Abstract
Use of solid fuels for cooking or home heating has been related to various diseases of the respiratory tract. Woodsmoke contains a mixture of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds. Inhalation of these materials induces local and systemic changes in the immune system which may impair critical cell defense mechanisms; however, few studies have investigated the early effects that PAH exposures have on immune cells as macrophages. The aim of this study was to analyze if the pre-exposure to PAHs derived from woodsmoke deteriorates macrophage ability to control the intracellular growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. By using an in vitro experimental model, we analyzed the phenotype and some metabolic changes on THP-1 and monocyte-derived macrophages. Our results demonstrated that exposure to PAHs leads to cell activation and deteriorates mitochondrial function of the macrophage thus facilitating growth of M. tuberculosis.
Highlights
Chronic exposure to wood smoke has a direct impact on lung health especially in women and children under 5 years old
We have demonstrated that several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including benzo(a)pyrene were present in the organic extracts material, and it is known that these compounds can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death
We provided scientific evidence relevant to the detrimental effects that early exposure to PAHs present in Wood smoke particles (WSP) has on human macrophages as a possible explanation for the association observed between wood smoke exposure and development of pulmonary tuberculosis
Summary
Chronic exposure to wood smoke has a direct impact on lung health especially in women and children under 5 years old. Wood smoke particles (WSP) are very complex in their composition and have been associated with toxic compounds like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), carbon oxides, nitrogen oxides, metals, and endotoxins [1]. All these compounds contribute to the development of lung inflammation as well as chronic immune activation [2]. There is a wide variation in the composition and size of the emissions when wood is burned, depending on the cooking practices and the other solid compounds that may be present (paper, leaves, dung) [4, 5]
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