Diesel Exhaust Exposure and N-acetyl-cysteine Supplementation In-utero and Atherosclerotic Lesion Progression

Ambient air pollution exposures have consistently been found to be positively associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Fine particle air pollution (PM_2.5), largely derived from diesel exhaust (DE) emissions, have been emphasized as having the most significant effect on cardiovascular health. PM_2.5 exposure during pregnancy can have deleterious effects on fetal development, decrease birth weight, and is associated with an increased risk of later life metabolic diseases. The adverse intrauterine conditions may also promote risk of atherosclerosis in adulthood. The mechanism of PM_2.5-mediated effects remains unclear, but there is extensive evidence for the generation of reactive oxygen species and ensuing oxidative stress as a central driver of these observations. N-acetylcysteine is an antioxidant and precursor for glutathione (GSH), the major determinant of intracellular reductive potential. In this study, we investigate the effect of DE exposure and NAC supplementation in-utero on adult susceptibility to atherosclerosis.

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• Abstract

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Project Type(s): Master's Thesis

Author(s): Jenna Harrigan

Program(s): Master of Science

Year: 2015

Adviser(s):

• Michael Rosenfeld