Effects of Air Pollution-Related Heavy Metals on the Viability and Inflammatory Responses of Human Airway Epithelial Cells

Abstract

Various metals produced from human activity are ubiquitously detected in ambient air. The metals may lead to induction and/or exacerbation of respiratory diseases, but the significant metals and factors contributing to such diseases have not been identified. To compare the effects of each metal and different oxidation states of metals on human airway, we examined the viability and production of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 using BEAS-2B cell line, derived from human airway epithelial cells. Airway epithelial cells were exposed to Mn(2+), V(4+), V(5+), Cr(3+), Cr(6+), Zn(2+), Ni(2+), and Pb(2+) at a concentration of 0.5, 5, 50, or 500 μmol/L for 24 hours. Mn and V decreased the cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner, and V(5+) tended to have a greater effect than V(4+). The Cr decreased the cell viability, and (Cr(+6)) at concentrations of 50 and 500 μmol/L was more toxic than (Cr(+3)). Zn at a concentration of 500 μmol/L greatly decreased the cell viability, whereas Ni at the same concentration increased it. Pb produced fewer changes. Mn and Ni at a concentration of 500 μmol/L induced the significant production of IL-6 and IL-8. However, most of the metals including (V(+4), V(+5)), (Cr(+3), Cr(+6)), Zn, and Pb inhibited the production of both IL-6 and IL-8. The present results indicate that various heavy metals have different effects on toxicity and the proinflammatory responses of airway epithelial cells, and those influences also depend on the oxidation states of the metals.

Aqueous and organic extract of PM2.5 collected in different seasons and cities of Japan differently affect respiratory and immune systems

“…Ott et al (2004) proposed that a chronic inhalation of Mo may induce subclinical alveolitis. Moreover, Honda et al (2015) concluded that Ni and Zn are also responsible for low cell viability in a certain dose range, which supports our present findings of negative correlations for these two metals as well. An occupational health study established that Co associated with other metals has a respiratory effect as allergic hypersensitivity (Cugell et al 1990).…”

“…A negative correlation was revealed between some heavy metals and cell viability, and we selected the five most highly correlated metals for a discussion of their cytotoxicity: Mn, Mo, Zn, Co and Ni (Table 1). Previous study Honda et al (2015) showed that TC50 values (concentration that reduces cell viability to 50%) of Mn +2 in airway epithelial cells were as low as 3.0µM. Mn has a proven neurological effect and also increased the risk of lung cancer (Mirmohammadi 2014).…”

The effect of subacute lead exposure on selected blood inflammatory biomarkers and angiogenetic factors

“…In vitro studies have demonstrated dose-dependent immunomodulatory effects of Pb 17 , 18) , and human studies have found that occupational lead exposure is associated with altered levels of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines, although the majority of studies focus only on chronic lead exposure. Valentino et al 6) reported higher plasma TNF-α in workers chronically exposed to Pb (BLL = 9.1-46.0 μg/d l ) compared to non-exposed workers.…”

Using a Particle Counter to Inform the Creation of Similar Exposure Groups and Sampling Protocols in a Structural Steel Fabrication Facility

“…Plasma cutting, and the grinding and drilling of mild steel all create a significant amount of respirable particulate, with 42% of particulate generated below 2 µm, and grinding and drilling producing a full third and 20% below 1 µm, respectively [30,31]. This presents a challenge, as plasma table operators are likely to have a similar amount of exposures as other beamline operators, and yet are exposed to the oxides of metal, rather than elemental metal, and oxidation states do affect toxicodynamics [32,33]. In practice, the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code does not distinguish between elemental and oxides of iron or manganese [27] which makes mechanically and thermally generated metal exposure comparable, and allows plasma drill and beamline operators to belong to the same SEG.…”