The effects of combined particulate matter 10 coal dust exposure and high-cholesterol diet on lipid profiles, endothelial damage, and hematopoietic stem cells in rats

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of combined particulate matter 10 (PM10) coal dust exposure and high-cholesterol diet on lipid profiles, circulating endothelial cells (CECs), and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in rats. Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups. Rats were fed a normal diet (non-exposure group), a high-cholesterol diet for 8 weeks (HCD control group), or a high-cholesterol diet concomitantly exposed to 12.5 mg/m 3 of PM10 coal dust an hour daily for 5, 6, 7 or 8 weeks. Rats were sacrificed at the end of experiment, and then blood samples were collected. Lipid profiles were evaluated by colorimetric methods. CECs and HSCs were determined by flow-cytometric methods. Intergroup comparisons were performed by ANOVA. Results: High-cholesterol diet significantly increased total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c) level, TC/high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c)ratio, atherogenic index, and decreased HDL-c level compared to non-exposure group. Combined coal dust exposure and high-cholesterol diet significantly decreased TC, LDL-c level, TC/HDL-c ratio, atherogenic index, and increased HDL-c level relative to the HCD controls. Triglyceride level of the group with 6-week treatment was significantly higher compared to the non-exposure group achieving near-HCD control group levels. The HDL-c/LDL-c ratio, CECs, and HSCs were not significantly different among groups. Conclusion: Concomitant coal dust exposure and high-cholesterol diet reduced atherogenic index due to decreased TC and LDL-c, and elevated HDL-c levels.