title: Pediatric respiratory and systemic effects of chronic air pollution exposure: nose, lung, heart, and brain pathology.
abstract: Exposures to particulate matter and gaseous air pollutants have been associated with respiratory tract inflammation, disruption of the nasal respiratory and olfactory barriers, systemic inflammation, production of mediators of inflammation capable of reaching the brain and systemic circulation of particulate matter. Mexico City (MC) residents are exposed to significant amounts of ozone, particulate matter and associated lipopolysaccharides. MC dogs exhibit brain inflammation and an acceleration of Alzheimer's-like pathology, suggesting that the brain is adversely affected by air pollutants. MC children, adolescents and adults have a significant upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in olfactory bulb and frontal cortex, as well as neuronal and astrocytic accumulation of the 42 amino acid form of beta -amyloid peptide (Abeta 42), including diffuse amyloid plaques in frontal cortex. The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by brain inflammation and the accumulation of Abeta 42, which precede the appearance of neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, the pathological hallmarks of AD. Our findings of nasal barrier disruption, systemic inflammation, and the upregulation of COX2 and IL-1beta expression and Abeta 42 accumulation in brain suggests that sustained exposures to significant concentrations of air pollutants such as particulate matter could be a risk factor for AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Lilian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calderón-Garcidueñas
authors.forename: Maricela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franco-Lira
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Torres-Jardón
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Henriquez-Roldán
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barragán-Mejía
authors.forename: Gildardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valencia-Salazar
authors.forename: Angelica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González-Maciel
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reynoso-Robles
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Villarreal-Calderón
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Reed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D004285:Dogs; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D009666:Nose / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014504:Urban Health
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter