Proinflammatory polarization of monocytes by particulate air pollutants
is mediated by induction of trained immunity in pediatric asthma
Abstract
The impact of exposure to air pollutants, such as fine particulate
matter (PM), on the immune system and its consequences on pediatric
asthma are not well understood. We investigated whether the ambient
levels of fine PM with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 microns (PM
2.5) are associated with alterations in circulating
monocytes in children with or without asthma. Increased exposure to
ambient PM 2.5 was linked to specific monocyte subtypes,
particularly in children with asthma. Mechanistically, we hypothesized
that innate trained immunity is evoked by a primary exposure to fine PM
and accounts for an enhanced inflammatory response after secondary
stimulation in vitro. We determined that the trained immunity was
induced in circulating monocytes by fine particulate pollutants, and it
was characterized by upregulation of proinflammatory mediators, such as
TNF, IL-6, and IL-8, upon stimulation with house dust mite or LPS. This
phenotype was epigenetically controlled by enhanced H3K27ac marks in
circulating monocytes. The specific alterations of monocytes after
ambient pollution exposure suggest a possible prognostic immune
signature for pediatric asthma, and pollution-induced trained immunity
may provide a potential therapeutic target for asthmatic children living
in areas with increased air pollution.