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Bayram H, Konyalilar N, Elci MA, Rajabi H, Aksoy GT, Mortazavi D, Kayalar Ö, Dikensoy Ö, Taborda-Barata L, Viegi G. Issue 4 - Impact of air pollution on COVID-19 mortality and morbidity: An epidemiological and mechanistic review. Pulmonology 2025; 31:2416829. [PMID: 38755091 DOI: 10.1016/j.pulmoe.2024.04.005] [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: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Air pollution is a major global environment and health concern. Recent studies have suggested an association between air pollution and COVID-19 mortality and morbidity. In this context, a close association between increased levels of air pollutants such as particulate matter ≤2.5 to 10 µM, ozone and nitrogen dioxide and SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospital admissions and mortality due to COVID 19 has been reported. Air pollutants can make individuals more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection by inducing the expression of proteins such as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)2 and transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2) that are required for viral entry into the host cell, while causing impairment in the host defence system by damaging the epithelial barrier, muco-ciliary clearance, inhibiting the antiviral response and causing immune dysregulation. The aim of this review is to report the epidemiological evidence on impact of air pollutants on COVID 19 in an up-to-date manner, as well as to provide insights on in vivo and in vitro mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Bayram
- Koç University Research Centre for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Koç University, Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nur Konyalilar
- Koç University Research Centre for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Hadi Rajabi
- Koç University Research Centre for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - G Tuşe Aksoy
- Koç University Research Centre for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Deniz Mortazavi
- Koç University Research Centre for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Özgecan Kayalar
- Koç University Research Centre for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Öner Dikensoy
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Koç University, Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Luis Taborda-Barata
- UBIAir - Clinical and Experimental Lung Centre UBIMedical, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
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Heibati B, Renz H, Lacy P. Wildfire and wood smoke effects on human airway epithelial cells: A scoping review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2025; 272:121153. [PMID: 39986423 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.121153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2024] [Revised: 01/29/2025] [Accepted: 02/16/2025] [Indexed: 02/24/2025]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wildfires, which occur naturally but are increasingly intensified by climate change, release a complex mixture of organic and inorganic pollutants. These emissions have significant public health implications, contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. Epidemiological and clinical studies have consistently shown that exposure to wildfire smoke exacerbates respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. There are many epidemiological studies of the potential impact of smoke on human health; however, there are remarkably few in vitro studies, and an investigation of the underlying mechanisms of wildfire and wood smoke exposure on airway epithelial cells is required to better understand their toxicity and significance. OBJECTIVES This scoping review aimed to critically examine studies on the association between wildfire and wood smoke exposure and airway epithelial cell responses. METHODS We conducted a systematic search of relevant studies that used a combination of keywords related to wood smoke, wildfire, and epithelial cells and were published up to May 2024. Studies were retrieved from MEDLINE, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. RESULTS Twenty-three studies fulfilled our inclusion criteria and were included. This review highlights inflammation, oxidative stress, and cytotoxicity as key impacts of wildfire and wood smoke on airway epithelial cells, causing lung damage. More studies are needed to understand these effects and guide prevention strategies. DISCUSSION This scoping review underscores the need for further research to better understand the complex biological endpoints associated with exposure to wildfire/wood smoke, informing strategies to mitigate health effects, ultimately improving health and well-being of population exposed to wildfire/wood smoke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behzad Heibati
- Alberta Respiratory Centre (ARC), Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Harald Renz
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL) and the Lung Center of the Universities of Giessen and Marburg (UGMLC), Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany; Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo), Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Paige Lacy
- Alberta Respiratory Centre (ARC), Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
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3
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Lin J, Sun W, Peng S, Hu Y, Zhang G, Song W, Jiang B, Liao Y, Pei C, Zhang J, Dai J, Wang X, Peng P, Bi X. Molecular characteristics of organic matters in PM 2.5 associated with upregulation of respiratory virus infection in vitro. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2025; 482:136583. [PMID: 39577291 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136583] [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: 08/27/2024] [Revised: 11/11/2024] [Accepted: 11/17/2024] [Indexed: 11/24/2024]
Abstract
The extent to which organic matters (OM) in PM2.5 affect virus infections and the key organic molecules involved in this process remain unclear. Herein, this study utilized ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry coupled with in vitro experiments to identify the organic molecules associated with respiratory virus infection for the first time. Water-soluble organic matters (WSOM) and water-insoluble organic matters (WIOM) were separated from PM2.5 samples collected at the urban area of Guangzhou, China. Their molecular compositions were analyzed using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Subsequently, in vitro experiments were conducted to explore the impact of WSOM and WIOM exposure on the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pseudo-virus infection in A549 cells. Results revealed that WSOM and WIOM respectively promoted 1.7 to 2.1-fold and 1.9 to 3.5-fold upregulation of SARS-CoV-2 pseudo-virus infection in a concentration-dependent manner (at 25 to 100 μg mL-1) compared to the virus-only control group. Partial least squares model analysis indicated that the increased virus infection was likely related to phthalate ester and nitro-aromatic molecules in WSOM, as well as LipidC molecules with aliphatic and olefinic structures in WIOM. Interestingly, the molecules responsible for upregulating SARS-CoV-2 receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression and virus infection differed. Thus, it was concluded that ACE2 upregulation alone may not fully elucidate the mechanisms underlying increased susceptibility to virus infection. The findings highlight the critical importance of aromatic and lipid molecules found in OM in relation to respiratory virus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juying Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Wei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, PR China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangzhou 510640, PR China
| | - Shuyi Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Yaohao Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Guohua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, PR China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangzhou 510640, PR China
| | - Wei Song
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, PR China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangzhou 510640, PR China
| | - Bin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, PR China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangzhou 510640, PR China
| | - Yuhong Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, PR China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangzhou 510640, PR China
| | - Chenglei Pei
- Guangzhou Sub-branch of Guangdong Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Center, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jinpu Zhang
- Guangzhou Sub-branch of Guangdong Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Center, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jianwei Dai
- Guangzhou Medical University-Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health (GMU-GIBH) Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510436, PR China
| | - Xinming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, PR China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangzhou 510640, PR China
| | - Ping'an Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, PR China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangzhou 510640, PR China
| | - Xinhui Bi
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, PR China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangzhou 510640, PR China.
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Vitucci ECM, Carberry CK, Payton A, Herring LE, Mordant AL, Kim YH, Gilmour MI, McCullough SD, Rager JE. Wildfire-relevant woodsmoke and extracellular vesicles (EVs): Alterations in EV proteomic signatures involved in extracellular matrix degradation and tissue injury in airway organotypic models. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2025; 264:120395. [PMID: 39571711 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.120395] [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: 07/24/2024] [Revised: 10/16/2024] [Accepted: 11/18/2024] [Indexed: 12/01/2024]
Abstract
Wildfires adversely impact air quality and public health worldwide. Exposures to wildfire smoke are linked to adverse health outcomes, including cardiopulmonary diseases. Critical research gaps remain surrounding the underlying biological pathways leading to wildfire-induced health effects. The regulation of intercellular communication and downstream toxicity driven by extracellular vesicles (EVs) is an important, understudied biological mechanism. This study investigated EVs following a wildfire smoke-relevant in vitro exposure. We hypothesized that woodsmoke (WS) would alter the proteomic content of EVs secreted in organotypic in vitro airway models. Exposures were carried out using a tri-culture model of alveolar epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells and a simplified co-culture model of alveolar epithelial cells and fibroblasts to inform responses across different cell populations. Epithelial cells were exposed to WS condensate and EVs were isolated from basolateral conditioned medium following 24 h exposure. WS exposure did not influence EV particle characteristics, and it moderately increased EV count. Exposure caused the differential loading of 25 and 35 proteins within EVs collected from the tri- and co-culture model, respectively. EV proteins involved in extracellular matrix degradation and wound healing were consistently modulated across both models. However, distinct proteins involved in the wound healing pathway were altered between models, suggesting unique but concerted efforts across cell types to communicate in response to injury. These findings demonstrate that a wildfire-relevant exposure alters the EV proteome and suggest an impact on EV-mediated intercellular communication. Overall, results demonstrate the viability of organotypic approaches in evaluating EVs to investigate exposure-induced biomarkers and underlying mechanisms. Findings also highlight the impact of differences in the biological complexity of in vitro models used to evaluate the effects of inhaled toxicants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva C M Vitucci
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA; Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; The Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Celeste K Carberry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Alexis Payton
- The Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Laura E Herring
- UNC Proteomics Core Facility, Department of Pharmacology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Angie L Mordant
- UNC Proteomics Core Facility, Department of Pharmacology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Yong Ho Kim
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - M Ian Gilmour
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Shaun D McCullough
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Exposure and Protection Group, Technology Advancement and Commercialization Unit, Research Triangle Institute International, Durham, NC 27709, USA; Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Julia E Rager
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; The Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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Brocke SA, Reidel B, Ehre C, Rebuli ME, Robinette C, Schichlein KD, Brooks CA, Jaspers I. Profiling endogenous airway proteases and antiproteases and modeling proteolytic activation of Influenza HA using in vitro and ex vivo human airway surface liquid samples. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0306197. [PMID: 39739661 PMCID: PMC11687774 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 12/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/02/2025] Open
Abstract
Imbalance of airway proteases and antiproteases has been implicated in diseases such as COPD and environmental exposures including cigarette smoke and ozone. To initiate infection, endogenous proteases are commandeered by respiratory viruses upon encountering the airway epithelium. The airway proteolytic environment likely contains redundant antiproteases and proteases with diverse catalytic mechanisms, however a proteomic profile of these enzymes and inhibitors in airway samples has not been reported. The objective of this study was to first profile extracellular proteases and antiproteases using human airway epithelial cell cultures and ex vivo nasal epithelial lining fluid (NELF) samples. Secondly, we present an optimized method for probing the proteolytic environment of airway surface liquid samples (in vitro and ex vivo) using fluorogenic peptides modeling the cleavage sites of respiratory viruses. We detected 48 proteases in the apical wash of cultured human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) (n = 6) and 57 in NELF (n = 13) samples from healthy human subjects using mass-spectrometry based proteomics. Additionally, we detected 29 and 48 antiproteases in the HNEC apical washes and NELF, respectively. We observed large interindividual variability in rate of cleavage of an Influenza H1 peptide in the ex vivo clinical samples. Since protease and antiprotease levels have been found to be altered in the airways of smokers, we compared proteolytic cleavage in ex vivo nasal lavage samples from male/female smokers and non-smokers. There was a statistically significant increase in proteolysis of Influenza H1 in NLF from male smokers compared to female smokers. Furthermore, we measured cleavage of the S1/S2 site of SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and SARS-CoV-2 Delta peptides in various airway samples, suggesting the method could be used for other viruses of public health relevance. This assay presents a direct and efficient method of evaluating the proteolytic environment of human airway samples in assessment of therapeutic treatment, exposure, or underlying disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie A. Brocke
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Boris Reidel
- Marsico Lung Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Camille Ehre
- Marsico Lung Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Meghan E. Rebuli
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Carole Robinette
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Kevin D. Schichlein
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Christian A. Brooks
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Ilona Jaspers
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
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6
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Ghosh A, Rogers KL, Gallant SC, Kim YH, Rager JE, Gilmour MI, Randell SH, Jaspers I. Effects of simulated smoke condensate generated from combustion of selected military burn pit contents on human airway epithelial cells. Part Fibre Toxicol 2024; 21:41. [PMID: 39380034 PMCID: PMC11460082 DOI: 10.1186/s12989-024-00604-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 09/29/2024] [Indexed: 10/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to military burn pit smoke during deployment is associated with different respiratory and non-respiratory diseases. However, information linking smoke exposure to human pulmonary health is lacking. This study examined the effects of simulated burn pit smoke condensates on human airway epithelial cells (HAECs) from twelve donors (smokers/non-smokers, biological female/male) cultured at an air-liquid interface and exposed to condensates from three simulated burn pit waste materials (cardboard, plywood, and plastic) incinerated at two combustion conditions: smoldering and flaming. Cellular gene expression was analyzed using bulk RNA sequencing, and basolateral media cytokine levels were assessed using multiplex immunoassay. RESULTS Flaming smoke condensates caused more significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with plywood flaming smoke being the most potent in altering gene expression and modulating cytokine release. Cardboard and plywood flaming condensates primarily activated detoxification pathways, whereas plastic flaming affected genes related to anti-microbial and inflammatory responses. Correlation analysis between smoke condensate chemicals and gene expression to understand the underlying mechanism revealed crucial role of oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and aluminum, molybdenum, and silicon elements; IL6 expression was positively correlated with most PAHs. Stratification of data based on HAEC donor demographics suggests that these affect gene expression changes. Enrichment analysis indicated similarity with several deployment-related presumptive and reported diseases, including asthma, emphysema, and cancer of different organs. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights that simulated burn pit smoke exposure of HAECs causes gene expression changes indicative of deployment-related diseases with more pronounced effects seen in smokers and females. Future studies are needed to further characterize how sex and smoking status affect deployment-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arunava Ghosh
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina, School of Medicine, 104 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7310, USA
| | - Keith L Rogers
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 116 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7310, USA
| | - Samuel C Gallant
- Marsico Lung Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Yong Ho Kim
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Julia E Rager
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina, School of Medicine, 104 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7310, USA
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 116 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7310, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (ESE), Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - M Ian Gilmour
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Scott H Randell
- Marsico Lung Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Ilona Jaspers
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina, School of Medicine, 104 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7310, USA.
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 116 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7310, USA.
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (ESE), Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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Wardhani K, Yazzie S, Edeh O, Grimes M, Dixson C, Jacquez Q, Zychowski KE. Neuroinflammation is dependent on sex and ovarian hormone presence following acute woodsmoke exposure. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12995. [PMID: 38844478 PMCID: PMC11156661 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63562-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Woodsmoke (WS) exposure is associated with significant health-related sequelae. Different populations can potentially exhibit varying susceptibility, based on endocrine phenotypes, to WS and investigating neurological impacts following inhaled WS is a growing area of research. In this study, a whole-body inhalation chamber was used to expose both male and female C57BL/6 mice (n = 8 per group) to either control filtered air (FA) or acute WS (0.861 ± 0.210 mg/m3) for 4 h/d for 2 days. Neuroinflammatory and lipid-based biological markers were then assessed. In a second set of studies, female mice were divided into two groups: one group was ovariectomized (OVX) to simulate an ovarian hormone-deficient state (surgical menopause), and the other underwent Sham surgery as controls, to mechanistically assess the impact of ovarian hormone presence on neuroinflammation following FA and acute WS exposure to simulate an acute wildfire episode. There was a statistically significant impact of sex (P ≤ 0.05) and statistically significant interactions between sex and treatment in IL-1β, CXCL-1, TGF-β, and IL-6 brain relative gene expression. Hippocampal and cortex genes also exhibited significant changes in acute WS-exposed Sham and OVX mice, particularly in TGF-β (hippocampus) and CCL-2 and CXCL-1 (cortex). Cortex GFAP optical density (OD) showed a notable elevation in male mice exposed to acute WS, compared to the control FA. Sham and OVX females demonstrated differential GFAP expression, depending on brain region. Overall, targeted lipidomics in phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) serum and brain lipids demonstrated more significant changes between control FA and acute WS exposure in female mice, compared to males. In summary, male and female mice show distinct neuroinflammatory markers in response to acute WS exposure. Furthermore, ovarian hormone deficiency may impact the neuroinflammatory response following an acute WS event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kartika Wardhani
- College of Nursing, University of New Mexico-Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
- Biochemistry and Biotechnology (B-TEK) Group, Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - Sydnee Yazzie
- College of Nursing, University of New Mexico-Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Onamma Edeh
- College of Nursing, University of New Mexico-Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Martha Grimes
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico-Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Connor Dixson
- College of Nursing, University of New Mexico-Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Quiteria Jacquez
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico-Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Katherine E Zychowski
- College of Nursing, University of New Mexico-Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA.
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8
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Rogers K, WaMaina E, Barber A, Masood S, Love C, Kim YH, Gilmour MI, Jaspers I. Emissions from plastic incineration induce inflammation, oxidative stress, and impaired bioenergetics in primary human respiratory epithelial cells. Toxicol Sci 2024; 199:301-315. [PMID: 38539046 PMCID: PMC11131019 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfae038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Inhalation exposure to plastic incineration emissions (PIEs) is a problem of increasing human relevance, as plastic production and waste creation have drastically increased since mainstream integration during the 20th century. We investigated the effects of PIEs on human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) to understand if such exposures cause damage and dysfunction to respiratory epithelia. Primary HNECs from male and female donors were cultured at air-liquid interface (ALI), and 16HBE cells were cultured on coverslips. Smoke condensates were generated from incineration of plastic at flaming (640°C) and smoldering (500°C) temperatures, and cells were subsequently exposed to these materials at 5-50 μg/cm2 concentrations. HNECs were assessed for mitochondrial dysfunction and 16HBE cells for glutathione oxidation in real-time analyses. HNEC culture supernatants and total RNA were collected at 4-h postexposure for cytokine and gene expression analysis, and results show that PIEs can acutely induce inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction in HNECs, and that incineration temperature modifies biological responses. Specifically, condensates from flaming and smoldering PIEs significantly increased HNEC secretion of cytokines IL-8, IL-1β, and IL-13, as well as expression of xenobiotic metabolism pathways and genes such as CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 at 5 and 20 μg/cm2 concentrations. Only 50 μg/cm2 flaming PIEs significantly increased glutathione oxidation in 16HBEs, and decreased respiration and ATP production in HNEC mitochondria. Impact Statement: Our data reveal the impact of incineration temperatures on biological outcomes associated with PIE exposures, emphasizing the importance of temperature as a factor when evaluating respiratory disease associated with PIEs exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith Rogers
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7310, USA
| | | | - Andrew Barber
- North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina 27707, USA
| | - Syed Masood
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7310, USA
| | - Charlotte Love
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7310, USA
| | - Yong Ho Kim
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA
| | - M Ian Gilmour
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA
| | - Ilona Jaspers
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
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9
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Ghosh A, Payton A, Gallant SC, Rogers KL, Mascenik T, Hickman E, Love CA, Schichlein KD, Smyth TR, Kim YH, Rager JE, Gilmour MI, Randell SH, Jaspers I. Burn Pit Smoke Condensate-Mediated Toxicity in Human Airway Epithelial Cells. Chem Res Toxicol 2024; 37:791-803. [PMID: 38652897 PMCID: PMC11251002 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.4c00064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Burn pits are a method of open-air waste management that was common during military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other regions in Southwest Asia. Veterans returning from deployment have reported respiratory symptoms, potentially from exposure to burn pit smoke, yet comprehensive assessment of such exposure on pulmonary health is lacking. We have previously shown that exposure to condensates from burn pit smoke emissions causes inflammation and cytotoxicity in mice. In this study, we explored the effects of burn pit smoke condensates on human airway epithelial cells (HAECs) to understand their impact on cellular targets in the human lung. HAECs were cultured at the air-liquid interface (ALI) and exposed to burn pit waste smoke condensates (plywood, cardboard, plastic, mixed, and mixed with diesel) generated under smoldering and flaming conditions. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by measuring transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release; toxicity scores (TSs) were quantified for each exposure. Pro-inflammatory cytokine release and modulation of gene expression were examined for cardboard and plastic condensate exposures. Burn pit smoke condensates generated under flaming conditions affected cell viability, with flaming mixed waste and plywood exhibiting the highest toxicity scores. Cardboard and plastic smoke condensates modulated cytokine secretion, with GM-CSF and IL-1β altered in more than one exposure group. Gene expression of detoxifying enzymes (ALDH1A3, ALDH3A1, CYP1A1, CYP1B1, NQO1, etc.), mucins (MUC5AC, MUC5B), and cytokines was affected by several smoke condensates. Particularly, expression of IL6 was elevated following exposure to all burn pit smoke condensates, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon acenaphthene was positively associated with the IL-6 level in the basolateral media of HAECs. These observations demonstrate that exposure to smoke condensates of materials present in burn pits adversely affects HAECs and that aberrant cytokine secretion and altered gene expression profiles following burn pit material smoke exposure could contribute to the development of airway disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arunava Ghosh
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Alexis Payton
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (ESE), Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Samuel C. Gallant
- Marsico Lung Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Keith L. Rogers
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 116 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7310 USA
| | - Teresa Mascenik
- Marsico Lung Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Elise Hickman
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (ESE), Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 116 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7310 USA
| | - Charlotte A. Love
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Kevin D. Schichlein
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Timothy R. Smyth
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Yong Ho Kim
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Julia E. Rager
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (ESE), Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 116 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7310 USA
| | - M. Ian Gilmour
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Scott H. Randell
- Marsico Lung Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Ilona Jaspers
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (ESE), Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 116 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7310 USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
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10
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Shahbaz MA, Kuivanen S, Mussalo L, Afonin AM, Kumari K, Behzadpour D, Kalapudas J, Koivisto AM, Penttilä E, Löppönen H, Jalava P, Vapalahti O, Balistreri G, Lampinen R, Kanninen KM. Exposure to urban particulate matter alters responses of olfactory mucosal cells to SARS-CoV-2 infection. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 249:118451. [PMID: 38341073 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118451] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Respiratory viruses have a significant impact on health, as highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Exposure to air pollution can contribute to viral susceptibility and be associated with severe outcomes, as suggested by recent epidemiological studies. Furthermore, exposure to particulate matter (PM), an important constituent of air pollution, is linked to adverse effects on the brain, including cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The olfactory mucosa (OM), a tissue located at the rooftop of the nasal cavity, is directly exposed to inhaled air and in direct contact with the brain. Increasing evidence of OM dysfunction related to neuropathogenesis and viral infection demonstrates the importance of elucidating the interplay between viruses and air pollutants at the OM. This study examined the effects of subacute exposure to urban PM 0.2 and PM 10-2.5 on SARS-CoV-2 infection using primary human OM cells obtained from cognitively healthy individuals and individuals diagnosed with AD. OM cells were exposed to PM and subsequently infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the presence of pollutants. SARS-CoV-2 entry receptors and replication, toxicological endpoints, cytokine release, oxidative stress markers, and amyloid beta levels were measured. Exposure to PM did not enhance the expression of viral entry receptors or cellular viral load in human OM cells. However, PM-exposed and SARS-CoV-2-infected cells showed alterations in cellular and immune responses when compared to cells infected only with the virus or pollutants. These changes are highly pronounced in AD OM cells. These results suggest that exposure of human OM cells to PM does not increase susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro, but it can alter cellular immune responses to the virus, particularly in AD. Understanding the interplay of air pollutants and COVID-19 can provide important insight for the development of public health policies and interventions to reduce the negative influences of air pollution exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Ali Shahbaz
- University of Eastern Finland, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Suvi Kuivanen
- University of Helsinki, Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Helsinki, Finland; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Laura Mussalo
- University of Eastern Finland, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Alexey M Afonin
- University of Eastern Finland, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Kajal Kumari
- University of Eastern Finland, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Donya Behzadpour
- University of Eastern Finland, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Juho Kalapudas
- University of Eastern Finland, Brain Research Unit, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Anne M Koivisto
- University of Eastern Finland, Brain Research Unit, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Kuopio, Finland; Kuopio University Hospital, Department of Neurology, Neuro Centre, Kuopio, Finland; University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Helsinki University Hospital and Neurosciences, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Elina Penttilä
- University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Heikki Löppönen
- University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pasi Jalava
- University of Eastern Finland, Inhalation Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Olli Vapalahti
- University of Helsinki, Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Giuseppe Balistreri
- University of Helsinki, Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riikka Lampinen
- University of Eastern Finland, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Katja M Kanninen
- University of Eastern Finland, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Kuopio, Finland.
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11
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Ryu MH, Murphy S, Hinkley M, Carlsten C. COPD Exposed to Air Pollution: A Path to Understand and Protect a Susceptible Population. Chest 2024; 165:836-846. [PMID: 37972689 DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2023.11.012] [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: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
TOPIC IMPORTANCE Air pollution poses a risk to the respiratory health of individuals with COPD. Long- and short-term exposures to higher levels of particulate-rich air pollution are associated with increased COPD exacerbation, hospitalization, and mortality, collectively implicating air pollution as a cause of adverse COPD-related outcomes. REVIEW FINDINGS This review summarizes the evidence for COPD as a phenotype that confers susceptibility for adverse health outcomes in the face of common air pollution. We highlight how typical contributors to compromised urban air quality, including that from traffic, wildfire smoke, and indoor biomass combustion, adversely affect the COPD patient population. Evidence underscoring the burden of ongoing air pollution exposure on patients with COPD is discussed. We then detail the detrimental impact of that exposure on COPD pathophysiology, which in turn increases the patient's susceptibility. We specifically propose that indoor air is a particularly rational target for increased monitoring and remediation to protect patients with COPD. Because COPD is a heterogeneous disease with several endotypes, future intervention studies need to better include control populations, to highlight COPD-specific risks and identify subpopulations within patients with COPD who will benefit the most from improved indoor air quality. SUMMARY Regulatory efforts must continue to broadly lower emission standards to protect this susceptible population from the negative health impacts of air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Hyung Ryu
- Air Pollution Exposure Laboratory, Division of Respiratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Shane Murphy
- Air Pollution Exposure Laboratory, Division of Respiratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Madison Hinkley
- Air Pollution Exposure Laboratory, Division of Respiratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Chris Carlsten
- Air Pollution Exposure Laboratory, Division of Respiratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Legacy for Airway Health and Centre for Lung Health, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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12
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Brocke SA, Speen AM, Masood S, Worden CP, Jaspers I. Comparison of permeable cell culture inserts for use in culture of a human in vitro air-liquid interface model system. Physiol Rep 2024; 12:e15921. [PMID: 38302275 PMCID: PMC10834316 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, we compared 12 mm cell culture inserts with permeable polyester membranes (0.4 μm pores) from two different manufacturers: CELLTREAT® and Corning®. Physical dimensions and masses of the inserts were found to be very similar between the two brands, with CELLTREAT® inserts having a slightly smaller diameter and growth area (11.91 mm; 1.11 cm2 ) compared to Corning® Transwells® (12 mm; 1.13 cm2 ). We compared cell differentiation outcomes of human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) at air-liquid interface grown on inserts from the two different manufacturers, including trans-epithelial electrical resistance, ciliary beat frequency, ciliated area, and gene expression. HNECs from three male donors were used for all endpoints. No statistically significant differences were observed between paired cultures grown on different brands of insert. In conclusion, these inserts are comparable for use with airway epithelial cell model systems and likely do not impact cellular differentiation or cell culture quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie A. Brocke
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental MedicineUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Adam M. Speen
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung BiologyUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Syed Masood
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental MedicineUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Cameron P. Worden
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck SurgeryUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Ilona Jaspers
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental MedicineUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung BiologyUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
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13
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Smyth T, Jaspers I. Diesel exhaust particles induce polarization state-dependent functional and transcriptional changes in human monocyte-derived macrophages. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2024; 326:L83-L97. [PMID: 38084400 PMCID: PMC11279754 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00085.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Macrophage populations exist on a spectrum between the proinflammatory M1 and proresolution M2 states and have demonstrated the ability to reprogram between them after exposure to opposing polarization stimuli. Particulate matter (PM) has been repeatedly linked to worsening morbidity and mortality following respiratory infections and has been demonstrated to modify macrophage function and polarization. The purpose of this study was to determine whether diesel exhaust particles (DEP), a key component of airborne PM, would demonstrate polarization state-dependent effects on human monocyte-derived macrophages (hMDMs) and whether DEP would modify macrophage reprogramming. CD14+CD16- monocytes were isolated from the blood of healthy human volunteers and differentiated into macrophages with macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). Resulting macrophages were left unpolarized or polarized into the proresolution M2 state before being exposed to DEP, M1-polarizing conditions (IFN-γ and LPS), or both and tested for phagocytic function, secretory profile, gene expression patterns, and bioenergetic properties. Contrary to previous reports, we observed a mixed M1/M2 phenotype in reprogrammed M2 cells when considering the broader range of functional readouts. In addition, we determined that DEP exposure dampens phagocytic function in all polarization states while modifying bioenergetic properties in M1 macrophages preferentially. Together, these data suggest that DEP exposure of reprogrammed M2 macrophages results in a highly inflammatory, highly energetic subpopulation of macrophages that may contribute to the poor health outcomes following PM exposure during respiratory infections.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We determined that reprogramming M2 macrophages in the presence of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) results in a highly inflammatory mixed M1/M2 phenotype. We also demonstrated that M1 macrophages are particularly vulnerable to particulate matter (PM) exposure as seen by dampened phagocytic function and modified bioenergetics. Our study suggests that PM causes reprogrammed M2 macrophages to become a highly energetic, highly secretory subpopulation of macrophages that may contribute to negative health outcomes observed in humans after PM exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Smyth
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
| | - Ilona Jaspers
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
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14
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Noah TL, Worden CP, Rebuli ME, Jaspers I. The Effects of Wildfire Smoke on Asthma and Allergy. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2023; 23:375-387. [PMID: 37171670 PMCID: PMC10176314 DOI: 10.1007/s11882-023-01090-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To review the recent literature on the effects of wildfire smoke (WFS) exposure on asthma and allergic disease, and on potential mechanisms of disease. RECENT FINDINGS Spatiotemporal modeling and increased ground-level monitoring data are allowing a more detailed picture of the health effects of WFS exposure to emerge, especially with regard to asthma. There is also epidemiologic and some experimental evidence to suggest that WFS exposure increases allergic predisposition and upper airway or sinonasal disease, though much of the literature in this area is focused more generally on PM2.5 and is not specific for WFS. Experimental evidence for mechanisms includes disruption of epithelial integrity with downstream effects on inflammatory or immune pathways, but experimental models to date have not consistently reflected human disease in this area. Exposure to WFS has an acute detrimental effect on asthma. Potential mechanisms are suggested by in vitro and animal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry L Noah
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 260 Macnider Building, 333 S. Columbia St., Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA.
| | - Cameron P Worden
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Meghan E Rebuli
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 260 Macnider Building, 333 S. Columbia St., Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Ilona Jaspers
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 260 Macnider Building, 333 S. Columbia St., Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
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15
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Wang Y, Zhang R, Yang F, Yang L, Li Q, Guo J, Liu X, Song J, Zhang G, Li J, An Z, Alexis NE, Jaspers I, Wu W. Potential mechanisms mediating PM 2.5-induced alterations of H3N2 influenza virus infection and cytokine production in human bronchial epithelial cells. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 259:115069. [PMID: 37244199 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to particulate matter (PM) has been associated with increased hospital admissions for influenza. Airway epithelial cells are a primary target for inhaled environmental insults including fine PM (PM2.5) and influenza viruses. The potentiation of PM2.5 exposure on the effects of influenza virus on airway epithelial cells has not been adequately elucidated. In this study, the effects of PM2.5 exposure on influenza virus (H3N2) infection and downstream modulation of inflammation and antiviral immune response were investigated using a human bronchial epithelial cell line, BEAS-2B. The results showed that PM2.5 exposure alone increased the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 but decreased the production of the antiviral cytokine interferon-β (IFN-β) in BEAS-2B cells while H3N2 exposure alone increased the production of IL-6, IL-8, and IFN-β. Importantly, prior exposure to PM2.5 enhanced subsequent H3N2 infectivity, expression of viral hemagglutinin protein, as well as upregulation of IL-6 and IL-8, but reduced H3N2-induced IFN-β production. Pre-treatment with a pharmacological inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine production induced by PM2.5, H3N2, as well as PM2.5-primed H3N2 infection. Moreover, antibody-mediated neutralization of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) blocked cytokine production triggered by PM2.5 or PM2.5-primed H3N2 infection, but not H3N2 alone. Taken together, exposure to PM2.5 alters H3N2-induced cytokine production and markers of replication in BEAS-2B cells, which in turn are regulated by NF-κB and TLR4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinbiao Wang
- School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, PR China
| | - Rui Zhang
- School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, PR China
| | - Fuyun Yang
- School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, PR China
| | - Lin Yang
- School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, PR China
| | - Qingmei Li
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Immunology, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China
| | - Junqing Guo
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Immunology, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China
| | - Xiao Liu
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Henan Medical College, Zhengzhou 451191, PR China
| | - Jie Song
- School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, PR China
| | - Guofu Zhang
- School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, PR China
| | - Juan Li
- School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, PR China
| | - Zhen An
- School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, PR China
| | - Neil E Alexis
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Ilona Jaspers
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Weidong Wu
- School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, PR China.
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16
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Monoson A, Schott E, Ard K, Kilburg-Basnyat B, Tighe RM, Pannu S, Gowdy KM. Air pollution and respiratory infections: the past, present, and future. Toxicol Sci 2023; 192:3-14. [PMID: 36622042 PMCID: PMC10025881 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Air pollution levels across the globe continue to rise despite government regulations. The increase in global air pollution levels drives detrimental human health effects, including 7 million premature deaths every year. Many of these deaths are attributable to increased incidence of respiratory infections. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, an unprecedented public health crisis that has claimed the lives of over 6.5 million people globally, respiratory infections as a driver of human mortality is a pressing concern. Therefore, it is more important than ever to understand the relationship between air pollution and respiratory infections so that public health measures can be implemented to ameliorate further morbidity and mortality. This article aims to review the current epidemiologic and basic science research on interactions between air pollution exposure and respiratory infections. The first section will present epidemiologic studies organized by pathogen, followed by a review of basic science research investigating the mechanisms of infection, and then conclude with a discussion of areas that require future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexys Monoson
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Evangeline Schott
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Kerry Ard
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Brita Kilburg-Basnyat
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27834, USA
| | - Robert M Tighe
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Sonal Pannu
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Kymberly M Gowdy
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
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17
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Koval LE, Carberry CK, Kim YH, McDermott E, Hartwell H, Jaspers I, Gilmour MI, Rager JE. Wildfire Variable Toxicity: Identifying Biomass Smoke Exposure Groupings through Transcriptomic Similarity Scoring. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:17131-17142. [PMID: 36399130 PMCID: PMC10777820 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c06043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of wildfires continues to grow globally with exposures resulting in increased disease risk. Characterizing these health risks remains difficult due to the wide landscape of exposures that can result from different burn conditions and fuel types. This study tested the hypothesis that biomass smoke exposures from variable fuels and combustion conditions group together based on similar transcriptional response profiles, informing which wildfire-relevant exposures may be considered as a group for health risk evaluations. Mice (female CD-1) were exposed via oropharyngeal aspiration to equal mass biomass smoke condensates produced from flaming or smoldering burns of eucalyptus, peat, pine, pine needles, or red oak species. Lung transcriptomic signatures were used to calculate transcriptomic similarity scores across exposures, which informed exposure groupings. Exposures from flaming peat, flaming eucalyptus, and smoldering eucalyptus induced the greatest responses, with flaming peat grouping with the pro-inflammatory agent lipopolysaccharide. Smoldering red oak and smoldering peat induced the least transcriptomic response. Groupings paralleled pulmonary toxicity markers, though they were better substantiated by higher data dimensionality and resolution provided through -omic-based evaluation. Interestingly, groupings based on smoke chemistry signatures differed from transcriptomic/toxicity-based groupings. Wildfire-relevant exposure groupings yield insights into risk assessment strategies to ultimately protect public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Koval
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina27599, United States
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina27599, United States
| | - Celeste K Carberry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina27599, United States
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina27599, United States
| | - Yong Ho Kim
- The Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina27599, United States
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, Durham, North Carolina27711, United States
| | - Elena McDermott
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina27599, United States
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina27599, United States
| | - Hadley Hartwell
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina27599, United States
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina27599, United States
| | - Ilona Jaspers
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina27599, United States
- The Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina27599, United States
- Curriculum in Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina27599, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina27599, United States
| | - M Ian Gilmour
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, Durham, North Carolina27711, United States
| | - Julia E Rager
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina27599, United States
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina27599, United States
- The Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina27599, United States
- Curriculum in Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina27599, United States
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Carberry CK, Koval LE, Payton A, Hartwell H, Ho Kim Y, Smith GJ, Reif DM, Jaspers I, Ian Gilmour M, Rager JE. Wildfires and extracellular vesicles: Exosomal MicroRNAs as mediators of cross-tissue cardiopulmonary responses to biomass smoke. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 167:107419. [PMID: 35863239 PMCID: PMC9389917 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Wildfires are a threat to public health world-wide that are growing in intensity and prevalence. The biological mechanisms that elicit wildfire-associated toxicity remain largely unknown. The potential involvement of cross-tissue communication via extracellular vesicles (EVs) is a new mechanism that has yet to be evaluated. METHODS Female CD-1 mice were exposed to smoke condensate samples collected from the following biomass burn scenarios: flaming peat; smoldering peat; flaming red oak; and smoldering red oak, representing lab-based simulations of wildfire scenarios. Lung tissue, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples, peripheral blood, and heart tissues were collected 4 and 24 h post-exposure. Exosome-enriched EVs were isolated from plasma, physically characterized, and profiled for microRNA (miRNA) expression. Pathway-level responses in the lung and heart were evaluated through RNA sequencing and pathway analyses. RESULTS Markers of cardiopulmonary tissue injury and inflammation from BALF samples were significantly altered in response to exposures, with the greatest changes occurring from flaming biomass conditions. Plasma EV miRNAs relevant to cardiovascular disease showed exposure-induced expression alterations, including miR-150, miR-183, miR-223-3p, miR-30b, and miR-378a. Lung and heart mRNAs were identified with differential expression enriched for hypoxia and cell stress-related pathways. Flaming red oak exposure induced the greatest transcriptional response in the heart, a large portion of which were predicted as regulated by plasma EV miRNAs, including miRNAs known to regulate hypoxia-induced cardiovascular injury. Many of these miRNAs had published evidence supporting their transfer across tissues. A follow-up analysis of miR-30b showed that it was increased in expression in the heart of exposed mice in the absence of changes to its precursor molecular, pri-miR-30b, suggesting potential transfer from external sources (e.g., plasma). DISCUSSION This study posits a potential mechanism through which wildfire exposures induce cardiopulmonary responses, highlighting the role of circulating plasma EVs in intercellular and systems-level communication between tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste K Carberry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Lauren E Koval
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Alexis Payton
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Hadley Hartwell
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Yong Ho Kim
- The Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Gregory J Smith
- Curriculum in Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - David M Reif
- Bioinformatics Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Ilona Jaspers
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; The Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Curriculum in Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - M Ian Gilmour
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Julia E Rager
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; The Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Curriculum in Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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