Morris Rebecca H, Counsell Serena J, McGonnell Imelda M, Thornton Claire
Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.
Department of Perinatal Imaging and Health, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
Bioessays. 2021 Sep;43(9):e2000288. doi: 10.1002/bies.202000288. Epub 2021 Mar 9.
The World Health Organisation recently listed air pollution as the most significant threat to human health. Air pollution comprises particulate matter (PM), metals, black carbon and gases such as ozone (O ), nitrogen dioxide (NO ) and carbon monoxide (CO). In addition to respiratory and cardiovascular disease, PM exposure is linked with increased risk of neurodegeneration as well as neurodevelopmental impairments. Critically, studies suggest that PM crosses the placenta, making direct in utero exposure a reality. Rodent models reveal that neuroinflammation, neurotransmitter imbalance and oxidative stress are triggered following gestational/early life exposure to PM, and may be exacerbated by concomitant mitochondrial dysfunction. Gestational PM exposure (potentiated by mitochondrial impairment in the metabolically active neonatal brain) not only impacts neurodevelopment but may sensitise the brain to subsequent cognitive impairment. Having reviewed this field, we conclude that strategies are urgently required to reduce exposure to PM during this sensitive developmental period.
世界卫生组织最近将空气污染列为对人类健康的最重大威胁。空气污染包括颗粒物（PM）、金属、黑碳以及臭氧（O₃）、二氧化氮（NO₂）和一氧化碳（CO）等气体。除了呼吸道和心血管疾病外，接触PM还与神经退行性变风险增加以及神经发育障碍有关。至关重要的是，研究表明PM可穿过胎盘，使得子宫内直接接触成为现实。啮齿动物模型显示，在孕期/生命早期接触PM后会引发神经炎症、神经递质失衡和氧化应激，并且可能因伴随的线粒体功能障碍而加剧。孕期接触PM（在代谢活跃的新生儿大脑中线粒体损伤会使其加剧）不仅会影响神经发育，还可能使大脑对随后的认知障碍敏感。在对该领域进行综述后，我们得出结论，迫切需要采取策略以减少在这个敏感发育时期接触PM。
