Multiple epidemiological and experimental studies report that acute or chronic exposure to air pollution is associated with adverse cardiovascular events including myocardial ischemia, stroke, arrhythmias, heart failure, sudden cardiac arrest and atherogenesis. These effects of air pollution are most strongly correlated with fine and ultrafine particulate matter (PM) fractions which are generated directly from the combustion of fossil fuels and are found in automobile exhaust, wood or coal smoke and industrial emission from smelters, paper or steel mills or cement plants. A common feature of PM-associated cardiovascular disorders is the establishment and maintenance of a dysfunctional endothelium. Because endothelial dysfunction is an early symptom of cardiovascular disease and an important factor in acute thrombotic complications of atherosclerosis such as stable and unstable angina, myocardial infarction, and ischemic stroke, it could be a key mediator of the cardiovascular toxicity associated with PM exposure. The adult endothelium is a differentiated cell layer that provides a non-thrombotic interface between parenchymal cells and peripheral blood. Damages due to normal """"""""wear-and-tear"""""""" in this layer are repaired by the mobilization and homing of bone-marrow resident pluripotent cells or endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which also promote angiogenesis and wound healing. We have recently identified a negative correlation between PM exposure and circulating EPC level. Here, we hypothesize that defects in EPC mobilization or function are a consequence of PM-induced systemic inflammation induced by oxidative stress. We will test this hypothesis in three aims. First we will examine PM-induced changes in EPC populations in the peripheral blood and bone marrow of mice exposed to concentrated ambient air particles (CAPS) or filtered air. We will determine the time course of these effects, whether there is a mobilization defect per se, whether specific populations and locations of EPC are affected and whether this response is selective to EPCs or other stem cells such as the hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells are affected as well. In addition we will measure circulating levels of EPC-derived microparticles to test whether exposure to PM increases EPC activation or cell death.
The second aim i s to delineate the mechanisms by which PM exposure affects EPC function. For this, we will assess how exposure to CAPs affects the ability of EPCs to grow, differentiate, migrate and promote wound healing. We will examine whether these changes in EPC are accompanied by an increase in systemic inflammation and oxidative stress and whether antioxidant interventions or strategies to increase NO availability would prevent PM-induced deficits in EPC number and function. Finally, Aim 3 is to examine whether PM-induced changes in human peripheral blood EPC number and function are accompanied by an increase in systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and microparticle or miRNA biomarkers and whether anti-oxidant intervention could reverse such changes. Successful completion of this project will provide novel insights into the cardiovascular toxicity of PM and how it affects the abundance and the reparative capacity of stem cells. Findings of this project could also form the basis for the development of new biomarkers of PM exposure or new strategies to mitigate PM toxicity.

Public Health Relevance

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution is strongly correlated with the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, increased thrombosis, myocardial infarction, and stroke. These cardiovascular pathologies are characterized by a dysfunctional endothelium and its inefficient repair by pluripotent cells or endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). Thus in this proposal, we test the hypothesis that the cardiotoxicity resulting from PM exposure is a consequence of PM-induced deficits in EPC number or function.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01ES019217-03
Application #
8508267
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-CVRS-C (02))
Program Officer
Nadadur, Srikanth
Project Start
2011-09-23
Project End
2016-04-30
Budget Start
2013-05-01
Budget End
2014-04-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$527,641
Indirect Cost
$111,757
Name
University of Louisville
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
057588857
City
Louisville
State
KY
Country
United States
Zip Code
40292
Riggs, Daniel W; Yeager, Ray A; Bhatnagar, Aruni (2018) Defining the Human Envirome: An Omics Approach for Assessing the Environmental Risk of Cardiovascular Disease. Circ Res 122:1259-1275
Pope 3rd, C Arden; Cohen, Aaron J; Burnett, Richard T (2018) Cardiovascular Disease and Fine Particulate Matter: Lessons and Limitations of an Integrated Exposure-Response Approach. Circ Res 122:1645-1647
Zafar, Nagma; Krishnasamy, Sathya S; Shah, Jasmit et al. (2018) Circulating angiogenic stem cells in type 2 diabetes are associated with glycemic control and endothelial dysfunction. PLoS One 13:e0205851
Haberzettl, Petra; Conklin, Daniel J; Abplanalp, Wesley T et al. (2018) Inhalation of Fine Particulate Matter Impairs Endothelial Progenitor Cell Function Via Pulmonary Oxidative Stress. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 38:131-142
Bhatnagar, Aruni (2017) Environmental Determinants of Cardiovascular Disease. Circ Res 121:162-180
Bhatnagar, Aruni (2017) Response by Bhatnagar to Letter Regarding Article, ""Environmental Determinants of Cardiovascular Disease"". Circ Res 121:e81-e82
Conklin, Daniel J; Malovichko, Marina V; Zeller, Iris et al. (2017) Biomarkers of Chronic Acrolein Inhalation Exposure in Mice: Implications for Tobacco Product-Induced Toxicity. Toxicol Sci 158:263-274
Abplanalp, Wesley; DeJarnett, Natasha; Riggs, Daniel W et al. (2017) Benzene exposure is associated with cardiovascular disease risk. PLoS One 12:e0183602
Pope 3rd, C Arden; Bhatnagar, Aruni; McCracken, James P et al. (2016) Exposure to Fine Particulate Air Pollution Is Associated With Endothelial Injury and Systemic Inflammation. Circ Res 119:1204-1214
Haberzettl, Petra; O'Toole, Timothy E; Bhatnagar, Aruni et al. (2016) Exposure to Fine Particulate Air Pollution Causes Vascular Insulin Resistance by Inducing Pulmonary Oxidative Stress. Environ Health Perspect 124:1830-1839

Showing the most recent 10 out of 19 publications