title: Single-walled carbon nanotubes disturbed the immune and metabolic regulation function 13-weeks after a single intratracheal instillation.
abstract: Due to their unique physicochemical properties, the potential health effects of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have attracted continuous attention together with their extensive application. In this study, we aimed to identify local and systemic health effects following pulmonary persistence of SWCNTs. As expected, SWCNTs remained in the lung for 13 weeks after a single intratracheal instillation (50, 100, and 200μg/kg). In the lung, the total number of cells and the percentages of lymphocytes and neutrophils significantly increased at 200μg/kg compared to the control, and the Th1-polarized immune response was induced accompanying enhanced expression of tissue damage-related genes and increased release of chemokines. Additionally, SWCNTs enhanced the expression of antigen presentation-related proteins on the surface of antigen-presenting cells, however, maturation of dendritic cells was inhibited by their persistence. As compared to the control, a significant increase in the percentage of neutrophils and a remarkable decrease of BUN and potassium level were observed in the blood of mice treated with the highest dose. This was accompanied by the down-regulation of the expression of antigen presentation-related proteins on splenocytes. Moreover, protein and glucose metabolism were disturbed with an up-regulation of fatty acid β-oxidation. Taken together, we conclude that SWCNTs may induce adverse health effects by disturbing immune and metabolic regulation functions in the body. Therefore, careful application of SWCNTs is necessary for the enforcement of safety in nano-industries.
authors.affiliation: Myunggok Eye Research Institute, Konyang University, Daejeon 302-718, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: pejtoxic@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Eun-Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Food and Nutrition, Chonnam National University, Yongbong-Ro, Buk-Gu, Gwangju 500-757, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Shick
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Toxicologic Pathology Center, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Byoung-Seok
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Seoul Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, Seoul 126-16, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Cheolho
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Seoul 139-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Uiseok
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Seoul 139-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Younghun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D002452:Cell Count; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D059550:Toxicity Tests, Subchronic; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D005227:Fatty Acids; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D005947:Glucose
keywords: Antigen-presentation; Immune regulation; Membrane damage; Metabolomics; Single-walled carbon nanotubes