In Vitro Interactions of TiO2 Nanoparticles with Earthworm Coelomocytes: Immunotoxicity Assessment.

Natividad Isabel Navarro Pacheco,Martin Bilej,Jiri Dvorak,Olga Kofronova,Tomas Cajthaml,Jaroslav Semerad,Radka Roubalova,Petra Prochazkova,Alena Grasserova,Oldrich Benada

doi:10.3390/nano11010250

Natividad Isabel Navarro Pacheco, Martin Bilej + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11010250

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Abstract

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are manufactured worldwide. Once they arrive in the soil environment, they can endanger living organisms. Hence, monitoring and assessing the effects of these nanoparticles is required. We focus on the Eisenia andrei earthworm immune cells exposed to sublethal concentrations of TiO2 NPs (1, 10, and 100 µg/mL) for 2, 6, and 24 h. TiO2 NPs at all concentrations did not affect cell viability. Further, TiO2 NPs did not cause changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, malondialdehyde (MDA) production, and phagocytic activity. Similarly, they did not elicit DNA damage. Overall, we did not detect any toxic effects of TiO2 NPs at the cellular level. At the gene expression level, slight changes were detected. Metallothionein, fetidin/lysenin, lumbricin and MEK kinase I were upregulated in coelomocytes after exposure to 10 µg/mL TiO2 NPs for 6 h. Antioxidant enzyme expression was similar in exposed and control cells. TiO2 NPs were detected on coelomocyte membranes. However, our results do not show any strong effects of these nanoparticles on coelomocytes at both the cellular and molecular levels.

Highlights

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are commonly used in different industries because of their physico-chemical properties
Adult Eisenia andrei earthworms were obtained from the laboratory compost breeding
We evaluated the apoptotic process in cells treated with TiO2 NPs, and did not detect any significant differences between exposed and control coelomocytes (Figures 5 and 6)

Summary

Introduction

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are commonly used in different industries because of their physico-chemical properties. TiO2 NPs have photocatalytic properties, protect against UV radiation, are used as semiconductors, etc. These nanoparticles are used, e.g., in cosmetics, food industry, paints, ceramics, devices development, and the agriculture industry [1,2,3]. TiO2 NPs reach the soil system from different sources including sludge, nanofertilizers, and nanopesticides. These nanoparticles interact with the soil biota. It is very important to assess the potential risk of TiO2 NPs to soil organisms

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