Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Culturing of Human Nasal Epithelial Cells at the Air Liquid Interface
10:38

Culturing of Human Nasal Epithelial Cells at the Air Liquid Interface

Published on: October 8, 2013

38.5K

Air pollution particulate matter alters antimycobacterial respiratory epithelium innate immunity

César E Rivas-Santiago1, Srijata Sarkar1, Pasquale Cantarella1

  • 1Rutgers School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA.

Infection and Immunity
|April 8, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Air pollution particulate matter (PM) exposure impairs lung epithelial cells, reducing their ability to fight tuberculosis (TB). This increases Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth, potentially raising TB infection risk.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Immunology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Inhalation of indoor pollutants and cigarette smoke is linked to increased tuberculosis (TB) risk.
  • The impact of ambient air pollution particulate matter (PM) on host immune responses against Mycobacterium tuberculosis is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how PM2.5 and PM10 affect innate immune responses in human alveolar epithelial cells against M. tuberculosis.
  • To explore the mechanisms underlying PM-induced alterations in antimycobacterial defense.

Main Methods:

  • Human alveolar type II epithelial cells (A549 cell line) were exposed to PM2.5 and PM10 from Mexico City.
  • Antimicrobial peptide expression (HBD-2, HBD-3) and intracellular M. tuberculosis growth (CFU count) were measured.
  • Cellular senescence and viability were assessed in PM-exposed cells.

Main Results:

  • PM2.5 and PM10 exposure deregulated HBD-2 and HBD-3 expression in A549 cells upon M. tuberculosis infection.
  • Exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 led to increased intracellular M. tuberculosis growth.
  • PM exposure induced cellular senescence in A549 cells, independent of cell death.

Conclusions:

  • PM exposure impairs epithelial cell defense against M. tuberculosis by downregulating antimicrobial peptides (HBD-2, HBD-3) and inducing senescence.
  • These mechanisms may contribute to increased susceptibility to M. tuberculosis infection and TB development.
  • Air pollution particulate matter poses a significant risk factor for TB pathogenesis.

More Related Videos

Isolating Bronchial Epithelial Cells from Resected Lung Tissue for Biobanking and Establishing Well-Differentiated Air-Liquid Interface Cultures08:42

Isolating Bronchial Epithelial Cells from Resected Lung Tissue for Biobanking and Establishing Well-Differentiated Air-Liquid Interface Cultures

Published on: May 26, 2023

4.3K
P. aeruginosa Infected 3D Co-Culture of Bronchial Epithelial Cells and Macrophages at Air-Liquid Interface for Preclinical Evaluation of Anti-Infectives10:26

P. aeruginosa Infected 3D Co-Culture of Bronchial Epithelial Cells and Macrophages at Air-Liquid Interface for Preclinical Evaluation of Anti-Infectives

Published on: June 15, 2020

12.0K

Related Concept Videos

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract01:29

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more...
41
Surface Membrane Barriers01:18

Surface Membrane Barriers

The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
3.6K
Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment01:25

Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment

Transmission-based precautions are for patients infected or suspected to be infected (or colonized) with organisms posing a significant risk to others. The transmission precautions include airborne and protective environment precautions.
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
2.2K
Atypical Pneumonia01:14

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease...
64
Pulmonary Tuberculosis I01:29

Pulmonary Tuberculosis I

Tuberculosis, often called TB, is a contagious illness primarily caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mainly affects the lung parenchyma but can also impact other body parts.
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
1.5K
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens01:31

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
3.6K