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ABSTRACT: Background
Despite epidemiological findings showing increased air pollution related cardiovascular diseases (CVD), the knowledge of the involved molecular mechanisms remains moderate or weak. Particulate matter (PM) produces a local strong inflammatory reaction in the pulmonary environment but there is no final evidence that PM physically enters and deposits in blood vessels. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their miRNA cargo might be the ideal candidate to mediate the effects of PM, since they could be potentially produced by the respiratory system, reach the systemic circulation and lead to the development of cardiovascular effects.The SPHERE ("Susceptibility to Particle Health Effects, miRNAs and Exosomes") project was granted by ERC-2011-StG 282413, to examine possible molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of PM exposure in relation to health outcomes.Methods/design
The study population will include 2000 overweight (25?DiscussionSPHERE is the first large study aimed to explore EVs as a novel potential mechanism of how air pollution exposure acts in a highly susceptible population. The rigorous study design, the availability of banked biological samples and the potential to integrate epidemiological, clinical and molecular data will also furnish a powerful base for investigating different complementary molecular mechanisms. Our findings, if confirmed, could lead to the identification of potentially reversible alterations that might be considered as possible targets for new diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
SUBMITTER: Bollati V
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4242553 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Bollati Valentina V Iodice Simona S Favero Chiara C Angelici Laura L Albetti Benedetta B Cacace Raquel R Cantone Laura L Carugno Michele M Cavalleri Tommaso T De Giorgio Barbara B Dioni Laura L Fustinoni Silvia S Hoxha Mirjam M Marinelli Barbara B Motta Valeria V Patrini Lorenzo L Pergoli Laura L Riboldi Luciano L Rizzo Giovanna G Rota Federica F Sucato Sabrina S Tarantini Letizia L Tirelli Amedea Silvia AS Vigna Luisella L Bertazzi Pieralberto P Pesatori Angela Cecilia AC
BMC public health 20141104
<h4>Background</h4>Despite epidemiological findings showing increased air pollution related cardiovascular diseases (CVD), the knowledge of the involved molecular mechanisms remains moderate or weak. Particulate matter (PM) produces a local strong inflammatory reaction in the pulmonary environment but there is no final evidence that PM physically enters and deposits in blood vessels. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their miRNA cargo might be the ideal candidate to mediate the effects of PM, sin ...[more]