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



: Atosuo Janne, Karhuvaara Outi, Suominen Eetu, Vilén Liisa, Nuutila Jari, Putus Tuula

: 2021

: Innate Immunity

: Innate immunity

: Innate Immun

: 27

: 1

: 15

: 22

: 8

: 1753-4259

: 1753-4267

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1753425920966641

: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/51100543


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.

Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 23:11