Association of Stress Defense System With Fine Particulate Matter Exposure: Mechanism Analysis and Application Prospects

ABSTRACT The association between the stress defense system and exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) is a hot topic in the field of environmental health. PM 2.5 pollution is an increasingly serious issue, and its impact on health cannot be ignored. The stress defense system is an important biological mechanism for maintaining cell and internal environment homeostasis, playing a crucial role in PM 2.5 ‐induced damage and diseases. The association between PM 2.5 exposure and activation of the stress defense system has been reported. Moderate PM 2.5 exposure rapidly mobilizes the stress defense system, while excessive PM 2.5 exposure may exceed its compensatory and coping abilities, resulting in system imbalance and dysfunction that triggers pathological changes in cells and tissues, thereby increasing the risk of chronic diseases, such as respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. This detailed review focuses on the composition, function, and regulatory mechanisms of the antioxidant defense system, autophagy system, ubiquitin–proteasome system, and inflammatory response system, which are all components of the stress defiance system. In particular, the influence of PM 2.5 exposure on each of these defense systems and their roles in responding to PM 2.5 ‐induced damage was investigated to provide an in‐depth understanding of the pathogenesis of PM 2.5 exposure, accurately assess potential hazards, and formulate prevention and intervention strategies for health damage caused by PM 2.5 exposure.