Observational and Experimental Evidence on the Interaction Between Fine Particulate Matter and Shared Genetic Variants Across Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Subtypes

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that the associations between ambient air pollution and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) differ by genotype. A genome-wide approach provides a more comprehensive understanding of this relationship on a genomic scale. METHODS: Using data from ≈300 000 UK Biobank participants, we conducted a genome-wide interaction analysis on 10 745 802 variants. We examined the interactions between fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) and genetic variants across 3 ASCVD subtypes: coronary artery disease, ischemic stroke, and peripheral artery disease. A polygenic risk score was constructed, and functional annotation identified potential genes at loci interacting with air pollution. In vivo studies explored how genome-wide interaction analysis-identified genes interacting with PM 2.5 might contribute to atherosclerotic plaque progression. RESULTS: During 12.55 years of follow-up, 42 696 ASCVD events were observed. Genome-wide interaction analysis identified 12 loci shared across the ASCVD subtypes related to PM 2.5 exposure. Functional annotation suggested these loci and colocalized genes are involved in pathways such as cell-cell adhesion, deoxyribonucleotide biosynthesis, RNA metabolism, and calcium homeostasis. High genetic risk combined with PM 2.5 exposure was associated with coronary artery disease, ischemic stroke, and peripheral artery disease, with hazard ratios and 95% CIs of 1.35 (1.32–1.37), 1.53 (1.47–1.58), and 1.68 (1.62–1.75), respectively. Animal studies confirmed that adenosine kinase gene expression might interact with PM 2.5 , potentially influencing atherosclerotic plaque development through inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified genome-wide loci interacting with PM 2.5 and linked adenosine kinase expression in response to PM 2.5 exposure to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, highlighting potential pathways that connect PM 2.5 to ASCVD.