Nanoparticle-rich diesel exhaust-induced liver damage via inhibited transactivation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha

Diesel exhaust emission contains a high amount of nano-sized particles and is considered to be systemically distributed in the body. However, few studies about the effects of nanoparticle rich-diesel exhaust (NR-DE) on liver have been reported. The present investigation focuses on the effects of NR-DE on livers in rats, especially concerning inflammation and lipid metabolism. Male F344 rats were exposed to fresh air or low (24 ± 7 µg/m3), medium (39 ± 4 µg/m3) and high (138 ± 20 µg/m3) concentrations of NR-DE for 1, 2, or 3 months (5 hours/day, 5 days/week). Exposure to both medium and high concentrations of NR-DE for one month increased plasma asparate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities, while only high concentrations increased plasma interleukin-6 and hepatic nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), suggesting that activation of hepatic inflammatory signaling took place. Although these exposures elevated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α levels or its binding activity to the response element, neither activated PPARα-target genes such as β-oxidative enzymes nor inhibited NFκB elevation. Thus, NR-DE may contain some materials that inhibit PPARα activation in relation to lipid metabolism and inflammation. Taken together, NR-DE exposure at one month may cause inflammation; however, this finding may not be observed after a longer exposure period.