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Proinflammatory mediators measured in cell lines exposed to indoor bacteria and fungal spores

In mouse and human cell lines, a gram-negative bacterium isolated indoors produced stronger inflammatory mediator responses than the indoor fungi tested alongside it.

How to read this

This library reports what studies found. An entry describes a study's design, its findings in its own terms, and its limits. Nothing here is a claim about what a Sage Co. home does, delivers, or prevents.

Last reviewed August 30, 2026.

What they studied

  • Three bacterial and three fungal species isolated from indoor environments.
  • Exposure of mouse macrophage and human cell lines to each organism.
  • Measurement of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1beta production.

What they found

  • Pseudomonas fluorescens was reported as the strongest inducer of the measured cytokines.
  • Its measured responses exceeded those from Stachybotrys chartarum and Aspergillus versicolor in these assays.
  • Response magnitude was reported to vary by organism and cell line.

What this study does not establish

  • Cell-line assays, not intact airways or occupied buildings.
  • Exposure doses were experimental, not measured indoor concentrations.
  • Cytokine production is not a clinical outcome.
  • This entry reports the study. It is not a statement about any building Sage Co. designs or constructs.

Source

Huttunen K, Hyvärinen A, Nevalainen A, Komulainen H, Hirvonen M-R (2003). Production of proinflammatory mediators by indoor air bacteria and fungal spores in mouse and human cell lines. Environmental Health Perspectives 111(1):85–92.

endotoxinbacteriain vitroinflammation