Global warming risks dehydrating and inflaming human airways

Place: conference room, IMDEA Nanociencia.

Abstract:

Global warming increases water evaporation rates from planetary ecosystems. Here, we show that evaporation rates encountered during human breathing in dehydrating atmospheres promote airway inflammation and potentially exacerbate lung diseases. Continuum mathematical analysis predicts that water evaporation thins airway mucus layers and compresses epithelial cells during tidal breathing. Experiments using human tracheal-bronchial cells confirm that exposure to air with progressive degrees of dryness causes the mucus layer to progressively thin. Associated compression of epithelial cells elevates secretion of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-33, and IL-6). Together with climate model simulations, these findings suggest that, globally, humanity will be at elevated risk of airway inflammation by the latter half of this century.