Taiwo O Womiloju

Publications (2)5.61 Total impact

• Article: Comparison of inflammatory responses in mouse lungs exposed to atranones A and C from Stachybotrys chartarum.

  Thomas G Rand, J Flemming, J David Miller, Taiwo O Womiloju
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: Stachybotrys chartarum isolates can be separated into two distinct chemotypes based on the toxins they produce. One chemotype produces macrocyclic trichothecenes; the other produces atranones (and sometimes simple trichothecenes, e.g., trichodermol and trichodermin). Studies using in vivo models of lung disease revealed that exposure to spores of the atranone producing S. chartarum isolates led to a variety of immunotoxic, inflammatory, and other pathological changes. However, it is unclear from these studies what role the pure atranone toxins sequestered in spores of these isolates exert on lung disease onset. This study examined dose-response (0.2, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, or 20 microg atranone/animal) and time-course (3, 6, 24, and 48 h postinstillation [PI]) relationships associated with inflammatory cell and proinflammatory chemokine/cytokine responses in mouse lungs intratracheally instilled with two pure atranones (either A or C) isolated from S. chartarum. High doses (2.0 to 20 microg toxin/animal) of atranone A and C induced significant inflammatory responses manifested as differentially elevated macrophage, neutrophil, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin (IL)-6 concentrations in the bronchioalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of intratracheally exposed mice. Compared to controls, BALF macrophage and neutrophil numbers were increased to significant levels from 6 to 48 h (PI). Except for macrophage numbers in atranone A treatment animals, cells exhibited significant dose dependent-like responses. The chemokine/cytokine marker responses were significantly and dose-dependently increased from 3 to 24 h PI and declined to nonsignificant levels at 48 h PI. The results suggest not only that atranones are inflammatory but also that they exhibit different inflammatory potency with different toxicokinetics. Data also suggest that exposure to these toxins in spores of S. chartarum in contaminated building environments could contribute to inflammatory lung disease onset in susceptible individuals.
  Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part A 08/2006; 69(13):1239-51. · 1.83 Impact Factor
• Article: Phospholipids from some common fungi associated with damp building materials.

  Taiwo O Womiloju, J David Miller, Paul Mayer
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: Methods for the analysis of fungal biomass in contaminated building materials have been limited to methods that use viable propagules as well as indicators of total biomass such as fungal glucan and ergosterol. Because of large differences in the survival times of spores, and limitations imposed by the use of agar media to assess fungal cells for the former approach, no quantitative information and poor qualitative information is obtained. The use of the biochemical indicators provides reliable quantitative information but no qualitative data. Analysis of phospholipids of various bacteria and, recently, of fungi common in outdoor air has provided both qualitative and quantitative data on their distributions in various substrates including in outdoor air samples. In this report, we provide new data on the signature lipids of some fungi common on moldy building materials. Using the LC/MS/MS analysis described, an estimate can be made of the fresh weight of fungal cells and the relative abundance of the common genera of fungi typically found on moldy materials.
  Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 03/2006; 384(4):972-9. · 3.78 Impact Factor