title: Multiwall carbon nanotubes mediate macrophage activation and promote pulmonary fibrosis through TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.
abstract: Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been widely used in many disciplines due to their unique physical and chemical properties, but have also raised great concerns about their possible negative health impacts, especially through occupational exposure. Although recent studies have demonstrated that MWCNTs induce granuloma formation and/or fibrotic responses in the lungs of rats or mice, their cellular and molecular mechanisms remain largely unaddressed. Here, it is reported that the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway can be activated by MWCNTs and play a critical role in MWCNT-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Firstly, in vivo data show that spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats administered long MWCNTs (20-50 μm) but not short MWCNTs (0.5-2 μm) exhibit increased fibroblast proliferation, collagen deposition and granuloma formation in lung tissue. Secondly, the in vivo experiments also indicate that only long MWCNTs can significantly activate macrophages and increase the production of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, which induces the phosphorylation of Smad2 and then the expression of collagen I/III and extracellular matrix (ECM) protease inhibitors in lung tissues. Finally, the present in vitro studies further demonstrate that the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway is indeed necessary for the expression of collagen III in fibroblast cells. Together, these data demonstrate that MWCNTs stimulate pulmonary fibrotic responses such as fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition in a TGF-β/Smad-dependent manner. These observations also suggest that tube length acts as an important factor in MWCNT-induced macrophage activation and subsequent TGF-β1 secretion. These in vivo and in vitro studies further highlight the potential adverse health effects that may occur following MWCNT exposure and provide a better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which MWCNTs induce pulmonary fibrotic reactions.
authors: CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China.
authors: Peng
authors: P
authors: Wang
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Nie
authors: Yue
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Cuicui
authors: C
authors: Ge
authors: Lili
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Liming
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: Ru
authors: R
authors: Bai
authors: Zhiyun
authors: Z
authors: Chen
authors: Yuliang
authors: Y
authors: Zhao
authors: Chunying
authors: C
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D051785:Smad Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D051785:Smad Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta
keywords: TGF-β/Smad signaling; collagen deposition; multiwall CNTs; pulmonary fibrosis