The Interplay of Pollutants and Mental Illness

Mental illnesses are a leading cause of disability globally, with emerging evidence linking them to dysfunctional inflammatory processes. Neurotoxic pollutants, such as PFAS and particulate air pollution, have been associated with an increased risk of mental disorders. Our research aims to investigate how these pollutants influence inflammation, focusing on the inflammasome—a key component of the immune response.

This pilot study will examine the cellular effects of pollutants on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with severe mental disorders, compared to healthy controls. Initially, we will optimize our methods using PBMCs from healthy donors.

We will use Cell-painting, a high-content screening technique that detects changes in cellular morphology, to identify early neurotoxic fingerprints. Preliminary results from our work with THP-1 macrophages suggest that pollutants induce inflammasome-specific cellular changes, which we aim to explore further in patient samples.

The study will test the effects of pollutants, including PFAS, nickel nanoparticles, and nanoplastics, both individually and in combination. This research will provide crucial insights into the cellular mechanisms through which environmental pollutants may contribute to the development and progression of severe mental disorders.

Status: Ongoing

The project owner is X-HiDE - Örebro University (oru.se)

Contact: X-HiDE@oru.se