At the northwestern edge of South America is located Ecuador. This place is a classical example of an active continental margin with widespread active volcanism. Detailed studies about the impact of volcanic ash on human health are still lacking. Therefore, the disease of exposed populations is unknown. The objective of the present investigation was to assess the biological impact of Pichincha volcanic ash on cell culture and inflammation in murine lung tissues that will contribute to the understanding of the hazards. In this study, the in vivo phase was performed in mice C57BL/6 exposed to several doses of volcanic ash (0.5, 1, and 3.75 mg/100 g mouse body weight). The body weight and survival were controlled during seven days of treatment. The expression of inflammation markers NRLP 3, caspase-1, pro-IL-1, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and h-HPRT was analyzed. The in vitro phase was performed in lung cancer cells A549, peritoneal macrophages, and McCoy cells exposing them to different concentrations of volcanic ash (80, 320, and 1280 μg/cm3) to determine the cytotoxicity and the production of reactive oxygen species. The ash initiated activation of the inflammasome complex NRLP 3 and the initiation of a proinflammatory activity in the murine lung tissue depending on the concentration of this agent. The viability of A549 and McCoy cell decreased with the length of exposure and increased with the concentration of volcanic ash. The activity in superoxide dismutase decreased by about 60%, leading to the formation of reactive oxygen species. These results associated with compounds contained in Pichincha volcanic ash are considered hazardous elements which induce inflammation leading to activate inflammasome NRLP, releasing reactive oxygen species, and producing changes in cell morphology and density, all of which are expression of cytotoxicity.

: The application of nanotechnology to stem cell research and development has made great strides during the last years. Nanotechnology offers a new opportunity for research and development of stem cells. The mammary gland is a dynamic organ that undergoes extensive morphogenesis during the different stages of embryonic development, puberty, pregnancy, lactation and involution. There are multipotent stem cells that reside in mammary tissue (MaSCs) with the ability to self-renew and even differentiate into all types of mammary cells. To identify, characterize, and differentiate MaSCs, a variety of methods have been used to understand the signal transduction pathways that promote their self-renewal and their cellular fate. In the last decade, stem cell therapy has become a promising and modern topic of scientific research, which has raised great expectations. However, by itself, it presents some problems that have been overcome with the use of nanoparticles (NPs). A triple function has been accomplished: transport of drugs or biomolecules that help in the differentiation and proliferation of stem cells, cell targeting and contrast agents for real-time monitoring and obtaining bioimages for diagnostic and detection systems. The main objective of applying stem cells in conjunction with NPs is to control cellular activity, mainly the regenerative capacity of mammary tissue against diseases such as mastitis or to optimize milk production. In this review, we provide a current overview of the application of nanomaterials on stem cells, specifically bovine stem cells in both the mammary gland and milk, as they are a potential source of cell progenitors with potential characteristics and could be used in potential therapies based on with these cells.