Biomedical subjects

Polina Maciejczyk

Publications and source records attributed to Polina Maciejczyk.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Effects of select PM-associated metals on alveolar macrophage phosphorylated ERK1 and -2 and iNOS expression during ongoing alteration in iron homeostasis.

It was hypothesized that relative mass relationships among select constituent metals and iron (Fe3+) govern the pulmonary immunotoxic potential of any PM(2.5) sample, as these determine the extent to which Fe3+ binding by transferrin is affected (resulting in altered alveolar macrophage [AM] Fe status and subsequent antibacterial function). Iron response protein (IRP) binding activity is a useful indirect measurement of changes in Fe status, as reductions in cell Fe levels lead to increases in IRP binding. However, AM IRP activity can be affected by an increased presence of nitric oxide generated by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). This study sought to determine if any changes in AM IRP activity induced by PM(2.5) constituents V, Mn, or Al were independent from effects of the metals on cell NO formation. NR8383 rat AM were exposed to Fe3+ alone or combined with V, Mn, or Al at metal:Fe ratios representative of those in PM(2.5) collected in New York City, Los Angeles, and Seattle during fall 2001. Cells were then assessed for changes in IRP activity and iNOS expression. Phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1 and 2 levels were also measured since activated ERKs are involved in signaling pathways that lead to increased iNOS expression. The results indicate that V and Al, and to a lesser extent Mn, altered IRP activity, though the effects were not consistently concentration dependent. Furthermore, while V and Mn treatments did not induce iNOS expression, Al did. These results confirmed our hypothesis that certain metals associated with PM(2.5) might alter the pulmonary immunocompetence of exposed hosts by affecting the Fe status of AM, a major class of deep lung defense cells.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMed2006

Cardiovascular effects of nickel in ambient air.

BACKGROUND: Fine particulate matter (FPM) in ambient air causes premature mortality due to cardiac disease in susceptible populations. OBJECTIVE: Our objective in this study was to determine the most influential FPM components. METHODS: A mouse model of atherosclerosis (ApoE-/-) was exposed to either filtered air or concentrated FPM (CAPs) in Tuxedo, New York (85 microg/m3 average, 6 hr/day, 5 days/week, for 6 months), and the FPM elemental composition was determined for each day. We also examined associations between PM components and mortality for two population studies: National Mortality and Morbidity Air Pollution Study (NMMAPS) and Hong Kong. RESULTS: For the CAPs-exposed mice, the average of nickel was 43 ng/m3, but on 14 days, there were Ni peaks at approximately 175 ng/m3 and unusually low FPM and vanadium. For those days, back-trajectory analyses identified a remote Ni point source. Electrocardiographic measurements on CAPs-exposed and sham-exposed mice showed Ni to be significantly associated with acute changes in heart rate and its variability. In NMMAPS, daily mortality rates in the 60 cities with recent speciation data were significantly associated with average Ni and V, but not with other measured species. Also, the Hong Kong sulfur intervention produced sharp drops in sulfur dioxide, Ni, and V, but not other components, corresponding to the intervention-related reduction in cardiovascular and pulmonary mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Known biological mechanisms cannot account for the significant associations between Ni with the acute cardiac function changes in the mice or with cardiovascular mortality in people at low ambient air concentrations; therefore, further research is needed.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMed2005

Effects of subchronic exposures to concentrated ambient particles (CAPs) in mice. II. The design of a CAPs exposure system for biometric telemetry monitoring.

We modified, assembled, tested, and validated the versatile aerosol concentration enrichment system (VACES) developed by Sioutas et al. (1999) for use in a subchronic experiment that involved exposure of mice in vivo and of respiratory epithelial cells in vitro to concentrated ambient particles (CAPs). Since the labor-intensive nose-only exposure regimen is not an option in a long-term experiment, a whole-body exposure mouse chamber was designed specifically for use with the VACES. The exposure system concsists of a stainless-steel (SS) tub with 32 cubicles (1 mouse per cubicle) separated by perforated SS sheets. The tops of these cubicles are covered with perforated plastic sheets to allow telemetry monitoring during the exposure. In each exposure chamber, perforated aluminum tubes are used to distribute CAPs evenly (within 2% difference) throughout the exposure chamber. The exhaust consists of perforated aluminum tubes covered with a urine shield. The modification to the original design of the VACES facilitated the operation of the system in a subchronic study. Mass flow controllers maintain a constant flow rate into the exposure chambers. For a sham control exposure, the identical system is used, except that a HEPA filter at the inlet to the VACES removes 98% of ambient particles. The entire system allow for simultaneous exposure of 64 mice to CAPs, with an equal number of sham-expose mice as controls. Telemetry receives have been modified so that 16 mice per group with electrocardiograph (EKG) transmitters can be monitored during exposure. Furthermore, a BioSampler is used to collect CAPs (one sample per day) for the in vitro exposures. In this article, the assessments of flow and particle distribution of the exposure chamber as well as the performance of the system during the subchronic exposure experiment are described.

Aerosols↗

PubMed2005

Effects of subchronic exposures to concentrated ambient particles (CAPs) in mice. VIII. Source-related daily variations in in vitro responses to CAPs.

The NYU PM Center subchronic animal inhalation study addressed the issues of composition and sources of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5), as well as the relationship of these PM2.5 characteristics to the cellular response of human bronchial epithelial cells. In this simultaneous study, we used an in vitro exposure technique to compare the daily variations of the responses of cells to fine concentrated ambient particles (CAPs) collected from a rural area upwind of New York City for the period of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays only, March-September, 2003. Chemical composition data for CAPs were modeled using factor analysis with varimax orthogonal rotation to determine four particle source categories contributing significant amount of mass to CAPs at Sterling Forest (Tuxedo, NY). These source categories are: (1) regional secondary sulfate characterized by high S, Si, and organic carbon (OC); (2) resuspended soil characterized by high concentrations of Ca, Fe, Al, and Si; (3) oil-fired power plants emissions of the eastern United States identified by presence of V, Ni, and Se; and (4) unknown other sources. To estimate the mass contributions of each individual source category, the CAPs mass concentration was regressed against the factor scores. Regional sulfate was the largest contributor to mass (65%), followed by soil (20%), residual oil combustion (2%), and the other sources contributing 13%. Based on an evaluation of the cellular responses to CAPs and a detailed chemical characterization of the ambient PM2.5, we investigated the sources and individual components of ambient PM2.5 that are responsible for the induced cellular response. Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) was selected as a monitor of cellular stress response that followed after the exposure to CAPs. The results of the NF-kappa B assay were found to be most highly correlated with Ni and V among the individual components, and with the residual oil combustion source category.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMed2005

PM source apportionment for short-term cardiac function changes in ApoE-/- mice.

Daily rates of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity are have been associated with daily variations in fine particulate matter (aerodynamic diameter < or = 2.5 microm, PM2.5), but little is known about the influences of the individual source-related PM2.5 categories or the temporal lags for the effects. We investigated heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV) data collected during a 5-month study involving 6 hr/day, 5 day/week exposures of normal (C57) mice and a murine model for atherosclerotic disease (ApoE-/-) in Sterling Forest (Tuxedo, New York, USA). The mice were exposed to concentrated ambient particles (PM2.5 concentrated 10-fold, producing an average of 113 microg/m3). Daily 6-hr PM2.5 air samples were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence, permitting attribution to major PM source categories [secondary sulfate (SS), resuspended soil (RS), residual oil (RO) combustion, and other, largely due to motor vehicle traffic]. We examined associations between these PM2.5 components and both HR and HRV for three different daily time periods: during exposure, the afternoon after exposure, and late at night. For HR there were significant transient associations for RS during exposure, and for SS in the afternoon after exposure. For HRV, there were comparable associations with RO in the afternoon after exposure and for both SS and RS late at night. The biologic bases for these associations and their temporal lags are not known but may be related to the differential solubility of the biologically active PM components at the respiratory epithelia and their access to cells that release mediators that reach the cardiovascular system. Clearly, further research to elucidate the underlying processes is needed.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMed2003

Accumulation of metals, trace elements and semi-volatile organic compounds on exterior window surfaces in Baltimore.

Organic films have been found to develop on window surfaces [Diamond et al., Environmental Science and Technology 34 (2000a) 2900]. The film contains organic compounds that are in dynamic equilibrium with the gas-phase in air, and organic and inorganic compounds and elements associated with deposited air particles. In this study, the exterior surfaces of windows were sampled in downtown and suburban Baltimore, Maryland. Higher concentrations of PCBs, PAH, metals and trace elements were found at downtown than a suburban site. PCBs in the films at downtown sites were dominated by penta and hexa homologue groups and PAH signatures resembled that of vehicle emissions. Twenty-six metals and trace elements were separated into two groups according to their enrichment factors (EF). Ag, Hg, Se, Sb and Zn had EF > 100, suggesting anthropogenic sources of these metals in the films; whereas Fe, Ca, Co, Cr and others had EF <10, suggesting a crustal origin. An unusual profile dominated by deca- and nona- PCBs and relatively higher concentrations of Ag, Hg and Zn may be attributable to emissions from a medical waste incinerator. Dry deposition fluxes of selected metals on windows were 1.4-94 times higher on windows with than without films, indicating that the film increases the dry deposition of particles and their associated chemicals. This implies that film development, which is associated with elevated VOC and SOC emissions to urban air, will increase film development that will, in turn, increase the accumulation of other atmospherically deposited constituents such as metals.

Air Pollutants↗