title: Lung macrophages "digest" carbon nanotubes using a superoxide/peroxynitrite oxidative pathway.
abstract: In contrast to short-lived neutrophils, macrophages display persistent presence in the lung of animals after pulmonary exposure to carbon nanotubes. While effective in the clearance of bacterial pathogens and injured host cells, the ability of macrophages to "digest" carbonaceous nanoparticles has not been documented. Here, we used chemical, biochemical, and cell and animal models and demonstrated oxidative biodegradation of oxidatively functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes via superoxide/NO* → peroxynitrite-driven oxidative pathways of activated macrophages facilitating clearance of nanoparticles from the lung.
authors.affiliation: Center for Free Radical and Antioxidant Health, △Acute Lung Injury Center of Excellence, ‡Departments of Environmental and Occupational Health, §Cell Biology and Physiology, ⊥Chemistry, and ⊗Medicine, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
authors.forename: Valerian E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Kagan
authors.forename: Alexandr A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kapralov
authors.forename: Claudette M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: St Croix
authors.forename: Simon C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.forename: Elena R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Kisin
authors.forename: Gregg P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Kotchey
authors.forename: Krishnakumar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Balasubramanian
authors.forename: Irina I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Vlasova
authors.forename: Jaesok
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Wanji
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Rama K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Mallampalli
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Star
authors.forename: Anna A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Shvedova
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D013481:Superoxides / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D013481:Superoxides; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002244:Carbon; D010100:Oxygen