@article{TEXTUAL,
      recid = {10508},
      author = {Scussiatto, Henrique Ochoa and Wroblewski, Kristen E. and  Pagel, Kristina L. and Schum, L. Phillip and McClintock,  Martha K. and Ramanathan, Murray, Jr. and Suh, Helen H. and  Pinto, Jayant M.},
      title = {Air pollution exposure is associated with rhinitis in  older US adults via specific immune mechanisms},
      journal = {International Forum of Allergy &amp; Rhinology},
      address = {2023-06-26},
      number = {TEXTUAL},
      abstract = {&lt;p&gt;Background: Pathophysiology of rhinitis in older adults  is largely unknown. We tested whether air pollution is  associated with this condition and how immune mechanisms  may play a role in this relationship.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Methods: We  analyzed cross-sectional data from the National Social  Life, Health, and Aging Project, a nationally  representative study of older adults born between 1920 and  1947. Particulate matter ≤2.5 μm (PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt;) air  pollution exposure estimates were generated using validated  spatiotemporal models. Presence of rhinitis was defined  based on medication use (≥1: intranasal medications:  steroids, antihistamines, lubricants, and/or decongestants,  and/or oral medications: antihistamines and/or  decongestants). K-means cluster analysis (Jaccard method)  was used to group 13 peripheral blood cytokines into 3  clusters to facilitate functional determination. We fitted  multivariate logistic regressions to correlate  PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; exposure with presence of rhinitis,  controlling for confounders, and then determined the role  of cytokines in this relationship.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Results: Long-  (but not short-) term exposure to PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; was  associated with presence of rhinitis: 3-year exposure  window, odds ratio (OR) = 1.32, 95% confidence interval  (CI): 0.98, 1.80, per 1 standard deviation (SD)  PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; increase. Inclusion of cytokine cluster in  the model led to a modestly stronger effect of  PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; exposure on rhinitis (OR = 1.37; 95% CI:  1.00, 1.87; 3-year exposure window). The particular immune  profile responsible for this result was composed of  elevated IL-3, IL-12, and IFN-γ (OR = 4.86, 95% CI: 1.10,  21.58, immune profile-PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; exposure interaction  term).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Conclusion: We show for the first time that  IL-3, IL-12, and IFN-γ explain in part the relationship  between PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; exposure and rhinitis in older US  adults. If confirmed, these immune pathways may be used as  therapeutic targets.&lt;/p&gt;},
      url = {http://knowledge.uchicago.edu/record/10508},
}