Contribution of applied biology to mitigation of urban air pollution and prevention of its effects on health and environment

Vogli, Megi (2023): Contribution of applied biology to mitigation of urban air pollution and prevention of its effects on health and environment. Dissertation, LMU München: Medizinische Fakultät

Abstract

According to World Health Organization (WHO), each year 7 million of people in the world die prematurely because of indoor and outdoor air pollutants. In recent years, fine and ultrafine particles (UFPs) are attracting more attention because of their health risks. UFPs, for example, due to their small size, can penetrate deeper into the lungs and part of them may translocate into the bloodstream. The purpose of my PhD work is to evaluate the possible health effects on humans of air pollution with a specific focus on the nanoscale fraction. To do this, we used two approaches: the molecular approach using omics technologies and the epidemiological approach on specific blood biomarkers. Using the molecular approach, we employed engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) to expedite the understanding of UFPs' toxicity mechanisms. We used Cadmium Sulfide Quantum Dots (CdS QDs) and, to better represent different routes of exposure, we conducted an in vitro study on HepG2 (liver hepatocellular carcinoma) and THP-1 (peripheral blood monocyte) cells. Both cell lines were exposed for 24 hours to sub-toxic dose of CdS QDs, and subsequently the RNA sequencing and miRNome profiling were performed. The transcriptomic data and miRNAs-mRNAs interactions analyses reveal for HepG2 the activation of RAS and Ca2+ signaling pathways, and for THP-1 points at JAK/STAT signaling and inflammatory pathways. As part of the epidemiological approach, we developed a long-term population-scale study to assess the link between air pollutants (including UFPs) and blood biomarkers of inflammation and coagulation, namely fibrinogen, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and adiponectin. The air pollutants considered for this work were: PM(10; 2.5; coarse), NO(x; 2), O3 and ultrafine particles as PNC. We performed a multiple linear regression analysis adjusting for confounders. The results showed positive association between UFPs and fibrinogen and hs-CRP, and PM2.5 with IL-6. In conclusion, we observed adverse effects of nanoparticles at molecular level and in a short-term exposure, as well as at population-scale in long-term exposure. Moreover, this study highlighted the association among inflammation and coagulation blood-biomarker with PM and gaseous pollutant, linking it directly with the increasing risk of cardiovascular disease.

• Dokumententyp: Dissertationen (Dissertation, LMU München)
• Keywords: Air Pollution, Nanoparticles, Inflammation
• Themengebiete: 500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik ; 500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik > 570 Biowissenschaften, Biologie
• Fakultäten: Medizinische Fakultät
• Sprache der Hochschulschrift: Englisch
• Datum der mündlichen Prüfung: 21. September 2023
• 1. Bericht­erstatter:in: Peters, Annette