Metabolic Syndrome-Associated Susceptibility to Nanoparticle Inhalation

Individuals with underlying diseases are increasingly sensitive to exposures; however, the mechanisms remain unelucidated. Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is highly prevalent and associated with lipids dysregulation. Lipids are involved in inflammation, and MetS individuals have been shown to be more susceptible to inhalation exposures. Therefore, we hypothesized that MetS causes exacerbated and sustained pulmonary inflammation due to a disruption of lipids involved in inflammatory signaling following inhalation exposures. To address this hypothesis, we designed three aims 1) to evaluate the acute pulmonary inflammatory response in MetS following AgNP exposure, 2) to elucidate the role of lipid intervention in pulmonary inflammatory signaling in MetS, and 3) to examine the sustained pulmonary inflammatory response in MetS following AgNP exposure. By addressing these aims, we aimed to establish whether susceptibility to nanoparticle inhalation exposures in MetS as well as a mechanism mediated by lipid dysregulation that may be present in other exposure and disease susceptibility scenarios. Overall, these findings may benefit the public via advancing the development of targeted treatments in susceptible subpopulations following inhalation exposures.