title: Organic extracts from African dust storms stimulate oxidative stress and induce inflammatory responses in human lung cells through Nrf2 but not NF-κB.
abstract: The health impact of the global African dust event (ADE) phenomenon in the Caribbean has been vaguely investigated. Heavy metals in ADE and non-ADE extracts were evaluated for the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant capacity by cells using, deferoxamine mesylate (DF) and N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC). Results show that ADE particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) induces ROS and stimulates oxidative stress. Pre-treatment with DF reduces ROS in ADE and Non-ADE extracts and in lung cells demonstrating that heavy metals are of utmost importance. Glutathione-S-transferase and Heme Oxygenase 1 mRNA levels are induced with ADE PM and reduced by DF and NAC. ADE extracts induced Nrf2 activity and IL-8 mRNA levels significantly more than Non-ADE. NF-κB activity was not detected in any sample. Trace elements and organic constituents in ADE PM2.5 enrich the local environment load, inducing ROS formation and activating antioxidant-signaling pathways increasing pro-inflammatory mediator expressions in lung cells.
authors.affiliation: University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, Department of Biochemistry, Puerto Rico; Center for Environmental and Toxicological Research, San Juan 00936, Puerto Rico. Electronic address: rosa.rodriguez5@upr.edu.
authors.forename: Rosa I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Cotto
authors.affiliation: University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, Department of Biochemistry, Puerto Rico; Center for Environmental and Toxicological Research, San Juan 00936, Puerto Rico. Electronic address: mariojlopr@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: Mario G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Martínez
authors.affiliation: University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, Department of Biochemistry, Puerto Rico; Center for Environmental and Toxicological Research, San Juan 00936, Puerto Rico. Electronic address: braulio.jimenez@upr.edu.
authors.forename: Braulio D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Vélez
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000378:metabolism; D000349:Africa; D000392:Air Movements; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D002460:Cell Line; D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004391:Dust; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi / Q000235:genetics; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000235:genetics; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011647:Puerto Rico; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; C508606:CXCL8 protein, human; D004391:Dust; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; D016328:NF-kappa B; C495635:NFE2L2 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C496541:HMOX1 protein, human; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; C496556:GSTP1 protein, human; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi; D003676:Deferoxamine; D000111:Acetylcysteine
keywords: African dust; Metals; Nrf2; Oxidative stress; Particulate matter; ROS