Expression of inflammation-related cytokines following intratracheal instillation of nickel oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine what kinds of cytokines are related to lung disorder by well-dispersed nanoparticles. The mass median diameter of nickel oxide in distilled water was 26 nm. Rats intratracheally received 0.2 mg of nickel oxide suspended in distilled water, and were sacrificed from three days to six months. The concentrations of 21 cytokines including inflammation, fibrosis and allergy-related ones were measured in the lung. Infiltration of alveolar macrophages was observed persistently in the nickel oxide-exposed group. Expression of macrophage inflammatory protein-1α showed a continued increase in lung tissue and broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) while interleukin-1α (IL-1α), IL-1β in lung tissue and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in BALF showed transient increases. Taken together, it was suggested that nano-agglomerates of nickel oxide nanoparticles have a persistent inflammatory effect, and the transient increase in cytokine expression and persistent increases in CC chemokine were involved in the persistent pulmonary inflammation.

Keywords::

• Nanoparticle
• nickel oxide
• chemokine
• lung injury

Declaration of interest: This research was funded by a grant from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization of Japan (NEDO) titled: “Evaluating risks associated with manufactured nanomaterials; Developing toxicity evaluating methods by inhalation exposure (P06041)”. The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.