Diesel exhaust particulates affect cell signaling, mucin profiles, and apoptosis in trachea explants of Balb/C mice.
Particulate matter from diesel exhaust (DEP) has toxic properties and can activate intracellular signaling pathways and induce metabolic changes. This study was conducted to evaluate the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and to analyze the mucin profile (acid (AB(+) ), neutral (PAS(+) ), or mixed (AB/PAS(+) ) mucus) and vacuolization (V) of tracheal explants after treatment with 50 or 100 μg/mL DEP for 30 or 60 min. Western blot analyses showed small increases in ERK1/2 and JNK phosphorylation after 30 min of 100 μg/mL DEP treatment compared with the control. An increase in JNK phosphorylation was observed after 60 min of treatment with 50 μg/mL DEP compared with the control. We did not observe any change in the level of ERK1/2 phosphorylation after treatment with 50 μg/mL DEP. Other groups of tracheas were subjected to histological sectioning and stained with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reagent and Alcian Blue (AB). The stained tissue sections were then subjected to morphometric analysis. The results obtained were compared using ANOVA. Treatment with 50 μg/mL DEP for 30 min or 60 min showed a significant increase (p < 0.001) in the amount of acid mucus, a reduction in neutral mucus, a significant reduction in mixed mucus, and greater vacuolization. Our results suggest that compounds found in DEPs are able to activate acid mucus production and enhance vacuolization and cell signaling pathways, which can lead to airway diseases.
Laboratory of Experimental Air Pollution, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Robson
R
Seriani
Central Biotery Laboratory, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Mara de Souza
Mde S
Junqueira
Experimental Therapeutics Laboratory, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Alessandra Choqueta
AC
de Toledo
Experimental Therapeutics Laboratory, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Milton Arruda
MA
Martins
Department of Chemistry Engineering, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Marcelo
M
Seckler
Department of General Physics - Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Adriano Mesquita
AM
Alencar
Laboratory of Experimental Air Pollution, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Elnara Marcia
EM
Negri
Laboratory of Experimental Air Pollution, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Luiz Fernando Ferraz
LF
Silva
Laboratory of Experimental Air Pollution, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Thaís
T
Mauad
Laboratory of Experimental Air Pollution, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Paulo Hilário Nascimento
PH
Saldiva
Laboratory of Experimental Air Pollution, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Mariangela
M
Macchione
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009077:Mucins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000633:toxicity*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D009077:Mucins; D052638:Particulate Matter; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
DEP; MAPK; biomarkers; explants; histopathology; signal transduction