Epigenetic Mechanisms of Pulmonary Toxicity Induced by Nanomaterials

The widespread application of nanomaterials raises increasing concerns about their inhalation-induced pulmonary toxicity. Emerging evidence highlights that epigenetic regulation plays a critical role in mediating these effects. This review synthesizes key epigenetic mechanisms involved, including DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and noncoding RNA regulation. Nanomaterials induce bidirectional DNA methylation patterns-global hypomethylation alongside promoter-specific hypermethylation-primarily through oxidative stress and metal ion interference. Histone acetylation, governed by the balance between histone acetyltransferases and deacetylases, is frequently disrupted, leading to aberrant chromatin structure and altered gene expression. Noncoding RNAs form complex regulatory networks that modulate inflammation and fibrosis, whereas the potential involvement of chromatin remodeling remains largely unexplored in nanomaterial-induced pulmonary toxicity, warranting further investigation. Collectively, these epigenetic alterations drive the onset and progression of nanomaterial-induced pulmonary diseases, providing a theoretical foundation for epigenetic-based intervention strategies and risk assessment.