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Interplay Between Macrophages, Lipid Oxidation and the Nrf2/HO-1 Axis in the Cardiometabolic Toxicity Induced by Ultrafine Particles

Award Number: R01ES032806
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/08/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2026

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Interplay Between Macrophages, Lipid Oxidation and the Nrf2/HO-1 Axis in the Cardiometabolic Toxicity Induced by Ultrafine Particles - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Cumulative epidemiological and experimental evidence have shown that exposure to air pollutants leads to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. These associations have been mostly ascribed to the particulate matter (PM) components. We have found that exposures to ambient ultrafine particles (UFP), with an aerodynamic diameter less than 0.18 µm, and/or diesel exhaust, rich in ultrafine PM, lead to enhanced lipid peroxidation, metabolic derangements, liver steatosis and atherosclerosis. Inhalation of PM exerts prooxidant actions in the lungs but the mechanisms as to how pulmonary effects are translated into systemic toxicity are still unknown. PM exposure also triggers antioxidant responses in pulmonary and systemic tissues, including activation of transcription factor Nrf2 and upregulation of its target gene heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), which attempt to counteract the ensuing harmful effects. The observations that particle uptake by alveolar macrophages significantly correlates with the development of atherosclerotic plaques strongly suggest that these cells are likely mediators in translating effects from the lungs to the systemic tissues. Our overarching hypothesis is that PM exposure promotes cardiometabolic toxicity starting with oxidative actions in the lungs that lead to prooxidant and proinflammatory effects in the circulating blood and systemic tissues via activation of alveolar macrophages, all modulated by the degree of myeloid anti-oxidant protection. We will test this hypothesis via the following three specific aims: 1) Assess the kinetics and mechanisms of lipid peroxidation in the lungs after ultrafine particle exposure, and their relation to prooxidant effects in the circulating blood and the development of atherosclerosis. We will use lipid peroxidation byproducts as tracking signals of PM-induced biological effects, and assess the kinetics of their appearance in various tissues such as the lungs, blood, liver, adipose tissue and aorta of ApoE KO mice exposed to ultrafine particles vs. filtered air for various times. 2) Determine if the myeloid antioxidant defense protects against UFP-induced lipid peroxidation, pulmonary and cardiometabolic toxicity. Myeloid-specific Nrf2 and HO-1 KO mice as well as myeloid-specific HO-1 Transgenic overexpresser mice in the ApoE null background, recently developed by us, will be used to test the effects of decreased or increased antioxidant defense, respectively, in the toxicity induced by UFP. 3) Evaluate whether alveolar macrophages carry UFP-induced oxidative effects from the lungs to the circulating blood. We will develop alveolar and lung macrophage chimeras with ablated HO-1 in their alveolar/interstitial macrophages to dissect their contribution in translating effects from the lungs into the systemic vessels. The proposed studies will aid in identifying mechanisms involved in PM-induced cardiovascular toxicity, and characterizing promising novel biomarkers of health effects, with the potential to aid in the design of therapeutic and/or prophylactic interventions against the toxicity induced by air pollution.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $391,155 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES	10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700	LOS ANGELES	CA	90024	LOS ANGELES	USA	Environmental Health	000	5	3/6/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$391,155
														Subtotal = $391,155

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $393,299 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES	10920 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 500	LOS ANGELES	CA	90024	LOS ANGELES	USA	Environmental Health	000	4	2/12/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$393,299
														Subtotal = $393,299

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $395,381 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES	10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700	LOS ANGELES	CA	90024	LOS ANGELES	USA	Environmental Health	000	3	2/24/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$395,381
														Subtotal = $395,381

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $397,402 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES	10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700	LOS ANGELES	CA	90024	LOS ANGELES	USA	Environmental Health	000	2	2/17/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$397,402
														Subtotal = $397,402

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $398,606 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES	10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700	LOS ANGELES	CA	90095	LOS ANGELES	USA	Environmental Health	000	1	5/7/2021	NEW	$398,606
														Subtotal = $398,606

Grand Total All Awards = $1,975,843

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Interplay Between Macrophages, Lipid Oxidation and the Nrf2/HO-1 Axis in the Cardiometabolic Toxicity Induced by Ultrafine Particles

Award Number: R01ES032806

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/08/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2026

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