The activation of antioxidant and apoptosis pathways involved in damage of human proximal tubule epithelial cells by PM2.5 exposure

Abstract Background Exposure to airborne fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) has been reported to be harmful to the human kidney. However, whether the activation of oxidative stress and cell apoptosis plays key roles in the nephrotoxicity caused by PM 2.5 exposure is still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to explore the mechanism of cytotoxicity after PM 2.5 exposure in human proximal tubule epithelial cells (HK-2 cells). Results PM 2.5 exposure resulted in a significant decrease in cell viability, with an increase in LDH release and the early kidney damage marker kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) expression in a dose-dependent manner and time-dependent manner. PM 2.5 exposure induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and markedly elevated apoptosis in HK-2 cells. In addition, PM 2.5 exposure resulted in the activation of antioxidant pathway, as evidenced by the increased expressions of Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO1 and decreased expression of Keap1. Moreover, PM 2.5 exposure also induced the activation of apoptotic pathway, as evidenced by the increased expressions of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-8 and decreased expression of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. Conclusions Our results demonstrated that both antioxidant pathway and apoptotic pathway played critical roles in the damage mediated by PM 2.5 in HK-2 cells. This study would give us a strategy to prevent the impairment of renal function by PM 2.5 induced through repression of oxidative stress and apoptosis.