Open AccessDextran‑coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles activate the MAPK pathway in human primary monocyte cells
Author(s) -
Qihong Wu,
Tianyu Miao,
Ting Feng,
Chuan Yang,
Yingkun Guo,
Hong Li
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
molecular medicine reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.727
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1791-3004
pISSN - 1791-2997
DOI - 10.3892/mmr.2018.8972
Subject(s) - microbiology and biotechnology , monocyte , mapk/erk pathway , tumor necrosis factor alpha , protein kinase a , kinase , chemistry , biology , immunology
With the increase in applications of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) in biomedicine, it is essential to investigate the bio‑security of these nanoparticles, especially with respect to the human immune system. In the present study, the biological effects of dextran‑coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Dex‑SPIONs) on human primary monocyte cells were evaluated. The results of the present study demonstrated that Dex‑SPIONs can be identified in phagosomes or freed in the cytoplasm and did not affect cell viability or induce apoptosis. Notably, there were certain bulky vacuoles and a number of pseudopodia from the cell membrane, suggesting potential activation of human monocyte cells. In addition, the expression levels of pro‑inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)‑1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‑α were also increased following treatment with Dex‑SPIONs. Simultaneously, the phosphorylation levels of mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38, c‑Jun N‑terminal kinase 1 and extracellular signal regulated kinase were markedly enhanced following nanoparticle exposure and MAPK inhibitors could abate the production of IL‑1β and TNF‑α. The results of the present study demonstrated that Dex‑SPIONs could activate human monocyte cells and that activation of MAPK pathway may be involved in these effects.