Oxidative damage mediates the association between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and lung function

Abstract

Background: Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is related to decreased lung function. However, whether oxidative damage is involved in this relationship remains unclear. This study was aimed to explore the potential mediating role of oxidative DNA or lipid damage in the association between PAH exposure and lung function. Methods: The urinary levels of monohydroxy polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites (OH-PAHs) and lung function parameters were measured among 3367 participants from the baseline of the Wuhan-Zhuhai cohort. Urinary 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and 8-isoprostane (8-iso-PGF2α) were determined to evaluate the individuals' oxidative DNA and lipid damage degrees, respectively. Linear mixed models were used to investigate the associations of urinary OH-PAHs, 8-OHdG and 8-iso-PGF2α with lung function parameters. Mediation analysis was further conducted to assess the potential role of oxidative damage in the association between urinary OH-PAHs and lung function. Results: Each one-percentage increase in the sum of urinary OH-PAHs, high-molecular-weight or low-molecular-weight OH-PAHs (ƩOH-PAHs, ƩHMW OH-PAH or ƩLMW OH-PAHs, respectively) was associated with a 0.2152-, 0.2076-or 0.1985ml decrease in FEV 1 , and a 0.1891-, 0.2195-or 0.1634-ml decrease in FVC, respectively. Additionally, significantly positive dose-response relationships of ƩOH-PAHs, ƩHMW OH-PAH and ƩLMW OH-PAHs with urinary 8-OHdG or 8-iso-PGF2α, as well as an inverse dose-response relationship between urinary 8-OHdG and FVC, were observed (all P for trend < 0.05). Mediation analysis indicated that urinary 8-OHdG mediated 14.22% of the association between ƩHMW OH-PAH and FVC. Conclusion: Higher levels of oxidative DNA damage might be involved in the decreased levels of FVC caused by highmolecular-weight PAH exposure.

Variability in urinary biomarkers of human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and its association with oxidative stress

“…Several oxidative stress biomarkers (OSBs) have been identified as the products of these oxidation processes. Studies have examined the association of oxidative stress with PAH exposures ( Bortey-Sam et al 2017 ; Cao et al 2020b ). Nevertheless, the earlier studies have measured only a limited number of OSBs or select PAH metabolites.…”

Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Response in Populations of the Czech Republic Exposed to Various Levels of Environmental Pollutants

“…Unexpectedly, no significant associations of selected air pollutants (PM 2.5 , B[a]P) with either marker of oxidative stress were found. Both factors have previously been shown to be associated with oxidative damage [ 40 , 41 ], although negative results have also been reported [ 42 , 43 ]. While POPs have been shown to contribute to oxidative stress [ 36 , 44 ], for most of the studied molecules, we did not detect any significant effects.…”

A High Concentration of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Umbilical Cord Tissue is Associated with An Increased Risk For Fetal Neural Tube Defects

“…These substances easily reach the fetus by crossing the placental barrier and may adversely in uence the development of the fetus and the birth outcome (Ferguson et al, 2017;Huang et al, 2020). In humans, PAHs can be metabolized and transformed to produce reactive oxygen species, which can result in oxidative stress (Bortey-Sam et al, 2017;Cao et al, 2020;Ferguson et al, 2017;Zhang et al, 2020). Oxidative stress-induced DNA modi cation and lipid modi cation may adversely impact fetal neural tube development (Chang et al, 2003;James et al, 2004;Martín et al, 2004;Zhao et al, 2006).…”