Integrative analysis to explore the biological association between environmental skin diseases and ambient particulate matter

Abstract

Although numerous experimental studies have suggested a significant association between ambient particulate matter (PM) and respiratory damage, the etiological relationship between ambient PM and environmental skin diseases is not clearly understood. Here, we aimed to explore the association between PM and skin diseases through biological big data analysis. Differential gene expression profiles associated with PM and environmental skin diseases were retrieved from public genome databases. The co-expression among them was analyzed using a text-mining-based network analysis software. Activation/inhibition patterns from RNA-sequencing data performed with PM2.5-treated normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) were overlapped to select key regulators of the analyzed pathways. We explored the adverse effects of PM on the skin and attempted to elucidate their relationships using public genome data. We found that changes in upstream regulators and inflammatory signaling networks mediated by MMP-1, MMP-9, PLAU, S100A9, IL-6, and S100A8 were predicted as the key pathways underlying PM-induced skin diseases. Our integrative approach using a literature-based co-expression analysis and experimental validation not only improves the reliability of prediction but also provides assistance to clarify underlying mechanisms of ambient PM-induced dermal toxicity that can be applied to screen the relationship between other chemicals and adverse effects.

Preventative Effects of Antioxidants against PM10 on Serum IgE Concentration, Mast Cell Counts, Inflammatory Cytokines, and Keratinocyte Differentiation Markers in DNCB-Induced Atopic Dermatitis Mouse Model

“…Air pollution may be related to the development and exacerbation of AD [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ]. Woo et al [ 34 ] reported that PM 10 exposure induces and aggravates skin inflammation via the differential expression of genes controlling skin barrier integrity and immune response in ovalbumin (OVA)-treated mice.…”

Brake Particle PN and PM Emissions of a Hybrid Light Duty Vehicle Measured on the Chassis Dynamometer

“…Particulate matter emissions caused by the transportation sector remain of particular concern for the environment and human health, especially in urban areas [1,2]. Several toxicological and epidemiological studies reveal a correlation between traffic pollutants and adverse health effects such as an increased risk for lung cancer, coronary atherosclerosis, and skin diseases [3][4][5][6]. Particulate emissions from road traffic consist of exhaust particles, generated by incomplete combustion of fuels or by evaporation of lubricating oil components, and non-exhaust particles, which are either generated by the vehicles or already exist in the environment and are stirred up by the vehicles and resuspended into the air [7].…”