Toxic mechanisms and biomarkers of Staphylococcus aureus aerosol exposure to human respiratory cells at the air-liquid interface.

Exposure to S. aureus aerosols at concentrations of 3.21 × 10^5 to 6.54 × 10^6 CFU/m^3 impairs human bronchial epithelial cell viability, induces mitochondrial damage, and triggers inflammation.

• Why it matters: Airborne S. aureus exposure is linked to increased respiratory disease, but the mechanisms and biomarkers involved remain poorly understood, limiting diagnosis and intervention strategies.
• What they did: Researchers used microRNA sequencing to analyze human bronchial epithelial (16HBE) cells exposed to aerosols, identifying gene expression changes, immune responses, and potential biomarkers across different concentrations.
• The result: Twelve miRNAs, including miR-19a-3p, miR-18a-5p, miR-106b-5p, and miR-142-5p, were identified as potential biomarkers, influencing pathways related to cell damage and cancer, advancing understanding of airborne pathogen toxicity.