title: Cytotoxic, genotoxic and pro-inflammatory effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles in human nasal mucosa cells in vitro.
abstract: Despite increasing application of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) for industrial purposes, data about potential toxic properties is contradictory. The current study focused on the cyto- and genotoxicity of ZnO-NPs in comparison to ZnO powder in primary human nasal mucosa cells cultured in the air-liquid interface. Additionally, IL-8 secretion as a marker for pro-inflammatory effects was measured. Particle morphology and intracellular distribution were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). ZnO-NPs were transferred into the cytoplasm in 10% of the cells, whereas an intranuclear distribution could only be observed in 1.5%. While no cyto- or genotoxicity could be seen for ZnO powder in the dimethylthiazolyl-diphenyl-tetrazolium-bromide (MTT) test, the trypan blue exclusion test, and the single-cell microgel electrophoresis (comet) assay, cytotoxic effects were shown at a ZnO-NP concentration of 50 μg/ml (P<0.01). A significant enhancement in DNA damage was observed starting from ZnO-NP concentrations of 10 μg/ml (P<0.05) in comparison to the control. IL-8 secretion into the basolateral culture medium was increased at ZnO-NP concentrations of 5 μg/ml (P<0.05), as shown by ELISA. Our data indicates cyto- and genotoxic properties as well as a pro-inflammatory potential of ZnO-NPs in nasal mucosa cells. Thus, caution should be taken concerning their industrial and dermatological application. Additionally, further investigation on repetitive NP exposure is needed to estimate the impact of repair mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Head and Neck Surgery, University of Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 11, D-97080 Wuerzburg, Germany. Hackenberg_S@klinik.uni-wuerzburg.de
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hackenberg
authors.forename: Agmal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scherzed
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Technau
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Froelich
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ginzkey
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koehler
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burghartz
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hagen
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kleinsasser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020552:Comet Assay; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008875:Middle Aged; D009153:Mutagens / Q000145:classification / Q000633:toxicity*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010316:Particle Size; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000145:classification / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens; D004247:DNA; D015034:Zinc Oxide