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IN VITRO CARDIAC CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION PARTICLE CONSTITUENTS
Citation:
Knuckles, T., R. H. Jaskot, J. E. Richards, AND K L. Dreher. IN VITRO CARDIAC CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION PARTICLE CONSTITUENTS. Presented at Experimental Biology Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 20-24, 2002.
Description:
In Vitro Cardiac Cellular and Molecular Effects of Air Pollution Particle Constituents
Travis L. Knuckles1, Richard Jaskot2, Judy Richards2, and Kevin L. Dreher2. 1North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC 27606, 2USEPA, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711.
Epidemiology studies have shown an association between air particulate pollution levels and increased cardiopulmonary mortality. However, the biological mechanisms responsible for these associations are currently not known. This study begins to examine the cellular and molecular effects of air pollution particle bioavailable constituents on rat neonatal cardiomyocytes (RNCM). RNCM were exposed to saline or a particle free leachate of oil fly ash (OFA-L) at a concentration which mimics levels present in the plasma of rats following pulmonary exposure to these particles. RNCM cytotoxicity was monitored by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release while gene induction was monitored by RT-PCR. Exposure of RNCM to OFA-L (25mg/mL) led to a maximal 16-fold increase in LDH release relative to control cultures at 24 hours post-exposure. In addition, OFA-L exposure induced a 1.5-fold increase in c-fos mRNA expression relative to control as early as 6 hours post-exposure. These results suggest that bioavailable constituents of OFA are capable of eliciting potentially adverse cellular and molecular effects on cardiomyocytes. (This abstract does not necessarily reflect USEPA policy)