Abstract
BackgroundNanomaterials are widely used in various fields. Although the toxicity of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in pulmonary tissues has been demonstrated, the toxicological effect of CNTs on the immune system in the lung remains unclear.Methods and findingIn this study, exposure to Taquann-treated multi-walled CNTs (T-CNTs) was performed using aerosols generated in an inhalation chamber. At 12 months after T-CNT exposure, alveolar inflammation with macrophage accumulation and hypertrophy of the alveolar walls were observed. In addition, fibrotic lesions were enhanced by T-CNT exposure. The macrophages in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of T-CNT-exposed mice were not largely shifted to any particular population, and were a mixed phenotype with M1 and M2 polarization. Moreover, the alveolar macrophages of T-CNT-exposed mice produced matrix metalloprotinase-12.ConclusionsThese results suggest that T-CNT exposure promoted chronic inflammation and fibrotic lesion formation in profibrotic macrophages for prolonged periods.
Highlights
Nanomaterials are manufactured chemical substances that are widely used in a variety of fields and exhibit novel characteristics, such as increased strength, chemical reactivity, and conductivity compared with the same materials without nanoscale features [1, 2]
The alveolar macrophages of T-carbon nanotube (CNT)-exposed mice produced matrix metalloprotinase-12. These results suggest that treated multi-walled CNTs (T-CNTs) exposure promoted chronic inflammation and fibrotic lesion formation in profibrotic macrophages for prolonged periods
Normal female C57BL/6 mice were exposed to Taquann-treated multi-walled CNT (T-CNT) for 2 hr. a day in a week for 5 weeks using a whole body inhalation system as described previously [28]
Summary
Nanomaterials are manufactured chemical substances that are widely used in a variety of fields and exhibit novel characteristics, such as increased strength, chemical reactivity, and conductivity compared with the same materials without nanoscale features [1, 2]. The risk to human health has been shown by the development of pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in mice following inhalation of CNTs [16,17,18,19]. Alveolar macrophages play a central role in the engulfment and phagocytosis of CNTs in the lung [20, 21]. It has been reported that alveolar macrophages undergo cell death after engulfing CNTs, and the functional failure makes it difficult for the lungs to clear CNTs [23]. The phenotypic change and the function of alveolar macrophages in mice exposed to CNTs remain unclear. The toxicity of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in pulmonary tissues has been demonstrated, the toxicological effect of CNTs on the immune system in the lung remains unclear
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