Study on the identification of mechanism in environmental eye disease caused by airborne particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5)

초록

Air pollution related to airborne particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5) is one of the most important environmental issues in South Korea. In the severe days of PM10 and PM2.5 pollution, it is known to increase the incidence of dry eye syndrome and allergic conjunctivitis with inflammation and foreign body sensation of eyes. However, there is few scientific research on the environmental eye disease caused by the exposure to fine particles around the world. The aim of this study is to identify the mechanism and biomarker of environmental eye disease caused by the exposure to airborne PM using cell and animal experiment models and to estimate the prevalence rates and incidence rates of eye diseases related to fine PM concentration. We will carry out In- vivo/vitro study to answer the effect of PM on environmental eye diseases. To establish in-vitro model for this study, corneal epithelial cells are used either in presence or absence of fibroblast-embedded collagen layers. Cell monolayers and co-cultures are exposed to different types of PM10/PM2.5. The effects of PM exposure are evaluated on cell viability, inflammatory response, and cellular barrier function. On the other hand, the aim of In-vivo study was to evaluate the immunopathogenic effects of airborne particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5) exposure on the ocular surface and drainage lymph nodes through ocular surface staining, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometric analysis. In addition, specific biomarkers on airborne PM induced ocular diseases are also explored with microarray and luminex analysis. This study will pave the road to understand the mechanism of PM10/PM2.5 related environmental eye disease.