Cytotoxicity and Genotoxic Effects of Organic Extracts from Traffic-Related Particulate Matter in Human Vascular Endothelial Cells

Abstract

Traffic-related particulate matter (PM) is associated with adverse cardiovascular effects. However, the direct impact of the traffic-related PM on the cytotoxicity and genotoxic damage in vascular endothelial cells is less well known. The aim of the present study is to assess whether exposure to the organic extracts of traffic related-PM (oTRP) can induce cytotoxicity, DNA damage and oxidative stress in the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The cell viability was determined by MTT assay after treatment with oTRP for 24 h. The injury of the cell plasma membrane was evaluated by testing the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage in cell culture supernatant. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was determined to evaluate the level of oxidative stress in cells. DNA damage was measured by alkaline Comet assay. The results showed that significantly dose-dependent cytotoxicity and DNA damage was detected in HUVEC after treated with oTRP for 24 h. A concomitant decrease in SOD activity was observed, suggesting that oTRP may mediate genotoxic and cytotoxic effects in HUVEC through the oxidative stress pathway. These results indicate that organic extracts of traffic related-PM has a potency to cause oxidative stress, DNA damage, cell death and plasma membrane damage in HUVEC, thus may be participated in the development of cardiovascular diseases through damaging vascular endothelial cells.