title: Acrolein Can Cause Cardiovascular Disease: A Review.
abstract: Acrolein is a highly reactive unsaturated aldehyde that is formed during the burning of gasoline and diesel fuels, cigarettes, woods and plastics. In addition, acrolein is generated during the cooking or frying of food with fats or oils. Acrolein is also used in the synthesis of many organic chemicals and as a biocide in agricultural and industrial water supply systems. The total emissions of acrolein in the United States from all sources are estimated to be 62,660 tons/year. Acrolein is classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a high-priority air and water toxicant. Acrolein can exert toxic effects following inhalation, ingestion, and dermal exposures that are dose dependent. Cardiovascular tissues are particularly sensitive to the toxic effects of acrolein based primarily on in vitro and in vivo studies. Acrolein can generate free oxygen radical stress in the heart, decrease endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylation and nitric oxide formation, form cytoplasmic and nuclear protein adducts with myocyte and vascular endothelial cell proteins and cause vasospasm. In this manner, chronic exposure to acrolein can cause myocyte dysfunction, myocyte necrosis and apoptosis and ultimately lead to cardiomyopathy and cardiac failure. Epidemiological studies of acrolein exposure and toxicity should be developed and treatment strategies devised that prevent or significantly limit acrolein cardiovascular toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, The James A. Haley Hospital, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL, 33612-3805, USA. robert.henning@va.gov.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Henning
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, The James A. Haley Hospital, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL, 33612-3805, USA.
authors.forename: Giffe T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, The James A. Haley Hospital, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL, 33612-3805, USA.
authors.forename: Jayme P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Coyle
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, The James A. Haley Hospital, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL, 33612-3805, USA.
authors.forename: Raymond D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Harbison
mesh_terms: D000171:Acrolein / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000073865:Cigarette Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D000171:Acrolein
keywords: Free oxygen radicals; Glutathione depletion; Protein adducts; Unsaturated aldehydes