Journal Article

Fine Particulate Air Pollution and the Expression of microRNAs and Circulating Cytokines Relevant to Inflammation, Coagulation, and Vasoconstriction

Cai, Jing, Zhao, Zhuohui, Niu, Yue, Wang, Cuicui, Li, Weihua, Li, Huichu, Liu, Cong, Lin, Zhijing, Chen, Renjie, Kan, Haidong

2018

Overview

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a key factor in epigenetic regulation of gene expression, but miRNA responses to fine particulate matter (PM ) air pollution and their potential contribution to cardiovascular effects of PM are unknown. We explored the potential influence of PM on the expression of selected cytokines relevant to systemic inflammation, coagulation, and vasoconstriction, and on miRNAs that may regulate their expression. We designed a double-blind, randomized crossover study in which true and sham air purifiers were used to expose 55 healthy young adult students in Shanghai, China, to reduced or ambient levels of indoor PM during two-week periods, and we measured the expression (mRNA and protein) of 10 serum cytokines, and miRNAs that target them, after each intervention period. We used linear mixed-effect models to estimate associations of the intervention, and time-weighted personal PM exposures, with the cytokines, mRNA, and miRNAs; we also explored potential mediation by miRNAs. The findings were generally consistent for associations with the intervention and for associations with an interquartile range increase in time-weighted PM . Specifically, higher PM exposure was positively associated with the expression (mRNA, protein, or both) of interleukin-1 (encoded by ), IL6, tumor necrosis factor (encoded by ), toll-like receptor 2 (encoded by ), coagulation factor 3 (encoded by ), and endothelin 1 (encoded by ), and was negatively associated with miRNAs (miR-21-5p, miR-187-3p, miR-146a-5p, miR-1-3p, and miR-199a-5p) predicted to target mRNAs of , , , and . Our findings require confirmation but suggest that effects of PM on cardiovascular diseases may be related to acute effects on cytokine expression, which may be partly mediated through effects of PM on miRNAs that regulate cytokine expression. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1447.

• Publisher: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences,Environmental Health Perspectives
• Subject: Acute effects / Adolescent / Air pollution / Air purification / Airborne particulates / Blood Coagulation - physiology / Cardiovascular disease / Cardiovascular diseases / Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology / Cardiovascular Diseases - genetics / China / Coagulation / Cross-Over Studies / Cytokines / Cytokines - blood / Cytokines - genetics / Development and progression / Dormitories / Double-Blind Method / Endothelin 1 / Endothelins / Environmental Exposure - adverse effects / Enzymes / Epigenetics / Exposure / Female / Gene expression / Gene Expression Regulation / Genetic aspects / Health aspects / Health care / Heart diseases / Humans / Immune response regulation / Immune system / Indoor air quality / Inflammation / Inflammation - etiology / Inflammation - genetics / Interleukin 1 / Interleukin 6 / Interleukins / Linear Models / Male / MicroRNA / MicroRNAs / MicroRNAs - genetics / miRNA / Outdoor air quality / Particulate matter / Particulate Matter - adverse effects / Particulate pollutants / Pollutants / Proteins / Public health / Ribonucleic acid / Risk factors / RNA / TLR2 protein / Toll-like receptors / Tumor necrosis factor / Tumor necrosis factor-TNF / Vasoconstriction / Vasoconstriction - physiology / Young Adult