Mitochondrial dysfunction induced by ambient fine particulate matter and potential mechanisms

Air pollution is one of the major environmental threats contributing to the global burden of disease. Among diverse air pollutants, fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) poses a significant adverse health impact and causes multi-system damage. As a highly dynamic organelle, mitochondria are essential for cellular energy metabolism and vital for cellular homeostasis and body fitness. Moreover, mitochondria are vulnerable to external insults and common targets for PM_2.5-induced cellular damage. The resultant impairment of mitochondrial structure and function initiates the pathogenesis of diverse human diseases. This review mainly summarizes the in vivo and in vitro findings of PM_2.5-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and its implication in PM_2.5-induced health effects. Furthermore, recent advances toward the underlying mechanisms of PM_2.5 and its components-induced mitochondrial dysfunction are also discussed, with an attempt to provide insights into the toxicity of PM_2.5 and basic information for devising appropriate intervention strategies.