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ROLE OF NEPRILYSIN IN AIRWAY INFLAMMATION INDUCED BY DIESEL EXHAUST EMISSIONS
Impact/Purpose:
Neprilysin, also known as neutral endopeptidase (NEP), is an enzyme that degrades multiple peptides that affect airway blood vessels. The expression of NEP on the surface of cells varies in a number of airway injury conditions and in several types of cancers. The investigators objective is to study whether exposure to diesel exhaust affected the airway expression or function of NEP. Some prior studies had shown that exposure of humans and laboratory animals to diesel exhaust particles (DEP) or whole diesel exhaust emissions (DEE) affected the airways. Dr. Wong and colleagues hypothesize that components of diesel exhaust downregulate the function or expression of NEP in the airways and that this may lead to dis orders in airway function. They also hypothesize that in conditions in which NEP expression was decreased, responses to diesel exhaust would be increased.
Description:
The investigators intend to evaluate airway inflammatory responses and expression of the enzyme neprilysin in response to diesel exhaust particle exposure. Dr. Wong and colleagues anticipate that their research will reveal that components of diesel exhaust decrease neprilysin levels in airways, leading to airway function disorders and heightened responses to diesel exhaust.