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Zeng F, Pang G, Hu L, Sun Y, Peng W, Chen Y, Xu D, Xia Q, Zhao L, Li Y, He M. Subway Fine Particles (PM 2.5)-Induced Pro-Inflammatory Response Triggers Airway Epithelial Barrier Damage Through the TLRs/NF-κB-Dependent Pathway In Vitro. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39189708 DOI: 10.1002/tox.24403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
Subways are widely used in major cities around the world, and subway fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main source of daily PM2.5 exposure for urban residents. Exposure to subway PM2.5 leads to acute inflammatory damage in humans, which has been confirmed in mouse in vivo studies. However, the concrete mechanism by which subway PM2.5 causes airway damage remains obscure. In this study, we found that subway PM2.5 triggered release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 17E, tumor necrosis factor α, transforming growth factor β, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin from human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) in a dose-effect relationship. Subsequently, supernatant recovered from the subway PM2.5 group significantly increased expression of the aforementioned cytokines in BEAS-2B cells compared with the subway PM2.5 group. Additionally, tight junctions (TJs) of BEAS-2B cells including zonula occludens-1, E-cadherin, and occludin were decreased by subway PM2.5 in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, supernatant recovered from the subway PM2.5 group markedly decreased the expression of these TJs compared with the control group. Furthermore, inhibitors of toll-like receptors (TLRs) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), as well as chelate resins (e.g., chelex) and deferoxamine, remarkably ameliorated the observed changes of cytokines and TJs caused by subway PM2.5 in BEAS-2B cells. Therefore, these results suggest that subway PM2.5 induced a decline of TJs after an initial ascent of cytokine expression, and subway PM2.5 altered expression of both cytokines and TJs by activating TLRs/NF-κB-dependent pathway in BEAS-2B cells. The metal components of subway PM2.5 may contribute to the airway epithelial injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanmei Zeng
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Guanhua Pang
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Liwen Hu
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuan Sun
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Wen Peng
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuwei Chen
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Dan Xu
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Qing Xia
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Luwei Zhao
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yifei Li
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Miao He
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Damage Research and Assessment, Shenyang, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Stress and Chronic Disease Control & Prevention (China Medical University), Ministry of Education, Shenyang, China
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Watanabe H, Honda A, Ichinose T, Ishikawa R, Miyasaka N, Nagao M, Wang Z, Owokoniran OH, Qiu B, Higaki Y, Liu W, Okuda T, Matsuda T, Takano H. Ferruginous components of particulate matters in subway environments, α-Fe 2O 3 or Fe 3O 4, exacerbates allergies. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 355:124195. [PMID: 38776998 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The respiratory effects of particulate matter (PM) in subway station platforms or tunnels have attracted considerable research attention. However, no studies have characterized the effects of subway PM on allergic immune responses. In this study, iron oxide (α-Fe2O3 and Fe3O4) particles-the main components of subway PM-were intratracheally administered to BALB/c mice where ovalbumin (OVA) induced allergic pulmonary inflammation. Iron oxide particles enhanced OVA-induced eosinophil recruitment around the bronchi and mucus production from airway epithelium. The concentrations of type 2 cytokines, namely, interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-13, in bronchial alveolar lavage fluids were increased by iron oxide particles. Iron oxide particles also increased the number of type 2 innate lymphoid cells and CD86+ cells in the lung. Moreover, phagocytosis of particles in lung cells was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. In a subsequent in vitro study, bone marrow-derived antigen-presenting cells (APCs) isolated from NC/Nga mice were exposed to iron oxide particles and OVA. They were also exposed to outdoor ambient PM: Vehicle Exhaust Particulates (VEP) and Urban Aerosols (UA) as references. Iron oxide particles promoted the release of lactate dehydrogenase, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1 and IL-1α from APCs, which tended to be stronger than those of VEP. These results suggest that iron oxide particles enhance antigen presentation in the lungs, promoting allergic immune response in mice; iron oxide particles-induced death and inflammatory response of APCs can contribute to allergy exacerbation. Although iron oxide particles do not contain various compounds like VEP, iron oxide alone may have sufficient influence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hikari Watanabe
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Akiko Honda
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan.
| | - Takamichi Ichinose
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Raga Ishikawa
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Natsuko Miyasaka
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Megumi Nagao
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Zaoshi Wang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | | | - Binyang Qiu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yuya Higaki
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Okuda
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Kanagawa, 223-8522, Japan
| | - Tomonari Matsuda
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan; Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Kyoto University, Shiga, 520-0811, Japan
| | - Hirohisa Takano
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan; Institute for International Academic Research, Kyoto University of Advanced Science, Kyoto, 615-8577, Japan
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Huang S, Han M, Chen P, Feng W, Li G, Zhang H, Peng H, Huang T. Assessing health risks from bioaccessible PM 2.5-bound toxic metals in Nanchang metro: Implications for metro workers and emissions control. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 258:119284. [PMID: 38823618 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
High concentrations of PM2.5 with enriched levels of metallic constituents could significantly affect the health and comfort of metro employees. To avoid overestimating the exposure risks, we investigated the bioaccessibility of toxic metals (TMs) bound in PM2.5 from the Nanchang metro using Gamble's solution method, and qualitatively analyzed the impact of valence state and various sources on the bioaccessibility of TMs bound to PM2.5. The results showed that the bioaccessibility of the studied TMs ranged from 2.1% to 88.1%, with As, Ba, Co and Pb being the most bioaccessible and V, Fe and Cr being the less bioaccessible. The bioaccessibility of TMs in our subway PM2.5 samples varied based on their valence and species, showing higher valence states associated with increased bioaccessibility. Vehicle traffic, secondary aerosols and wheel/rail sources were found to be significantly and positively associated with the bioaccessibility of several TMs, implying a severe potential risk from these three sources. Although both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated with total TMs were found to be high, only As and Cr(VI) posed a considerable carcinogenic risk to metro workers based on the bioaccessible fractions and were therefore priority pollutants. In addition, potential carcinogenic risk was found to be more severe in platform than that in ticket counter. The results indicate that considerable efforts are required to control and manage PM2.5 and the associated TMs in the Nanchang subway, particularly from traffic, wheel/rail and secondary sources, to protect the health of metro staff and the public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Huang
- School of Resources and Environment, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Minglei Han
- School of Resources and Environment, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Peixian Chen
- School of Resources and Environment, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China; Jiangxi Jiujiang Ecological Environment Monitoring Center, Jiujiang, 332099, China
| | - Weiwei Feng
- School of Resources and Environment, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Guobo Li
- School of Resources and Environment, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Hongxiang Zhang
- School of Resources and Environment, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Honggen Peng
- School of Resources and Environment, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Ting Huang
- School of Resources and Environment, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
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Park EJ, Yang MJ, Kang MS, Jo YM, Yoon C, Lee Y, Kim DW, Lee GH, Kwon IH, Kim JB. Subchronic pulmonary toxicity of ambient particles containing cement production-related elements. Toxicol Rep 2023; 11:116-128. [PMID: 37520773 PMCID: PMC10372185 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2023.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic respiratory disease is among the most common non-communicable diseases, and particulate materials (PM) are a major risk factor. Meanwhile, evidence of the relationship between the physicochemical characteristics of PM and pulmonary toxicity mechanism is still limited. Here, we collected particles (CPM) from the air of a port city adjacent to a cement factory, and we found that the CPM contained various elements, including heavy metals (such as arsenic, thallium, barium, and zirconium) which are predicted to have originated from a cement plant adjacent to the sampling site. We also delivered the CPM intratracheally to mice for 13 weeks to investigate the pulmonary toxicity of inhaled CPM. CPM-induced chronic inflammatory lesions with an increased total number of cells in the lung of mice. Meanwhile, among inflammatory mediators measured in this study, levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, CXCL-1, and IFN-γ were elevated in the treated group compared with the controls. Considering that the alveolar macrophage (known as dust cell) is a professional phagocyte that is responsible for the clearance of PM from the respiratory surfaces, we also investigated cellular responses following exposure to CPM in MH-S cells, a mouse alveolar macrophage cell line. CPM inhibited cell proliferation and formed autophagosome-like vacuoles. Intracellular calcium accumulation and oxidative stress, and altered expression of pyrimidine metabolism- and olfactory transduction-related genes were observed in CPM-treated cells. More interestingly, type I-LC3B and full-length PARP proteins were not replenished in CPM-treated cells, and cell cycle changes, apoptotic and necrotic cell death, and caspase-3 cleavage were not significantly detected in cells exposed to CPM. Taken together, we conclude that dysfunction of alveolar macrophages may contribute to CPM-induced pulmonary inflammation. In addition, given the possible transformation of heart tissue observed in CPM-treated mice, we suggest that further study is needed to clarify the systemic pathological changes and the molecular mechanisms following chronic exposure to CPM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Jung Park
- College of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, 02447, Republic of Korea
- Human Health and Environmental Toxins Research Center, Kyung Hee University, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Jin Yang
- Jeonbuk Branch Institute, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Jeongup 56212, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Sung Kang
- Jeonbuk Branch Institute, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Jeongup 56212, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science and Technology, Graduate school, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Min Jo
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Global Campus, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheolho Yoon
- Ochang Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, Cheongju 28119, Republic of Korea
| | - Yunseo Lee
- College of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Wan Kim
- School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Gwang-Hee Lee
- School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Ik-Hwan Kwon
- Safety Measurement Institute, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Bae Kim
- School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Park EJ, Yang MJ, Kang MS, Jo YM, Yoon C, Kim HB, Kim DW, Lee GH, Kwon IH, Park HJ, Kim JB. Subway station dust-induced pulmonary inflammation may be due to the dysfunction of alveolar macrophages: Possible contribution of bound elements. Toxicology 2023; 496:153618. [PMID: 37611816 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2023.153618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
With its increasing value as a means of public transportation, the health effects of the air in subway stations have attracted public concern. In the current study, we investigated the pulmonary toxicity of dust collected from an air purifier installed on the platform of the busiest subway station in Seoul. We found that the dust contained various elements which are attributable to the facilities and equipment used to operate the subway system. Particularly, iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), zirconium (Zr), barium (Ba), and molybdenum (Mo) levels were more notable in comparison with those in dust collected from the ventilation chamber of a subway station. To explore the health effects of inhaled dust, we first instilled via the trachea in ICR mice for 13 weeks. The total number of pulmonary macrophages increased significantly with the dose, accompanying hematological changes. Dust-laden alveolar macrophages and inflammatory cells accumulated in the perivascular regions in the lungs of the treated mice, and pulmonary levels of CXCL-1, TNF-α, and TGF-β increased clearly compared with the control. The CCR5 and CD54 level expressed on BAL cell membranes was also enhanced following exposure to dust, whereas the CXCR2 level tended to decrease in the same samples. In addition, we treated the dust to alveolar macrophages (known as dust cells), lysosomal and mitochondrial function decreased, accompanied by cell death, and NO production was rapidly elevated with concentration. Moreover, the expression of autophagy- (p62) and anti-oxidant (SOD-2)-related proteins increased, and the expression of inflammation-related genes was dramatically up-regulated in the dust-treated cells. Therefore, we suggest that dysfunction of alveolar macrophages may importantly contribute to dust-induced inflammatory responses and that the exposure concentrations of Cr, Fe, Mo, Zr, and Ba should be considered carefully when assessing the health risks associated with subway dust. We also hypothesize that the bound elements may contribute to dust-induced macrophage dysfunction by inhibiting viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Jung Park
- College of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, 02447, Republic of Korea; Human Health and Environmental Toxins Research Center, Kyung Hee University, 02447, Republic of Korea.
| | - Mi-Jin Yang
- Jeonbuk Branch Institute, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Jeongup 56212, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Sung Kang
- Jeonbuk Branch Institute, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Jeongup 56212, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Science and Technology, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Min Jo
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Global Campus, Kyung Hee University, 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheolho Yoon
- Ochang Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, 28119, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Bin Kim
- College of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Wan Kim
- School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Gwang-Hee Lee
- School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Ik-Hwan Kwon
- Safety Measurement Institute, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Jin Park
- Jeonbuk Branch Institute, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Jeongup 56212, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Bae Kim
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung-Hee University Hospital, Kyung Hee University, 02447, Republic of Korea.
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Wang J, Xue R, Li C, Hu L, Li Q, Sun Y, Chen Y, Yuan W, Xia Q, Hu L, Wei Y, He M. Inhalation of subway fine particles induces murine extrapulmonary organs damage. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 878:163181. [PMID: 37001660 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Because of its speed and convenience, the subway has become the first choice for travel by many residents. However, the concentration of fine particles (PM2.5) in the air of a subway platform is higher than that of the ground level or carriage. Moreover, the composition and source of subway PM2.5 differ from those of atmospheric PM2.5. Currently, there is insufficient research on the impact of subway PM2.5 on health. In this study, intratracheally subway PM2.5-inoculated wild type (WT) and Rag1-/- mice, lacking functional T cells and B cells, were used to investigate the potential of subway PM2.5 exposure to cause extrapulmonary organ injuries. Subway PM2.5 increased inflammatory cells infiltration, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, as well as monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 gene and protein expression, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) induction, and Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2, TLR4, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), and nuclear factor (NF)-κB levels in liver, kidney, spleen, and thymus in a dose-dependent fashion in WT mice. Subway PM2.5 exposure resulted in slight macrophage (F4/80+) and neutrophil (Ly6G+) infiltration and caused no increase in the protein levels of TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1, or COX-2 in the liver, kidneys, spleen, and thymus of Rag1-/- mice. These results demonstrate a dose-response manner between subway PM2.5 exposure and inflammatory injuries of extrapulmonary organs, which could be related to the TLR/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. Subway PM2.5-induced extrapulmonary organ damage was dependent on T cells and B cells; this finding may provide insight for research on the mechanisms responsible for the health hazards posed by air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Wang
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Damage Research and Assessment, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Rou Xue
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Damage Research and Assessment, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Chao Li
- Division of Pneumoconiosis, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Liwen Hu
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qidian Li
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Damage Research and Assessment, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuan Sun
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Damage Research and Assessment, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuwei Chen
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Damage Research and Assessment, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Wenke Yuan
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Damage Research and Assessment, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Qing Xia
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Damage Research and Assessment, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Longji Hu
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Damage Research and Assessment, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuan Wei
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Damage Research and Assessment, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Miao He
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Damage Research and Assessment, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
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Staal YCM, Li Y, Gerber LS, Fokkens P, Cremers H, Cassee FR, Talhout R, Westerink RHS, Heusinkveld HJ. Neuromodulatory and neurotoxic effects of e-cigarette vapor using a realistic exposure method. Inhal Toxicol 2023; 35:76-85. [PMID: 36053669 DOI: 10.1080/08958378.2022.2118911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The most direct effects of inhaled harmful constituents are the effects on the airways. However, inhaled compounds can be rapidly absorbed and subsequently result in systemic effects. For example, e-cigarette vapor has been shown to evoke local effects in the lung, although little is known about subsequent effects in secondary target organs such as the brain. Traditionally, such effects are tested using in vivo models. As an alternative, we have combined two in vitro systems, which are Air-Liquid-Interface (ALI) cultured alveolar cells (A549) and rat primary cortical cultures grown on multi-well microelectrode arrays. This allows us to assess the neurological effects of inhaled compounds. We have used exposure to e-cigarette vapor, containing nicotine, menthol, or vanillin to test the model. Our results show that ALI cultured A549 cells respond to the exposure with the production of cytokines (IL8 and GROalpha). Furthermore, nicotine, menthol, and vanillin were found on the basolateral side of the cell culture, which indicates their translocation. Upon transfer of the basolateral medium to the primary cortical culture, exposure-related changes in spontaneous electrical activity were observed correlating with the presence of e-liquid components in the medium. These clear neuromodulatory effects demonstrate the feasibility of combining continuous exposure of ALI cultured cells with subsequent exposure of neuronal cells to assess neurotoxicity. Although further optimization steps are needed, such a combination of methods is important to assess the neurotoxic effects of inhaled compounds realistically. As such, an approach like this could play a role in future mechanism-based risk assessment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne C M Staal
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Yixuan Li
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Lora-Sophie Gerber
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Paul Fokkens
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Hans Cremers
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Flemming R Cassee
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Reinskje Talhout
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Remco H S Westerink
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Harm J Heusinkveld
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
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