Abstract
Background: A cause of chronic respiratory morbidity is infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PS) – especially during exacerbations in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)1,2,3. Associations between exposure to particulate matter air pollution (PM) and CF and COPD exacerbations have been reported4,5, but the mechanisms are unclear. We sought to assess whether PM10 alters the secretion of virulence factors in vitro.
Methods: An overnight growth of PS strain PA01 was inoculated into cell culture medium, +/- 50ug/ml of urban PM10 and harvested. Cultures were then filter sterilised and the supernatant incubated with the lung alveolar epithelial cell line (A549) for 2hrs. Cytotoxicity was then assessed by the MTT assay.
Results: PM10 increased the virulence of the PA01 strain as observed by the MTT assay. Compared with control, PS+50ug/ml of PM10 supernatants statistically increased cytotoxicity p=0.0001.
Conclusion: Exposure of PS to PM10 results in the production of virulence factors that are cytotoxic to airway epithelial cells. This may contribute to the association between exposure to air pollution and exacerbations of COPD and CF patients.
1.Murphy TF. Clin Inf Dis 2008 Aug ; 47 :1534-6
2.Juan C et al. AAC. June 2008 ; 52(6) 2285-6
3.Goss et al. Thorax 2007 ; 62(4) : 360-367
4.Zanobetto A. Env H. Persp. 2000 Nov;108(11):1071-7.
5.Goeminne P. Chest. 2012 Oct 15.
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