Barbarino Marcella, Giordano Antonio
Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy.
Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA.
Cancers (Basel). 2021 Mar 15;13(6):1318. doi: 10.3390/cancers13061318.
In 2014, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified the first type of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as possibly carcinogenic to humans, while in the case of other CNTs, it was not possible to ascertain their toxicity due to lack of evidence. Moreover, the physicochemical heterogeneity of this group of substances hamper any generalization on their toxicity. Here, we review the recent relevant toxicity studies produced after the IARC meeting in 2014 on an homogeneous group of CNTs, highlighting the molecular alterations that are relevant for the onset of mesothelioma. Methods: The literature was searched on PubMed and Web of Science for the period 2015-2020, using different combinations keywords. Only data on normal cells of the respiratory system after exposure to fully characterized CNTs for their physico-chemical characteristics were included. Recent studies indicate that CNTs induce a sustained inflammatory response, oxidative stress, fibrosis and histological alterations. The development of mesothelial hyperplasia, mesothelioma, and lungs tumors have been also described in vivo. The data support a strong inflammatory potential of CNTs, similar to that of asbestos, and provide evidence that CNTs exposure led to molecular alterations known to have a key role in mesothelioma onset. These evidences call for an urgent improvement of studies on exposed human populations and adequate systems for monitoring the health of workers exposed to this putative carcinogen.
2014年，国际癌症研究机构（IARC）将第一种碳纳米管（CNT）归类为可能对人类致癌，而对于其他碳纳米管，由于缺乏证据，无法确定其毒性。此外，这类物质的物理化学异质性阻碍了对其毒性的任何概括。在此，我们回顾了2014年IARC会议之后针对一组均质碳纳米管开展的近期相关毒性研究，重点介绍了与间皮瘤发病相关的分子改变。方法：在PubMed和科学网（Web of Science）上检索2015年至2020年期间的文献，使用不同的关键词组合。仅纳入了暴露于物理化学特性已充分表征的碳纳米管后呼吸系统正常细胞的数据。近期研究表明，碳纳米管会引发持续的炎症反应、氧化应激、纤维化和组织学改变。体内还描述了间皮增生、间皮瘤和肺部肿瘤的发生情况。这些数据支持碳纳米管具有与石棉相似的强大炎症潜力，并提供了证据表明碳纳米管暴露导致了已知在间皮瘤发病中起关键作用的分子改变。这些证据呼吁迫切改进对暴露人群的研究，并建立适当的系统来监测接触这种潜在致癌物的工人的健康状况。
