title: Analysis of pulmonary surfactant in rat lungs after inhalation of nanomaterials: Fullerenes, nickel oxide and multi-walled carbon nanotubes.
abstract: The health risks of inhalation exposure to engineered nanomaterials in the workplace are a major concern in recent years, and hazard assessments of these materials are being conducted. The pulmonary surfactant of lung alveoli is the first biological entity to have contact with airborne nanomaterials in inhaled air. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated the pulmonary surfactant components of rat lungs after a 4-week inhalation exposure to three different nanomaterials: fullerenes, nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), with similar levels of average aerosol concentration (0.13-0.37 mg/m(3)). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of the rat lungs stored after previous inhalation studies was analyzed, focusing on total protein and the surfactant components, such as phospholipids and surfactant-specific SP-D (surfactant protein D) and the BALF surface tension, which is affected by SP-B and SP-C. Compared with a control group, significant changes in the BALF surface tension and the concentrations of phospholipids, total protein and SP-D were observed in rats exposed to NiO nanoparticles, but not in those exposed to fullerenes. Surface tension and the levels of surfactant phospholipids and proteins were also significantly different in rats exposed to MWCNTs. The concentrations of phospholipids, total protein and SP-D and BALF surface tension were correlated significantly with the polymorphonuclear neutrophil counts in the BALF. These results suggest that pulmonary surfactant components can be used as measures of lung inflammation.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health , Kitakyushu , Japan.
authors.forename: Chikara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kadoya
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health , Kitakyushu , Japan.
authors.forename: Byeong-Woo
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health , Kitakyushu , Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ogami
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health , Kitakyushu , Japan.
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oyabu
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health , Kitakyushu , Japan.
authors.forename: Ken-ichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishi
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health , Kitakyushu , Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health , Kitakyushu , Japan.
authors.forename: Motoi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Todoroki
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health , Kitakyushu , Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health , Kitakyushu , Japan.
authors.forename: Isamu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health , Kitakyushu , Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Myojo
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D037741:Fullerenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000633:toxicity; D009532:Nickel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D / Q000378:metabolism; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013500:Surface Tension / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D037741:Fullerenes; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D010743:Phospholipids; D011506:Proteins; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D009532:Nickel; C028007:nickel monoxide
keywords: C60; MWCNTs; SP-D; inhalation; phospholipid; pulmonary surfactant