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T lymphocytes dominate local leukocyte infiltration in response to intradermal injection of functionalized graphene‐based nanomaterial
Author(s) -
Erf G. F.,
Falcon D. M.,
Sullivan K. S.,
Bourdo S. E.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of applied toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.784
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1099-1263
pISSN - 0260-437X
DOI - 10.1002/jat.3492
Subject(s) - infiltration (hvac) , intradermal injection , immunology , nanomaterials , chemistry , medicine , nanotechnology , materials science , composite material
Abstract Graphene‐based nanomaterials (GBN) have many potential biomedical applications. However, information regarding their biological properties and interactions with cells and/or soluble factors within a complex tissue is limited. The objective of this study was to use the growing feather (GF) of chickens as a minimally invasive cutaneous test‐site to assess and monitor leukocyte recruitment in response to intradermal GBN injection. Specifically, the dermis of 20 GFs per chicken was injected with 10 μl of phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS)‐vehicle or 10 μl of 300 μg ml −1 oxygen‐functionalized (f) GBN (6 chickens/treatment). GFs were collected before‐ (0) and at 0.25, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 days post‐injection and used for leukocyte‐population analysis of immunofluorescently stained pulp cell suspensions or histological examination. Based on flow‐cytometric cell population analysis, lymphocytes and macrophages were the major leukocyte‐populations infiltrating GFs in response to f‐GBN presence. Compared with PBS‐controls, levels of T cells (γδ‐, αβ‐, CD4‐ and CD8‐T cells) were greatly elevated in f‐GBN‐injected GFs within 6 h and remained elevated throughout the 7‐day examination period. f‐GBN's effects on local tissue leukocyte recruitment were not reflected in the blood, except for a higher percentage of lymphocytes on 7 days. These observations together with a visual examination of f‐GBN‐injected GF tissue‐sections suggest a delayed‐type hypersensitivity‐like, inflammatory cell‐mediated response to the non‐biodegradable f‐GBN. The GF ‘ in vivo test‐tube‘system together with blood sampling provided unique insight into the time‐course, qualitative, and quantitative aspects of immune system activities initiated by the presence of f‐GBN in a complex tissue of a living animal. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.