Air pollution and cardiovascular disease: Mitochondria may be the missing link
UCLA Health researchers have identified specific blood biomarkers that link air pollution exposure to cardiovascular disease. The study suggests that pollution damages mitochondria, preventing them from processing fats and leading to cellular stress.
Why it matters
This discovery provides a biological mechanism for how environmental factors contribute to heart disease, potentially aiding future diagnostic and preventative efforts.
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Add as preferred source Credit: Elīna Arāja from Pexels Researchers at UCLA Health investigating the connection between air pollution and cardiovascular disease have identified new blood biomarkers—long-chain dicarboxylate acids (DCAs) and medium- to long-chain acyl-carnitines (ACs)—in samples from mice and humans exposed to air pollution. These biomarkers offer insight into how air pollution damages cell function and increases the risk of heart disease. The findings are published in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology .
Previous UCLA Health studies found a link between air pollution and cardiovascular disease , but the mechanism behind it has remained unknown.
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