Abstract
Airborne particulate matter (PM) increases morbidity and mortality resulting from cardiopulmonary diseases including cancer. We hypothesized that PM is genotoxic to alveolar epithelial cells (AEC) by causing DNA damage and apoptosis. PM caused dose-dependent AEC DNA strand break formation, reductions in mitochondrial membrane potential (Delta psi m), caspase 9 activation, and apoptosis. An iron chelator and a free radical scavenger prevented these effects. Finally, overexpression of Bcl-xl, a mitochondrial anti-apoptotic protein, blocked PM-induced Delta psi m and DNA fragmentation. We conclude that PM causes AEC DNA damage and apoptosis by mechanisms that involve the mitochondria-regulated death pathway and the generation of iron-derived free radicals.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Apoptosis*
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Caspase 8
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Caspase 9
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Caspases / metabolism
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Chelating Agents / pharmacology
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DNA Damage*
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Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
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Free Radicals*
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Humans
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Intracellular Membranes / metabolism
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Iron / pharmacology
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Membrane Potentials
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Mitochondria / metabolism*
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Models, Biological
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
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Pulmonary Alveoli / drug effects*
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Pulmonary Alveoli / metabolism
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Reactive Oxygen Species
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Temperature
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Tumor Cells, Cultured
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bcl-X Protein
Substances
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BCL2L1 protein, human
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Chelating Agents
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Free Radicals
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
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Reactive Oxygen Species
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bcl-X Protein
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Iron
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CASP8 protein, human
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CASP9 protein, human
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Caspase 8
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Caspase 9
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Caspases