title: Fine environmental particulate engenders alterations in human lung epithelial A549 cells.
abstract: Particulate matter (PM), a component of urban air pollution that derives primarily from the combustion of fossil fuels, is responsible for a number of health effects in humans. Recent studies have demonstrated that the fine particles (PM(2.5)) present in high numbers in PM samples can be more harmful than larger particles, since they are more efficiently retained in the peripheral lung. In the present study, we have investigated the biological effects of PM(2.5) on human lung epithelial cell line A549. Morphological analysis performed by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy showed that fine particles interact with the cell surface, where they induce evident alterations and, subsequently, are internalized in the cytoplasm. Cytoskeletal components, in particular microfilaments and microtubules, cause modifications upon challenge with PM(2.5). Of interest, an early cell response to the fine particulate is an increase of reactive oxygen species content, which can account for the observed cytoskeletal changes and the production of proinflammatory cytokines in A549 cells. In particular, exposure to PM(2.5) promoted a dose- and time-dependent release of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in the cell medium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrastructures, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Annarica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calcabrini
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meschini
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marra
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Falzano
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colone
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: De Berardis
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paoletti
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arancia
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiorentini
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D017304:Annexin A5; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D007558:Italy; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010316:Particle Size; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D017304:Annexin A5; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D015850:Interleukin-6; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha