Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation

8-2016

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

M.S.

Department

Pharmacology and Toxicology

Degree Program

Pharmacology and Toxicology, MS

Committee Chair

Conklin, Daniel

Committee Co-Chair (if applicable)

Bhatnagar, Aruni

Committee Member

Bhatnagar, Aruni

Committee Member

Hoyle, Gary

Committee Member

Myers, Steven

Committee Member

Wise Sr., John

Author's Keywords

air pollution; cardiovascular disease; PM2.5; endothelin-1; pulmonary oxidative stress; cardiovascular toxicology

Abstract

The goal of this project was to examine the role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) as a mediator in the pathway between air pollution exposure and the development of vascular injury. A human cohort and male mice (C57BL/6 and ecSOD-Tg) were used to evaluate changes in the ET-1 system in response to exposures of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Human ET-1 levels were significantly associated with environmental factors and markers of vascular change, but were decreased with increased PM2.5. No association was seen between ET-1 and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) except for EPC-4, possibly indicating a regulatory relationship with this specific population. In mice, the expression of the ET-1 system in the cardiopulmonary tissues changed significantly with exposure, with changes varying between exposure conditions. A potentially protective effect was seen in the lungs of ecSOD-Tg animals. These data suggest that ET-1 plays an important role in the vascular response to PM2.5 exposure.

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