Modulation of Innate Immune Toxicity by Silver Nanoparticle Exposure and the Preventive Effects of Pterostilbene.

Rong-Jane Chen,Rosita Pranata,Yu-Hsuan Lee,Yu-Ying Chen,Yuan-Hua Wu,Ying-Jan Wang,Chiao-Ching Huang

doi:10.3390/ijms22052536

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles pose a potential risk to ecosystems and living organisms due to their widespread use in various fields and subsequent gradual release into the environment. Only a few studies have investigated the effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) toxicity on immunological functions. Furthermore, these toxic effects have not been fully explored. Recent studies have indicated that zebrafish are considered a good alternative model for testing toxicity and for evaluating immunological toxicity. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the toxicity effects of AgNPs on innate immunity using a zebrafish model and to investigate whether the natural compound pterostilbene (PTE) could provide protection against AgNPs-induced immunotoxicity. Wild type and neutrophil- and macrophage-transgenic zebrafish lines were used in the experiments. The results indicated that the exposure to AgNPs induced toxic effects including death, malformation and the innate immune toxicity of zebrafish. In addition, AgNPs affect the number and function of neutrophils and macrophages. The expression of immune-related cytokines and chemokines was also affected. Notably, the addition of PTE could activate immune cells and promote their accumulation in injured areas in zebrafish, thereby reducing the damage caused by AgNPs. In conclusion, AgNPs may induce innate immune toxicity and PTE could ameliorate this toxicity.

Highlights

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in various medical and consumer products such as cosmetics, textiles, antibacterial agents, personal care products and medical devices [1]
The results indicated that the AgNPs treatment groups showed stronger fluorescence drial membrane potential (MMP) (Figure 6E,F) and induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production
Human macrophage cell line THP-1 cells were treated with AgNPs for indicated time points and the results showed that AgNPs significantly reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) (Figure 6E,F) and induced ROS production (Figure 6G,H) as evidenced by MitoTrackerTM Red and MitoSOXTM staining, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in various medical and consumer products such as cosmetics, textiles, antibacterial agents, personal care products and medical devices [1]. The global usage of AgNPs has grown exponentially, thereby increasing the amount of AgNPs that enter the environmental compartments including plants, animals, and humans, through a variety of routes [1]. Due to their small size, AgNPs can pass through biological systems and enter cells to trigger undesired and hazardous effects [2]. Pregnant mice exposed to AgNPs exhibited immunological dysfunction in the dam and placenta [7]. These disturbing effects on the immune response indicated the possible AgNPs immunotoxicity. The role of AgNPs in modulating the immune response is extremely novel, and the mechanisms underlying their toxicity are still under investigation

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Discussion

Conclusion