Mitochondrial biomarkers for airborne particulate matter–associated cardiovascular diseases

Airborne particulate matter pollution has become a significant global health concern due to its detrimental effects on human health, including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Mitochondrial epigenetics hold enormous potential for developing biomarkers that discern the effects of air pollution–associated CVDs risk and emergence. A reliable approach to characterize mtDNA is essential as omics-based tools to profile cell-free circulating mtDNA copy number, heteroplasmic mutations, and methylation. Investigating regulatory mechanisms for methylated mtDNA in CVDs patients requires unique molecular epidemiological insights. With a focus on the negative effects of PM exposure on mitochondrial dynamics, protein expression, and metabolomic profiles that underlie the molecular mechanisms, this article aims to provide an in-depth assessment of the current knowledge on mitochondrial biomarkers as potential indicators of PM-associated CVDs. Furthermore, we examine the potential of cell-free circulating mtDNA and cellular entities detected in circulation as a predictive biomarker to mitigate the more severe effects of ambient air pollution on cardiovascular disorders.