Environmental nanoparticles are significantly over-expressed in acute myeloid leukemia.
The increase in the incidence of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) may suggest a possible environmental etiology. PM2.5 was declared by IARC a Class I carcinogen. No report has focused on particulate environmental pollution together with AML. The study investigated the presence and composition of particulate matter in blood with a Scanning Electron Microscope coupled with an Energy Dispersive Spectroscope, a sensor capable of identifying the composition of foreign bodies. 38 peripheral blood samples, 19 AML cases and 19 healthy controls, were analyzed. A significant overload of particulate matter-derived nanoparticles linked or aggregated to blood components was found in AML patients, while almost absent in matched healthy controls. Two-tailed Student's t-test, MANOVA and Principal Component Analysis indicated that the total numbers of aggregates and particles were statistically different between cases and controls (MANOVA, P<0.001 and P=0.009 respectively). The particles detected showed to contain highly-reactive, non-biocompatible and non-biodegradable metals; in particular, micro- and nano-sized particles grouped in organic/inorganic clusters, with statistically higher frequency of a subgroup of elements in AML samples. The demonstration, for the first time, of an overload of nanoparticles linked to blood components in AML patients could be the basis for a possible, novel pathogenetic mechanism for AML development.
Hematology and Stem Cell Transplant Center, AORMN, Pesaro, Italy. Electronic address: pesarohematology@yahoo.it.
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Visani
Dept. of Earth, Life and Environment Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy.
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Manti
Dept. of Earth, Life and Environment Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy.
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Valentini
Dept. of Earth, Life and Environment Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy.
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Canonico
Hematology and Stem Cell Transplant Center, AORMN, Pesaro, Italy.
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Loscocco
Hematology and Stem Cell Transplant Center, AORMN, Pesaro, Italy.
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Isidori
Hematology and Stem Cell Transplant Center, AORMN, Pesaro, Italy.
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Gabucci
Dept. of Earth, Life and Environment Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy.
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Gobbi
Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy.
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Montanari
Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy.
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Rocchi
Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy.
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Papa
National Council of Research of Italy, Institute for the Science and Technology of Ceramic Materials, Faenza, Italy.
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Gatti
D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000097:blood; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008670:Metals
Acute myeloid leukemia; Environmental pollution; Forensic pathology; Metals; Nanoparticles; Oxidation