Saharan dust induces the lung disease-related cytokines granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and...

Desert dust exposure is associated with adverse respiratory health effects. Desert dust is a complex pollutant mixtures that includes respirable crystalline and amorphous particles, metals, and microbial constituents. Given the health effects of desert dust and its heterogeneity, as yet unidentified harmful biological pathways may be triggered. Therefore, we exposed human in vitro air-liquid interface co-cultures of alveolar epithelial A549 cells and THP-1 macrophages to Saharan dust (SD). For comparison, we used the known pulmonary toxicant DQ12 quartz dust. Via RNA sequencing, we identified that SD but not DQ12 increased the gene expression of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF). These findings were confirmed by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR. SD dose-dependently upregulated GMCSF and GCSF expression with significant 7 and 9-fold changes, respectively, at the highest tested concentration of 31 µg/cm². Furthermore, we observed that SD significantly enhanced the secretion of GM-CSF and G-CSF by 2-fold. Both cytokines have previously been associated with lung diseases such as asthma and fibrosis. Hence, we present two molecular messengers that may contribute to the adverse health effects of desert dust and might serve as drug targets for this globally relevant non-anthropogenic air pollutant.