Cellular markers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from exposure to nanoparticlecontaining aerosols

Abstract

Introduction. The role of industrial aerosol nanoparticles in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is still poorly understood. The aim of study is to determine the distribution of monocyte subpopulations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease under the influence of industrial aerosols containing nanoparticles. Materials and methods. A single-center cohort observational study included patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (GOLD 2011 criteria) who were exposed to industrial aerosols (n=32), COPD patients, tobacco smokers (n=35), and conditionally healthy individuals without occupational hazards (n=29). Nanoparticles in the air of the working area were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy. Metal-containing nanoparticles (Pb, Fe, Cr) predominated in the casters' workplaces, while the grinders were mainly exposed to silicon dioxide nanoparticles. The groups were comparable by gender, age, and duration of COPD. Monocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood were determined by flow cytofluorometry. Results. In COPD patients who worked in contact with an industrial aerosol containing metal nanoparticles, the proportion of "classical" CD14+CD16- monocytes was increased, and the proportion of "intermediate" CD14+CD16+ and "non-classical" CD14dimCD16+ was reduced. The percentage of "non-classical" monocytes exposed to silicon dioxide nanoparticles was increased, and the percentage of "intermediate" monocytes was reduced. At the same time, the proportion of classical monocytes was highest in patients with COPD who worked under the influence of metal nanoparticles (84.3%±6.3%), intermediate monocytes - in patients with COPD due to tobacco smoking (6.1%±1.5%), non-classical monocytes - in the group of COPD and contact with silicon dioxide nanoparticles (20.45%±0.25%). Conclusions. COPD under the influence of industrial aerosol containing metal nanoparticles is characterized by an increase in the proportion of "classical' monocytes, and silicon dioxide nanoparticles - "non-classical”. The level of subpopulations of blood monocytes is a promising marker of professionally caused COPD.