Effects of Atmospheric Fine Particulate Matter and Its Carrier Microbes on Pulmonary Microecology in Patients with COPD

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this paper was to analyse the influence of atmospheric fine particulate matter (AFPM) and atmospheric microorganisms on the pulmonary microecology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients in northeast China.

Methods

Collected bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of COPD patients in the high-risk period (group A) and low-risk period (group B) of AFPM inhalation and samples of AFPM in the same time range (group C) were collected. DNA sample sequencing, the bacterial abundance, and diversity bioinformatics of BALFs were performed by methods of Illumina MiSeq™ platform and Mothur and Uclust.

Results

A total of 58 samples were sequenced, including 22 samples from group A, 26 samples from group B and 10 samples from group C. A total of 2,005,790 bacterial sequences and 34,256 bacterial numbers were detected. Group B had the highest bacterial diversity of the three groups. Group B also had the highest bacterial abundance index value. There were differences in the classification of bacterial colonies for the three groups at the genus level. The types of bacteria in group C were more numerous than other groups, and group B was higher than group A, which indicates that there were more bacteria in BALF during the high-risk period of AFPM inhalation. The detection rates of Streptococcus, Mycoplasma, Roche, Pushia, Chlamydia trachomatis and Brucella for group C were significantly higher than group A. The COG and KEGG databases’ difference analysis results for the bacterial gene function abundance of group A and group B were 40.7% in group A and 38.9% in group B (R=0.098, P=0.006). The human disease abundance in group A and group B was 1.16% and 1.12%, respectively (P>0.05).

Conclusion

The increase in the concentration of AFPM can increase the diversity and abundance of bacteria in the BALF of stable COPD patients.

Clinical Trial Registration Number

2020XS04-02.

Keywords:

• COPD
• atmospheric fine particulate matter
• bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
• microbe
• pulmonary microecology

Data Sharing Statement

Availability of data and material need to be approved by the respiratory medicine department of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

This study has been reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Harbin Medical University (no. 2020XS04-02). The clinical samples were specifically isolated for this research, all of the patients provided written informed consent. All relevant ethical safeguards have been met in line with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Consent for Publication

All authors have been personally and actively involved in substantive work leading to the report, and will hold themselves jointly and individually responsible for its content.

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the work of State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology.

Disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

The National Key Laboratory of Sponsored by Open Project of State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease (Project Funding Number: SKLRD-OP-201902). The National Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Water, Environment Full Funds. (Project Funding Number: ESK201602).