Carcinogenesis, Teratogenesis & Mutagenesis

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Effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on natural killer cell activity and related cytokines in rat

FU Yan-yun,ZHANG Yan-qiu,MA Shu-mei,YIN Li-hong,PU Yue-pu,LIANG Ge-yu*   

  1. School of Public Health, Southeast University, Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China)
  • Received:2014-03-18 Revised:2014-04-21 Online:2014-05-30 Published:2014-05-30

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles on Natural Killer (NK) cell activity and related cytokines in rats. METHODS:Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 0.5,4 and 32 mg/kg TiO2 nanoparticles exposure groups,control group (0.9% sodium chloride solution),and TiO2 micro-sized particles exposure group (32 mg/kg). Rats were treated by intratracheal instillation of these substances in suspension twice a week,a total of 28 consecutive days. NK cell population in peripheral blood was measured by flow cytometry. NK cell killing activity in the spleen was analyzed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. Cytokines IL-2 and INF-γ were measured by liquid phase chips method. RESULTS:The NK cell activity increased with the rise of TiO2 exposure dose. Significant difference in NK cell activity in the spleen was found in the group exposed to 32 mg/kg TiO2 nanoparticles compared with the control group (P<0.05). No significant difference was found between control group and micro-sized TiO2 group (P>0.05). Compared with micro-sized TiO2 group,NK cell activity was found to be significantly increased in 32 mg/kg TiO2 nanoparticles exposure group (P<0.05). No significant change of NK cell populations,IL-2 or INF-γ was observed compared with control group and micro-sized group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION:TiO2 nanoparticles could trigger systemic immune responses,and enhance NK cell killing activity in the spleen in the studied dosage range. However,further research is needed to confirm the long-term changes in NK cell populations,NK cell killing activity and related cytokines,as well as the potential mechanisms.

Key words: TiO2 nanoparticles, natural killer cell, immune response, cell activity, cytokines