The role of sex in particle-induced inflammation and injury

Adverse effects of exposure to fine particles and ultrafine particles in the environment on different organs of organisms

Particulate pollution is a global risk factor that seriously threatens human health. Fine particles (FPs) and ultrafine particles (UFPs) have small particle diameters and large specific surface areas, which can easily adsorb metals, microorganisms and other pollutants. FPs and UFPs can enter the human body in multiple ways and can be easily and quickly absorbed by the cells, tissues and organs. In the body, the particles can induce oxidative stress, inflammatory response and apoptosis, furthermore causing great adverse effects. Epidemiological studies mainly take the population as the research object to study the distribution of diseases and health conditions in a specific population and to focus on the identification of influencing factors. However, the mechanism by which a substance harms the health of organisms is mainly demonstrated through toxicological studies. Combining epidemiological studies with toxicological studies will provide a more systematic and comprehensive understanding of the impact of PM on the health of organisms. In this review, the sources, compositions, and morphologies of FPs and UFPs are briefly introduced in the first part. The effects and action mechanisms of exposure to FPs and UFPs on the heart, lungs, brain, liver, spleen, kidneys, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, joints and reproductive system are systematically summarized. In addition, challenges are further pointed out at the end of the paper. This work provides useful theoretical guidance and a strong experimental foundation for investigating and preventing the adverse effects of FPs and UFPs on human health.

Estrogen contributes to sex differences in M2a macrophages during multi-walled carbon nanotube-induced respiratory inflammation

Lung diseases characterized by type 2 inflammation are reported to occur with a female bias in prevalence/severity in both humans and mice. This includes previous work examining multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-induced eosinophilic inflammation, in which a more exaggerated M2a phenotype was observed in female alveolar macrophages (AMs) compared to males. The mechanisms responsible for this sex difference in AM phenotype are still unclear, but estrogen receptor (ER) signaling is a likely contributor. Accordingly, male AMs downregulated ERα expression after MWCNT exposure while female AMs did not. Thus, ER antagonist Fulvestrant was administered prior to MWCNT instillation. In females, Fulvestrant significantly attenuated MWCNT-induced M2a gene expression and eosinophilia without affecting IL-33. In males, Fulvestrant did not affect eosinophil recruitment but reduced IL-33 and M2a genes compared to controls. Regulation of cholesterol efflux and oxysterol synthesis is a potential mechanism through which estrogen promotes the M2a phenotype. Levels of oxysterols 25-OHC and 7α,25-OHC were higher in the airways of MWCNT-exposed males compared to MWCNT-females, which corresponds with the lower IL-1β production and greater macrophage recruitment previously observed in males. Sex-based changes in cholesterol efflux transporters Abca1 and Abcg1 were also observed after MWCNT exposure with or without Fulvestrant. In vitro culture with estrogen decreased cellular cholesterol and increased the M2a response in female AMs, but did not affect cholesterol content in male AMs and reduced M2a polarization. These results reveal the modulation of (oxy)sterols as a potential mechanism through which estrogen signaling may regulate AM phenotype resulting in sex differences in downstream respiratory inflammation.

Sex Differences in E-Cigarette Use and Related Health Effects

BACKGROUND

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) comprise a variety of products designed to deliver nicotine, flavorings, and other substances. To date, multiple epidemiological and experimental studies have reported a variety of health issues associated with their use, including respiratory toxicity, exacerbation of respiratory conditions, and behavioral and physiological effects. While some of these effects appear to be sex- and/or gender-related, only a portion of the research has been conducted considering these variables. In this review, we sought to summarize the available literature on sex-specific effects and sex and gender differences, including predictors and risk factors, effects on organ systems, and behavioral effects.

METHODS

We searched and selected articles from 2018-2023 that included sex as a variable or reported sex differences on e-cigarette-associated effects.

RESULTS

We found 115 relevant studies published since 2018 that reported sex differences in a variety of outcomes. The main differences reported were related to reasons for initiation, including smoking history, types of devices and flavoring, polysubstance use, physiological responses to nicotine and toxicants in e-liquids, exacerbation of lung disease, and behavioral factors such as anxiety, depression, sexuality, and bullying.

CONCLUSIONS

The available literature supports the notion that both sex and gender influence the susceptibility to the negative effects of e-cigarette use. Future research needs to consider sex and gender variables when addressing e-cigarette toxicity and other health-related consequences.

The mediating role of exhaled breath condensate metabolites in the effect of particulate matter on pulmonary function in schoolchildren: A crossover intervention study

The role played by metabolites in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) in the effect of PM on schoolchildren's pulmonary function has received little attention. Accordingly, we examined whether metabolites in EBC mediated the effect of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 on the pulmonary function of schoolchildren at a residential primary school who had received an air-cleaner cross-over intervention. Samples of EBC were collected from a total of 60 schoolchildren and subjected to metabolomics analysis. We found that the effect of PM on six pulmonary function indicators was mediated by the following nine lipid peroxidation-related and energy metabolism-related metabolites present in EBC: 4-hydroxynonenal, arachidoyl ethanolamide, dl-pyroglutamic acid, 5-deoxy-d-glucose, myristic acid, lauric acid, linoleic acid, l-proline, and palmitic acid. However, while all nine of these metabolites mediated the effects of PM on boys' pulmonary function, only 4-hydroxynonenal, arachidoyl ethanolamide, and dl-pyroglutamic acid mediated the effects of PM on girls' pulmonary function. Overall, our results show that (1) short-term exposure to PM affected the schoolchildren's pulmonary function by causing an imbalance between lipid peroxidation and glutathione-based antioxidant activity and by perturbing energy metabolism in respiratory system and (2) there was a sex-dependent antioxidant response to PM exposure, with boys being less resistant than girls.

Interaction between iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs) and primary human immune cells: An up-to-date review of the literature

Nanotechnology has been gaining more and more momentum lately and the potential use of nanomaterials such as nanoparticles (NPs) continues to grow in a variety of activity sectors. Among the NPs, iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs) have retained an increasing interest from the scientific community and industrials due to their superparamagnetic properties allowing their use in many fields, including medicine. However, some undesired effects of IONs and potential risk for human health are becoming increasingly reported in several studies. Although many in vivo studies reported that IONs induce immunotoxicity in different animal models, it is not clear how IONs can alter the biology of primary human immune cells. In this article, we will review the works that have been done regarding the interaction between IONs and primary immune cells. This review also outlines the importance of using primary immune cells in risk assessment of NPs as a reliable strategy for encouraging non-animal studies approaches, to determine risks that might affect the human immune system following different exposure scenarios. Taken all together, the reported observations help to get a more global picture on how IONs alter the human immune system especially the fact that inflammation, known to involve several immune cell types, is frequently reported as an undesired effect of IONs.

Cholesterol content regulates silica-induced lysosomal membrane permeability

Inhalation of crystalline silica has been well documented to cause pulmonary inflammation and lung disease such as silicosis. Respirable silica particles deposit in the lungs and are phagocytosed by alveolar macrophages. Subsequently, phagocytosed silica remains undegraded within lysosomes causing lysosomal damage known as phagolysosomal membrane permeability (LMP). LMP can trigger the assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome resulting in release of inflammatory cytokines that contribute to disease. In order to better understand the mechanisms of LMP this study used murine bone marrow derived macrophages (BMdM) as a cellular model to investigate the mechanism of silica-induced LMP. Reduction of lysosomal cholesterol in bone marrow derived macrophages with 18:1 phosphatidylglycerol (DOPG) liposome treatment increased silica-induced LMP and IL-1β release. Conversely, increasing lysosomal and cellular cholesterol with U18666A reduced IL-1β release. Co-treatment of bone marrow derived macrophages with 18:1 phosphatidylglycerol and U18666A resulted in a significant reduction of the effects of U18666A on lysosomal cholesterol. Phosphatidylcholine 100-nm liposome model systems were used to examine the effects of silica particles on lipid membrane order. Time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy of the membrane probe, Di-4-ANEPPDHQ, was used to determine changes to membrane order. Silica increased lipid order that was attenuated by inclusion of cholesterol in the phosphatidylcholine liposomes. These results demonstrate that increased cholesterol can attenuate silica-induced membrane changes in liposomes and cell models, while decreasing cholesterol exacerbates silica-induced membrane changes. Selective manipulation of lysosomal cholesterol may be a way of attenuating lysosomal disruption and preventing silica-induced chronic inflammatory disease progression.

Interaction between iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) and human neutrophils: Evidence that Fe3O4 NPs possess some pro-inflammatory activities

Iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄ NPs) are important for different medical applications. However, potential toxicity has been reported and several parameters must still be studied to reach highest therapeutic efficacy with minimal undesired effects. Inflammation is one of the most reported undesired effects of NP exposure in a variety of inflammatory models and conflicting data exist regarding whether Fe₃O₄ NPs possess pro- or anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of this study was to determine the direct effect of Fe₃O₄ NPs on the biology of neutrophil, a key player cell in inflammation. Freshly isolated human neutrophils were incubated in vitro with Fe₃O₄ NPs, and several functions have been studied. Using transmission electronic microscopy, Fe₃O₄ NPs were found to be ingested by neutrophils. These NPs do not induce a respiratory burst by themselves, but they increase the ability of neutrophils to adhere onto human endothelial cells as well as enhance phagocytosis. An antibody array approach revealed that Fe₃O₄ NPs induce the production of some cytokines, including the chemokine IL-8 (CXCL8), which was confirmed by ELISA. Fe₃O₄NPs were found to delay spontaneous neutrophil apoptosis regardless of sex of the donor. Using a pharmacological approach, we demonstrate that Fe₃O₄ NPs delay apoptosis by a de novo protein synthesis-dependent mechanism and via different cell signalling pathways. The data indicate that Fe₃O₄ NPs can alter the biology of human neutrophils and that they possess some pro-inflammatory effects, particularly based on their capacity to delay apoptosis and to induce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, Fe₃O₄ NPs can regulate inflammation by targeting human neutrophil functions.

Lung Models to Evaluate Silver Nanoparticles’ Toxicity and Their Impact on Human Health

Nanomaterials (NMs) solve specific problems with remarkable results in several industrial and scientific areas. Among NMs, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been extensively employed as drug carriers, medical diagnostics, energy harvesting devices, sensors, lubricants, and bioremediation. Notably, they have shown excellent antimicrobial, anticancer, and antiviral properties in the biomedical field. The literature analysis shows a selective cytotoxic effect on cancer cells compared to healthy cells, making its potential application in cancer treatment evident, increasing the need to study the potential risk of their use to environmental and human health. A large battery of toxicity models, both in vitro and in vivo, have been established to predict the harmful effects of incorporating AgNPs in these numerous areas or those produced due to involuntary exposure. However, these models often report contradictory results due to their lack of standardization, generating controversy and slowing the advances in nanotoxicology research, fundamentally by generalizing the biological response produced by the AgNP formulations. This review summarizes the last ten years’ reports concerning AgNPs’ toxicity in cellular respiratory system models (e.g., mono-culture models, co-cultures, 3D cultures, ex vivo and in vivo). In turn, more complex cellular models represent in a better way the physical and chemical barriers of the body; however, results should be used carefully so as not to be misleading. The main objective of this work is to highlight current models with the highest physiological relevance, identifying the opportunity areas of lung nanotoxicology and contributing to the establishment and strengthening of specific regulations regarding health and the environment.

Nanoparticle-Induced Airway Eosinophilia Is Independent of ILC2 Signaling but Associated With Sex Differences in Macrophage Phenotype Development

The majority of lung diseases occur with a sex bias in terms of prevalence and/or severity. Previous studies demonstrated that, compared with males, female mice develop greater eosinophilic inflammation in the airways after multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) exposure. However, the mechanism by which this sex bias occurs is unknown. Two immune cells that could account for the sex bias are type II innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) and alveolar macrophages (AMs). In order to determine which immune cell type was responsible for MWCNT-induced airway eosinophil recruitment and subsequent sex differences in inflammation and disease, male and female C57BL/6 mice were exposed to MWCNTs (2 mg/kg) via oropharyngeal aspiration, and the respiratory immune response was assessed 7 d later. Greater eosinophilia and eotaxin 2 levels were observed in MWCNT-treated females and corresponded with greater changes in airway hyperresponsiveness than those in MWCNT-treated males. In MWCNT-treated females, there was a significant increase in the frequency of ILC2s within the lungs compared with control animals. However, depletion of ILC2s via α-CD90.2 administration did not decrease eosinophil recruitment 24 h and 7 d after MWCNT exposure. AMs isolated from control and MWCNT-treated animals demonstrated that M2a macrophage phenotype gene expression, ex vivo cytokine production, and activation of (p)STAT6 were upregulated to a significantly greater degree in MWCNT-treated females than in males. Our findings suggest that sex differences in AM phenotype development, not ILC2 signaling, are responsible for the observed female bias in eosinophilic inflammation after MWCNT inhalation.

Dietary Docosahexaenoic Acid as a Potential Treatment for Semi-acute and Chronic Particle-Induced Pulmonary Inflammation in Balb/c Mice

Acute and chronic inflammation are vital contributing factors to pulmonary diseases which can be triggered by exposure to occupational and man-made particles; however, there are no established treatments. One potential treatment shown to have anti-inflammatory capabilities is the dietary supplement docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid found in fish oil. DHA's anti-inflammatory mechanisms are unclear for particle-induced inflammation; therefore, this study evaluated DHA as a prophylactic treatment for semi-acute and chronic particle-induced inflammation in vivo. Balb/c mice were fed a control or 1% DHA diet and exposed to dispersion media, an inflammatory multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), or crystalline silica (SiO₂) either once (semi-acute) or once a week for 4 weeks (chronic). The hypothesis was that DHA will decrease pulmonary inflammatory markers in response to particle-induced inflammation. Results indicated that DHA had a trending anti-inflammatory effect in mice exposed to MWCNT. There was a general decrease in inflammatory signals within the lung lavage fluid and upregulation of M2c macrophage gene expression in the spleen tissue. In contrast, mice exposed to SiO₂ while on the DHA diet significantly increased most inflammatory markers. However, DHA stabilized the phagolysosomal membrane upon prolonged treatment. This indicated that DHA treatment may depend upon certain inflammatory particle exposures as well as the length of the exposure.

Health risk assessment of PM2.5 on walking trips

PM_2.5 has an impact on residents' physical health during travelling, especially walking completely exposed to the environment. In order to obtain the specific impact of PM_2.5 on walking, 368 healthy volunteers were selected and they were grouped according to gender and age. In the experiment, the heart rate change rate (HR%) is taken as test variable. According to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the travel is divided into two states: safety and risk. Based on this, a binary logit model considering Body Mass Index (BMI) is established to determine the contribution of PM_2.5 concentration and body characteristics to travel risk. The experiment was conducted on Chang'an Middle Road in Xi'an City. The analysis results show that the threshold of HR% for safety and risk ranges from 31.1 to 40.1%, and that of PM_2.5 concentration ranges from 81 to 168 μg/m³. The probability of risk rises 5.8% and 11.4%, respectively, for every unit increase in PM_2.5 concentration and HR%. Under same conditions, the probability of risk for male is 76.8% of that for female. The probability of risk for youth is 67.5% of that for middle-aged people, and the probability of risk for people with BMI in healthy range is 72.1% of that for non-healthy range. The research evaluates risk characteristics of walking in particular polluted weather, which can improve residents' health level and provide suggestions for travel decision while walking.

Evaluating the Apoptotic Cell Death Modulatory Activity of Nanoparticles in Men and Women Neutrophils and Eosinophils

Apoptosis is an important cell death mechanism for the resolution of inflammation. Neutrophil spontaneous apoptosis rates were reported to be slightly different in men and women and to be modulated by female sex hormones. The aim of this study was to determine whether different nanoparticles (NPs) will alter the neutrophil and eosinophil apoptotic rates differently in men and women. Using the antiapoptotic cytokine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and the proapoptotic plant lectin Viscum album agglutinin-I (VAA-I) as controls, we found that these factors respectively delay and induce apoptosis in both neutrophils and eosinophils with apoptotic rates remarkably similar in both sexes. The polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers of generation 0 (G0) and G3 slightly, but not significantly, accelerate neutrophil apoptosis regardless of sex. Zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO₂), cerium dioxide (CeO₂), and palladium (Pd) but not platinum (Pt) NPs were found to significantly delay neutrophil apoptosis. When results were compared between men and women, only ZnO and Pd NPs were found to significantly delay neutrophil apoptosis in men while ZnO, TiO₂, CeO₂, and Pt NPs inhibit apoptosis in women neutrophils. In eosinophils, G3, but not G0 NPs, significantly accelerate apoptosis in women. ZnO, Pt, and Pd NPs significantly delay eosinophil apoptosis but only in women. Unlike neutrophils, TiO₂ and CeO₂ NPs did not significantly delay eosinophil apoptosis. We propose that future studies aiming at determining potential effect NPs on cellular biological processes should incorporate a sex-based analysis based on the differences reported here studying the impact of NPs on human granulocyte apoptosis.

The role of sex as a biological variable in the efficacy and toxicity of therapeutic nanomedicine

Males and females have physiological, hormonal, and genetic differences that can cause different responses to medicinal treatments. The role of sex in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs is well established in the literature. However, researchers have yet to robustly and consistently consider the impact of sex differences on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of nanomedicine formulations when designing nanomedicine therapeutics and/or constructing clinical trials. In this review, we highlight the physiological and anatomical differences between sexes and discuss how these differences can influence the therapeutic efficacy, side effects, and drug delivery safety of nanomedicine products. A deep understanding of the effects of sex on nano-based drug delivery agents will robustly improve the risk assessment process, resulting in safer formulations, successful clinical translation, and improved therapeutic efficacies for both sexes.

Sex-related response in mice after sub-acute intraperitoneal exposure to silver nanoparticles

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are among the most commercialized nanomaterials in biomedicine due to their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Nevertheless, possible health hazards of exposure to AgNPs are yet to be understood and therefore raise public concern in regards of their safety. In this study, sex-related differences, role of steroidal hormones and influence of two different surface stabilizing agents (polymer vs. protein) on distribution and adverse effects of AgNPs were investigated in vivo. Intact and gonadectomised male and female mice were treated with seven AgNPs doses administered intraperitoneally during 21 days. After treatment, steroid hormone levels in serum, accumulation of Ag levels and oxidative stress biomarkers in liver, kidneys, brain and lungs were determined. Sex-related differences were observed in almost all tissues. Concentration of Ag was significantly higher in the liver of females compared to males. No significant difference was found for AgNP accumulation in lungs between females and males, while the lungs of intact males showed significantly higher Ag accumulation compared to gonadectomised group. Effect of surface coating was also observed, as Ag accumulation was significantly higher in kidneys and liver of intact females, as well as in kidneys and brain of intact males treated with protein-coated AgNPs compared to polymeric AgNPs. Oxidative stress response to AgNPs was the most pronounced in kidneys where protein-coated AgNPs induced stronger effects compared to polymeric AgNPs. Interestingly, protein-coated AgNPs reduced generation of reactive oxygen species in brains of females and gonadectomised males. Although there were no significant differences in levels of hormones in the AgNP-exposed animals compared to controls, sex-related differences in oxidative stress parameters were observed in all organs. Results of this study highlight the importance of including the sex-related differences and effects of protein corona in biosafety evaluation of AgNPs exposure.

Nanomaterials and hepatic disease: toxicokinetics, disease types, intrinsic mechanisms, liver susceptibility, and influencing factors

The widespread use of nanomaterials (NMs) has raised concerns that exposure to them may introduce potential risks to the human body and environment. The liver is the main target organ for NMs. Hepatotoxic effects caused by NMs have been observed in recent studies but have not been linked to liver disease, and the intrinsic mechanisms are poorly elucidated. Additionally, NMs exhibit varied toxicokinetics and induce enhanced toxic effects in susceptible livers; however, thus far, this issue has not been thoroughly reviewed. This review provides an overview of the toxicokinetics of NMs. We highlight the possibility that NMs induce hepatic diseases, including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, liver cancer, and metabolic disorders, and explore the underlying intrinsic mechanisms. Additionally, NM toxicokinetics and the potential induced risks in the livers of susceptible individuals, including subjects with liver disease, obese individuals, aging individuals and individuals of both sexes, are summarized. To understand how NM type affect their toxicity, the influences of the physicochemical and morphological (PCM) properties of NMs on their toxicokinetics and toxicity are also explored. This review provides guidance for further toxicological studies on NMs and will be important for the further development of NMs for applications in various fields.

Contribution of Particle-Induced Lysosomal Membrane Hyperpolarization to Lysosomal Membrane Permeabilization

Lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) has been proposed to precede nanoparticle-induced macrophage injury and NLRP3 inflammasome activation; however, the underlying mechanism(s) of LMP is unknown. We propose that nanoparticle-induced lysosomal hyperpolarization triggers LMP. In this study, a rapid non-invasive method was used to measure changes in lysosomal membrane potential of murine alveolar macrophages (AM) in response to a series of nanoparticles (ZnO, TiO2, and CeO2). Crystalline SiO2 (micron-sized) was used as a positive control. Changes in cytosolic potassium were measured using Asante potassium green 2. The results demonstrated that ZnO or SiO2 hyperpolarized the lysosomal membrane and decreased cytosolic potassium, suggesting increased lysosome permeability to potassium. Time-course experiments revealed that lysosomal hyperpolarization was an early event leading to LMP, NLRP3 activation, and cell death. In contrast, TiO2- or valinomycin-treated AM did not cause LMP unless high doses led to lysosomal hyperpolarization. Neither lysosomal hyperpolarization nor LMP was observed in CeO2-treated AM. These results suggested that a threshold of lysosomal membrane potential must be exceeded to cause LMP. Furthermore, inhibition of lysosomal hyperpolarization with Bafilomycin A1 blocked LMP and NLRP3 activation, suggesting a causal relation between lysosomal hyperpolarization and LMP.

Susceptibility Factors in Chronic Lung Inflammatory Responses to Engineered Nanomaterials

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are products of the emerging nanotechnology industry and many different types of ENMs have been shown to cause chronic inflammation in the lungs of rodents after inhalation exposure, suggesting a risk to human health. Due to the increasing demand and use of ENMs in a variety of products, a careful evaluation of the risks to human health is urgently needed. An assessment of the immunotoxicity of ENMs should consider susceptibility factors including sex, pre-existing diseases, deficiency of specific genes encoding proteins involved in the innate or adaptive immune response, and co-exposures to other chemicals. This review will address evidence from experimental animal models that highlights some important issues of susceptibility to chronic lung inflammation and systemic immune dysfunction after pulmonary exposure to ENMs.