Research Article

Toxicity of alumina nanoparticles in the immune system of mice

Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030001, PR China

Key Lab of Environmental Hazard & Health of Shanxi Province, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030001, PR China

Key Lab of Cellular Physiology of Education Ministry, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030001, PR China

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Tao Huang

Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030001, PR China

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Yanhong Wang

Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030001, PR China

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Baolong Pan

Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030001, PR China

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Ling Zhang

Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030001, PR China

Key Lab of Environmental Hazard & Health of Shanxi Province, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030001, PR China

Key Lab of Cellular Physiology of Education Ministry, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030001, PR China

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Qinli Zhang

Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030001, PR China

Key Lab of Environmental Hazard & Health of Shanxi Province, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030001, PR China

Key Lab of Cellular Physiology of Education Ministry, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030001, PR China

Department of Pathology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA

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Qiao Niu

*Author for correspondence:

E-mail Address: niuqiao55@163.com

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0015-3341

Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030001, PR China

Key Lab of Environmental Hazard & Health of Shanxi Province, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030001, PR China

Key Lab of Cellular Physiology of Education Ministry, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030001, PR China

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Published Online:12 Mar 2020https://doi.org/10.2217/nnm-2020-0009

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Abstract

Aim: Alumina nanoparticles (AlNPs) exert toxic effects in several organs. This study aimed to investigate the toxicity of AlNPs to the immune system. Materials & methods: AlNPs distribution was assessed using CRi in vivo fluorescence imaging. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry was used to detect the content of aluminum in the spleen. Cytokines expression was detected in the immune organs and blood of mice. Results & conclusion: AlNPs can accumulate in mice spleen. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione levels decreased, whereas the level of malondialdehyde increased with decreasing particle size. AlNPs exposure caused cytokine level changes in the spleen, thymus and serum, besides causing damage to immune organs and dysfunction of immune cells, leading to abnormal immune-related cytokine expression.

Graphical abstract

AlNPs can be exposed to mice in vivo, and can accumulate in the immune organs of mice, causing oxidative damage to the immune organs and immune cell dysfunction, ultimately leading to the abnormal expression of immune-related cytokines, resulting in toxic effects on the immune system of mice.

Keywords:

Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest; •• of considerable interest

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Vol. 15, No. 9

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Received 8 January 2020

Accepted 20 February 2020

Published online 12 March 2020

Published in print April 2020

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Supplementary data

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www.futuremedicine.com/doi/suppl/10.2217/nnm-2020-0009

Acknowledgments

The authors sincerely thank the colleagues for their help and work on the research.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The beneficiary of 81430078 project is Q Niu, while the beneficiary of 81241098 and 30972456 project is Q Zhang. This research was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (nos 81430078, 81241098, 30972456). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript with funding from Natural Science Foundation of China (nos 81430078, 81241098, 30972456).

Ethical conduct of research

The protocol was approved by the Animal Administration and Ethics Committee of Shanxi Medical University. The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations. In addition, for investigations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.

Data sharing statement

Original report does not contain the original results of a clinical trial or the secondary analysis of clinical trial data.

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