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Introduction: Particulate matter (PM) air pollution is associated with an increased incidence of lung diseases, but the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. In this study, a mouse model of subacute lung inflammation was employed to investigate the cellular responses and gene expression changes induced by exposure to natural ambient air pollution. Methods: C57BL/6J mice were exposed to road dust (primarily PM10) at 150 µg/m³ for 21 days (8 h/day) through a nose-only inhalation exposure system. Lung tissues were analyzed for the expression of proinflammatory signaling, oxidative stress, and fibrosis markers. RNA-sequencing analysis was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). A gene ontology over-representation analysis was performed to identify the altered genetic pathways. Results: Elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, and an increase in phosphorylated MAPK were determined in the road dust exposure group compared to the control group. Histopathological examinations revealed more severe lung inflammation and damage in the exposed mice, including fibrosis and bronchiolar hyperplasia. Gene expression profiling identified 108 DEGs, with decreases in most except genes such as Krt15 and Reg3g. The protein–protein interaction network analysis together with text-mining identified 18 key hub genes, associated with fatty acid oxidation, lipid metabolism, and peroxisomes. Conclusion: This study identified key genes, signaling pathways, and cellular responses in mouse lung affected by road dust exposure. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the transcriptional and cellular responses induced by subacute exposure to the PM in road dust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic variation and epigenetic factors are thought to contribute to the development of hypersensitivity to aspirin. DNA methylation fluctuates dynamically throughout the day. To discover new CpG methylation in lymphocytes associated with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD), we evaluated changes in global CpG methylation profiles from before to after an oral aspirin challenge in patients with AERD and aspirin-tolerant asthma (ATA). Whole-genome CpG methylation levels of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were quantified with an Illumina 860K Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip array and then adjusted for inferred lymphocyte fraction (ILF) with GLINT and Tensor Composition Analysis. Among the 866,091 CpGs in the array, differentially methylated CpGs (DMCs) were found in 6 CpGs in samples from all 12 patients with asthma included in the study (AERD, n = 6; ATA, n = 6). DMCs were found in 3 CpGs in the 6 ATA samples and in 615 CpGs in the 6 AERD samples. A total of 663 DMCs in 415 genes and 214 intergenic regions differed significantly in the AERD compared with the ATA. In promoters, 126 CpG loci were predicted to bind to 38 transcription factors (TFs), many of which were factors already known to be involved in the pathogenesis of asthma and immune responses. In conclusion, we identified 615 new CpGs methylated in peripheral blood lymphocytes by oral aspirin challenge in AERD but not in ATA. These findings indicate that oral aspirin challenge induces epigenetic changes in ILFs, specifically in AERD patients, possibly via changes in TF binding, which may have epigenetic effects on the development of AERD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mandarin peels (MPs), a food-processing residue, have several restrictions on their disposal and can cause serious environmental pollution. In this study, MP was used to fabricate a functional bioelastomer with antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Bioactive compounds were recovered from MPs in liquid form and added to the bioelastomer during fabrication to maintain the mechanical strength of the bioelastomer. The radical scavenging activities of the fabricated bioelastomer (B–MPE 15%) were 3.3% for DPPH and 20.8% for ABTS, respectively. In addition, B–MPE 15% exhibited antibacterial activity against gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus), gram-negative (Escherichia coli), and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (Methicillin-resistant S. aureus and Vancomycin resistant Enterococcus). The chemical properties of B–MPE 15% were not significantly different from those of the control group (bare PDMS). Tensile strength, elongation at break, and water vapor transmission rate of B–MPE 15% were found to be 5.1 N/mm2, 649%, and 33.3 g/(m2 day), respectively. Therefore, the addition of MP extracts did not significantly affect the physical properties. The fabricated bioelastomer with antibacterial and antioxidant activities is expected to be utilized in the food packaging, pharmaceutical, and medical industries. Our research is expected to represent a future-oriented strategy for realizing carbon neutrality by upcycling food waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]