文摘
A primary mechanistic hypothesis by which ambient airparticles have a significant negative impact on human healthis via the induction of pulmonary inflammatory responsesmediated through the generation of reactive oxygenspecies (ROS). Development of a biosensor for the assessmentof particulate ROS activity would be a significant advancein air pollution monitoring. The objective of this studywas to evaluate whether air particulates interact directlywith protective enzymes involved in oxidative stressresponses. We performed enzyme activity assays on fourenzymes involved in oxidative stress responses (Cu/Znsuperoxide dismutase, Mn superoxide dismutase, glutathioneperoxidase, and glutathione reductase) in the presenceof particles of varying toxicities and found distinctive inhibitionpatterns. On the basis of these findings, we suggest astrategy for an enzyme bioassay that could be used to assessthe potential of particles to generate ROS-inducedresponses.