Functional change of erythrocytes and endothelial cells induced by polystyrene- and zinc oxide-nanoparticles

Abstract

According to the development of nanotechnology, the global usage of a variety of nanomaterials has extensively increased. Nanomaterials intentionally made into nano-sized materials during production are called manufactured nanomaterial (MN). MNs can enter human bodies by aggregate and cumulative exposure through various exposure pathways including ingestion, inhalation, and contact. Absorbed MNs can translocate to target organs such as the brain via the circulatory system, therefore the vascular and blood system can be continuously exposed to circulating MNs. Here I investigated the effects of MNs including nano-sized polystyrene beads and zinc oxide nanoparticles, which were commonly used in personal health care products, on brain endothelial cells (bECs) and red blood cells (RBCs). I observed the thrombotic risks induced by MNs such as enhancement of procoagulant activity and adhesion to endothelial cells of human and rat RBCs. In addition, I monitored the increased formation of thrombus in rats exposed to MNs using in vivo thrombosis model. On bECs, the main component of the brain-blood barrier (BBB), I found the dysfunction in barrier function via the impaired autophagy pathway caused by MNs. I observed that MN-exposed RBCs can undergo erythrophagocytosis by bECs, which might play a key role in BBB injury and the occurrence of cerebral microhemorrhage. The exposure to MNs significantly induced barrier damage in bECs and prothrombotic activation of RBCs, as well as the interaction between vascular and blood cells. I hope that this study will contribute to understanding the risk of MNs in the circulatory system and establishment of nanomaterial risk assessment.