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21 pages, 10935 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analyzing the Impact of Diesel Exhaust Particles on Lung Fibrosis Using Dual PCR Array and Proteomics: YWHAZ Signaling

by Byeong-Gon Kim, Pureun-Haneul Lee, Jisu Hong and An-Soo Jang

Toxics 2023, 11(10), 859; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11100859 - 13 Oct 2023

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Air pollutants are associated with exacerbations of asthma, chronic bronchitis, and airway inflammation. Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) can induce and worsen lung diseases. However, there are insufficient data to guide polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array proteomics studies regarding the impacts of DEPs on [...] Read more.

Air pollutants are associated with exacerbations of asthma, chronic bronchitis, and airway inflammation. Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) can induce and worsen lung diseases. However, there are insufficient data to guide polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array proteomics studies regarding the impacts of DEPs on respiratory diseases. This study was performed to identify genes and proteins expressed in normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and proteins expressed in NHBE cells exposed to DEPs at 1 μg/cm² for 8 h and 24 h were identified using PCR array analysis and 2D PAGE/LC-MS/MS, respectively. YWHAZ gene expression was estimated using PCR, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemical analyses. Genes discovered through an overlap analysis were validated in DEP-exposed mice. Proteomics approaches showed that exposing NHBE cells to DEPs led to changes in 32 protein spots. A transcriptomics PCR array analysis showed that 6 of 84 miRNAs were downregulated in the DEP exposure groups compared to controls. The mRNA and protein expression levels of YWHAZ, β-catenin, vimentin, and TGF-β were increased in DEP-treated NHBE cells and DEP-exposed mice. Lung fibrosis was increased in mice exposed to DEPs. Our combined PCR array–omics analysis demonstrated that DEPs can induce airway inflammation and lead to lung fibrosis through changes in the expression levels of YWHAZ, β-catenin, vimentin, and TGF-β. These findings suggest that dual approaches can help to identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets involved in pollutant-related respiratory diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Allergic Diseases (Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis, Atopic Dermatitis) and Air Pollution)

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17 pages, 4427 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Machine Learning Big Data Analysis of the Impact of Air Pollutants on Rhinitis-Related Hospital Visits

by Soyeon Lee, Changwan Hyun and Minhyeok Lee

Toxics 2023, 11(8), 719; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11080719 - 21 Aug 2023

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Abstract

This study seeks to elucidate the intricate relationship between various air pollutants and the incidence of rhinitis in Seoul, South Korea, wherein it leveraged a vast repository of data and machine learning techniques. The dataset comprised more than 93 million hospital visits ( [...] Read more.

This study seeks to elucidate the intricate relationship between various air pollutants and the incidence of rhinitis in Seoul, South Korea, wherein it leveraged a vast repository of data and machine learning techniques. The dataset comprised more than 93 million hospital visits (n = 93,530,064) by rhinitis patients between 2013 and 2017. Daily atmospheric measurements were captured for six major pollutants: PM

_{10}

, PM

_{2.5}

, O₃, NO₂, CO, and SO₂. We employed traditional correlation analyses alongside machine learning models, including the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), random forest (RF), and gradient boosting machine (GBM), to dissect the effects of these pollutants and the potential time lag in their symptom manifestation. Our analyses revealed that CO showed the strongest positive correlation with hospital visits across all three categories, with a notable significance in the 4-day lag analysis. NO₂ also exhibited a substantial positive association, particularly with outpatient visits and hospital admissions and especially in the 4-day lag analysis. Interestingly, O₃ demonstrated mixed results. Both PM

_{10}

and PM

_{2.5}

showed significant correlations with the different types of hospital visits, thus underlining their potential to exacerbate rhinitis symptoms. This study thus underscores the deleterious impacts of air pollution on respiratory health, thereby highlighting the importance of reducing pollutant levels and developing strategies to minimize rhinitis-related hospital visits. Further research considering other environmental factors and individual patient characteristics will enhance our understanding of these intricate dynamics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Allergic Diseases (Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis, Atopic Dermatitis) and Air Pollution)

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16 pages, 3366 KiB

Open AccessArticle

TiO₂-Photocatalyst-Induced Degradation of Dog and Cat Allergens under Wet and Dry Conditions Causes a Loss in Their Allergenicity

by Ryosuke Matsuura, Arisa Kawamura, Rizo Ota, Takashi Fukushima, Kazuhiro Fujimoto, Masato Kozaki, Misaki Yamashiro, Junichi Somei, Yasunobu Matsumoto and Yoko Aida

Toxics 2023, 11(8), 718; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11080718 - 21 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1868

Abstract

Allergies to dogs and cats can cause enormous damage to human health and the economy. Dog and cat allergens are mainly found in dog and cat dander and are present in small particles in the air and in carpets in homes with dogs [...] Read more.

Allergies to dogs and cats can cause enormous damage to human health and the economy. Dog and cat allergens are mainly found in dog and cat dander and are present in small particles in the air and in carpets in homes with dogs and cats. Cleaning houses and washing pets are the main methods for reducing allergens in homes; however, it is difficult to eliminate them completely. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether a TiO₂ photocatalyst could degrade dog and cat allergens. Under wet conditions, exposure to the TiO₂ photocatalyst for 24 h degraded Can f1, which is a major dog allergen extracted from dog dander, by 98.3%, and Fel d1, which is a major cat allergen extracted from cat dander, by 93.6–94.4%. Furthermore, under dry conditions, the TiO₂ photocatalyst degraded Can f1 and Fel d1 by 92.8% and 59.2–68.4%, respectively. The TiO₂ photocatalyst abolished the binding of dog and cat allergens to human IgE by 104.6% and 108.6%, respectively. The results indicated that the TiO₂ photocatalyst degraded dog and cat allergens, causing a loss in their allergenicity. Our results suggest that TiO₂ photocatalysis can be useful for removing indoor pet allergens and improving the partnership between humans and pets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Allergic Diseases (Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis, Atopic Dermatitis) and Air Pollution)

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