[The impact of post-exposure Streptococcus pneumoniae infections on pulmonary immunity: The role of air pollution and IL-20 cytokines in respiratory infections].

Abstract

Air pollution is responsible for more than 9 million premature deaths a year, including 48,000 in France. Fine particles (PM2.5), derived mainly from urban traffic, penetrate deeply into the lungs and trigger oxidative stress and inflammation, their key mechanisms of toxicity. They contribute to cardiorespiratory and systemic damage, increasing the risk of asthma attacks, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations, and respiratory infections. It is therefore essential, using experimental models, to decipher the mechanisms underlying these infection-related vulnerabilities, the objectives being to better understand the impact of PM2.5 on pulmonary immunity and to limit the repercussions of air pollution.