Allethrin and prallethrin stimulates MUC5AC expression through oxidative stress in human airway epithelial cells

Pyrethroids, including allethrin and prallethrin, have been widely used as major components of the common commercial insecticides. The toxicity of allethrin and prallethrin were well established that it interfered with the way that the nerves and brain function. However, limited information was available regarding respiratory effects in humans following inhalation exposure to allethrin and prallethrin. Therefore, we demonstrated effect of allethrin and prallethrin, and the mechanism involved, on the mucin expressions in human airway epithelial cells. In human airway NCI-H292 epithelial cells, the effects of allethrin and prallethrin and its signaling pathway for airway mucin, especially MUC5AC, were investigated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real-time PCR, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mechanism of allethrin and prallethrin-induced MUC5AC expression in airway epithelial cells was studied in terms of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by flow cytometry analysis. Allethrin and prallethrin significant increased MUC5AC expression in human airway NCI-H292 epithelial cells. We also demonstrated allethrin and prallethrin induced a marked rise of ROS production. In addition, NAC (ROS scavenger) and DPI (NADPH oxidase inhibitor) inhibited allethrin and prallethrin-induced MUC5AC expression. These results are first to describe that allethrin and prallethrin-induced MUC5AC expression through ROS in human airway epithelial cells.