J Korean Med Sci.  2023 Apr;38(16):e159. 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e159.

Associations of Particulate Matter Exposures With Brain Gray Matter Thickness and White Matter Hyperintensities: Effect Modification by Low-Grade Chronic Inflammation

• Cho J
• Jang H
• Noh Y
• Lee SK
• Koh SB
• Kim SY
• Kim C

• KMID: 2541755
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e159

Abstract

Background
Numerous studies have shown the effect of particulate matter exposure on brain imaging markers. However, little evidence exists about whether the effect differs by the level of low-grade chronic systemic inflammation. We investigated whether the level of c-reactive protein (CRP, a marker of systemic inflammation) modifies the associations of particulate matter exposures with brain cortical gray matter thickness and white matter hyperintensities (WMH).
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study of baseline data from a prospective cohort study including adults with no dementia or stroke. Long-term concentrations of particulate matter ≤ 10 µm in diameter (PM10) and ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5) at each participant’s home address were estimated. Global cortical thickness (n = 874) and WMH volumes (n = 397) were estimated from brain magnetic resonance images. We built linear and logistic regression models for cortical thickness and WMH volumes (higher versus lower than median), respectively. Significance of difference in the association between the CRP group (higher versus lower than median) was expressed as P for interaction.
Results
Particulate matter exposures were significantly associated with a reduced global cortical thickness only in the higher CRP group among men (P for interaction = 0.015 for PM10 and 0.006 for PM2.5). A 10 μg/m³ increase in PM10 was associated with the higher volumes of total WMH (odds ratio, 1.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–2.97) and periventricular WMH (2.00; 1.20–3.33). A 1 μg/m³ increase in PM2.5 was associated with the higher volume of periventricular WMH (odds ratio, 1.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.08–2.56). These associations did not significantly differ by the level of high sensitivity CRP.
Conclusion
Particulate matter exposures were associated with a reduced global cortical thickness in men with a high level of chronic inflammation. Men with a high level of chronic inflammation may be susceptible to cortical atrophy attributable to particulate matter exposures.

Keyword

Neuroimaging; Chronic Inflammation; Brain Cortical Thickness; White Matter Hyperintensity; Air Pollution

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Associations between particulate matter exposures and white matter hyperintensity volumes. Odds ratios of having the higher (≥ median) volume of WMH (per a 10 µg/m3 increment in PM10 or a 1 µg/m3 increment in PM2.5) were estimated from logistic regression models, adjusting for age, sex, years of education, smoking status, alcohol consumption, vigorous exercise, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, angina or myocardial infarction, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose level, total cholesterol level, survey year, and intracranial volume.WMH = white matter hyperintensities, PM10 = particulate matter 10 µm or less in diameter, PM2.5 = particulate matter 2.5 µm or less in diameter.

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