Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2025

Visualizing Lung Cellular Adaptations during Combined Ozone and LPS Induced Murine Acute Lung Injury
Published on: March 21, 2021
Pro-inflammatory effects of inhaled Great Salt Lake dust particles
Jacob M Cowley1, Cassandra E Deering-Rice1, John G Lamb1
1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Human Toxicology, University of Utah, 30 S. 2000 E., Room 201 Skaggs Hall, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
Background:
Climate change and human activities have caused the drying of marine environments around the world. An example is the Great Salt Lake in Utah, USA which is at a near record low water level. Adverse health effects have been associated with exposure to windblown dust originating from dried lakebed sediments, but mechanistic studies evaluating the health effects of these dusts are limited.
Results:
Monitoring data and images highlight the impact of local crustal and Great Salt Lake sediment dusts on the Salt Lake Valley/Wasatch front airshed. Great Salt Lake sediment and derived PM< 3.1 (quasi-PM2.5 or qPM2.5) contained metals/salts, natural and anthropogenic chemicals, and bacteria. Exposure of mice via inhalation and oropharyngeal aspiration caused neutrophilia, increased expression of mRNA for Il6, Cxcl1, Cxcl2, and Muc5ac in the lungs, and increased IL6 and CXCL1 in bronchoalveolar lavage. Inhaled GSLD qPM2.5 caused a greater neutrophilic response than coal fly ash qPM2.5 and was more cytotoxic to human airway epithelial cells (HBEC3-KT) in vitro. Pro-inflammatory biomarker mRNA induction was replicated in vitro using HBEC3-KT and differentiated monocyte-derived (macrophage-like) THP-1 cells. In HBEC3-KT cells, IL6 and IL8 (the human analogue of Cxcl1 and Cxcl2) mRNA induction was attenuated by ethylene glycol-bis(β-aminoethyl ether)-N, N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) and ruthenium red (RR) co-treatment, and by TRPV1 and TRPV3 antagonists, but less by the Toll-like Receptor-4 (TLR4) inhibitor TAK-242 and deferoxamine. Accordingly, GSLD qPM2.5 activated human TRPV1 as well as other human TRP channels. Dust from the Salton Sea playa (SSD qPM2.5) also stimulated IL6 and IL8 mRNA expression and activated TRPV1 in vitro, but inhibition by TRPV1 and V3 antagonists was dose dependent. Alternatively, responses of THP-1 cells to the Great Salt Lake and Salton Sea dusts were partially mediated by TLR4 as opposed to TRPV1. Finally, "humanized" Trpv1N606D mice exhibited greater neutrophilia than C57Bl/6 mice following GSLD qPM2.5 inhalation.
Conclusions:
Dust from the GSL playa and similar dried lakebeds may affect human respiratory health via activation of TRPV1, TRPV3, TLR4, and oxidative stress.
More Related Videos
10:21Author Spotlight: Exploring the Role of Inflammation in the Co-occurrence of Primary Sjogren's Syndrome and Lung Adenocarcinoma
Published on: September 20, 2024
11:54Absorption of Nasal and Bronchial Fluids: Precision Sampling of the Human Respiratory Mucosa and Laboratory Processing of Samples
Published on: January 21, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
Asthma-I: Introduction
Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
Antiasthma Drugs: Mast Cell Stabilizers and Anti-IgE Drugs
Mast cell stabilizers, such as cromolyn (also known as sodium cromoglycate) and nedocromil (Tilade), are effective drugs in asthma management. These stabilizers hinder histamine release by skillfully obstructing the activation of mast cells and other cellular entities. Notably, they navigate this task without...
Antiasthma Drugs: Inhaled Corticosteroids and Glucocorticoids
ICS work through a multifaceted mechanism of action. They suppress the inflammatory response caused by the proliferation of TH cells. They also reduce the transcription of the IL-2 gene, which is involved in the...