Amelioration of metabolic disorders in H9C2 cardiomyocytes induced by PM2.5 treated with vitamin C

Objective: Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM_2.5) is a public health risk. We investigate PM_2.5 on metabolites in cardiomyocytes and the influence of vitamin C on PM_2.5 toxicity.

Materials and methods: For 24 hours, H9C2 were exposed to various concentrations of PM_2.5 (0, 100, 200, 400, 800 μg/ml), after which the levels of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and cell viability were measured using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and 2',7'-dichlorofluoresceindiacetate (DCFH2-DA), respectively. H9C2 were treated with PM_2.5 (200 μg/ml) in the presence or absence of vitamin C (40 μmol/L). mRNA levels of interleukin 6(IL-6), Caspase-3, fatty acid-binding protein 3 (FABP3), and hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) were investigated by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Non-targeted metabolomics by LC-MS/MS was applied to evaluate the metabolic profile in the cell.

Results: Results revealed a concentration-dependent reduction in cell viability, death, ROS, and increased expression of Caspase-3, FABP3, and IL-6. In total, 15 metabolites exhibited significant differential expression (FC > 2, p < 0.05) between the control and PM_2.5 group. In the PM_2.5 group, lysophosphatidylcholines (LysoPC,3/3) were upregulated, whereas Amino acids (5/5), amino acid analogues (3/3), and other acids and derivatives (4/4) were downregulated. PM_2.5 toxicity was lessened by vitamin C. It reduced PM_2.5-induced elevation of LysoPC (16:0), LysoPC (16:1), and LysoPC (18:1).

Discussion and conclusions: PM_2.5 induces metabolic disorders in H9C2 cardiomyocytes that can be ameliorated by treatment with vitamin C.

PM2.5; air pollution; metabolites; non-targeted metabolomics; vitamin C.