Impact of Air Pollution on Human Lung Cell Biology: Mechanisms of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

Presenter: Kyle Justin Allwood

Faculty Sponsor: Reena Randhir

School: Springfield Technical Community College

Research Area: Biology

Session: Poster Session 2, 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM, Auditorium, A2

ABSTRACT

Air pollution is one of the major environmental threats that compromises human health. The increase in air pollution due to burning fossil fuels is correlated to increasing respiratory diseases worldwide. The particulate matter and gaseous pollutants can infiltrate the lungs and exert direct effects on the pleural epithelial lining. At the cell level, these pollutants affect normal cell metabolism through triggering the immune response through Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and inflammation. In the long term, these cell metabolic alterations could lead to chronic respiratory problems such as asthma and COPD. The aim of this research is to identify the effect of air pollutants on the molecular and cell biology of lung epithelial cells. This research was done through a systematic literature reviews of peer-reviewed research papers from PubMed. Studies showed that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) resulted in an increase in ROS production. This increase was 30% to 60% more compared to non-exposed cells. It also elevated the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), from two to four-fold. The repeated pollutant exposure lead to decreased lung epithelial cell viability by up to 25%. They enter the cells by the process of endocytosis and deter mitochondrial function. This is accompanied by an increase in ROS and activation of the redox signaling pathways, including NF-κB, which then leads to activation of pro-inflammatory gene expression. Further research is needed to decipher these mechanisms to design effective treatment. We also need effective governmental policies for reducing air pollution to protect public health.

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