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Immunological Impact on Macrophages Exposed to Nanoparticles
Author(s) -
Ufkin Melanie,
Hall David
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a978-c
Subject(s) - chemistry
Nanoparticles (10 −9 m) are widely used today for such things as biosensors, stained glass windows, wrinkle free pants, sunscreens, and solar cells. Further uses of nanoparticles continue to be developed. Though there are a variety of uses of nanoparticles today, the health effects of nanoparticles remain unknown. To gain a better understanding of how the immune system responds, we chose to expose both murine and human macrophages to nanoparticles. Macrophages are part of the first line of response in the immune system when foreign objects, such as nanoparticles, are detected. Several defense mechanisms can occur as a result of the invasion of foreign objects. These defense mechanisms include a morphological change in the shape of the cell and the production of nitric oxide and cytokines. Gold nanoparticles were added to cultured murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 and human macrophages. Our results show that upon the exposure of macrophages to gold nanoparticles, the production of the immunomodulator nitric oxide occurs, but not a morphological change. Furthermore, there is a difference between the amount of nitric oxide being produced between the murine and human macrophages. Currently, it is inconclusive of whether or not cytokines are being produced. Further experiments are being conducted in order to determine the immune response to gold nanoparticles. The outcome of this project will hopefully aid in determining some of the health hazards that nanoparticles can have on human immune systems.