Abstract
AIM: This study aimed to predict the potential inflammation in lungs caused by exposure to methyl methacrylate (MMA; in silico study) and assess inflammation in lungs in response to MMA inhalation in mice (in vivo study). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In silico and in vivo studies were performed using 24 mice divided into a control group (0 ppm MMA) and five treatment groups, which were exposed to 150 ppm MMA for 40, 80, 120, 160, and 200 min, respectively. Lung tissues were harvested and examined with a light microscope at 400×. RESULTS: In silico studies confirmed the existence of one activation bond between MMA and the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4), namely, His 228, with a MolDock score of -43.677 kcal/mol. Microscopic examination of lungs confirmed that a greater number of inflammatory cells were found in the treatment group than in the control group and symptoms of inflammation were clearly observable after 120 min of exposure. CONCLUSION: Thus, inflammation occurring due to MMA interaction with TLR-4 receptors can be predicted in silico and exposure to 150 ppm MMA for more than 120 min can cause lung inflammation in mice.