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The increasing prevalence of particulate matter (PM) has raised significant concerns about its adverse effects on human health. This study investigates the potential of fermented blueberry and black rice (FBBR) in mitigating the effects of PM2.5 in SH-SY5Y cells and mice. Various assays, including MTT, NO, western blot, ELISA, and behavioral studies were conducted. Results showed that PM2.5 induced considerable cytotoxicity and elevated NO production at a concentration of 100 μg/mL of PM2.5 in SH-SY5Y cells. FBBR administration attenuated PM2.5-exposed cytotoxicity and suppressed NO production in SH-SY5Y cells. In an intranasally-exposed mice model, 10 mg/kg body weight (BW) of PM2.5 resulted in cognitive impairments. However, FBBR treatment ameliorated these impairments in both the Y-maze and MWM tests in PM2.5-exposed mice. Additionally, FBBR administration increased the expression of BDNF and reduced inflammatory markers in the brains of PM2.5-exposed SH-SY5Y cells. These findings highlight the detrimental effects of PM2.5 on the nervous system and suggest the potential of FBBR as a nutraceutical agent for mitigating these effects. Importantly, the results emphasize the urgency of addressing the harmful impact of PM2.5 on the nervous system and underscore the promising role of FBBR as a protective intervention against the adverse effects associated with PM2.5 exposure. Proposed Mechanism of Neuroprotection of FBBR against PM2.5 Exposure [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the immunological roles of dietary fiber, male 4-wk-old Sprague-Dawley rats were fed for 2 wk cellulose (water-insoluble), konjak mannan (water-soluble), pectin (water-soluble) or chitosan (acid-soluble) at 5 g/100 g diet. Serum IgE concentrations in rats fed konjak mannan, pectin and chitosan were significantly lower than in those fed cellulose (mean [+ or -] SEM: 5.0 [+ or -] 1.1, 3.6 [+ or -] 1.3, 3.0 [+ or -] 1.2 and 9.6 [+ or -] 1.9 [[micro]gram]/L, respectively). Rats fed pectin had significantly higher serum IgA and IgG concentrations (358 [+ or -] 38 and 424 [+ or -] 36 mg/L for IgA and IgG, respectively) than those fed cellulose (240 [+ or -] 31 and 337 [+ or -] 25 mg/L) or chitosan (176 [+ or -] 22 and 379 [+ or -] 23 mg/L), while the IgM concentration did not differ among the groups. Concentrations of IgA, IgG and IgM in mesenteric lymph node (MLN) lymphocytes generally were greater, while IgE concentration was lower, in rats fed pectin and chitosan than in those fed cellulose. The proportion of [CD4.sup.+] T-cells in MLN lymphocytes was also dietary fiber-dependent, and the [CD4.sup.+]/[CD8.sup.+] ratio was significantly higher in the pectin fed group than in all other groups. Under certain experimental conditions, MLN lymphocytes from rats fed pectin had markedly greater interferon-[Gamma] concentration than cells from other groups, while the effect on tumor necrosis factor-[Alpha] concentration was less marked. Thus, dietary fiber may have an immunoregulatory effect on the intestinal immune system of rats. KEY WORDS: * dietary fiber * immunoglobulin * mesenteric lymph node * lymphocytes * cytokine * rats