PM2.5 induces endothelial dysfunction via activating NLRP3 inflammasome. Issue 9 (26th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hu, Tingting; Zhu, Ping; Liu, Yihai; Zhu, Haoran; Geng, Jin; Wang, Bingjian; Yuan, Guoliang; Peng, Yuzhu; Xu, Biao
• Is Part Of: Environmental toxicology. Volume 36:Issue 9(2021)
• Page Start: 1886
• Page End: 1893
• Publication Date: 2021-06-26
• Subjects: air pollution -- endothelial cells -- endothelial dysfunction -- NLRP3 inflammasome -- PM2.5; Water quality bioassay -- Periodicals; Water -- Pollution -- Toxicology -- Periodicals; Microbiological assay -- Periodicals; Toxicity testing -- Periodicals; Environmental toxicology -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollutants -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Écotoxicologie -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Périodiques; 615.902
• DOI: 10.1002/tox.23309
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1520-4081

Abstract

Abstract: PM2.5 (particulate matter <2.5 μm in diameter) is proven to contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. Endothelial cell dysfunction is the initial step of atherosclerosis. The underlying mechanisms of endothelial cell damage exposed to PM2.5 are still obscure. In our study, PM2.5 was administrated to C57BL/6 male mice by intranasal instillation for 2 weeks. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were also treated with PM2.5 to evaluate the adverse effect in vitro. The immunohistochemical staining of aortas showed that the expressions of proinflammatory cytokines and endothelial adhesion markers were significantly increased in PM2.5‐exposed mice than that in saline‐exposed mice. In vitro, PM2.5 could inhibit HUVECs viability and impair cell migration in a concentration‐dependent manner. Besides, PM2.5 exposure downregulated eNOS expression while upregulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Mechanistically, PM2.5 activated the NLRP3 inflammasome in HUVECs while knockdown of NLRP3 could effectively reverse the downregulation of eNOS expression and production of ROS after PM2.5 exposure. In summary, our data showed that PM2.5 could cause endothelial dysfunction, and probably via NLRP3 inflammasome activation.