Zhiping Yang

TL;DR: MARCO−/− mice treated with the “inert” environmental particle TiO2 showed enhanced inflammation and chemokine expression, indicating that MARCO-mediated clearance of inert particles by AMs prevents inflammatory responses otherwise initiated by other lung cells.

TL;DR: A dominant role for MARCO is found in the human AM defense against inhaled particles and pathogens and specifically inhibited particle binding by COS cells, only after transfection with human MARCO cDNA.

TL;DR: Pregnancy enhances lung inflammatory responses to otherwise relatively innocuous inert particles; and exposures of nonallergic pregnant females to inert or toxic environmental air particles can cause increased allergic susceptibility in offspring are concluded.

TL;DR: The data indicate that the lung macrophage class A scavenger receptor SR-AI/II contributes to innate defense against bacteria and inhaled particles.

TL;DR: The data suggest that priming and CAPs exposure lead to an inflamed alveolar milieu where oxidant stress causes loss of antibacterial functions in AMs and recruited PMNs, and the model reported here will allow further analysis ofPriming andCAPs exposure on lung sensitivity to infection.