Combined toxic effect of airborne heavy metals on human lung cell line A549

Abstract

Many studies have demonstrated that heavy metals existing as a mixture in the atmospheric environment cause adverse effects on human health and are important key factors of cytotoxicity; however, little investigation has been conducted on a toxicological study of a metal mixture from atmospheric fine particulate matter. The objective of this study was to predict the combined effects of heavy metals in aerosol by using in vitro human cells and obtain a suitable mixture toxicity model. Arsenic, nickel, and lead were selected for mixtures exposed to A549 human lung cancer cells. Cell proliferation (WST-1), glutathione (GSH), and interleukin (IL)-8 inhibition were observed and applied to the prediction models of mixture toxicity, concentration addition (CA) and independent action (IA). The total mixture concentrations were set by an IC-fixed ratio of individual toxicity to be more realistic for mortality and enzyme inhibition tests. The results showed that the IA model was statistically closer to the observed results than the CA model in mortality, indicating dissimilar modes of action. For the GSH inhibition, the results predicted by the IA and CA models were highly overestimated relative to mortality. Meanwhile, the IL-8 results were stable with no significant change in immune reaction related to inflammation. In conclusion, the IA model is a rapid prediction model in heavy metals mixtures; mortality, as a total outcome of cell response, is a good tool for demonstrating the combined toxicity rather than other biochemical responses.

In vitro lung toxicity of indoor PM10 from a stove fueled with different biomasses

“…Particulate matter (PM10) was sampled on filters by gravimetric technique and PAHs, metals content and particles morphology were investigated. The cytotoxic effect of PM10 was analyzed on the human alveolar A549 cells, that represent an extensively used model for inhalation toxicology purposes, and in particular for the PM cytotoxic effect (Chirino et al, 2017;Choi et al, 2016;Gualtieri et al, 2012;Kasurinen et al, 2017;Rossner et al, 2016).…”

In vitro impact preliminary assessment of airborne particulate from metalworking and woodworking industries

“…It has been shown by other authors that airborne heavy metals reduce. A549 viability in a concentration dependent way 28 . Our data are opposite to those observed with PM2.5 particles and urban air particulate pollutants, were viability was significantly reduced already at lowed concentrations than those tested in our study.…”

The role of NF-κB and AhR transcription factors in lead-induced lung toxicity in human lung cancer A549 cells

“…In addition, they have been extensively used with success as an experimental model for investigating the toxic effect of environmental toxicants such as heavy metals. For example, in 2018, Choi et al, has examined the combined effects of heavy metals using in vitro A549 human lung cancer cells (Choi et al 2018).…”