Personal PM_(2.5) Elemental Components, Decline of Lung Function, and the Role of DNA Methylation on Inflammation-Related Genes in Older Adults: Results and Implications of the BAPE Study

摘要

Epidemiological evidence of the effects of PM_(2.5) elements on lung function and DNA methylation is limited. We conducted a longitudinal panel study of 76 healthy older adults aged 60-69 years in Jinan, China, from September 2018 to January 2019. We periodically measured individual 72 h PM_(2.5) and element concentrations, lung function, and DNA methylation levels of eight inflammation-related genes. We used linear mixed-effect models to investigate the effects of exposure to personal PM_(2.5) elements on the lung function and DNA methylation. Mediation analysis was used to investigate the underlying effect mechanism. Negative changes in the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity, ranging from -1.23 95 confidence interval (CI): -2.11, -0.35 to -0.77 (95 CI: -1.49, -0.04), were significandy associated with interquartile range (IQR) increases in personal PM_(2.5) at different lag periods (7-12, 13-24, 25-48, 0-24, 0-48, and 0-72 h). Arsenic (As), nickel, rubidium (Rb), selenium, and vanadium were significantly associated with at least three lung function parameters, and IQR increases in these elements led to 0.12-5.66 reductions in these parameters. PM_(2.5) elements were significantly associated with DNA methylation levels. DNA methylation mediated 7.28-13.02 of the As- and Rb-related reduced lung function. The findings indicate that exposure to elements in personal PM_(2.5) contributes to reduced lung function through DNA methylation.