Cytotoxicity, oxidative stress and expression of adhesion molecules in human umbilical vein endothelial cells exposed to dust from paints with or without nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanoparticles in primary form and nanoproducts might elicit different toxicological responses. We compared paint-related nanoparticles with respect to effects on endothelial oxidative stress, cytotoxicity and cell adhesion molecule expression. Primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells were exposed to primary nanoparticles (fine, photocatalytic or nanosized TiO₂, aluminium silicate, carbon black, nano-silicasol or axilate) and dust from sanding reference- or nanoparticle-containing paints. Most of the samples increased cell surface expressions of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), but paint sanding dust samples generally generated less response than primary particles of TiO₂ and carbon black. We found no relationship between the expression of adhesion molecules, cytotoxicity and production of reactive oxygen species. In conclusion, sanding dust from nanoparticle-containing paint did not generate more oxidative stress or expression of cell adhesion molecules than sanding dust from paint without nanoparticles, whereas the primary particles had the largest effect on mass basis.

Keywords::

• Atherosclerosis
• nanoparticles
• DCF
• HUVEC
• cardiovascular disease

Acknowledgements

This work was part of the Nanokem project and supported by The Danish Working Environment Research Fund (Nanokem, Grant No. 20060068816). The Danish Association for the Paint and Lacquer Industry provided the tested primary particles and all the paints. Electron Microscopy was conducted at the Center for Electron Nanoscopy (DTU CEN) funded by the A.P. Møller and Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller Foundation, the Center for Electron Nanoscopy (DTU CEN).