TITLE:
African Dust Storms Reaching Puerto Rican Coast Stimulate the Secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 and Cause Cytotoxicity to Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells (BEAS-2B)
AUTHORS:
Rosa I. Rodríguez-Cotto, Mario G. Ortiz-Martínez, Evasomary Rivera-Ramírez, Loyda B. Méndez, Julio C. Dávila, Braulio D. Jiménez-Vélez
KEYWORDS:
Dust Storm; Particulate Matter; Endotoxins; Metals; BEAS-2B Cells
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.5 No.10B,
October
29,
2013
ABSTRACT: African dust storm
events (ADE) travel across theAtlantic Ocean(ADEAO) and reach the Puerto Rican
coast (ADEPRC), potentially impacting air quality and human health. To what
extent seasonal variations in atmospheric particulate matter (PM) size
fractions, composition and sources trigger respiratory-adverse effects to Puerto
Ricans is still unclear. In the present study, we investigated the pro-inflammatory
and cytotoxic effects of PM samples harvested during ADEAO (PM10),
ADEPRC (PM2.5 and PM10) and Non-ADE (Pre-and Post-ADEAO
and Non-ADEPRC), using BEAS-2B cells. Endotoxins (ENX) in PM2.5 and
PM10 extracts and traces of metals (TMET) in PM2.5 extracts
were also examined. IL-6 and IL-8 secretion and cytotoxicity were used as endpoints.
ADEAO and ADEPRC extracts were found to be more cytotoxic than Non-ADE and
ADEAO were more toxic than ADEPRC extracts. PM10 extracts from ADEAO
and Post-ADEAO caused significant secretion of IL-8. IL-6 and IL-8 secretion
was higher following treatment with PM10 and PM2.5 ADEPRC
than with Non-ADEPRC extracts. ENX levels were found to be higher in PM10 ADEAO than in the rest of the samples tested.
TMET levels were higher in PM2.5 ADEPRC than in Non-ADEPRC
extracts. Deferoxamine significantly reduced cytotoxicity and IL-6 and IL-8
secretion whereas Polymyxin B did not. TMET in PM2.5 fractions is a
major determinant in ADEPRC-induced toxicity and work in conjunction with ENX
to cause toxicity to lung cells in vitro. ENX and TMET may be
responsible, in part, for triggering PM-respiratory adverse responses in
susceptible and predisposed individuals.