Abstract
The protective effects of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) against orally administered titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2) for 3 months on male albino rats were examined. Adult male albino rats were given saline as a control group, TiO2 (1200 mg kg-1 BW), NAC (100 mg kg-1 BW) and co-treatment of NAC and TiO2 as a protective group for 3 months. Blood was assayed for serum changes in GPT, GOT, lipid profiles, cytokines and immunoglobulins profiles. Moreover, spleen was examined for alterations in cytokines expression and histopathology. Administration of TiO2 significantly increased serum levels of GPT, GOT and increased lipid profiles. Administration of NAC to TiO2 rats improved significant changes induced by TiO2 alone. There were an increase in IL-1β and IL-6 secretion in TiO2 administered rats which is normalized by NAC administration. TiO2 administration down regulated IL-8 and IL-10 secretion, while co-administration of rats by NAC together with TiO2 normalized that down regulation. Moreover, TiO2 induced toxicity in spleen that accompanied by a decrease in IgA, IgG and IgM that are normalized by NAC administration. Finally, TiO2 up-regulated IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-β expression in spleen and NAC administration together with TiO2 normalized cytokines expression. In conclusion, present findings confirmed the protective effect of NAC on TiO2 induced alteration in immune responses in male albino rats.
Highlights
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are widely used in a number of applications: as an additive, including as a white pigment in paint, as a food colorant, in sunscreens and in cosmetic creams as well as in the environmental decontamination of air, water and soil by the destruction of pesticides (Fisher and Egerton, 2001; Kaida et al, 2004; Choi et al, 2006; Medina et al, 2007)
Administration of NAC together with Tio2 prevented the changes in liver and lipid profiles confirming the NAC protective effect (Fig. 1)
TiO2 administration decreased High Density Lipoproteins-c (HDL) levels and NAC normalized the decrease in HDL induced by TiO2 administration (Fig. 1)
Summary
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are widely used in a number of applications: as an additive, including as a white pigment in paint, as a food colorant, in sunscreens and in cosmetic creams as well as in the environmental decontamination of air, water and soil by the destruction of pesticides (Fisher and Egerton, 2001; Kaida et al, 2004; Choi et al, 2006; Medina et al, 2007). It has been shown that the degree of cellular damage and oxidative stress of nanoparticles is related to the particle size and its chemical composition (Hoet et al, 2004). It has been demonstrated that oxidative stress is one of the most important toxicity mechanisms in lung, kidney, brain and spleen (Li et al, 2010; Sang et al, 2012).
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