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Air pollution and asthma: molecular mechanisms
1National Heart and Lung Institute, London. p.j.barnes@ucl.ac.uk
Molecular Medicine Today
|June 1, 1995
Summary
Air pollution from traffic worsens asthma by causing airway inflammation. Pollutants activate cellular pathways, increasing inflammatory gene expression in asthmatic airways.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pulmonology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Air pollution, especially from road traffic, is a growing public health concern.
- Existing evidence links air pollutants to the exacerbation of asthma symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence on how air pollutants affect airways in asthma patients.
- To discuss molecular mechanisms linking air pollution to airway inflammation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on air pollution and asthma.
- Analysis of molecular pathways involved in airway inflammation.
Main Results:
- Specific pollutants like sulfur dioxide, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide impact asthmatic airways.
- Oxidant pollutants activate transcription factors, such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB).
- This activation leads to increased gene expression for cytokines (e.g., interleukin-8) and inflammatory enzymes (e.g., inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclo-oxygenase).
Conclusions:
- Air pollution contributes to airway inflammation in asthma.
- Molecular mechanisms involve the activation of inflammatory pathways in airway epithelial cells.