Search

Every second we inhale a danger in the air; many particles in the atmosphere can influence our lives. Outdoor air pollution, especially particulate matter is the largest environmental risk factor and has been associated with many cardiovascular and lung diseases. Importantly, air pollution has recently been discovered to also impact the brain. Here, we review the effects of air pollution on glial cells of the brain, astrocytes and microglia, and the tightly controlled interplay between these cell types. We focus on how traffic related air pollutants which include both gaseous and particulate emissions and their secondary products influence the intercellular communication of microglia and astrocytes. Finally, we place these air pollution and glial interactions in a larger context by discussing their impact on neurodegeneration., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Research efforts in the past decades have provided insight into the adverse health effects of air pollution exposure. Exposure to airborne particulate matter is known to impair the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, and more recent investigations have provided evidence demonstrating harmful effects on the central nervous system. Investigations have primarily focused on the interconnected cellular pathways of inflammation and oxidative stress, which are induced by pollutant particle exposure both in peripheral tissues, and in the brain. Alterations to mitochondria, organelles important for cellular respiration and signaling, are often associated with increased cellular oxidative stress. This review focuses on the role of mitochondria in particulate matter-induced adverse effects on cellular health. More investigation to link air pollution and human health on the cellular and molecular level could in the future aid the development of more effective preventive and therapeutic options to combat pollutant particle-induced alterations., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)