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

工程纳米材料（enm）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，以及化妆品、服装和食品等家庭用途。这些新材料的任何生物学效应都可能反映出它们的化学性质。然而，由于纳米粒子是过渡的，介于原子分子成分和大块材料之间，它们表现出非凡的特性，这使得仅仅根据它们的化学性质来预测它们的反应性变得困难。因此，使enm在新颖应用中非常有吸引力的独特特性也可能对健康产生不利影响。越来越多的知名学会(1)、政府机构、学术机构和其他组织担心这些新产品会对生物系统产生不利影响（2-5）。最初的担忧源于流行病学研究，这些研究表明，空气污染期间心肺疾病发病率和死亡率的增加（5-8,13）与大气中纳米颗粒（尤其是柴油废气）数量的增加有关。那些患有哮喘、慢性阻塞性肺病和癌症等肺部疾病的人最容易受到影响。空气动力学直径小于10微米（PMio）或2.5微米（PM2.5）的环境颗粒物只要增加一点点（10微克/立方米），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空气污染微粒可能会对肺部产生不利影响，但对心血管的影响令人惊讶，并表明肺系统内发生的事件可能会连锁反应到其他身体系统。这些研究强调了肺防御机制在防止吸入有毒物质方面的关键作用。他们还强调了肺作为大气颗粒物污染的靶器官的重要性，以及了解破坏肺防御系统所涉及的机制的必要性，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.