Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
Volume 214, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113797
Keywords
Fine particulate matter; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; Platelet mitochondrial DNA methylation; Lung function
Funding
- National Key R&D Program of China [2017YFC0211604]
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [82103888, 82073525, 81971416, 81872664, 81573124]
- Beijing Natural Science Foundation [7214279]
- Scientific Research Translational Foundation of Wenzhou Safety (Emergency) Institute of Tianjin University [TJUWYY2022019]
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology [2020hjdl04]
- Scientific Research Translational Foundation of Wenzhou Safety (Emergency) Institute of Tianjin University, China
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This study found an association between occupational PM2.5 exposure and epigenetic changes in the mitochondrial genome, which subsequently led to adverse health outcomes. The study also revealed that platelet mitochondrial DNA methylation acted as an intermediary between PAH exposure and lung function decline.
Air pollution exposure has been found to be associated with epigenetic modification of the mitochondrial genome, which could subsequently induce adverse health outcomes. However, very limited studies exist regarding the association between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure and pulmonary function at the molecular level of mitochondrial epigenetic changes. This study aimed to investigate the association of platelet mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) methylation with occupational PM2.5 exposure and pulmonary function. First, 768 participants were occupationally exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-enriched PM2.5 in a coke-oven plant in East China. The levels of PM2.5, PAH components bound to PM2.5, and urinary PAH metabolites in the workplace environment were measured as an internal dose, respectively. mtDNA methylation was measured by bisulfite pyrosequencing of two genes of ATP synthase (MT-ATP6 and MT-ATP8). Mediation analysis was conducted to evaluate the role of mtDNA methylation in pulmonary alteration induced by PAH. A decreasing trend of platelet mtDNA methylation was observed with increase in PM2.5 exposure across all participants. As an important PAH metabolite in urine, 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) was significantly negatively associated with FEV1/FVC (Forced Expiratory Volume in 1s/Forced Vital Capacity) ratio. The participants with high serum folate levels (>10 nmol/L) showed positive association between MT-ATP6 methylation and FEV1/FVC ratio. Mediation analysis suggested that MT-ATP6 methylation mediated the significant association of urinary 1-OHP with FEV1/FVC. Our findings suggested the methylation of platelet mitochondrial gene MT-ATP6 and FEV1/FVC to be negatively associated with PM exposure. Platelet mtDNA methylation acted as an intermediary between PAH exposure and lung function decline. The mitochondrial epigenetic regulation in platelets, in response to PM exposure, might be involved in subsequent progress of abnormal pulmonary function.
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