INTRODUCTION: Studies have correlated living close to major roads with Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. However, the mechanisms responsible for this link remain unclear. METHODS: We exposed olfactory mucosa (OM) cells of healthy individuals and AD patients to diesel emissions (DE). Cytotoxicity of exposure was assessed, mRNA, miRNA expression, and DNA methylation analyses were performed. The discovered altered pathways were validated using data from the human population-based Rotterdam Study. RESULTS: DE exposure resulted in an almost four-fold higher response in AD OM cells, indicating increased susceptibility to DE effects. Methylation analysis detected different DNA methylation patterns, revealing new exposure targets. Findings were validated by analyzing data from the Rotterdam Study cohort and demonstrated a key role of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 signaling in responses to air pollutants. DISCUSSION: This study identifies air pollution exposure biomarkers and pinpoints key pathways activated by exposure. The data suggest that AD individuals may face heightened risks due to impaired cellular defenses. HIGHLIGHTS: Healthy and AD olfactory cells respond differently to DE exposure. AD cells are highly susceptible to DE exposure. The NRF2 oxidative stress response is highly activated upon air pollution exposure. DE-exposed AD cells activate the unfolded protein response pathway. Key findings are also confirmed in a population-based study.

• Klíčová slova
• Alzheimer's disease (AD), air pollution, air–liquid interface (ALI), heat shock protein (HSP), next‐generation sequencing (NGS), nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (NRF2), traffic emissions, traffic‐related air pollution (TRAP) olfactory mucosa (OM),
• MeSH
• Alzheimerova nemoc * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• čichová sliznice metabolismus   MeSH
• epigenomika MeSH
• faktor 2 související s NF-E2 genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• metylace DNA * MeSH
• mikro RNA metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• stanovení celkové genové exprese MeSH
• transkriptom MeSH
• výfukové emise vozidel * toxicita   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• faktor 2 související s NF-E2 MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch MeSH
• mikro RNA MeSH
• NFE2L2 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• výfukové emise vozidel * MeSH

Emissions from modern gasoline engines represent an environmental and health risk. In this study, we aimed to compare the toxicity of organic compound mixtures extracted from particulate matter (PM extracts) produced by neat gasoline (E0) and a blend containing 15% ethanol (E15), which is offered as an alternative to non-renewable fossil fuels. Human lung BEAS-2B cells were exposed to PM extracts, and biomarkers of genotoxicity, such as DNA damage evaluated by comet assay, micronuclei formation, levels of phosphorylated histone H2AX, the expression of genes relevant to the DNA damage response, and exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), were determined. Results showed that both PM extracts significantly increased the level of oxidized DNA lesions. The E0 extract exhibited a more pronounced effect, possibly due to the higher content of nitrated PAHs. Other endpoints were not substantially affected by any of the PM extracts. Gene expression analysis revealed mild but coordinated induction of genes related to DNA damage response, and a strong induction of PAH-inducible genes, indicating activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Our data suggest that the addition of ethanol into the gasoline diminished the oxidative DNA damage, but no effect on other genotoxicity biomarkers was observed. Activated AhR may play an important role in the toxicity of gasoline PM emissions.

• Klíčová slova
• alternative fuels, gasoline particulate emissions, genotoxicity, human pulmonary cell line, organic PM extracts, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Effects of airborne particles on the expression status of markers of cellular toxic stress and on the release of eicosanoids, linked with inflammation and oxidative damage, remain poorly characterized. Therefore, we proposed a set of various methodological approaches in order to address complexity of PM0.5-induced toxicity. For this purpose, we used a well-characterized model of A549 pulmonary epithelial cells exposed to a non-cytotoxic concentration of ambient aerosol particle fraction PM0.5 for 24 h. Electron microscopy confirmed accumulation of PM0.5 within A549 cells, yet, autophagy was not induced. Expression profiles of various cellular stress response genes that have been previously shown to be involved in early stress responses, namely unfolded protein response, DNA damage response, and in aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and p53 signaling, were analyzed. This analysis revealed induction of GREM1, EGR1, CYP1A1, CDK1A, PUMA, NOXA and GDF15 and suppression of SOX9 in response to PM0.5 exposure. Analysis of eicosanoids showed no oxidative damage and only a weak anti-inflammatory response. In conclusion, this study helps to identify novel gene markers, GREM1, EGR1, GDF15 and SOX9, that may represent a valuable tool for routine testing of PM0.5-induced in vitro toxicity in lung epithelial cells.

• Klíčová slova
• AhR, PM0.5, early stress response, eicosanoids, inflammation, p53, ultrafine particulate matter, unfolded protein response (UPR),
• MeSH
• aerosoly MeSH
• buňky A549 MeSH
• epitelové buňky metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch toxicita   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pevné částice toxicita   MeSH
• plíce metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• regulace genové exprese účinky léků   MeSH
• signální transdukce účinky léků   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• aerosoly MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch MeSH
• pevné částice MeSH