# Epigenetic mechanisms of particulate matter exposure: air pollution and hazards on human health

**Authors:** Dulcemaría Gavito-Covarrubias, Ivonne Ramírez-Díaz, Josué Guzmán-Linares, Ilhuicamina Daniel Limón, Dulce María Manuel-Sánchez, Alejandro Molina-Herrera, Miguel Ángel Coral-García, Estela Anastasio, Arely Anaya-Hernández, Primavera López-Salazar, Gabriel Juárez-Díaz, Javier Martínez-Juárez, Julián Torres-Jácome, Alondra Albarado-Ibáñez, Ygnacio Martínez-Laguna, Carolina Morán, Karla Rubio

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1306600 · Frontiers in Genetics · 2024-01-17

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how air pollution, specifically particulate matter, affects human health through epigenetic changes, potentially leading to diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of how particulate matter exposure alters epigenetic regulation, linking it to various diseases.

## Key findings

- Particulate matter exposure is linked to epigenetic changes that contribute to cancer and other diseases.
- PM components can serve as biomarkers for early detection and targeted therapies.
- Epigenomic damage is a key mechanism in air pollution-related health hazards.

## Abstract

Environmental pollution nowadays has not only a direct correlation with human health changes but a direct social impact. Epidemiological studies have evidenced the increased damage to human health on a daily basis because of damage to the ecological niche. Rapid urban growth and industrialized societies importantly compromise air quality, which can be assessed by a notable accumulation of air pollutants in both the gas and the particle phases. Of them, particulate matter (PM) represents a highly complex mixture of organic and inorganic compounds of the most variable size, composition, and origin. PM being one of the most complex environmental pollutants, its accumulation also varies in a temporal and spatial manner, which challenges current analytical techniques used to investigate PM interactions. Nevertheless, the characterization of the chemical composition of PM is a reliable indicator of the composition of the atmosphere, the quality of breathed air in urbanized societies, industrial zones and consequently gives support for pertinent measures to avoid serious health damage. Epigenomic damage is one of the most promising biological mechanisms of air pollution-derived carcinogenesis. Therefore, this review aims to highlight the implication of PM exposure in diverse molecular mechanisms driving human diseases by altered epigenetic regulation. The presented findings in the context of pan-organic cancer, fibrosis, neurodegeneration and metabolic diseases may provide valuable insights into the toxicity effects of PM components at the epigenomic level and may serve as biomarkers of early detection for novel targeted therapies.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** cancer (MONDO:0004992)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** MEG3 (maternally expressed 3) [NCBI Gene 55384] {aka FP504, GTL2, LINC00023, Lnc-DLK1-35, NCRNA00023, PRO0518}, STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) [NCBI Gene 6774] {aka ADMIO, ADMIO1, APRF, HIES}, GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) [NCBI Gene 2670] {aka ALXDRD}, TRPA1 (transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily A member 1) [NCBI Gene 8989] {aka ANKTM1, FEPS, FEPS1, p120}, Tlr4 (toll-like receptor 4) [NCBI Gene 21898] {aka Lps, Ly87, Ran/M1, Rasl2-8}, Pkn2 (protein kinase N2) [NCBI Gene 207122] {aka Pak-2, Prkcl2}, PPP2R5C (protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B'gamma) [NCBI Gene 5527] {aka B56G, B56gamma, HJS4, PR61G}, CD4 (CD4 molecule) [NCBI Gene 920] {aka CD4mut, IMD79, Leu-3, OKT4D, T4}, SFTPB (surfactant protein B) [NCBI Gene 6439] {aka PSP-B, SFTB3, SFTP3, SMDP1, SP-B}, AKR1C1 (aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C1) [NCBI Gene 1645] {aka 2-ALPHA-HSD, 20-ALPHA-HSD, DD1, DD1/DD2, DDH, DDH1}, KRT5 (keratin 5) [NCBI Gene 3852] {aka CK5, DDD, DDD1, EBS1, EBS2, EBS2A}, TET2 (tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 2) [NCBI Gene 54790] {aka IMD75, KIAA1546, MDS}, AHR (aryl hydrocarbon receptor) [NCBI Gene 196] {aka FVH3, RP85, bHLHe76}, MIR222 (microRNA 222) [NCBI Gene 407007] {aka MIRN222, miRNA222, mir-222}, SAA [NCBI Gene 6287], NFE2L2 (NFE2 like bZIP transcription factor 2) [NCBI Gene 4780] {aka IMDDHH, NRF2, Nrf-2}, MAPK1 (mitogen-activated protein kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 5594] {aka ERK, ERK-2, ERK2, ERT1, MAPK2, NS13}, DAPK1 (death associated protein kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 1612] {aka DAPK, ROCO3}, OGG1 (8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase) [NCBI Gene 4968] {aka HMMH, HOGG1, MUTM, OGH1}, Adam11 (ADAM metallopeptidase domain 11) [NCBI Gene 360638], JUN (Jun proto-oncogene, AP-1 transcription factor subunit) [NCBI Gene 3725] {aka AP-1, AP1, c-Jun, cJUN, p39}, EDA (ectodysplasin A) [NCBI Gene 1896] {aka ECTD1, ED1, ED1-A1, ED1-A2, EDA-A1, EDA-A2}, MIR20A (microRNA 20a) [NCBI Gene 406982] {aka C13orf25, MIR20, MIRH1, MIRHG1, MIRN20, MIRN20A}, Rhbdf2 (rhomboid 5 homolog 2) [NCBI Gene 217344] {aka 4732465I17Rik, Rhbdl6, Uncv, cub}, DNMT1 (DNA methyltransferase 1) [NCBI Gene 1786] {aka ADCADN, AIM, CXXC9, DNMT, HSN1E, MCMT}, AHRR (aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor) [NCBI Gene 57491] {aka AHH, AHHR, bHLHe77}, IL10 (interleukin 10) [NCBI Gene 3586] {aka CSIF, GVHDS, IL-10, IL10A, TGIF}, ACAT1 (acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 1) [NCBI Gene 38] {aka ACAT, MAT, T2, THIL}, PES1 (pescadillo ribosomal biogenesis factor 1) [NCBI Gene 23481] {aka NOP7, PES}, JAK2 (Janus kinase 2) [NCBI Gene 3717] {aka JTK10}, Adam17 (a disintegrin and metallopeptidase domain 17) [NCBI Gene 11491] {aka CD156b, Tace}, H3P16 (H3 histone pseudogene 16) [NCBI Gene 644914] {aka H3.6, H3F3AP6, p21}, Kbtbd8 (kelch repeat and BTB domain containing 8) [NCBI Gene 500262] {aka RGD1563166}, Mmp2 (matrix metallopeptidase 2) [NCBI Gene 17390] {aka Clg4a, GelA, MMP-2}, Mir99b (microRNA 99b) [NCBI Gene 100314189] {aka rno-mir-99b}, TJP1 (tight junction protein 1) [NCBI Gene 7082] {aka ZO-1}, GLS (glutaminase) [NCBI Gene 2744] {aka AAD20, CASGID, DEE71, EIEE71, GAC, GAM}, Mir99a (microRNA 99a) [NCBI Gene 100314019] {aka rno-mir-99a}, ERCC4 (ERCC excision repair 4, endonuclease catalytic subunit) [NCBI Gene 2072] {aka ERCC11, FANCQ, RAD1, XFEPS, XPF}, APP (amyloid beta precursor protein) [NCBI Gene 351] {aka AAA, ABETA, ABPP, AD1, APPI, CTFgamma}, INPP5D (inositol polyphosphate-5-phosphatase D) [NCBI Gene 3635] {aka SHIP, SHIP-1, SHIP1, SIP-145, hp51CN, p150Ship}, APAF1 (apoptotic peptidase activating factor 1) [NCBI Gene 317] {aka APAF-1, CED4}, SOCS3 (suppressor of cytokine signaling 3) [NCBI Gene 9021] {aka ATOD4, CIS3, Cish3, SOCS-3, SSI-3, SSI3}, MMP9 (matrix metallopeptidase 9) [NCBI Gene 4318] {aka CLG4B, GELB, MANDP2, MMP-9}, INS (insulin) [NCBI Gene 3630] {aka IDDM, IDDM1, IDDM2, ILPR, IRDN, MODY10}, SERPINB2 (serpin family B member 2) [NCBI Gene 5055] {aka HsT1201, PAI, PAI-2, PAI2, PLANH2}, MIR26A1 (microRNA 26a-1) [NCBI Gene 407015] {aka MIR26A, MIRN26A1, mir-26a-1}, Mir3560 (microRNA 3560) [NCBI Gene 100526633] {aka rno-mir-3560}, PARP1 (poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1) [NCBI Gene 142] {aka ADPRT, ADPRT 1, ADPRT1, ARTD1, PARP, PARP-1}, TET3 (tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 3) [NCBI Gene 200424] {aka BEFAHRS, hCG_40738}, IL1A (interleukin 1 alpha) [NCBI Gene 3552] {aka IL-1 alpha, IL-1A, IL1, IL1-ALPHA, IL1F1}, CREB1 (cAMP responsive element binding protein 1) [NCBI Gene 1385] {aka CREB, CREB-1}, SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1) [NCBI Gene 6647] {aka ALS, ALS1, HEL-S-44, IPOA, SOD, STAHP}, Mir338 (microRNA 338) [NCBI Gene 100313978] {aka rno-mir-338}, EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) [NCBI Gene 1956] {aka ERBB, ERBB1, ERRP, HER1, NISBD2, NNCIS}, SLC30A1 (solute carrier family 30 member 1) [NCBI Gene 7779] {aka ZNT1, ZRC1}, STAT1 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 1) [NCBI Gene 6772] {aka CANDF7, IMD31A, IMD31B, IMD31C, ISGF-3, STAT91}, LINC00341 [NCBI Gene 79686], MIR185 (microRNA 185) [NCBI Gene 406961] {aka MIRN185, miR-185}, MIR146A (microRNA 146a) [NCBI Gene 406938] {aka MIRN146, MIRN146A, miR-146a, miRNA146A}
- **Diseases:** Coronary Artery (MESH:D003324), Inflammation (MESH:D007249), hypercoagulation (MESH:D019851), amyloidosis (MESH:D000686), obesity (MESH:D009765), atherosclerosis (MESH:D050197), pulmonary disease (MESH:D008171), PM (MESH:D056784), chronic diseases (MESH:D002908), colorectal cancer (MESH:D015179), Endothelial dysfunction (MESH:D014652), damage (MESH:D020263), ventricular arrhythmias (MESH:D001145), pressure (MESH:D003668), glioma (MESH:D005910), premature (MESH:C536271), organ dysfunction (MESH:D009102), fibrotic livers (MESH:D017093), Central nervous system (MESH:D002493), thrombotic (MESH:D013927), carcinogenic (MESH:D011230), neurodegeneration (MESH:D019636), hippocampal damage (MESH:D000092223), diseases (MESH:D004194), metabolic syndrome (MESH:D024821), metastasis (MESH:D009362), carcinogenesis (MESH:D063646), CAD (MESH:D056735), IPF (MESH:D054990), bladder cancer (MESH:D001749), hypoxemia (MESH:D000860), respiratory failure (MESH:D012131), IBD (MESH:D015212), autism (MESH:D001321), airway hyperreactivity (MESH:D016535), metabolic diseases (MESH:D008659), developmental defects (MESH:D000094602), cognitive damage (MESH:D003072), lung injury (MESH:D055370), asthma (MESH:D001249), Down's syndrome (MESH:D004314), diastolic dysfunction (MESH:D018487), non-small cell lung cancer (MESH:D002289), ventricular remodeling (MESH:D020257), damage to the respiratory and cardiac systems (MESH:D015619), neurotoxic (MESH:D020258), Cancer (MESH:D009369), respiratory symptoms (MESH:D012818), CF (MESH:D003550), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (MESH:D001289), prostate cancer (MESH:D011471), rectal tumors (MESH:D012004), lung inflammation (MESH:D011014), endothelial injury (MESH:D057772), necrotic (MESH:D009336), mitochondrial damage (MESH:D028361), ILD (MESH:D017563), atopic dermatitis (MESH:D003876), cardiac impairment (MESH:D006331), lung cancer (MESH:D008175)
- **Chemicals:** SO3 - (MESH:C011118), mercury (MESH:D008628), vanadium (MESH:D014639), silicon (MESH:D012825), phosphate (MESH:D010710), m6A (MESH:C005955), ammonium (MESH:D064751), Lipid (MESH:D008055), Free radicals (MESH:D005609), cytosines (MESH:D003596), OH (MESH:C031356), metal (MESH:D008670), Na+ (MESH:D012964), ROS (MESH:D017382), nitric oxide (MESH:D009569), calcium (MESH:D002118), BPDE (MESH:D015123), 4-HNE (MESH:C027576), aluminum (MESH:D000535), sulphite (MESH:D013447), uranium (MESH:D014501), antimony (MESH:D000965), fluoride (MESH:D005459), SO4 2- (MESH:D013431), MDA (MESH:D008315), Br- (MESH:D001966), Carbon (MESH:D002244), Linoleic acid (MESH:D019787), chloride (MESH:D002712), PCBs (MESH:D011078), cholesterol (MESH:D002784), quinones (MESH:D011809), nitrite (MESH:D009573), heavy metals (MESH:D019216), carbohydrates (MESH:D002241), Cl- (MESH:D002713), CO (MESH:D002248), ceramide (MESH:D002518), CCl4 (MESH:D002251), quartz (MESH:D011791), AQG (-), titanium (MESH:D014025), esters (MESH:D004952), hydroxyl radical (MESH:D017665), S-adenosylmethionine (MESH:D012436), Water (MESH:D014867), Cd (MESH:D002104), L-homocysteine (MESH:D006710), H2O2 (MESH:D006861), superoxide anion (MESH:D013481), NO3 - (MESH:C038619), dioxins (MESH:D004147), ATP (MESH:D000255), Pb (MESH:D007854), phospholipids (MESH:D010743), N6-methyladenosine (MESH:C010223), oxides of nitrogen (MESH:D009589), ethers (MESH:D004987), oxygen (MESH:D010100), cysteine (MESH:D003545)
- **Species:** Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090], Paracoccus sp. L (species) [taxon 166788], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Rattus norvegicus (brown rat, species) [taxon 10116]
- **Cell lines:** HFL-1 — Homo sapiens (Human), Finite cell line (CVCL_0298), 16HBE — Homo sapiens (Human), Transformed cell line (CVCL_0112), AM-H — Homo sapiens (Human), Glioblastoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_1070), C57BL/6 — Mus musculus (Mouse), Transformed cell line (CVCL_C0MU), YM-L — Homo sapiens (Human), Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_IU39), HBECs — Rattus norvegicus (Rat), Spontaneously immortalized cell line (CVCL_AR51), DM-S — Drosophila melanogaster (Fruit fly), Spontaneously immortalized cell line (CVCL_Z425), RAW264.7 — Mus musculus (Mouse), Mouse leukemia, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0493), BEAS-2B — Homo sapiens (Human), Transformed cell line (CVCL_0168)

## Full text

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## Figures

3 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC10829887/full.md

## References

260 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC10829887/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC10829887