Pollution Free Cities: Nanoparticles and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Citrullination of proteins: a common post-translational modification pathway induced by different nanoparticles in vitro and in vivo (15 page pdf, Bashir M Mohamed, Navin K Verma, Anthony M Davies, Aoife McGowan, Kieran Crosbie Staunton, Adriele Prina-Mello, Dermot Kelleher, Catherine H Botting, Corey P Causey, Paul R Thompson, Ger JM Pruijn, Elena R Kisin, Alexey V Tkach, Anna A Shvedova & Yuri Volkov, Nanomedicine, May 25, 2012)

Also discussed here: Nanoparticles in Polluted Air, Smoke & Nanotechnology Products Have Serious Impact On Health (ScienceDaily, Jun. 11, 2012)

Nanoparticles found in smoke, dust and in diesel vehicle exhaust are known to have significant health impacts. Today we review research using animals that links the breakdown of the autoimmune system by nanoparticles which in turn may lead to rheumatoid arthritis.
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Key Quotes:

“all types of nanoparticles in both the TCD and US study were causing an identical response in human cells and in the lungs of mice, manifesting in the specific transformation of the amino acid arginine into the molecule called citrulline which can lead to the development of autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis”

“human proteins which incorporate this modified amino acid as building blocks, can no longer function properly and are subject to destruction and elimination by the bodily defense system”

"The research establishes a clear link between autoimmune diseases and nanoparticles. Preventing or interfering with the resulting citrullination process looks therefore as a promising target for the development of future preventative and therapeutic approaches in rheumatoid arthritis..”