Diesel exhaust activates and primes microglia: air pollution, neuroinflammation, and regulation of dopaminergic neurotoxicity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Air pollution is linked to central nervous system disease, but the mechanisms responsible are poorly understood.

Objectives

Here, we sought to address the brain-region-specific effects of diesel exhaust (DE) and key cellular mechanisms underlying DE-induced microglia activation, neuroinflammation, and dopaminergic (DA) neurotoxicity.

Methods

Rats were exposed to DE (2.0, 0.5, and 0 mg/m3) by inhalation over 4 weeks or as a single intratracheal administration of DE particles (DEP; 20 mg/kg). Primary neuron-glia cultures and the HAPI (highly aggressively proliferating immortalized) microglial cell line were used to explore cellular mechanisms.

Results

Rats exposed to DE by inhalation demonstrated elevated levels of whole-brain IL-6 (interleukin-6) prot

SUBMITTER: Levesque S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3237351 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature