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Dual Role of PM2.5 Water-Soluble Constituents in Respiratory Viral Infection: Enhanced Cellular Susceptibility and Reduced Virion Infectivity

  • Shuyi Peng 1,2,   
  • Baichuan Gou 1,2,   
  • Yaohao Hu 1,2,   
  • Juying Lin 2,   
  • Wei Sun 1,   
  • Guohua Zhang 1,3,   
  • Wei Song 1,3,   
  • Bin Jiang 1,3,   
  • Chenglei Pei 4,   
  • Jinpu Zhang 4,   
  • Jianwei Dai 5,   
  • Xinming Wang 1,3,   
  • Ping’an Peng 1,3,   
  • Xinhui Bi 1,3,*

Received: 10 Nov 2025 | Revised: 04 Dec 2025 | Accepted: 16 Dec 2025 | Published: 23 Dec 2025

Highlights

  • WSM increased cellular susceptibility to H1N1 influenza virus by 1.5- to 3.5-fold
  • H1N1 infection was mainly inversely correlated with key antiviral mediator MxA
  • WSM directly reduced H1N1 virion and yet potentiated cellular infection
  • As, Cd, Na+ had dual effects, rising infection level and reducing virion infectivity

Abstract

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5), recognized as a critical risk factor for respiratory viral infection, frequently co-exists with respiratory viruses and elicits diverse toxic effects within host microenvironment. However, the specific PM2.5 constituents that affect viral infection and the respective roles of host-mediated processes versus direct virion interactions have not been fully elucidated. This study investigated the impacts of water-soluble matters (WSM) from PM2.5 collected in Guangzhou on human influenza A virus (H1N1) infection, focusing on its dual role in modulating bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) susceptibility and altering viral activity. The results demonstrated that WSM exposure potentiated cellular H1N1 infection level by 1.5- to 3.5-fold, accompanied by 30–40% defense-related signaling (e.g., MxA) reduction. It also perturbed the inflammatory response, including increased IL-6 and IL-8 (20–40%) and 50% reduction in TNF-α. Spearman analysis showed viral infectivity was associated with MxA, IL-6, and TNF-α levels, among which only MxA displayed a dose-dependent inhibitory trend. These results suggested that WSM primarily enhanced infection by suppressing antiviral defenses. Interestingly, WSM also exhibited direct viricidal effect by reducing 25% infectious H1N1 virions after short-term co-incubation and thereby partially modulated the overall viral infectivity in BEAS-2B cells. Further analysis implicated heterogeneous constituents in viral infection outcomes, with heavy metals (e.g., As, Cd) and Na+ exerting dual effects, both enhancing cellular viral infection and directly reducing virion infectivity. These findings establish a link between prevalence of respiratory viral infection and PM2.5 chemical constituents, highlighting the need for public health-guided mitigation strategies.

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Supplementary Materials
DOI
10.53941/ges.2026.100004
Issue
Volume 2, Issue 1
How to Cite
Peng, S.; Gou, B.; Hu, Y.; Lin, J.; Sun, W.; Zhang, G.; Song, W.; Jiang, B.; Pei, C.; Zhang, J.; Dai, J.; Wang, X.; Peng, P.; Bi, X. Dual Role of PM2.5 Water-Soluble Constituents in Respiratory Viral Infection: Enhanced Cellular Susceptibility and Reduced Virion Infectivity. Global Environmental Science 2026, 2 (1), 43–52. https://doi.org/10.53941/ges.2026.100004.
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