Comparative studies on regional variations in PM2.5 in the induction of myocardial hypertrophy in mice

Air Toxicity Surveillance across Thirteen Cities Using Rats

Current monitoring methods fail to assess air toxicity in real time, which is yet badly desired to better estimate the health impact. Here, we developed and deployed an automated, low-cost, and time-resolved system for noninvasive monitoring of air toxicity by detecting eight breath-borne biomarkers from rats, including VOCs, CO2, CO, NO, H2S, H2O2, O2, and NH3. Using this system, two large-scale monitoring campaigns were conducted across 13 cities in China during the 2023 winter and 2024 spring continuously on a 24-h-a-day basis. In characterizing overall air pollution health impact, a novel Air Toxic Index (ATI) was developed using the eight breath-borne biomarkers from the rats. Significant differences in diurnal patterns of ATI were observed across 13 cities. Among others, time, city, PM2.5, and O3 were identified as the primary influencing factors of ATI, exhibiting complex nonlinear relationships in real-world environments. The unique variation patterns of breath-borne NO and H2O2 from rats indicated the time-resolved impacts of ground human activities on weekends and PM components on air toxicity. Histopathologic changes in these deployed rats' lungs further validated the differential health effects of real-world air pollution from different cities as detected by the rat system. Here, we pioneer a new air pollution health effect monitoring system that realizes the in vivo detection of air toxicity in contrast to the traditional protocol of air sampling, exposure, and offline toxicity analysis steps. The system can be deployed easily to any location with minimal support for real-time monitoring of air pollution health impacts.

PM2.5 Exposure Induces Glomerular Hyperfiltration in Mice in a Gender-Dependent Manner

As one of the most common air pollutants, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) increases the risk of diseases in various systems, including the urinary system. In the present study, we exposed male and female C57BL/6J mice to PM2.5 for 8 weeks. Examination of renal function indices, including creatinine (CRE), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid (UA), and urinary microalbumin, indicated that the kidneys of female mice, not male mice, underwent early renal injury, exhibiting glomerular hyperfiltration. Meanwhile, pathological staining showed that the kidneys of female mice exhibited enlarged glomerulus that filled the entire Bowman's capsule in the female mice. Afterward, we explored the potential causes and mechanisms of glomerular hyperfiltration. Variations in mRNA levels of key genes involved in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and kallikrein-kinin system (KKS) demonstrated that PM2.5 led to elevated glomerular capillary hydrostatic pressure in female mice by disturbing the balance between the RAS and KKS, which in turn increased the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). In addition, we found that PM2.5 increased blood glucose levels in the females, which enhanced tubular reabsorption of glucose, attenuated macular dense sensory signaling, induced renal hypoxia, and affected adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis, thus attenuating tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF)-induced afferent arteriolar constriction and leading to glomerular hyperfiltration. In conclusion, this study indicated that PM2.5 induced glomerular hyperfiltration in female mice by affecting RAS/KKS imbalances, as well as the regulation of TGF; innovatively unveiled the association between PM2.5 subchronic exposure and early kidney injury and its gender dependence; enriched the toxicological evidence of PM2.5 and confirmed the importance of reducing ambient PM2.5 concentrations.

Multilevel Screening Strategy to Identify the Hydrophobic Organic Components of Ambient PM2.5 Associated with Hepatocellular Steatosis

Hepatic steatosis is the first step in a series of events that drives hepatic disease and has been considerably associated with exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Although the chemical constituents of particles matter in the negative health effects, the specific components of PM2.5 that trigger hepatic steatosis remain unclear. New strategies prioritizing the identification of the key components with the highest potential to cause adverse effects among the numerous components of PM2.5 are needed. Herein, we established a high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) data set comprising the hydrophobic organic components corresponding to 67 PM2.5 samples in total from Taiyuan and Guangzhou, two representative cities in North and South China, respectively. The lipid accumulation bioeffect profiles of the above samples were also obtained. Considerable hepatocyte lipid accumulation was observed in most PM2.5 extracts. Subsequently, 40 of 695 components were initially screened through machine learning-assisted data filtering based on an integrated bioassay with MS data. Next, nine compounds were further selected as candidates contributing to hepatocellular steatosis based on absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion evaluation and molecular dockingin silico. Finally, seven components were confirmed in vitro. This study provided a multilevel screening strategy for key active components in PM2.5 and provided insight into the hydrophobic PM2.5 components that induce hepatocellular steatosis.

Toxicity mechanisms of biomass burning aerosols in in vitro hepatic steatosis models

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic liver disease that contributes to the global rise in liver-related morbidity and mortality. Wood tar (WT) aerosols are a significant fraction of carbonaceous aerosol originating from biomass smoldering, contributing to air pollution particles smaller than 2.5 mm (PM2.5). Mechanistic biological associations exist between exposure to PM2.5 and increased NAFLD phenotypes in both cell and animal models. Therefore, this study examines whether an existing NAFLD-like condition can enhance the biological susceptibility of liver cells exposed to air pollution in the form of WT material. Liver cells were incubated with lauric or oleic acid (LA, OA, respectively) for 24 h to accumulate lipids and served as an in vitro hepatic steatosis model. When exposed to 0.02 or 0.2 g/L water-soluble WT aerosols, both steatosis model cells showed increased cell death compared to the control cells (blank-treated cells with or without pre-incubation with LA or OA) or compared to WT-treated cells without pre-incubation with LA or OA. Furthermore, alterations in oxidative status included variations in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, elevated levels of lipid peroxidation adducts, and decreased expression of antioxidant genes associated with the NRF2 transcription factor. In addition, steatosis model cells exposed to WT had a higher degree of DNA damage than the control cells (blank-treated cells with or without pre-incubation with LA or OA). These results support a possible systemic effect through the direct inflammatory and oxidative stress response following exposure to water-soluble WT on liver cells, especially those predisposed to fatty liver. Furthermore, the liver steatosis model can be influenced by the type of fatty acid used; increased adverse effects of WT on metabolic dysregulation were observed in the LA model to a higher extent compared to the OA model.

Exhaled VOC Biomarkers from Rats Injected with PMs from Thirty-One Major Cities in China

Particulate matter (PMs) of different origins can cause diverse health effects. Here, a homemade box was used to facilitate real-time measurements of breath-borne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry. We have tracked exhaled VOC changes in 228 Wistar rats that were injected with water-soluble PM suspension filtrates (after 0.45 μm) from 31 China cities for 1 h to up to 1-6 days during the experiments. Rats exposed to the filtrates exhibited significant changes in breath-borne VOCs within hours, featuring dynamic fluctuations in the levels of acetone, butan-2-one, heptan-2-one-M, acetic acid-M, and ethanol. Subsequently, on the fifth to sixth day after the injection, there was a notable increase in the proportion of aldehydes (including hexanal-M, hexanal-D, pentanal, heptanal-M, and (E)-2-hexenal). The 10 dynamic VOC fingerprint patterns mentioned earlier showcased the capability to indirectly differentiate urban PM toxicity and categorize the 31 cities into four distinct groups based on their health effects. This study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms of exhaled VOCs and underscores their critical role as biomarkers for differentiating the toxicity of different PMs and detecting the early signs of potential diseases. The results from this work also provide a scientific basis for city-specific air pollution control and policy development.

Airborne fine particles drive H1N1 viruses deep into the lower respiratory tract and distant organs

Mounting data suggest that environmental pollution due to airborne fine particles (AFPs) increases the occurrence and severity of respiratory virus infection in humans. However, it is unclear whether and how interactions with AFPs alter viral infection and distribution. We report synergetic effects between various AFPs and the H1N1 virus, regulated by physicochemical properties of the AFPs. Unlike infection caused by virus alone, AFPs facilitated the internalization of virus through a receptor-independent pathway. Moreover, AFPs promoted the budding and dispersal of progeny virions, likely mediated by lipid rafts in the host plasma membrane. Infected animal models demonstrated that AFPs favored penetration of the H1N1 virus into the distal lung, and its translocation into extrapulmonary organs including the liver, spleen, and kidney, thus causing severe local and systemic disorders. Our findings revealed a key role of AFPs in driving viral infection throughout the respiratory tract and beyond. These insights entail stronger air quality management and air pollution reduction policies.

Overview of PM2.5 and health outcomes: Focusing on components, sources, and pollutant mixture co-exposure

PM_2.5 varies in source and composition over time and space as a complicated mixture. Consequently, the health effects caused by PM_2.5 varies significantly over time and generally exhibit significant regional variations. According to numerous studies, a notable relationship exists between PM_2.5 and the occurrence of many diseases, such as respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous system diseases, as well as cancer. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the effect of PM_2.5 on human health is critical. The toxic effects of various PM_2.5 components, as well as the overall toxicity of PM_2.5 are discussed in this review to provide a foundation for precise PM_2.5 emission control. Furthermore, this review summarizes the synergistic effect of PM_2.5 and other pollutants, which can be used to draft effective policies.

Effects of differential regional PM2.5 induced hepatic steatosis and underlying mechanism

Emerging evidence suggests that exposure to PM_2.5 is associated with a high risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is typically characterised by hepatic steatosis. However, the underlying mechanisms and critical components of PM_2.5-induced hepatic steatosis remain to be elucidated. In this study, ten-month-old C57BL/6 female mice were exposed to PM_2.5 from four cities in China (Taiyuan, Beijing, Hangzhou, and Guangzhou) via oropharyngeal aspiration every other day for four weeks. After the exposure period, hepatic lipid accumulation was evaluated by biochemical and histopathological analyses. The expression levels of genes related to lipid metabolism and metabolomic profiles were assessed in the mouse liver. The association between biomarkers of hepatic steatosis (hepatic Oil Red O staining area and serum and liver triglyceride contents) and typical components of PM_2.5 was identified using Pearson correlation analysis. Oil Red O staining and biochemical results indicated that PM_2.5 from four cities significantly induced hepatic lipid accumulation. The most severe hepatic steatosis was observed after Guangzhou PM_2.5 exposure. Moreover, Guangzhou PM_2.5-induced the most significant changes in gene expression associated with lipid metabolism, including increased hepatic fatty acid uptake and lipid droplet formation and decreased fatty acid synthesis and lipoprotein secretion. Contemporaneously, exposure to Guangzhou PM_2.5 significantly perturbed hepatic lipid metabolism. According to metabolomic analysis, disturbed hepatic lipid metabolism was primarily concentrated in linoleic acid, α-linoleic acid, and arachidonic acid metabolism. Finally, correlation analysis revealed that copper (Cu) and other inorganic components, as well as the majority of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), were related to changes in biomarkers of hepatic steatosis. These findings showed that PM_2.5 exposure caused hepatic steatosis in aged mice, which could be related to the critical chemical components of PM_2.5. This study provides critical information regarding the components of PM_2.5, which cause hepatic steatosis.

Biochemical evidence of PM2.5 critical components for inducing myocardial fibrosis in vivo and in vitro

PM_2.5 constituents are tightly linked to the initiation of many cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Little is known, however, about the events which critical components of PM_2.5 can induce the initiating events in CVDs. C57BL/6 female mice were exposed to PM_2.5 (3 mg/kg b.w.) from four different cities (Taiyuan, Beijing, Hangzhou, and Guangzhou) by oropharyngeal aspiration every other day. PM_2.5 from Taiyuan increased the diastolic function of the hearts and induced myocardial fibrosis with increased areas of interstitial fibrosis through the NOX4/TGF-β1/Smad 3/Col1a1 pathways. Pb, Cr, Mn, Zn, and most of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were positively associated with the related indicators of cardiac diastolic function and myocardial fibrosis by using Pearson correlation (R² = 0.9085-0.9897). To determine the critical components in PM_2.5 that can induce the occurrence of myocardial fibrosis, BEAS-2b cells were treated with one or more of five candidate components with/without Guangzhou PM_2.5, and then the conditioned medium of BEAS-2b was used to culture AC16 cells. The results showed that Zn + Pb + Mn + BaP with PM_2.5 from Guangzhou exposure significantly increased reactive oxygen species production of BEAS-2b cells and induced a dramatic increase of myocardial fiber-related gene expression (Col1a1 and TGF-β) in AC16 cells. It indicated that the different mass concentrations of Zn, Pb, Mn, and ΣPAHs in PM_2.5 might be the critical factors that modulated myocardial fibrosis induction by targeted. Our study provided a novel avenue for further elucidation of molecular mechanisms of PM_2.5 components-induced myocardial fibrosis.

Suppression of NADPH oxidase 4 inhibits PM2.5-induced cardiac fibrosis through ROS-P38 MAPK pathway

Fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) has been consistently linked to cardiovascular diseases, and cardiac fibrosis plays a crucial role in the occurrence and development of heart diseases. It is reported that NOX4-dependent redox signaling are responsible for TGFβ-mediated profibrotic responses. The current study was designed to explore the possible mechanisms of cardiac fibrosis by PM_2.5 both in vitro and in vivo. Female C57BL/6 mice received PM_2.5 (3 mg/kg b.w.) exposure with/without NOX4 inhibitor (apocynin, 25 mg/kg b.w.) or ROS scavenger (NALC, 50 mg/kg b.w.), every other day, for 4 weeks. H9C2 cells were incubated with PM_2.5 (3 μg/mL) with/without 5 mM NALC, TGFβ inhibitor (SB431542, 10 μM), or siRNA-NOX4 for 24 h. The results demonstrated that PM_2.5 induced evident collagen deposition and elevated expression of fibrosis biomarkers (Col1a1 & Col3a1). Significant systemic inflammatory response and cardiac oxidative stress were triggered by PM_2.5. PM_2.5 increased the protein expression of TGFβ1, NOX4, and P38 MAPK. Notably, the increased effects of PM_2.5 could be suppressed by SB431542, siRNA-NOX4 in vitro or apocynin in vivo, and NALC. The reverse verification experiments further supported the involvement of the TGFβ/NOX4/ROS/P38 MAPK signaling pathway in the myocardial fibrosis induced by PM_2.5. In summary, the current study provided evidence that PM_2.5 challenge led to cardiac fibrosis through oxidative stress, systemic inflammation, and subsequent TGFβ/NOX4/ROS/P38 MAPK pathway and may offer new therapeutic targets in cardiac fibrosis.

Exposure to naphthalene and β-pinene-derived secondary organic aerosol induced divergent changes in transcript levels of BEAS-2B cells

The health effects of exposure to secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) are still limited. Here, we investigated and compared the toxicities of soot particles (SP) coated with β-pinene SOA (SOAβPin-SP) and SP coated with naphthalene SOA (SOANap-SP) in a human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B) residing at the air-liquid interface. SOAβPin-SP mostly contained oxygenated aliphatic compounds from β-pinene photooxidation, whereas SOANap-SP contained a significant fraction of oxygenated aromatic products under similar conditions. Following exposure, genome-wide transcriptome responses showed an Nrf2 oxidative stress response, particularly for SOANap-SP. Other signaling pathways, such as redox signaling, inflammatory signaling, and the involvement of matrix metalloproteinase, were identified to have a stronger impact following exposure to SOANap-SP. SOANap-SP also induced a stronger genotoxicity response than that of SOAβPin-SP. This study elucidated the mechanisms that govern SOA toxicity and showed that, compared to SOAs derived from a typical biogenic precursor, SOAs from a typical anthropogenic precursor have higher toxicological potency, which was accompanied with the activation of varied cellular mechanisms, such as aryl hydrocarbon receptor. This can be attributed to the difference in chemical composition; specifically, the aromatic compounds in the naphthalene-derived SOA had higher cytotoxic potential than that of the β-pinene-derived SOA.

Magnolol Attenuates Right Ventricular Hypertrophy and Fibrosis in Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertensive Rats Through Inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway

Right ventricular (RV) remodeling is one of the essential pathological features in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). RV hypertrophy or fibrosis are the leading causes of RV remodeling. Magnolol (6, 6′, 7, 12-tetramethoxy-2,2′-dimethyl-1-β-berbaman, C18H18O2) is a compound isolated from Magnolia Officinalis. It possesses multiple pharmacological activities, such as anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation. This study aims to evaluate the effects and underlying mechanisms of magnolol on RV remodeling in hypoxia-induced PAH. In vivo, male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to 10% O₂ for 4 weeks to establish an RV remodeling model, which showed hypertrophic and fibrotic features (increases of Fulton index, cellular size, hypertrophic and fibrotic marker expression), accompanied by an elevation in phosphorylation levels of JAK2 and STAT3; these changes were attenuated by treating with magnolol. In vitro, the cultured H9c2 cells or cardiac fibroblasts were exposed to 3% O₂ for 48 h to induce hypertrophy or fibrosis, which showed hypertrophic (increases in cellular size as well as the expression of ANP and BNP) or fibrotic features (increases in the expression of collagen Ⅰ, collagen Ⅲ, and α-SMA). Administration of magnolol and TG-101348 or JSI-124 (both JAK2 selective inhibitors) could prevent myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis, accompanied by the decrease in the phosphorylation level of JAK2 and STAT3. Based on these observations, we conclude that magnolol can attenuate RV hypertrophy and fibrosis in hypoxia-induced PAH rats through a mechanism involving inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Magnolol may possess the potential clinical value for PAH therapy.