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Contrasting actions of diesel exhaust particles on the pulmonary and cardiovascular systems and the effects of thymoquinone.
- Source :
- British Journal of Pharmacology; Dec2011, Vol. 164 Issue 7, p1871-1882, 12p
- Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background and Purpose: </bold>Acute exposure to particulate air pollution has been linked to acute cardiopulmonary events, but the underlying mechanisms are uncertain. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We investigated the acute (at 4 and 18 h) effects of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) on cardiopulmonary parameters in mice and the protective effect of thymoquinone, a constituent of Nigella sativa. Mice were given, intratracheally, either saline (control) or DEP (30 µg·per mouse). KEY RESULTS At 18 h (but not 4 h) after giving DEP, there was lung inflammation and loss of lung function. At both 4 and 18 h, DEP caused systemic inflammation characterized by leucocytosis, increased IL-6 concentrations and reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was decreased only at 18 h. DEP reduced platelet numbers and aggravated in vivo thrombosis in pial arterioles. In vitro, addition of DEP (0.1-1 µg·mL(-1)) to untreated blood-induced platelet aggregation. Pretreatment of mice with thymoquinone prevented DEP-induced decrease of SBP and leucocytosis, increased IL-6 concentration and decreased plasma SOD activity. Thymoquinone also prevented the decrease in platelet numbers and the prothrombotic events but not platelet aggregation in vitro.<bold>Conclusions and Implications: </bold>At 4 h after DEP exposure, the cardiovascular changes did not appear to result from pulmonary inflammation but possibly from the entry of DEP and/or their associated components into blood. However, at 18 h, DEP induced significant changes in pulmonary and cardiovascular functions along with lung inflammation. Pretreatment with thymoquinone prevented DEP-induced cardiovascular changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- DIESEL motor exhaust gas
PHARMACODYNAMICS
CARDIOVASCULAR system
PHYTOCHEMICALS
QUINONE
PHYSIOLOGICAL effects of air pollution
LUNG diseases
LABORATORY mice
PHYSIOLOGY
THERAPEUTICS
ANTI-inflammatory agents
THROMBOLYTIC therapy
BENZOQUINONES
AIR pollution
AIRWAY (Anatomy)
ANIMAL experimentation
ARTERIES
BLOOD platelet aggregation
BLOOD pressure
BRAIN
CEREBROVASCULAR disease
COMPARATIVE studies
INTERLEUKINS
LUNGS
RESEARCH methodology
MEDICAL cooperation
MICE
PNEUMONIA
RESEARCH
RESPIRATORY measurements
SUPEROXIDE dismutase
THROMBOSIS
EVALUATION research
PARTICULATE matter
LEUKOCYTE count
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00071188
- Volume :
- 164
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- British Journal of Pharmacology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 67226069
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01442.x