Nanomaterials and the Serosal Immune System in the Thoracic and Peritoneal Cavities

Our plain-English summary of Nanomaterials and the Serosal Immune System in the Thoracic and Peritoneal Cavities, by C.F. Kuper, R.H.H. Pieters, J.H.M. van Bilsen (International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021).

The study

• Authors: C.F. Kuper, R.H.H. Pieters, J.H.M. van Bilsen
• Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Published: 2021;22(5)
• Type of article: Review
• Cited by: 2 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

Abstract

The thoracic and peritoneal cavities are lined by serous membranes and are home of the serosal immune system. This immune system fuses innate and adaptive immunity, to maintain local homeostasis and repair local tissue damage, and to cooperate closely with the mucosal immune system. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are found abundantly in the thoracic and peritoneal cavities, and they are crucial in first defense against pathogenic viruses and bacteria. Nanomaterials (NMs) can enter the cavities intentionally for medical purposes, or unintentionally following environmental exposure; subsequent serosal inflammation and cancer (mesothelioma) has gained significant interest. However, reports on adverse effects of NM on ILCs and other components of the serosal immune system are scarce or even lacking. As ILCs are crucial in the first defense against pathogenic viruses and bacteria, it is possible that serosal exposure to NM may lead to a reduced resistance against pathogens. Additionally, affected serosal lymphoid tissues and cells may disturb adipose tissue homeostasis. This review aims to provide insight into key effects of NM on the serosal immune system.

In plain English

This article was a review, not a new study. The authors reviewed research on the serosal immune system, which they described as the lymphoid clusters, immune cells, immune-active lining (mesothelium) and fat tissue of the chest (pleura, pericardium) and abdominal (peritoneum) cavities, and how nanomaterials may affect it. Nanomaterials can enter these cavities through medical use. Inhaled particles can also reach the chest cavity from the lungs. The authors reported that the effects of nanomaterials on serosal immune cells and lymphoid clusters had not or hardly been investigated, and that most available information came from infection models. Citing earlier work, they noted that multiwalled carbon nanotubes had been observed penetrating the lung pleura in rats and mice. They also noted that hyaline pleural plaques are associated with asbestos exposure, and that the association between nanomaterials and mesothelioma was unclear. They pointed out that most nanomaterial studies were done under healthy conditions, and that rat pleura is far thinner than human pleura. The authors concluded that safety evaluation of engineered nanomaterials should take potential adverse effects on both serosal and mucosal immune function into account.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: narrative review of published literature
• Who was studied: No study population of its own. The authors reviewed published animal, human and infection-model research on the thoracic (pleural, pericardial) and peritoneal cavities.
• Exposure: Nanomaterials (including engineered nanomaterials and multiwalled carbon nanotubes) reaching the cavities through medical use, or reaching the thoracic cavity after inhalation. Asbestos is mentioned only in passing, in relation to pleural plaques.
• Main results:
  • The authors stated that the effects of nanomaterials on serosal immune cells and serosa-associated lymphoid clusters had not or hardly been investigated.
  • Citing earlier studies, the review reported that multiwalled carbon nanotubes were observed penetrating the lung pleura in rats and mice.
  • Citing an earlier study, the review reported that in female workers, inhalation exposure to polyacrylate nanoparticles was associated with pleural watery content.
  • The authors stated that the association between nanomaterials and mesothelioma was unclear.
  • Citing earlier work, the review noted that hyaline pleural plaques on the parietal pleura are associated with exposure to asbestos.
  • Citing earlier work, the review noted that multiwalled carbon nanotubes caused granulomas in the peritoneal cavity.
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that safety evaluation of engineered nanomaterials should take potential adverse effects on both serosal and mucosal immune function into account, starting with innate immunity including innate lymphoid cells.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • Most nanomaterial studies were performed under healthy conditions, so it is unclear whether effects differ under disease.
  • Results obtained with microparticles may not apply directly to nanomaterials.
  • Rat pleura is much thinner than human pleura, which matters when interpreting animal findings.

Topics

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Environmental Exposure, Inflammation, Mesothelioma.

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