Particulate matter induces arrhythmia-like cardiotoxicity in zebrafish embryos by altering the expression levels of cardiac development- and ion channel-related genes
Kyu Hee Park, Yoon Ji Choi, Won Kee Min, Sun Hwa Lee, Jaeyoung Kim, Sang Hoon Jeong, Jeong Hyeon Lee, Byung Min Choi, Suhyun Kim
Abstract
Air pollution is a risk factor that increases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In this study, we investigated the cardiotoxicity of particulate matter (PM) exposure using a zebrafish embryo model. We found that PM exposure induced cardiotoxicity, such as arrhythmia, during cardiac development. PM exposure caused cardiotoxicity by altering the expression levels of cardiac development (T-box transcription factor 20, natriuretic peptide A, and GATA-binding protein 4)- and ion-channel (scn5lab, kcnq1, kcnh2a/b, and kcnh6a/b)-related genes. In conclusion, this study showed that PM induces the aberrant expression of cardiac development- and ion channel-related genes, leading to arrhythmia-like cardiotoxicity in zebrafish embryos. Our study provides a foundation for further research on the molecular and genetic mechanisms of cardiotoxicity induced by PM exposure.