Nanomaterials (Feb 2023)

Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Modulate Systemic Immune Response and Increase Levels of Reduced Glutathione in Mice after Seven-Week Inhalation

  • Miroslava Lehotska Mikusova,
  • Milena Busova,
  • Jana Tulinska,
  • Vlasta Masanova,
  • Aurelia Liskova,
  • Iveta Uhnakova,
  • Maria Dusinska,
  • Zora Krivosikova,
  • Eva Rollerova,
  • Radka Alacova,
  • Ladislava Wsolova,
  • Mira Horvathova,
  • Michaela Szabova,
  • Norbert Lukan,
  • Zbynek Vecera,
  • Pavel Coufalik,
  • Kamil Krumal,
  • Lukas Alexa,
  • Vojtech Thon,
  • Pavel Piler,
  • Marcela Buchtova,
  • Lucie Vrlikova,
  • Pavel Moravec,
  • Dusan Galanda,
  • Pavel Mikuska

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13040767
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 4
p. 767

Abstract

Read online

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are used in a wide range of applications. Although inhalation of NPs is one of the most important toxicologically relevant routes, experimental studies on potential harmful effects of TiO2 NPs using a whole-body inhalation chamber model are rare. In this study, the profile of lymphocyte markers, functional immunoassays, and antioxidant defense markers were analyzed to evaluate the potential adverse effects of seven-week inhalation exposure to two different concentrations of TiO2 NPs (0.00167 and 0.1308 mg TiO2/m3) in mice. A dose-dependent effect of TiO2 NPs on innate immunity was evident in the form of stimulated phagocytic activity of monocytes in low-dose mice and suppressed secretory function of monocytes (IL-18) in high-dose animals. The effect of TiO2 NPs on adaptive immunity, manifested in the spleen by a decrease in the percentage of T-cells, a reduction in T-helper cells, and a dose-dependent decrease in lymphocyte cytokine production, may indicate immunosuppression in exposed mice. The dose-dependent increase in GSH concentration and GSH/GSSG ratio in whole blood demonstrated stimulated antioxidant defense against oxidative stress induced by TiO2 NP exposure.

Keywords