Urban Dust Nanoparticles Induce Proinflammatory Activation of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells

---

Anna A. Dashkevich¹, Lyudmila A. Zinovkina², Alexander I. Ivaneev³, Mikhail S. Ermolin³, Petr S. Fedotov^1,3, Boris V. Chernyak¹, and Roman A. Zinovkin^1,a*

¹Belozersky Research Institute of Physical and Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119992 Moscow, Russia

²Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia

³Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: August 5, 2025; Revised: November 25, 2025; Accepted: November 29, 2025

---

Air pollution remains a major environmental challenge, largely driven by urban dust composed of suspended solid particles of diverse origins and chemical compositions. Particulate matter (PM_2.5) and ultrafine urban dust nanoparticles (NPs), with diameters smaller than 2.5 μm and 100 nm, respectively, pose a particular threat to human health. In this study, we present the first evidence that NPs induce pro-inflammatory activation of human bronchial epithelial cells. Exposure to non-cytotoxic concentrations of NPs led to a significant increase in the mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory markers IL-8, IL-1β, IL-6, and ICAM-1, accompanied by increased secretion of the cytokines IL-8 and IL-6. Heat treatment of NPs, which removed their organic components, completely abolished their ability to stimulate cytokine secretion. NP-induced upregulation of pro-inflammatory gene expression depended on both surface-adsorbed organic compounds and inorganic particle constituents.

---

KEY WORDS: dust nanoparticles, bronchial epithelial cells, pro-inflammatory activation, inflammation

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297925602448

Publisher’s Note. Pleiades Publishing remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

---