Repeated pulmonary exposure to single-walled carbon nanotubes exacerbates allergic inflammation of the airway: Possible role of oxidative stress.

Abstract

The development of nanotechnology has increased the risk of environmental exposure to types of particles other than those derived from combustion, namely, industrial nanomaterials. Patients with bronchial asthma are sensitive to inhaled substances, including particulate matter. This study examined the effects of pulmonary exposure to a type of nano-sized carbon nanotube (single-walled nanotubes (SWCNT)) on allergic airway inflammation and sought their cellular mechanisms. In the in vivo experiments, ICR mice were divided into four experimental groups that were repeatedly administered vehicle, SWCNT (50 microg/animal), ovalbumin (OVA; an allergen), or OVA + SWCNT through an intratracheal route and thereafter assayed. SWCNT aggravated allergen-induced pulmonary inflammation with mucus hyperplasia. SWCNT with allergen amplified lung protein levels of T helper (Th) cytokines and chemokines related to allergy and exhibited adjuvant activity for allergen-specific IgG(1) (and IgE) compared with allergen alone. SWCNT accentuated the level/activity of oxidative stress-related biomarkers in the airways in the presence of allergen. In vitro, SWCNT can partially promote/strengthen the maturation/activation/function of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DC). Together, these results suggest that SWCNT can exacerbate murine allergic airway inflammation via enhanced activation of Th immunity and increased oxidative stress. In addition, this exacerbation may be partly through the inappropriate activation of antigen-presenting cells, including DC.

• Authors: Ken-Ichiro Inoue, Rie Yanagisawa, Eiko Koike, Masataka Nishikawa, Hirohisa Takano
• Journal: Free radical biology & medicine (Free Radic Biol Med) Vol. 48 Issue 7 Pg. 924-34 (Apr 01 2010) ISSN: 1873-4596 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20093178 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Allergens
• Cytokines
• Immunoglobulin G
• Nanotubes, Carbon
• Immunoglobulin E
• Ovalbumin

Topics

• Allergens (immunology)
• Animals
• Asthma (metabolism, physiopathology)
• Bronchial Hyperreactivity
• Cytokines (metabolism)
• Disease Progression
• Environmental Exposure (adverse effects)
• Hyperplasia
• Immunity, Cellular
• Immunoglobulin E (blood)
• Immunoglobulin G (blood)
• Inflammation
• Lung (pathology)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred ICR
• Nanotubes, Carbon (adverse effects)
• Ovalbumin (immunology)
• Oxidative Stress
• Respiratory Mucosa