title: Oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory response in rat heart to NO₂ inhalation exposure.
abstract: Epidemiological studies suggest that NO₂ inhalation is associated with adverse effects on heart-related health, however, existing experimental data lack relevant evidences. In this study, a role for oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory responses in the heart of rats treated with different concentrations of NO₂ (0, 5, 10 and 20 mg m⁻³) was investigated. Mild heart pathology occurred after 7-d exposure (6 h d⁻¹). Marked oxidative stress were induced as evaluated by reduction/induction of antioxidants (Cu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD and GPx) activity and increasing formation of MDA and PCO. Also, mRNA and protein biomarkers of vasoconstriction (ET-1, eNOS) and inflammation (TNF-α, IL-1β and ICAM-1) were up-regulated, and p53 mRNA expression, bax/bcl-2 ratio and the mean number of TUNEL-positive myocytes were increased as well. All the results implicate that NO₂ exerted injuries to mammals' heart, and the damage mechanisms were possibly associated with oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and inflammation.
authors.affiliation: College of Environment and Resource, Center of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, PR China.
authors.forename: Hongyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Guangke
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sang
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D019332:Endothelin-1; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide