Indoor-related microbe damage induces complement system activation in building users

• Main Authors: Janne Atosuo, Outi Karhuvaara, Eetu Suominen, Liisa Vilén, Jari Nuutila, Tuula Putus
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2021-01-01
• Series: Innate Immunity
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/1753425920966641

In this comparative study, serum complement system antimicrobial activity was measured from 159 serum samples, taken from individuals from microbe-damaged (70 samples) and from reference buildings (89 samples). Antimicrobial activity was assessed using a probe-based bacterial Escherichia coli -lux bioluminescence system and comparison was made at a group level between the experimental and reference group. The complement activity was higher in users of microbe-damaged buildings compared with the reference group and the significant ( P  < 0.001) increase in activity was found in the classical reaction pathway. This study strengthens our notion that exposure to indoor-related microbe damage increases the risk for systemic subclinical inflammation and creates a health risk for building users.