environmental Medicine and Occupational Health, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
Jari Nuutila
The Laboratory of Immunochemistry, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
Tuula Putus
Environmental Medicine and Occupational Health, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
Janne Atosuo
The Laboratory of Immunochemistry, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Environmental Medicine and Occupational Health, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
Indoor exposure to microbial growth, caused by moisture damage, has been an established health risk for several decades. It is likely that a damp indoor environment contains biological pollutants that trigger both the innate and adaptive branches of the immune system.In this study, we investigated the association between moisture damage related microbial exposure and serum C3a, C5a and CRP concentrations in Finnish adults.Serum C3a and CRP concentrations were elevated in individuals exposed to moisture damage and microbial growth in an indoor air environment. The elevated concentrations may be due to environmental factors present in moisture-damaged buildings. Complement activation and the resulting proinflammatory cleavage products may be a driving factor in inflammatory responses following exposure to indoor moisture damage and related microbial growth. Editor highlights: • Individuals with long term exposure indoor mold exhibit elevated concentrations of C-reactive protein. • Complement activation product C3a concentrations are higher on average in exposed individuals. • Findings corroborate previous observations, where indoor mold exposure was found to activate complement classical pathway.
