PM2.5-bound metals and blood metals are associated with pulmonary function and Th17/Treg imbalance: A panel study of asthmatic adults

Nannan Liu; Dan Wang; Jiayu Tian; Xin Wang; Hao Shi; Caihong Wang; Yi Jiang; Min Pang; Xiaozhou Fan; Jing Zhao; Liangpo Liu; Hongyan Wu; Linlin Guan; Huiqiu Zheng; Dongxing Shi; Zhihong Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139869

PM_2.5-bound metals and blood metals are associated with pulmonary function and Th17/Treg imbalance: A panel study of asthmatic adults

Chemosphere. 2023 Nov:340:139869. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139869. Epub 2023 Aug 17.

Authors

Nannan Liu¹, Dan Wang¹, Jiayu Tian¹, Xin Wang¹, Hao Shi¹, Caihong Wang¹, Yi Jiang², Min Pang², Xiaozhou Fan³, Jing Zhao³, Liangpo Liu⁴, Hongyan Wu⁵, Linlin Guan¹, Huiqiu Zheng¹, Dongxing Shi¹, Zhihong Zhang⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China; Yellow River Basin Ecological Public Health Security Center, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention (Shanxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, China.
² Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
³ Shanxi Eco-Environmental Monitoring and Emergency Support Center (Shanxi Academy of Eco-Environmental Sciences), Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
⁴ Yellow River Basin Ecological Public Health Security Center, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention (Shanxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, China; Department of Sanitary Inspection, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
⁵ Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention (Shanxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, China; Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
⁶ Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China; Yellow River Basin Ecological Public Health Security Center, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention (Shanxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, China. Electronic address: zzh1973@sxmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37597628
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139869

Abstract

Growing research has demonstrated that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) was associated with decreased pulmonary function and obvious inflammatory response. However, few pieces of research focus on the effects of PM_2.5-bound metals on people with asthma. Here, we assessed whether PM_2.5 and PM_2.5-bound metals exposure could worsen pulmonary function in asthmatic patients and further elucidate the possible mechanisms. Thirty-four asthmatic patients were recruited to follow up for one year with eight visits in 2019-2020 in Taiyuan City, China. The index of pulmonary function was detected and blood and nasal epithelial lining fluid (ELF) samples were acquired for biomarkers measurement at each follow-up. Linear mixed-effect (LME) models were used to evaluate the relations between PM_2.5, PM_2.5-bound metals, and blood metals with lung function and biomarkers of Th17/Treg balance. The individual PM_2.5 exposure concentration varied from 37 μg/m³ to 194 μg/m³ (mean: 59.63 μg/m³) in the present study. An interquartile range (IQR) increment of PM_2.5 total mass was associated with a faster decline in maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) and higher interleukin-23 (IL-23). PM_2.5-bound metals [e.g. copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), titanium (Ti), and zinc (Zn)] were significantly associated with IL-23 (Cu: 5.1126%, 95% CI: 9.3708, 0.8544; Mn: 14.7212%, 95% CI: 27.926, 1.5164; Ni: 1.0269%, 95% CI: 2.0273, 0.0264; Ti: 16.7536%, 95% CI: 31.6203, 1.8869; Zn: 24.5806%, 95% CI: 46.609, 2.5522). Meanwhile, blood lead (Pb) and Cu were associated with significant declines of 0.382-3.895% in MMEF and maximum ventilatory volume (MVV). Blood Pb was associated with descending transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). In conclusion, exposure to PM_2.5-bound metals and blood metals is a risk factor for decreased pulmonary function, especially in small airways. These alterations might be partially attributed to the imbalance of Th17/Treg.

Keywords: Blood metals; Fine particulate matter; PM(2.5)-bound metals; Pulmonary function; Th17/Treg imbalance.

MeSH terms

Adult
Asthma*
Humans
Interleukin-23
Lead*
Lung
Manganese
Nickel
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
Titanium
Zinc

Substances

Lead
Zinc
Manganese
Nickel
Titanium
Interleukin-23