Flavone protects HBE cells from DNA double-strand breaks caused by PM2.5.

Ambient air particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) contains many harmful components that can enter the circulatory system and produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) in body. Oxidative stress and DNA damage induced by ROS may affect any cellular macromolecule and lead to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Flavonoids, widely distributed in some herbs and berries, have been proved having anti-oxidative or anti-cancer efficacy. In this study, we investigated whether Flavone, a kind of flavonoids, can protect human bronchial epithelial cells (HBE) from DSBs caused by PM2.5 and how this function is probably implemented. We found that cells exposed to PM2.5 obviously induced viability inhibition, DNA damage and part of apoptosis. However, Flavone treatment prior to PM2.5 apparently improved cell viability, and mitigated the formation of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine, the expression of DNA damage-relative protein and cell apoptosis. Our studies demonstrated that PM2.5 induced oxidative DSBs while Flavone ameliorated the DNA damage and increased cell viability probably through influencing DNA repair mechanism of cells.