Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) is a Risk Factor for Dermatitis by Promoting the Expression of Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP) in Keratinocytes

Fei Li; Yongpin Dong; Chunya Ni; Haidong Kan; Shuxian Yan

doi:10.4103/ijd.IJD_520_18

Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) is a Risk Factor for Dermatitis by Promoting the Expression of Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP) in Keratinocytes

Indian J Dermatol. 2020 Mar-Apr;65(2):92-96. doi: 10.4103/ijd.IJD_520_18.

Authors

Fei Li¹, Yongpin Dong², Chunya Ni¹, Haidong Kan³, Shuxian Yan¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
² Fuyuan (Shanghai) Biotechnology Co. LTD, Shanghai, China.
³ School of Public Health, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Abstract

Aim: Common indoor pollutants, as fine particulate matter (PM2.5), can damage people's health and cause skin allergies. However, it remains unknown which common pollutants can lead to allergy, such as, in children atopic dermatitis, and what is the key molecule. This study aimed to investigate the thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) produced from keratinocytes after environmental pollutant stimulation.

Methods: PAM212 cells were treated by several pollutants, including PM2.5, formaldehyde, m-xylene, and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, and tried to analyze their relationships. The mRNA expression level of TSLP was determined by qPCR. The protein level of TSLP was detected by ELISA analysis.

Results: The mRNA expression of TSLP was significantly up-regulated when PAM212 cells were stimulated by PM2.5 at 25 μg/ml for 12 h. Meanwhile, the protein level of TSLP in culture supernatant was increased. However, TSLP protein production was not detected in culture supernatant treated with formaldehyde, m-xylene, and 1, 2, 4-trimethylbenzene.

Conclusion: PM2.5 promotes the expression of TSLP and may aggravate allergic response using this pathway.

Keywords: Atopic dermatitis; PM2.5; keratinocyte cell; thymic stromal lymphopoietin.