Beyond cytotoxicity: pollutant mixtures elicit unconventional epithelial-fibroblast signaling in a human lung air-liquid interface co-culture model.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Combined exposures to airborne nanoparticles and acidic gases are plausible during industrial accidents and in military settings involving propellants. Aluminum oxide nanoparticles (Al₂O₃ NPs), widely used in industry and present in propellant formulations, together with hydrogen chloride (HCl), a corrosive combustion by-product, are relevant co-pollutants whose joint impact on lung remodeling remains poorly defined. This study aimed to investigate early airway responses to repeated apical exposures to Al₂O₃ NPs, HCl, or their mixture in a human air-liquid interface co-culture model of alveolar epithelial (hAELVi) and fibroblast (MRC-5) cells.

Methods

Cells were exposed daily for four days, and epithelial viability, ba

SUBMITTER: Fredoc-Louison J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12756146 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature