Effects of brake wear nanoparticles on the protection and repair functions of the airway epithelium. (15th June 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Puisney-Dakhli, Chloé; Oikonomou, Evdokia K.; Tharaud, Mickaël; Sivry, Yann; Berret, Jean-François; Baeza-Squiban, Armelle
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 327(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-06-15
• Subjects: Air pollution -- Mucus -- Translocation -- Single-particle ICP-MS -- Calu-3 -- Migration assay; BWNP Brake Wear NanoParticle -- PM Particulate Matter -- EMEM Eagle's minimal essential medium -- PBS phosphate-buffered saline -- EGFR epidermal growth factor receptor -- LDH lactate-dehydrogenase -- HBSS Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution -- BSA bovine serum albumin -- TEM transmission electron microscopy; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121554
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Long term exposure to particulate air pollution is known to increase respiratory morbidity and mortality. In urban areas with dense traffic most of these particles are generated by vehicles, via engine exhaust or wear processes. Non-exhaust particles come from wear processes such as those concerning brakes and their toxicity is little studied. To improve our understanding of the lung toxicity mechanisms of the nanometric fraction of brake wear nanoparticles (BWNPs), we studied whether these particles affect the barrier properties of the respiratory epithelium considering particle translocation, mucus production and repair efficiency. The Calu-3 cell line grown in two-compartment chambers was used to mimic the bronchial epithelial barrier. BWNPs detected by single-particle ICP-MS were shown to cross the epithelial tissue in small amounts without affecting the barrier integrity properties, because the permeability to Lucifer yellow was not increased and there was no cytotoxicity as assessed by the release of lactate-dehydrogenase. The interaction of BWNPs with the barrier did not induce a pro-inflammatory response, but increased the expression and production of MU5AC, a mucin, by a mechanism involving the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway. During a wound healing assay, BWNP-loaded cells exhibited the same ability to migrate, but those at the edge of the wound showed higher 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine incorporation, suggesting a higher proliferation rate. Altogether these results showed that BW. NPs do not exert overt cytotoxicity and inflammation but can translocate through the epithelial barrier in small amounts and increase mucus production, a key feature of acute inflammatory and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. Their loading in epithelial cells may impair the repair process through increased proliferation. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Brake wear nanoparticles (BWNPs) did not alter the barrier integrity of the bronchial epithelium. BWNPs translocated through the epithelial barrier in very low amounts. BWNPs concentration-dependently induced the expression and production of mucin 5AC BWNP-loaded cells exhibited a higher proliferative rate during a wound healing assay.