journal article·2026-01Open access

Interior Decorative VOCs Elevate T Cell‐Mediated Obstructive Lung Disease Risks via Osteogenesis‐Driven Lymphoid‐Biased Hematopoiesis

Hongyan Yu, Jingxu Zhang, Qingping Liu, Duxing Li, Ruonan Pan, Gan Miao, Yidi Chen, Zhe Kou, Guangbo Qu, Rong Zhang, Xiaoting Jin, Yuxin Zheng

Advanced Science· Volume 13· Issue 4

Abstract

Abstract Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from interior decorations are suggested to pose substantial respiratory hazards as they disturb the immune response in the lung. Despite this, the characteristics and mechanisms underlying immune cell responses to real‐world VOC mixtures, rather than previously individual or dominant VOC species, remain poorly understood. Employing a whole‐body inhalation exposure model, we reveal that interior decorative VOCs alter pulmonary immune cell profiles with a persistent increase in alveolar T cells. This sustained elevation results from intensified lymphoid‐biased hematopoiesis in the bone marrow (BM) rather than in situ lung, which is followed by thymic maturation and subsequent recruitment to lung tissues. The ex vivo biosensor and antibody neutralization assays clarify that VOCs‐induced lymphoid‐biased hematopoiesis is primarily driven by osteogenic differentiation within the BM niche, a process further regulated by interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and interleukin‐17A (IL‐17A). Moreover, the cohort study associates VOCs‐expanded lymphocytes with increased risks of obstructive lung diseases, where exposed individuals show elevated IL‐6 and IL‐17A levels, correlating with VOC concentrations and lymphocyte proportions. These findings highlight compelling indicators (i.e., T cells) and potential interventions (i.e., IL‐6 and IL‐17A) for evaluating and mitigating VOC‐associated respiratory risks.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure · Advanced Chemical Sensor Technologies · Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Occupational and Environmental Health School of Public Health Qingdao University Qingdao Shandong 266071 China

Department of Toxicology School of Public Health Hebei Medical University Shijiazhuang Hebei 050017 China

ZaoZhuang Center for Disease Control and Prevention Zaozhuang Shandong 277101 China

State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology Research Center for Eco‐Environmental Sciences Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100085 China

College of Resources and Environment University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) Beijing 101408 China

School of Environment Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS Hangzhou Zhejiang 310058 China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · Natural Science Foundation of Qingdao Municipality

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