Exposure to Palladium Nanoparticles Affects Serum Levels of Cytokines in Female Wistar Rats

Abstract

BackgroundInformation currently available on the impact of palladium on the immune system mainly derives from studies assessing the biological effects of palladium salts. However, in the last years, there has been a notable increase in occupational and environmental levels of fine and ultrafine palladium particles released from automobile catalytic converters, which may play a role in palladium sensitization. In this context, the evaluation of the possible effects exerted by palladium nanoparticles (Pd-NPs) on the immune system is essential to comprehensively assess palladium immunotoxic potential.AimTherefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Pd-NPs on the immune system of female Wistar rats exposed to this xenobiotic for 14 days, by assessing possible quantitative changes in a number of cytokines: IL-1α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, GM-CSF, INF-γ and TNF-α.MethodsTwenty rats were randomly divided into four exposure groups and one of control. Animals were given a single tail vein injection of vehicle (control group) and different concentrations of Pd-NPs (0.012, 0.12, 1.2 and 12 μg/kg). A multiplex biometric enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to evaluate cytokine serum levels.ResultsThe mean serum concentrations of all cytokines decreased after the administration of 0.012 μg/kg of Pd-NPs, whereas exceeded the control levels at higher exposure doses. The highest concentration of Pd-NPs (12 μg/kg) induced a significant increase of IL-1α, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, GM-CSF and INF-γ compared to controls.Discussion and ConclusionsThese results demonstrated that Pd-NP exposure can affect the immune response of rats inducing a stimulatory action that becomes significant at the highest administered dose. Our findings did not show an imbalance between cytokines produced by CD4+ T helper (Th) cells 1 and 2, thus suggesting a generalized stimulation of the immune system with a simultaneous activation and polarization of the naïve T cells towards Th1 and Th2 phenotype.

Appliance of acute phase proteins, cytokines, biogram and hemogram as markers for nanoparticles-induced clinicopathological alterations

“…The data show remarkable increases in different cytokines, in the 2 nd and 3 rd groups. This result may be in harmony with those of Iavicoli et al, who concluded that administration of nanoparticle induced a significant increase of different cytokines as IL-1α, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, GM-CSF and INF-γ [20]. Not only quantitative measurement of these cytokines, but also Khan et al, reported a transient increase in IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α gene expressions in rat livers exposed to gold nanoparticles by using qRT-PCR and different primer sequences used for real-time PCR amplifications for different pro-inflammatory cytokines [29,30].…”

“…Serum ferritin and C-reactive protein levels were determined by ELISA method. And a multiplex biometric ELISA was adopted for determination of IL-1α, IL-6, and TNF-α according to methods cited in Iavicoli1 et al [20].…”

ROS‐Mediated Apoptosis and Genotoxicity Induced by Palladium Nanoparticles in Human Skin Malignant Melanoma Cells

“…In fact, ROS can attack biomolecules and induce genotoxic damage, cell dysfunction, and cell death [ 27 ]. Iavicoli et al [ 28 ] have reported that PdNPs caused a significant increase in DNA fragmentation in female Wistar rats. Hu et al [ 29 ] have reported that cell toxicity induced by ROS accompanies an increase in lipid peroxides.…”

Palladium Nanoparticles: Toxicological Effects and Potential Implications for Occupational Risk Assessment

“…Several biological models, from bacterial strains [ 51 ] to mammalian organisms were reported to be affected by Pd-NP treatment. The immune [ 52 , 53 ], renal [ 54 ] and endocrine systems [ 55 ] were demonstrated as critical targets for the toxic action of Pd-NPs ( Table 2 ). The elemental Pd content in urine, and changes in cytokine serum levels, urinary protein content and hormonal serum concentrations, emerged as possible biomarkers of Pd-NP exposure and early effect, although further studies are necessary to confirm these preliminary results and validate their possible employment in real exposure settings.…”

“…Concerning in vivo results, investigations conducted on female Wistar rats, proved the ability of Pd-NPs to significantly affect the immune system of treated animals inducing alterations in the serum levels of several cytokines secreted by different T helper (Th) lymphocyte subsets [ 52 , 53 ]. A subacute (14 days) exposure to increasing doses of Pd-NPs was able to induce a general, although not significant, upward trend, in all cytokine serum concentrations investigated, while a significant increase was only determined by the highest dose of Pd-NPs (12 μg/kg) [ 52 ]. These findings may suggest that Pd-NPs could exert a significant and generalized stimulatory impact on the immune system of exposed rats.…”