title: Effects of Carbon Nanotube Environmental Dispersion on an Aquatic Invertebrate, Hirudo medicinalis.
abstract: The recent widespread applications of nanomaterials, because of their properties, opens new scenarios that affect their dispersal in the environment. In particular multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), despite their qualities, seem to be harmful for animals and humans. To evaluate possible toxic effects caused by carbon nanotube environmental dispersion, with regard to aquatic compartment, we proposed as experimental model a freshwater invertebrate: Hirudo medicinalis. In the present study we analyse acute and chronic immune responses over a short (1, 3, 6 and 12 hours) and long time (from 1 to 5 weeks) exposure to MWCNTs by optical, electron and immunohistochemical approaches. In the exposed leeches angiogenesis and fibroplasia accompanied by massive cellular migration occur. Immunocytochemical characterization using specific markers shows that in these inflammatory processes the monocyte-macrophages (CD45+, CD68+) are the most involved cells. These immunocompetent cells are characterized by sequence of events starting from the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (in particular IL-18), and amyloidogenensis. Our combined experimental approaches, basing on high sensitive inflammatory response can highlight adverse effects of nanomaterials on aquatic organisms and could be useful to assess the MWCNTs impact on aquatic, terrestrial animal and human health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Girardello
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tasselli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicolò
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baranzini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valvassori
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Eguileor
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology*; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000276:immunology*; D047709:Hirudo medicinalis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000276:immunology; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D020382:Interleukin-18; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule