Diesel exhaust inhalation increases thrombus formation in man
Andrew J Lucking1, Magnus Lundback, Nicholas L Mills
1Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. andrew.lucking@btinternet.com
European Heart Journal
|October 28, 2008
Summary
Exposure to diesel exhaust significantly increases blood clot formation and platelet activation in men. This research suggests a link between air pollution and triggering acute myocardial infarction (MI).
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Cardiovascular Research
- Toxicology
Background:
- Traffic-derived air pollution is a known trigger for acute myocardial infarction (MI), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
- Diesel exhaust is a major component of urban air pollution, raising concerns about its cardiovascular effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of diesel exhaust inhalation on platelet activation and thrombus formation in healthy men.
- To explore potential mechanisms linking air pollution exposure to cardiovascular events like MI.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, randomized crossover study involving 20 healthy volunteers.
- Participants were exposed to dilute diesel exhaust (350 µg/m³) and filtered air.
- Measurements included ex vivo thrombus formation (Badimon chamber), platelet activation (flow cytometry), coagulation, and inflammatory markers at 2 and 6 hours post-exposure.
Main Results:
- Diesel exhaust inhalation significantly increased thrombus formation under both low (24%) and high (19%) shear conditions compared to filtered air.
- Increased thrombogenicity was observed at both 2 and 6 hours after exposure.
- Diesel exhaust exposure led to a significant increase in platelet-neutrophil (52%) and platelet-monocyte (30%) aggregates at 2 hours.
Conclusions:
- Inhalation of diesel exhaust promotes ex vivo thrombus formation and in vivo platelet activation in humans.
- These findings provide a plausible mechanistic link between exposure to combustion-derived air pollution and the triggering of acute myocardial infarction.
More Related Videos
09:33Formation of Covalent DNA Adducts by Enzymatically Activated Carcinogens and Drugs In Vitro and Their Determination by 32P-postlabeling
Published on: March 20, 2018
13.4K
07:35Aggravation of Myocardial Ischemia upon Particulate Matter Exposure in Atherosclerosis Animal Model
Published on: December 10, 2021
1.8K
Related Concept Videos
01:27Otto and Diesel Cycle
4.6K
An Otto engine is a four-stroke engine that uses a mixture of gasoline and air as the working fuel. The fuel is injected into the cylinder, and the piston is moved completely down so that the cylinder is at maximum volume. By moving the piston up, adiabatic compression takes place. The spark plug ignites the gasoline-air mixture, and the burning fuel adds heat to the system at a constant volume. The heated mixture expands adiabatically and gets further cooled by exhausting heat, and this cyclic...
4.6K
01:30Venous Thrombosis I: Introduction
822
Venous thrombosis, the most common disorder of the veins, involves the formation of a thrombus or blood clot associated with vein inflammation. It can be classified as either superficial vein thrombosis or deep vein thrombosis.Superficial Vein Thrombosis: This involves the formation of a thrombus in a superficial vein, usually the greater or lesser saphenous vein. Though less severe than deep vein thrombosis (DVT), SVT can lead to complications if untreated.Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): This...
822
01:29Pulmonary Embolism I: Introduction
1.5K
Pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when a thrombus, fat or air embolus, amniotic fluid, or tumor tissue blocks one or more pulmonary arteries. These blockages originate in the venous system or the right side of the heart.EtiologyPE primarily arises from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and other hypercoagulable states, such as inherited thrombophilias. Additional etiological factors include venous stasis, commonly seen in obesity, and endothelial injury from surgery and trauma. Less common causes include...
1.5K
01:29Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
749
Diagnosing Pulmonary EmbolismDiagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE) involves clinical assessment and advanced imaging tests. The preferred diagnostic tool is the spiral (helical) CT scan or CT angiography (CTA), which uses intravenous contrast media to visualize the pulmonary vasculature and identify emboli.A ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan is an alternative for patients unable to receive contrast media. This scan includes both perfusion and ventilation scanning. Perfusion scanning involves...
749
01:23Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease I: Introduction
33
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a common, preventable, and treatable respiratory disorder characterized by persistent symptoms and progressive airflow limitation. This limitation results from a combination of small-airway disease (obstructive bronchiolitis) and parenchymal destruction (emphysema), both driven by chronic inflammation from exposure to harmful particles or gases.The disease includes two main pathological entities: emphysema, marked by destruction of alveolar walls and...
33
01:19Pulmonary Embolism I: Introduction
39
A blood clot, or thrombus, is a semi-solid mass composed of fibrin, platelets, and red blood cells. When it forms within a vessel, it can obstruct blood flow, known as thrombosis. If part of the clot detaches, it becomes an embolus that can travel and block distant vessels. When this occurs in the pulmonary arteries, it causes a condition known as pulmonary embolism (PE).Origin and ImpactMost often, the embolus originates from a thrombus in the deep veins of the lower limbs, a condition called...
39