Abstract
Objectives
Circulating platelets act as “fast responders” to endothelial damages. Dietary long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to ameliorate cardiovascular function decrement after exposure to air pollution. This project aimed to explore the role of omega-3 fatty acids in mitochondrial respiratory function in circulating platelets exposed to ambient air pollution.
Methods
Platelets were isolated from healthy male adult volunteers (n = 20) from the Research Triangle Area (RTP), NC and measured for mitochondrial respiratory rates using an extracellular flux analyzer (Seahorse Mitochondrial Stress Test). Omega-3 indices were measured in total blood by OmegaQuant LLC. Local ambient air pollution data were obtained from the ambient air quality monitoring stations.
Results
Oxygen consumption rates corresponding to maximum mitochondrial respiration and spare respiration capacity were correlated with PM2.5 levels (r = 0.56 and r = 0.57 respectively, all P < 0.05). Additionally, moderation analysis revealed that the associations between these respiratory parameters and PM2.5 levels were contingent upon the levels of omega-3 indices (all P < 0.05). Specifically, the Johnson-Neyman method indicated that for omega-3 indices of 5.11 or higher, the two associations reached statistically significant: levels of PM2.5 were positively correlated with the two respiratory parameters.
Conclusions
Taken together, these preliminary findings suggest that exposure to PM2.5 increases platelet mitochondrial respiration and that this effect is potentiated by omega-3 fatty acids.
Funding Sources
This project was supported by the U.S. EPA Intramural Research Program.
The role of particulate size and chemistry in the association between summertime ambient air pollution and hospitalization for cardiorespiratory diseases.
