[Fine particles pollution and its impact on the expression of inflammation cytokine IL-6]

To investigate fine particles (PM2.5) pollution and its impact on the expression of inflammation cytokine IL-6. Two cities, namely Taiyuan and Beijing, were selected to represent two different types of air pollution. Classification air sampler was used for PM2.5 collection in the air, and weighting method was used to analyze PM2.5 mass concentration. B (a) P in PM2.5 was extracted by methyl alcohol using ultrasonic method and Pb in PM2.5 was dissolved in nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide. Human alveolar epithelial cell line (A549) was used as target cell. Concentration of inflammation cytokine IL-6 was measured by an ELISA kit and, the mRNA expression of IL-6 was measured by RT-PCR while A549 cells were incubated with PM2.5 in different doses. Air Quality Standard for PM2.5 of U S EPA was applied as the reference. The percentage and multiple of exceeding standard of PM2.5 concentration of Taiyuan winter, Beijing winter and Beijing spring were 100%, 4.23; 90.6%, 2.62; 97.4%, 2.53 respectively. B(a) P in Taiyuan winter and Beijing winter were 5.86, 1.09 micrograms/100 m3) respectively that was over the standard. Pb level of particle matter in two cities was under the Air Guality Standard of Residential Area in China. It was showed an increase of protein concentration and mRNA expression of IL-6 in A549 cultured with PM2.5 compared with untreated cells, presenting a dose-effect relationship. It is suggested that PM2.5 pollution was relatively heavy in the study areas and showed inflammation damage toxicity.