Background Traffic particulate matter (PM) comprises a mixture of particles from fuel combustion ... more Background Traffic particulate matter (PM) comprises a mixture of particles from fuel combustion and wear of road pavement, tires and brakes. In countries with low winter temperatures the relative contribution of mineral-rich PM from road abrasion may be especially high due to use of studded tires during winter season. The aim of the present study was to sample and characterize size-fractioned PM from two road tunnels paved with different stone materials in the asphalt, and to compare the pro-inflammatory potential of these fractions in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC3-KT) in relation to physicochemical characteristics. Methods The road tunnel PM was collected with a vacuum pump and a high-volume cascade impactor sampler. PM was sampled during winter, both during humid and dry road surface conditions, and before and after cleaning the tunnels. Samples were analysed for hydrodynamic size distribution, content of elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC) and endotoxin, and the...
International journal of molecular sciences, Jan 10, 2018
Exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) affects endothelial function and may contribute to th... more Exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) affects endothelial function and may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and vasomotor dysfunction. As intracellular calcium concentration [Ca] is considered important in myoendothelial signalling, we explored the effects of extractable organic matter from DEPs (DEP-EOM) on [Ca] and membrane microstructure in endothelial cells. DEP-EOM of increasing polarity was obtained by pressurized sequential extraction of DEPs with -hexane (-Hex-EOM), dichloromethane (DCM-EOM), methanol, and water. Chemical analysis revealed that the majority of organic matter was extracted by the -Hex- and DCM-EOM, with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons primarily occurring in -Hex-EOM. The concentration of calcium was measured in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) using micro-spectrofluorometry. The lipophilic -Hex-EOM and DCM-EOM, but not the more polar methanol- and water-soluble extracts, induced rapid [Ca] increases in HMEC-1. -Hex-EOM tri...
Exposure to traffic-derived particulate matter (PM), such as diesel exhaust particles (DEP), is a... more Exposure to traffic-derived particulate matter (PM), such as diesel exhaust particles (DEP), is a leading environmental cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and may contribute to endothelial dysfunction and development of atherosclerosis. It is still debated how DEP and other inhaled PM can contribute to CVD. However, organic chemicals (OC) adhered to the particle surface, are considered central to many of the biological effects. In the present study, we have explored the ability of OC from DEP to reach the endothelium and trigger pro-inflammatory reactions, a central step on the path to atherosclerosis. Exposure-relevant concentrations of DEP (0.12 μg/cm) applied on the epithelial side of an alveolar 3D tri-culture, rapidly induced pro-inflammatory and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-regulated genes in the basolateral endothelial cells. These effects seem to be due to soluble lipophilic constituents rather than particle translocation. Extractable organic material of DEP (DEP-EOM)...
Unlike previous lignin biodegradation studies, white rot fungi were used to produce functional bi... more Unlike previous lignin biodegradation studies, white rot fungi were used to produce functional biopolymers from Kraft lignin. Lignin-based polymers (hydrogel precursors) partially soluble in both aqueous and organic solvents were produced employing a relatively fast (6 days) enzymation of Kraft lignin with basidiomycetes, primarily Coriolus versicolor, pre-grown on kenaf/lignin agar followed by either vacuum evaporation or acid precipitation. After drying followed by a treatment with alkaline water, this intermediate polymer became a pH-sensitive anionic hydrogel insoluble in either aqueous or organic solvents. The yield of this polymer increased from 20 to 72 wt% with the addition of 2% dimethylsulfoxide to distilled water used as a medium. The mechanical stability and buffering capacity of this hydrogel can be adjusted by washing the intermediate polymer/hydrogel precursor prior to drying with solvents of different polarity (water, methanol or ethanol). Any of these polymers featu...
The efficiency and dynamics of simultaneous kenaf biomass decomposition by basidiomycetous fungi ... more The efficiency and dynamics of simultaneous kenaf biomass decomposition by basidiomycetous fungi and actinobacteria were investigated. After 8weeks of incubation, up to 34wt.% of the kenaf biomass was degraded, with the combination of fungi and bacteria being the most efficient. Lignin decomposition accounted for ∼20% of the observed biomass reduction, regardless of the culture used. The remaining 80% of biomass degradation was due to carbohydrate based polymers. Major monosaccharides were produced in tangible yields (26-38%) at different times. Glucose, fructose and xylose were then fully consumed by day 25 while some galactose persisted until day 45. Once monosaccharides were depleted, the production of laccase, manganese-dependent peroxidase and lignin peroxidase enzymes, essential for lignin decomposition, was induced. The products of lignin biodecomposition were shown to be water-soluble and characterized by thermal desorption-pyrolysis-gas chromatography.
Background Traffic particulate matter (PM) comprises a mixture of particles from fuel combustion ... more Background Traffic particulate matter (PM) comprises a mixture of particles from fuel combustion and wear of road pavement, tires and brakes. In countries with low winter temperatures the relative contribution of mineral-rich PM from road abrasion may be especially high due to use of studded tires during winter season. The aim of the present study was to sample and characterize size-fractioned PM from two road tunnels paved with different stone materials in the asphalt, and to compare the pro-inflammatory potential of these fractions in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC3-KT) in relation to physicochemical characteristics. Methods The road tunnel PM was collected with a vacuum pump and a high-volume cascade impactor sampler. PM was sampled during winter, both during humid and dry road surface conditions, and before and after cleaning the tunnels. Samples were analysed for hydrodynamic size distribution, content of elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC) and endotoxin, and the...
International journal of molecular sciences, Jan 10, 2018
Exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) affects endothelial function and may contribute to th... more Exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) affects endothelial function and may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and vasomotor dysfunction. As intracellular calcium concentration [Ca] is considered important in myoendothelial signalling, we explored the effects of extractable organic matter from DEPs (DEP-EOM) on [Ca] and membrane microstructure in endothelial cells. DEP-EOM of increasing polarity was obtained by pressurized sequential extraction of DEPs with -hexane (-Hex-EOM), dichloromethane (DCM-EOM), methanol, and water. Chemical analysis revealed that the majority of organic matter was extracted by the -Hex- and DCM-EOM, with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons primarily occurring in -Hex-EOM. The concentration of calcium was measured in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) using micro-spectrofluorometry. The lipophilic -Hex-EOM and DCM-EOM, but not the more polar methanol- and water-soluble extracts, induced rapid [Ca] increases in HMEC-1. -Hex-EOM tri...
Exposure to traffic-derived particulate matter (PM), such as diesel exhaust particles (DEP), is a... more Exposure to traffic-derived particulate matter (PM), such as diesel exhaust particles (DEP), is a leading environmental cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and may contribute to endothelial dysfunction and development of atherosclerosis. It is still debated how DEP and other inhaled PM can contribute to CVD. However, organic chemicals (OC) adhered to the particle surface, are considered central to many of the biological effects. In the present study, we have explored the ability of OC from DEP to reach the endothelium and trigger pro-inflammatory reactions, a central step on the path to atherosclerosis. Exposure-relevant concentrations of DEP (0.12 μg/cm) applied on the epithelial side of an alveolar 3D tri-culture, rapidly induced pro-inflammatory and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-regulated genes in the basolateral endothelial cells. These effects seem to be due to soluble lipophilic constituents rather than particle translocation. Extractable organic material of DEP (DEP-EOM)...
Unlike previous lignin biodegradation studies, white rot fungi were used to produce functional bi... more Unlike previous lignin biodegradation studies, white rot fungi were used to produce functional biopolymers from Kraft lignin. Lignin-based polymers (hydrogel precursors) partially soluble in both aqueous and organic solvents were produced employing a relatively fast (6 days) enzymation of Kraft lignin with basidiomycetes, primarily Coriolus versicolor, pre-grown on kenaf/lignin agar followed by either vacuum evaporation or acid precipitation. After drying followed by a treatment with alkaline water, this intermediate polymer became a pH-sensitive anionic hydrogel insoluble in either aqueous or organic solvents. The yield of this polymer increased from 20 to 72 wt% with the addition of 2% dimethylsulfoxide to distilled water used as a medium. The mechanical stability and buffering capacity of this hydrogel can be adjusted by washing the intermediate polymer/hydrogel precursor prior to drying with solvents of different polarity (water, methanol or ethanol). Any of these polymers featu...
The efficiency and dynamics of simultaneous kenaf biomass decomposition by basidiomycetous fungi ... more The efficiency and dynamics of simultaneous kenaf biomass decomposition by basidiomycetous fungi and actinobacteria were investigated. After 8weeks of incubation, up to 34wt.% of the kenaf biomass was degraded, with the combination of fungi and bacteria being the most efficient. Lignin decomposition accounted for ∼20% of the observed biomass reduction, regardless of the culture used. The remaining 80% of biomass degradation was due to carbohydrate based polymers. Major monosaccharides were produced in tangible yields (26-38%) at different times. Glucose, fructose and xylose were then fully consumed by day 25 while some galactose persisted until day 45. Once monosaccharides were depleted, the production of laccase, manganese-dependent peroxidase and lignin peroxidase enzymes, essential for lignin decomposition, was induced. The products of lignin biodecomposition were shown to be water-soluble and characterized by thermal desorption-pyrolysis-gas chromatography.
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Papers by Alena Kubatova