Carbon Nanotube Exposure Triggers a Cerebral Peptidomic Response: Barrier Compromise, Neuroinflammation, and a Hyperexcited State

The unique physicochemical properties of carbon nanomaterials and their ever-growing utilization generate a serious concern for occupational risk. Pulmonary exposure to these nanoparticles induces local and systemic inflammation, cardiovascular dysfunction, and even cognitive deficits. Although multiple routes of extrapulmonary toxicity have been proposed, the mechanism for and manner of neurologic effects remain minimally understood. Here, we examine the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)-derived peptidomic fraction as a reflection of neuropathological alterations induced by pulmonary carbon nanomaterial exposure. Male C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 10 or 40 mu g of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) by oropharyngeal aspiration. Serum and CSFs were collected 4 h post exposure. An enriched peptide fraction of both biofluids was analyzed using ion mobility-enabled data-independent mass spectrometry for label-free quantification. MWCNT exposure induced a prominent peptidomic response in the blood and CSF; however, correlation between fluids was limited. Instead, we determined that a MWCNT-induced peptidomic shift occurred specific to the CSF with 292 significant responses found that were not in serum. Identified MWCNT-responsive peptides depicted a mechanism involving aberrant fibrinolysis (fibrinopeptide A), blood-brain barrier permeation (homeobox protein A4), neuroinflammation (transmembrane protein 131L) with reactivity by astrocytes and microglia, and a pro-degradative (signal transducing adapter molecule, phosphoglycerate kinase), antiplastic (AF4/FMR2 family member 1, vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 18) state with the excitation-inhibition balance shifted to a hyperexcited (microtubule-associated protein 1B) phenotype. Overall, the significant pathologic changes observed were consistent with early neurodegenerative disease and were diagnostically reflected in the CSF peptidome.

Automated summary

Exposure to multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) led to significant changes in the peptidomic profile of both blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), although the correlation between the two fluids was limited. Specifically, a distinct peptidomic shift induced by MWCNT was identified in the CSF, with 292 significant responses found that were unique to the CSF and not present in serum. Identified peptides in the CSF suggested mechanisms involving fibrinolysis, blood-brain barrier permeation, neuroinflammation, and an altered state of brain excitation-inhibition balance, consistent with early neurodegenerative disease.