Mice with established airway inflammation exert differential cellular responses to inhaled hematite nanoparticles than healthy mice

• The aim of this study was to investigate the inflammatory and immunological responses in the airways and the lung-draining lymph nodes, following lung exposure to hematite nanoparticles (NPs). The responses to hematite NPs were evaluated in both non-sensitized healthy mice, and allergen-sensitized mice, in which the latter represent a group of sensitive individuals with allergic airway disease. This allergic airway disease was induced by sensitization and aerosol challenge to a respiratory allergen resulting in an established eosinophilic and lymphocytic airway inflammation at the time of NP exposure. The mice received either hematite NPs or vehicle (PBS) intratracheally and the cellular responses were evaluated on day 1, 2, and 7, following exposure.Intratracheal instillation of hematite NPs induced an increase of neutrophils, eosinophils, and lymphocytes in the airways of non-sensitized mice on day 1 and 2 following exposure. At these time-points the lymphocytes in the lymph nodes were also increased. In contrast, exposure to hematite NPs in sensitized mice induced a rapid and unspecific cellular reduction in the alveolar space on the first day after exposure. A similar decrease of lymphocytes was also observed in the mediastinal lymph nodes draining the airways. The study did not indicate a reduction of inflammatory cells in the lung tissue or a translocation of cells from alveolar space to lung tissue. Although, mucociliary cellular clearance could be a possible explanation, our finding of cellular decrease also in lung draining lymph nodes point at cell death as the most likely cause to this unspecific cellular reduction.The results indicate that cells in the airways and lymph nodes of individuals with established airway inflammation undergo cell death when exposed to iron oxide NPs. A possible reason to the toxic response is extensive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the pro-oxidative environment of inflamed airways, which is further catalyzed by Fe ions released by the hematite NPs, or by generation of ROS at the surface of the NPs. Such cell toxic response was not detected in healthy non-sensitized individuals. This study clearly demonstrates the different response of sensitized and non-sensitized mice, and highlights the importance of including individuals with respiratory disorders, such as allergic asthma, when evaluating health effects of inhaled nanomaterials.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Lungmedicin och allergi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Respiratory Medicine and Allergy (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Farmakologi och toxikologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Pharmacology and Toxicology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Ironoxide

nanoparticles

asthma

allergy

lung

lymph node

lymphocytes

macrophages

Toxicology

toxikologi

Occupational and Environmental Medicine

arbets- och miljömedicin

lungmedicin

Lung Medicine

immunologi

Immunology

nanopartiklar

nanoparticles

nanotoxikologi

nanotoxicology

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

ovr (ämneskategori)