Air Pollution Particulate Matter Collected from an Appalachian Mountaintop Mining Site Induces Microvascular Dysfunction. (15th February 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Knuckles, Travis L.; Stapleton, Phoebe A.; Minarchick, Valerie C.; Esch, Laura; McCawley, Michael; Hendryx, Michael; Nurkiewicz, Timothy R.
• Is Part Of: Microcirculation. Volume 20:Number 2(2013:Feb.)
• Page Start: 158
• Page End: 169
• Publication Date: 2013-02-15
• Subjects: Biological transport -- Periodicals; Microcirculation -- Physiology -- Periodicals; 612.135
• DOI: 10.1111/micc.12014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1073-9688

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en" id="micc12014-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="micc12014-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>Air pollution PM is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In Appalachia, PM from mining may represent a health burden to this sensitive population that leads the nation in cardiovascular disease, among others. Cardiovascular consequences following inhalation of PM<sub>MTM</sub> are unclear, but must be identified to establish causal effects.</p> </sec> <sec id="micc12014-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>PM was collected within 1 mile of an active MTM site in southern WV. The PM was extracted and was primarily <10 μm in diameter (PM<sub>10</sub>), consisting largely of sulfur (38%) and silica (24%). Adult male rats were IT with 300 μg PM<sub>MTM</sub>. Twenty‐four hours following exposure, rats were prepared for intravital microscopy, or isolated arteriole experiments.</p> </sec> <sec id="micc12014-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>PM<sub>MTM</sub> exposure blunted endothelium‐dependent dilation in mesenteric and coronary arterioles by 26%, and 25%, respectively, as well as endothelium‐independent dilation. <italic>In vivo</italic>, PM<sub>MTM</sub> exposure inhibited endothelium‐dependent arteriolar dilation (60% reduction). α‐adrenergic receptor blockade inhibited PVNS‐induced vasoconstriction in exposed animals compared with sham.</p> </sec> <sec id="micc12014-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>These data suggest that PM<sub>MTM</sub> exposure impairs microvascular function in disparate microvascular beds, through alterations in NO‐mediated dilation and sympathetic nerve influences. Microvascular dysfunction may contribute to cardiovascular disease in regions with MTM sites.</p> </sec> </abstract>