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Comparative Study
. 2010 Feb;106(2):114-7.
doi: 10.1111/j.1742-7843.2009.00473.x. Epub 2009 Oct 28.

Nano titanium dioxide particles promote allergic sensitization and lung inflammation in mice

Søren T Larsen  1 , Martin Roursgaard, Keld A Jensen, Gunnar D Nielsen
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Nano titanium dioxide particles promote allergic sensitization and lung inflammation in mice

Søren T Larsen et al. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2010 Feb.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether photocatalytic TiO(2) nanoparticles have adjuvant effect, when administered in combination with ovalbumin (OVA) in mice. Mice were immunized via intraperitoneal injections of OVA, OVA + TiO(2) or OVA + Al(OH)(3) and challenged with aerosols of OVA. At the end of the study, serum was analysed for content of OVA-specific IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies, and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was analysed for content of inflammatory cells and levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-10 and interferon-gamma. The TiO(2) particles promoted a Th2 dominant immune response with high levels of OVA-specific IgE and IgG1 in serum and influx of eosinophils, neutrophils and lymphocytes in BALF. The TiO(2) particles induced a significantly higher level of OVA-specific IgE than the standard adjuvant Al(OH)(3). However, the two substances were comparable regarding the level of eosinophilic inflammation and interleukins present in BALF.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The study protocol. For details, confer the Materials and Methods section.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The hydrodynamic number and volume size distribution of the photocatalytic TiO2 (0.05 mg/ml) suspended in MilliQ-filtered water.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Levels of OVA-specific antibodies in serum. The antibody level is expressed as arbitrary concentration units for IgG1. For IgE the concentration unit is μg/10 ml. Data are median values with 75th percentile of 7–8 mice. Statistically increased level of antibody when compared to OVA control is shown as *p< 0.05 or **p< 0.01.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Data are median values with 75th percentile of 7–8 mice. Statistically increased cell number when compared to OVA control is shown as *p< 0.05 or **p< 0.01.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Levels of IL-4 and IL-5 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Data are mean values with S.E.M. of 7–8 mice.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Adjuvanticity of nanoparticles on Th immunity.
    Inoue K, Takano H. Inoue K, et al. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2010 Jun;106(6):445. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-7843.2010.00584.x. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2010. PMID: 20569252 No abstract available.

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