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Environmental Pollutants and Lung Diseases: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 September 2024) | Viewed by 4681

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Pharmacy, Chapman University, Irvine, CA 92618, USA
Interests: lung diseases; environmental pollutants

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Air pollution is a global problem and a risk factor for the development and exacerbation of respiratory diseases. This Special Issue aims to present novel areas of research to advance our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in lung diseases and environmental pollutant exposure. Potential therapeutic approaches for studying environmental pollutant exposure and lung diseases are welcome in this Special Issue. We invite investigators from all fields related to environmental pollutants and the respiratory system to submit original research articles or reviews describing and discussing the recent advances in the field of environmental pollutants and lung diseases.

The Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, titled "Environmental Pollutants and Lung Diseases: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms", specifically focuses on original papers and reviews. Because IJMS is a journal dedicated to molecular science, studies solely based on clinical trials or data fall outside the scope of this project.

Dr. Isabella Cattani-Cavalieri
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • lung diseases
  • environmental pollutants
  • cellular signaling
  • molecular mechanisms
  • therapeutic approaches

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 8782 KiB  
Article
Chronic Exposure to Two Regimens of Waterpipe Smoke Elicits Lung Injury, Genotoxicity, and Mitochondrial Impairment with the Involvement of MAPKs Activation in Mice
by Naserddine Hamadi, Suhail Al-Salam, Sumaya Beegam, Nur Elena Zaaba, Ozaz Elzaki and Abderrahim Nemmar
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(1), 430; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26010430 - 6 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1538
Abstract
While the pulmonary effects of regular waterpipe smoking (R-WPS) are well-defined, the impact of occasional waterpipe smoking (O-WPS) on the lungs remains less established. This study investigated the pulmonary toxicity and underlying mechanisms of O-WPS versus R-WPS following 6 months of exposure, focusing [...] Read more.
While the pulmonary effects of regular waterpipe smoking (R-WPS) are well-defined, the impact of occasional waterpipe smoking (O-WPS) on the lungs remains less established. This study investigated the pulmonary toxicity and underlying mechanisms of O-WPS versus R-WPS following 6 months of exposure, focusing on histopathology, inflammation in the lung, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and plasma, as well as oxidative stress, genotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the expression of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in lung homogenates. Exposure to both O-WPS and R-WPS resulted in significant histological changes, including increased numbers of alveolar macrophages and lymphocytes, as well as interstitial fibrosis. Only R-WPS increased the number of neutrophil polymorphs and plasma cells. R-WPS also significantly increased the chemokines CXCL1, CXCL2, and CCL2 in the lung, BALF, and plasma, while O-WPS increased CXCL1 and CXCL2 in the lung and CXCL1 in the plasma. Both exposure regimens significantly increased lung injury markers, including matrix metalloproteinase-9 and myeloperoxidase. Additionally, R-WPS induced a significant increase in the cytokines IL1β, IL6, and TNFα in the lung, BALF, and plasma, while O-WPS elevated IL1β and IL6 in the lung. Oxidative stress was observed, with increased levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and superoxide dismutase in both the O-WPS and R-WPS groups. Exposure to either O-WPS or R-WPS triggered genotoxicity and altered mitochondrial complex activities. R-WPS exposure also resulted in elevated expression of p-JNK/JNK, p-ERK/ERK, and p-p38/p38, while O-WPS augmented the p-ERK/ERK ratio in the lungs. Taken together, these findings indicate that both O-WPS and R-WPS contribute to lung injury and induce inflammation, oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and mitochondrial dysfunction, with R-WPS having a more pronounced effect. These effects were associated with the activation of MAPKs. Full article
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Review

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14 pages, 2175 KiB  
Review
Dark under the Lamp: Neglected Biological Pollutants in the Environment Are Closely Linked to Lung Cancer
by Dongjie Wang, Ben Chung-Lap Chan, Bitian Zhang, Katie Ching-Yau Wong, Lea Ling-Yu Kan and Chun-Kwok Wong
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(6), 3081; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25063081 - 7 Mar 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2380
Abstract
Environmental pollutants are closely linked to lung cancer. The different types of environmental pollutants can be classified as chemical, physical, and biological. The roles of common chemical and physical pollutants such as PM2.5, smoking, radon, asbestos, and formaldehyde in lung cancer have been [...] Read more.
Environmental pollutants are closely linked to lung cancer. The different types of environmental pollutants can be classified as chemical, physical, and biological. The roles of common chemical and physical pollutants such as PM2.5, smoking, radon, asbestos, and formaldehyde in lung cancer have been extensively studied. Notably, the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic raised awareness of the strong link between biological pollution and human health. Allergens such as house dust mites and pollen, as well as bacteria and viruses, are common biological pollutants. A few biological pollutants have been reported to promote lung cancer via inducing inflammatory cytokines secretion, such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TGF-β, as well as suppressing immunosurveillance by upregulating regulatory T (Treg) cells while dampening the function of CD8+ T cells and dendritic cells. However, the correlation between common biological hazards, such as SARS-CoV-2, human immunodeficiency viruses, Helicobacter pylori, and house dust mites, and lung cancer is not fully elucidated, and the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Moreover, the majority of studies that have been performed in lung cancer and biological carcinogens were not based on the perspective of biological pollutants, which has challenged the systematicity and coherence in the field of biological pollutants in lung cancer. Here, in addition to reviewing the recent progress made in investigating the roles of allergens, viruses, and bacteria in lung cancer, we summarized the potential mechanisms underlying biological pollutants in lung cancer. Our narrative review can shed light on understanding the significance of biological pollutants in lung cancer, as well as inspire and broaden research ideas on lung cancer etiology. Full article
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