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The airborne particulate pollutants originating in the deserts of Mongolia and China which becomes contaminated with industrial effluents and traffic emissions while moving with the wind currents towards East Asia has recently become a serious environmental and health issue in the region. They cause asthma, collateral lung tissue damage, oxidative stress, allergic reactions, and inflammation. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the protective effects of alginate extracted from the invasive alga Sargassum horneri (SHA) against fine dust collected from Beijing, China (Chinese fine dust; CFD). It was found that CFD induces inflammation in HaCaT keratinocytes and inhibits macrophage activation. All of the particulate matter (PM) comprising CFD was < PM13 majority being < PM2.5 which is defined for mineral elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. SHA attenuated PGE(2) levels in CFD-induced HaCaT keratinocytes. The IC50 for SHA was 36.63 +/- 4.11 mu g mL(-1). SHA also reduced the levels of COX-2, IL-6, and TNF-alpha, and inhibited certain key molecular mediators of the NF-kappa B and MAPK pathways in keratinocytes. SHA substantially reduced the levels of CFD-derived metal ions like Pb2+ and Ca2+ in keratinocytes attributable to its metal ion chelating properties. CFD-induced HaCaT keratinocyte culture media increased inflammatory responses in RAW 264.7 macrophages. These cells presented with increased levels of NO, iNOS, COX-2, PGE(2), and pro-inflammatory cytokines. It was found that the aforementioned effects could be reversed in RAW 264.7 macrophages when keratinocytes were treated with SHA. Therefore, SHA could be used against fine dust-induced inflammation in keratinocytes.