It is well established that exposure to particulate air pollution increases mortality and risk of age-related conditions. The primary mechanism is thought to be increased chronic inflammation resulting from the interactions of inhaled particles with the cells of epithelial and other tissues. One of the consequences of chronic inflammation is increased fibrosis, a dysfunction in normal tissue maintenance in which excessive extracellular matrix is created, forming scar-like structures that impair tissue function. Here, researchers correlate increased fibrosis in heart tissue with long-term exposure to particulate matter, an outcome that isn’t …
Long-Term Exposure to Particulate Air Pollution Correlates with Greater Fibrosis in Heart Tissue
It is well established that exposure to particulate air pollution increases mortality and risk of age-related conditions. The primary mechanism is thought to be increased chronic inflammation resulting from the interactions of inhaled particles with the cells of epithelial and other tissues. One of the consequences of chronic inflammation is increased fibrosis, a dysfunction in normal tissue maintenance in which excessive extracellular matrix is created, forming scar-like structures that impair tissue function. Here, researchers correlate increased fibrosis in heart tissue with long-term exposure to particulate matter, an outcome that isn’t …