Exposure to Air Pollution Nanoparticles: Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation

Urban air pollutants exposure is known as a source of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress that causes the Central Nervous System (CNS) and neuropathology disease. Transition metals, Particulate Matter (PM), including PM 2.5 (PM <2.5 μm) and PM 0.1 (PM <0.1μm), nitrogen oxides and ozone are of potent or oxidant capable of producing Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Redox-sensitive pathways can be caused by oxidative stress, leading to various biological processes, including inflammation and cell death. The incidence of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Parkinson's Disease (PD) and stroke are associated with exposure to air pollution. Some recent findings suggest that urban air pollutants reach the brain in addition to pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases and affect the CNS health too. While the underlying CNS pathology mechanisms induced air pollutants exposure are not well understood, recent studies show that changes in Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) and microglial activation are key components. In this work, we reviewed the new evidence of the mechanisms by which ambient air pollution reach the brain and activate innate immune response as a source of oxidative stress and neuroinflammatory factors.