Association of EGF Receptor and NLRs signaling with Cardiac Inflammation and Fibrosis in Mice Exposed to Fine Particulate Matter.

Jin, Yuefei; Wu, Zhaoke; Wang, Na; Duan, Shuyin; Wu, Yongjun; Wang, Jing; Wu, Weidong; Feng, Feifei

ABSTRACT ЄAmbient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) could induce cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but the mechanism remains unknown. To investigate the roles of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and NOD-like receptors (NLRs) in PM2.5-induced cardiac injury, we set up a BALB/c mice model of PM2.5-induced cardiac inflammation and fibrosis with intratracheal instillation of PM2.5 suspension (4.0 mg/kg b.w.) for 5 consecutive days (once per day). After exposure, we found that mRNA levels of CXCL1, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-18 were elevated, but interestingly, mRNA level of NLRP12 was significant decreased in heart tissue from PM2.5-induced mice compared with those of saline-treated mice using real-time PCR. Protein levels of phospho-EGFR (Tyr1068), phospho-Akt (Thr308), NLRP3, NF-κB-p52/p100, and NF-κB-p65 in heart tissue of PM2.5-exposed mice were all significantly increased using immunohistochemistry or Western blotting. Therefore, PM2.5 exposure could induce cardiac inflammatory injury in mice, which may be involved with EGFR/Akt signaling, NLRP3, and NLRP12.

Journal of Biochemical & Molecular Toxicology, 2016, Vol 30, Issue 9, p429

1095-6670

Academic Journal

10.1002/jbt.21806