UC Davis

Particulate matter (PM) exposure contributes to respiratory diseases and cardiopulmonary mortality. PM toxicity is related to sources and composition, such as abundance of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). We exposed adult male BALB/c mice, via oropharyngeal aspiration, to a range of doses of PM2.5 collected during the winter in downtown Sacramento near a major freeway interchange (SacPM). Two preparation methods (spin-down and multi-solvent extraction) were tested to remove particles from collection filters. Three doses were analyzed 24 h after treatment for (1) leukocytes and total protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), (2) airway-specific and whole lobe expression of PAH-sensitive genes (CYP1B1 and CYP1A1) and IL-1 b, (3) lung histology, and (4) platelet function. Both extraction methods stimulated biological responses, but the spin-down method was more robust at producing IL-1 b and CYP1B1 gene responses and the multi-solvent extraction induced whole lung CYP1A1. Neutrophils in the BALF were increased 5- to 10-fold at the mid and high dose for both preparations. Histopathology scores indicated dose-dependent responses and increased pathology associated with spin-down-derived PM exposure. In microdissected airways, spin-down PM increased CYP1B1 gene expression significantly, but multi-solvent extracted PM did not. Platelet responses to the physiological agonist thrombin were approximately twice as potent in the spin-down preparation as in the multi-solvent extract. We conclude (1) the method of filter extraction can influence the degree of biological response, (2) for SacPM the minimal effective dose is 27.5-50 µg based on neutrophil recruitment, and (3) P450s are upregulated differently in airways and lung parenchyma in response to PAH-containing PM.