Project 1: Interactions of ENMs with Lung Lining Fluid and Immune Effector Cells

环境颗粒物工程纳米材料(ENM)的研究成果目前正被开发用于广泛的应用，用于工程、医药、体育用品和休闲产业，以及用于化妆品、服装和食品等家庭用途。这些新材料的任何生物效应都可能反映出它们的化学成分。然而，由于纳米粒子在原子分子组分和块体材料之间是过渡性的，它们表现出非凡的性质，这使得仅仅根据它们的化学成分来预测它们的反应活性是困难的。因此，使ENM在新的应用中非常有吸引力的独特特征也可能对健康产生不利影响。声望很高的学会(1)、政府机构、学术机构和其他组织越来越担心这些新产品会对生物系统造成不利影响(2-5)。最初的关切源于流行病学研究表明，在空气污染(5-8，13)期间，心肺疾病发病率和死亡率的增加与大气中纳米颗粒，特别是柴油废气的数量增加有关。那些有肺部疾病的人，如哮喘、慢性阻塞性肺病和癌症，最容易受到影响。只要环境颗粒物的数量略有增加(10微克/米3)，空气动力学直径小于10微米(PM2.5)或2.5微米(PM2.5)就会增加心肌梗死的风险。其他对心血管的影响包括心率变异性降低、血压升高和动脉粥样硬化。虽然人们可能会预料到吸入颗粒物空气污染可能会对肺部产生不利影响，但其对心血管的影响令人惊讶，并表明发生在肺部系统内的事件可能会级联到其他身体系统。这些研究强调了肺防御机制在防止吸入毒物方面的关键作用。它们还强调了肺作为大气颗粒物污染的目标器官的重要性，以及需要了解破坏肺防御系统的机制，以便管理大气暴露于ENM的任何风险和危害。

Insights from Studies on Ambient Particulate Matter Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are now being developed for a wide range of applications, used in engineering, medicine, sports goods and the leisure industry, and for domestic use such as in cosmetics, clothing, and food. Any biological effects of these novel materials might be expected to reflect their chemistry. However, because the nano-sized particles are transitional, between the atomic molecular components and that of the bulk material, they exhibit extraordinary properties which make it difficult to predict their reactivity simply on the basis of their chemistry. Thus, unique features that make ENMs very attractive for use in novel applications, may also have adverse health effects. There are increasing concerns from prestigious societies (1), government bodies, academic institutes and other organisations, that these new products will result in adverse effects in biological systems (2-5). Initial concern stemmed from epidemiological studies showing that increased cardiorespiratory morbidity and mortality during episodes of air pollution (5-8,13), correlated with increases in the numbers of nanosized particles, particularly diesel exhaust, in the atmosphere. Those with existing lung disease, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer, were most susceptible. Only a small increase (10 micrograms/meter3) in the amount of ambient particulate matter less that 10 microns (PMio) or 2.5 microns (PM2.5) aerodynamic diameter is needed to increase the risk of myocardial infarct. Other cardiovascular effects include reduced heart rate variability, raised blood pressure and atherosclerosis. Whilst one might anticipate that inhalation of particulate air pollution might have adverse effects on the lung, the cardiovascular effects are surprising and suggest that events taking place within the pulmonary system can cascade into other body systems. These studies highlight the critical role of the lung defence mechanisms in protection from inhaled toxicants. They also highlight the importance ofthe lung as a target organ for atmospheric particulate pollution and the need to understand the mechanisms involved in breaching the pulmonary defence system, in order to manage any risks and hazards of atmospheric exposure to ENM.