Joint association of air pollution exposure and inflammation-related proteins in relation to infant lung function

Shizhen He; Björn Lundberg; Jenny Hallberg; Susanna Klevebro; Göran Pershagen; Kristina Eneroth; Erik Melén; Matteo Bottai; Olena Gruzieva

doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114294

Joint association of air pollution exposure and inflammation-related proteins in relation to infant lung function

Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2024 Jan:255:114294. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114294. Epub 2023 Nov 10.

Authors

Shizhen He¹, Björn Lundberg², Jenny Hallberg², Susanna Klevebro², Göran Pershagen³, Kristina Eneroth⁴, Erik Melén², Matteo Bottai³, Olena Gruzieva⁵

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: shizhen.he@ki.se.
² Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Sachs' Children and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.
³ Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
⁴ Environment and Health Administration, SLB-analys, Stockholm, Sweden.
⁵ Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.

PMID: 37952388
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114294

Abstract

Background and aim: Systemic inflammation is one potential mechanism underlying negative impact of air pollution on lung function. Levels of inflammation-related proteins have the potential to characterize infants' susceptibility to air pollution induced lung function impairment. This study aimed to examine the interplay between air pollution exposure and inflammation-related proteins on lung function in 6-months-old infants.

Methods: In the EMIL birth cohort from Stockholm (n = 82), dynamic spirometry, along with measurement of plasma levels of 92 systemic inflammation-related proteins (Olink Proseek Multiplex Inflammation panel) have been carried out in infants aged six months. Time-weighted average exposure to particles with an aerodynamic diameter of <10 μm (PM₁₀), <2.5 μm (PM_2.5), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) at residential addresses from birth and onwards was estimated via validated dispersion models. To characterize the abnormality of inflammation-related protein profile, for each protein in each infant, we calculated the relative deviance of the protein level from age- and sex-specific median in terms of its age- and sex-specific interquartile range (IQR), followed by computing the absolute value of the smallest relative deviance, "minimum absolute deviance". Using linear regression models, interaction of air pollution and the abnormal inflammatory profile on lung function was estimated on the additive scale.

Results: We found joint association of PM exposure and an abnormal inflammatory protein profile in relation to FEV_0.5 and FVC. For 0.1 unit increase in minimum absolute deviance, one IQR increase in PM₁₀ was associated with 85.9 ml (95% CI: -122.9, -48.9) additional decrease in FEV_0.5, and 72.3 ml (95% CI: -121.5, -23.2) additional decrease in FVC. Similar results were obtained with PM_2.5 exposure, while less apparent for NO₂.

Conclusions: Early life air pollution exposure and abnormal inflammation-related protein profiles may interact synergistically towards lower lung function in infants.

Keywords: Air pollution; Infants; Inflammation-related proteins; Interaction; Lung function.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Air Pollution* / adverse effects
Air Pollution* / analysis
Environmental Exposure / adverse effects
Environmental Exposure / analysis
Female
Humans
Infant
Inflammation
Lung / chemistry
Male
Nitrogen Dioxide / analysis
Particulate Matter / analysis

Substances

Nitrogen Dioxide
Particulate Matter
Air Pollutants