Dissecting the connection between volatile organic compounds and cardiovascular disease: immune cell-mediated mechanism
Background: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are increasingly recognized as environmental pollutants with detrimental effects on human health. However, their specific effect on cardiovascular disease remains insufficiently explored. Objective: This study aims to investigate the association between...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325006335 |
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| author | Qi Cao Jiajing Liu Daiyao Lu Junhuai Song Qiming Yu Jinkun Wen Bin Zheng |
| author_facet | Qi Cao Jiajing Liu Daiyao Lu Junhuai Song Qiming Yu Jinkun Wen Bin Zheng |
| author_sort | Qi Cao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are increasingly recognized as environmental pollutants with detrimental effects on human health. However, their specific effect on cardiovascular disease remains insufficiently explored. Objective: This study aims to investigate the association between urinary VOC metabolites and cardiovascular disease risk, while evaluating whether monocytes may partially explain. Methods: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2018 were analyzed. Three statistical models were employed to evaluate the association between VOC metabolites and cardiovascular disease risk. Mediation analysis was used to quantify the contribution of monocytes. Transcriptomic analysis and pathway enrichment were conducted to identify biological pathways linked to VOC exposure and immune dysregulation. Results: All three models consistently demonstrated significant positive associations between urinary DHBMA, HPMMA, and ATCA and the risk of angina and coronary heart disease. Stratified analyses identified several high-risk subgroups-normal-weight adults (BMI <25 kg/m²), moderately active individuals (3–6), both low-income (PIR ≤1) and high-income (PIR >3) populations, and current drinkers—who exhibited the strongest VOC-CVD relationships. Mediation analysis showed that monocyte-related pathways accounted for 13.1 %–112.4 % of these associations. Finally, transcriptomic profiling revealed significant enrichment of NF-κB and AGE–RAGE signaling pathways, underscoring their roles in VOC-induced inflammation and immune dysregulation. Conclusion: Our study shows that higher levels of urinary DHBMA, HPMMA, and ATCA are associated with increased cardiovascular risk through monocyte-driven inflammation. Importantly, normal-weight and moderately active adults, socioeconomically vulnerable groups, and drinkers emerge as high-risk subpopulations. These findings suggest the need for targeted public health interventions, such as improving indoor air quality, reducing VOC emissions, and addressing monocyte-mediated inflammation, to reduce VOC-related cardiovascular risks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6a4ff28e9dd2463c97f797c8514fe12b |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj-art-6a4ff28e9dd2463c97f797c8514fe12b2025-08-20T02:26:07ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-06-0129811829710.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118297Dissecting the connection between volatile organic compounds and cardiovascular disease: immune cell-mediated mechanismQi Cao0Jiajing Liu1Daiyao Lu2Junhuai Song3Qiming Yu4Jinkun Wen5Bin Zheng6Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, ChinaDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, ChinaDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, ChinaDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, ChinaDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, ChinaCorrespondence to: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, Hebei Medical University, No. 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang 050017, China.; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, ChinaCorrespondence to: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, Hebei Medical University, No. 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang 050017, China.; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, ChinaBackground: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are increasingly recognized as environmental pollutants with detrimental effects on human health. However, their specific effect on cardiovascular disease remains insufficiently explored. Objective: This study aims to investigate the association between urinary VOC metabolites and cardiovascular disease risk, while evaluating whether monocytes may partially explain. Methods: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2018 were analyzed. Three statistical models were employed to evaluate the association between VOC metabolites and cardiovascular disease risk. Mediation analysis was used to quantify the contribution of monocytes. Transcriptomic analysis and pathway enrichment were conducted to identify biological pathways linked to VOC exposure and immune dysregulation. Results: All three models consistently demonstrated significant positive associations between urinary DHBMA, HPMMA, and ATCA and the risk of angina and coronary heart disease. Stratified analyses identified several high-risk subgroups-normal-weight adults (BMI <25 kg/m²), moderately active individuals (3–6), both low-income (PIR ≤1) and high-income (PIR >3) populations, and current drinkers—who exhibited the strongest VOC-CVD relationships. Mediation analysis showed that monocyte-related pathways accounted for 13.1 %–112.4 % of these associations. Finally, transcriptomic profiling revealed significant enrichment of NF-κB and AGE–RAGE signaling pathways, underscoring their roles in VOC-induced inflammation and immune dysregulation. Conclusion: Our study shows that higher levels of urinary DHBMA, HPMMA, and ATCA are associated with increased cardiovascular risk through monocyte-driven inflammation. Importantly, normal-weight and moderately active adults, socioeconomically vulnerable groups, and drinkers emerge as high-risk subpopulations. These findings suggest the need for targeted public health interventions, such as improving indoor air quality, reducing VOC emissions, and addressing monocyte-mediated inflammation, to reduce VOC-related cardiovascular risks.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325006335Cardiovascular DiseaseVolatile Organic CompoundsImmune CellsNF-kappa B Pathway |
| spellingShingle | Qi Cao Jiajing Liu Daiyao Lu Junhuai Song Qiming Yu Jinkun Wen Bin Zheng Dissecting the connection between volatile organic compounds and cardiovascular disease: immune cell-mediated mechanism Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Cardiovascular Disease Volatile Organic Compounds Immune Cells NF-kappa B Pathway |
| title | Dissecting the connection between volatile organic compounds and cardiovascular disease: immune cell-mediated mechanism |
| title_full | Dissecting the connection between volatile organic compounds and cardiovascular disease: immune cell-mediated mechanism |
| title_fullStr | Dissecting the connection between volatile organic compounds and cardiovascular disease: immune cell-mediated mechanism |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dissecting the connection between volatile organic compounds and cardiovascular disease: immune cell-mediated mechanism |
| title_short | Dissecting the connection between volatile organic compounds and cardiovascular disease: immune cell-mediated mechanism |
| title_sort | dissecting the connection between volatile organic compounds and cardiovascular disease immune cell mediated mechanism |
| topic | Cardiovascular Disease Volatile Organic Compounds Immune Cells NF-kappa B Pathway |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325006335 |
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