title: Carbon nanotubes enhance cytotoxicity mediated by human lymphocytes in vitro.
abstract: With the expansion of the potential applications of carbon nanotubes (CNT) in biomedical fields, the toxicity and biocompatibility of CNT have become issues of growing concern. Since the immune system often mediates tissue damage during pathogenesis, it is important to explore whether CNT can trigger cytotoxicity through affecting the immune functions. In the current study, we evaluated the influence of CNT on the cytotoxicity mediated by human lymphocytes in vitro. The results showed that while CNT at low concentrations (0.001 to 0.1 µg/ml) did not cause obvious cell death or apoptosis directly, it enhanced lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity against multiple human cell lines. In addition, CNT increased the secretion of IFN-γ and TNF-α by the lymphocytes. CNT also upregulated the NF-κB expression in lymphocytes, and the blockage of the NF-κB pathway reduced the lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity triggered by CNT. These results suggest that CNT at lower concentrations may prospectively initiate an indirect cytotoxicity through affecting the function of lymphocytes.
authors: Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors: Zhao
authors: Z
authors: Sun
authors: Zhe
authors: Z
authors: Liu
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Meng
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Meng
authors: Jinhong
authors: J
authors: Duan
authors: Sishen
authors: S
authors: Xie
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Lu
authors: Zhaohui
authors: Z
authors: Zhu
authors: Chen
authors: C
authors: Wang
authors: Shuchang
authors: S
authors: Chen
authors: Haiyan
authors: H
authors: Xu
authors: Xian-Da
authors: XD
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D016328:NF-kappa B; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon