Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovakia.
Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czechia.
Front Immunol. 2022 Apr 25;13:874253. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.874253. eCollection 2022.
Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are increasingly used in various industry sectors. Moreover, medical application of CuO NPs as antimicrobials also contributes to human exposure. Their toxicity, including toxicity to the immune system and blood, raises concerns, while information on their immunotoxicity is still very limited. The aim of our work was to evaluate the effects of CuO NPs (number concentration 1.40×10 particles/cm, geometric mean diameter 20.4 nm) on immune/inflammatory response and antioxidant defense in mice exposed to 32.5 µg CuO/m continuously for 6 weeks. After six weeks of CuO NP inhalation, the content of copper in lungs and liver was significantly increased, while in kidneys, spleen, brain, and blood it was similar in exposed and control mice. Inhalation of CuO NPs caused a significant increase in proliferative response of T-lymphocytes after mitogenic stimulation and basal proliferative activity of splenocytes. CuO NPs significantly induced the production of IL-12p70, Th1-cytokine IFN-γ and Th2-cytokines IL-4, IL-5. Levels of TNF-α and IL-6 remained unchanged. Immune assays showed significantly suppressed phagocytic activity of granulocytes and slightly decreased respiratory burst. No significant differences in phagocytosis of monocytes were recorded. The percentage of CD3, CD3CD4, CD3CD8, and CD3CD19 cell subsets in spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes did not differ between exposed and control animals. No changes in hematological parameters were found between the CuO NP exposed and control groups. The overall antioxidant protection status of the organism was expressed by evaluation of GSH and GSSG concentrations in blood samples. The experimental group exposed to CuO NPs showed a significant decrease in GSH concentration in comparison to the control group. In summary, our results indicate that sub-chronic inhalation of CuO NPs can cause undesired modulation of the immune response. Stimulation of adaptive immunity was indicated by activation of proliferation and secretion functions of lymphocytes. CuO NPs elicited pro-activation state of Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes in exposed mice. Innate immunity was affected by impaired phagocytic activity of granulocytes. Reduced glutathione was significantly decreased in mice exposed to CuO NPs.
氧化铜纳米颗粒(CuO NPs)在各个工业领域的应用越来越广泛。此外,CuO NPs 作为抗菌剂在医疗领域的应用也导致了人类的接触。其毒性,包括对免疫系统和血液的毒性,引起了人们的关注,而关于其免疫毒性的信息仍然非常有限。我们的工作旨在评估连续 6 周吸入 32.5µg CuO/m 时 CuO NPs(数浓度为 1.40×10 个颗粒/cm,几何平均直径为 20.4nm)对小鼠免疫/炎症反应和抗氧化防御的影响。6 周 CuO NP 吸入后,肺和肝中铜含量显著增加,而肾脏、脾脏、大脑和血液中的铜含量在暴露组和对照组小鼠中相似。吸入 CuO NPs 可显著增加有丝分裂原刺激后 T 淋巴细胞的增殖反应和脾细胞的基础增殖活性。CuO NPs 显著诱导 IL-12p70、Th1 细胞因子 IFN-γ 和 Th2 细胞因子 IL-4、IL-5 的产生。TNF-α 和 IL-6 水平保持不变。免疫测定显示,粒细胞的吞噬活性显著受到抑制,呼吸爆发略有下降。单核细胞的吞噬作用没有明显差异。脾、胸腺和淋巴结中 CD3、CD3CD4、CD3CD8 和 CD3CD19 细胞亚群的百分比在暴露组和对照组动物之间没有差异。CuO NP 暴露组和对照组之间的血液学参数没有变化。通过评估血液样本中 GSH 和 GSSG 的浓度来表达机体的整体抗氧化保护状态。与对照组相比,暴露于 CuO NPs 的实验组 GSH 浓度显著降低。总之,我们的结果表明,亚慢性吸入 CuO NPs 可能导致免疫反应的不良调节。适应性免疫的刺激表现为淋巴细胞的增殖和分泌功能的激活。CuO NPs 诱导暴露小鼠 Th1 和 Th2 淋巴细胞的前激活状态。固有免疫受到粒细胞吞噬活性受损的影响。暴露于 CuO NPs 的小鼠的还原型谷胱甘肽明显减少。