Differential Expression of AhR in Peripheral Mononuclear Cells in Response to Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Mexican Women

• Published in: Toxics (Basel) 2022-12, Vol.11 (1), p.28
• Main Authors: Varela-Silva, José Antonio, Martínez-Leija, Miguel Ernesto, Orta-García, Sandra Teresa, Pérez-Maldonado, Ivan Nelinho, López, Jesús Adrián, Hernández-López, Hiram, González-Amaro, Roberto, Calderón-Aranda, Emma S, Portales-Pérez, Diana Patricia, Salgado-Bustamante, Mariana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air pollution; Asthma; Biomarkers; Carbon monoxide; Cell signaling; Cooking; Damage; DNA methylation; Epigenetics; Exposure; Gene expression; Genotoxicity; Indoor air pollution; Inflammation; Laboratories; Leukocytes (mononuclear); MicroRNAs; miRNA; Molecular modelling; PAHs; Pathogenesis; Pollutants; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Proteins; Questionnaires; Rural areas; Rural communities; Software; Stoves; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Urine; women exposure
• ISSN: 2305-6304; 2305-6304
• DOI: 10.3390/toxics11010028

The exposure to air pollutants causes significant damage to health, and inefficient cooking and heating practices produce high levels of household air pollution, including a wide range of health-damaging pollutants such as fine particles, carbon monoxide and PAHs. The exposure to PAHs has been associated with the development of neoplastic processes, asthma, genotoxicity, altered neurodevelopment and inflammation. The effects on the induction of proinflammatory cytokines are attributed to the activation of . However, the molecular mechanisms by which the PAHs produce proinflammatory effects are unknown. This study was performed on a group of 41 Mexican women from two rural communities who had stoves inside their houses, used wood as biomass fuel, and, thus, were vulnerable. According to the urinary 1-OHP concentration, the samples were stratified into two groups for determination of the levels of , , , miR-125b and miR-155 expression. Our results showed that the , , miR-125b and miR-155 expression levels were not statistically different between women with the lowest and highest levels of 1-OHP. Interestingly, high levels of PAHs promoted augmented expression of AhR, which is a protein involved in the modulation of inflammatory pathways in vivo, suggesting that cell signaling of may be implicated in several pathogenesis processes.