Adverse effect of nano-silicon dioxide on lung function of rats with or without ovalbumin immunization |
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Authors: | Han Bing Guo Jing Abrahaley Tesfamariam Qin Longjuan Wang Li Zheng Yuduo Li Bing Liu Dandan Yao Hanchao Yang Jiwen Li Changming Xi Zhuge Yang Xu |
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Institution: | Laboratory of Environmental Sciences and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Huazhong Normal University, Wuhan, China. |
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Abstract: | BackgroundThe great advances of nanomaterials have brought out broad important applications, but their possible nanotoxicity and risks have not been fully understood. It is confirmed that exposure of environmental particulate matter (PM), especially ultrafine PM, are responsible for many lung function impairment and exacerbation of pre-existing lung diseases. However, the adverse effect of nanoparticles on allergic asthma is seldom investigated and the mechanism remains undefined. For the first time, this work investigates the relationship between allergic asthma and nanosized silicon dioxide (nano-SiO2).Methodology/Principal FindingsOvalbumin (OVA)-treated and saline-treated control rats were daily intratracheally administered 0.1 ml of 0, 40 and 80 µg/ml nano-SiO2 solutions, respectively for 30 days. Increased nano-SiO2 exposure results in adverse changes on inspiratory and expiratory resistance (Ri and Re), but shows insignificant effect on rat lung dynamic compliance (Cldyn). Lung histological observation reveals obvious airway remodeling in 80 µg/ml nano-SiO2-introduced saline and OVA groups, but the latter is worse. Additionally, increased nano-SiO2 exposure also leads to more severe inflammation. With increasing nano-SiO2 exposure, IL-4 in lung homogenate increases and IFN-γ shows a reverse but insignificant change. Moreover, at a same nano-SiO2 exposure concentration, OVA-treated rats exhibit higher (significant) IL-4 and lower (not significant) IFN-γ compared with the saline-treated rats. The percentages of eosinophil display an unexpected result, in which higher exposure results lower eosinophil percentages.Conclusions/SignificanceThis was a preliminary study which for the first time involved the effect of nano-SiO2 to OVA induced rat asthma model. The results suggested that intratracheal administration of nano-SiO2 could lead to the airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and the airway remolding with or without OVA immunization. This occurrence may be due to the Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance accelerated by the nano-SiO2 through increasing the tissue IL-4 production. |
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