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The effects of silver nanoparticles on RAW 264.7. Macrophages and human whole blood cell cultures

Kim Leigh Lategan1, Chavon Rene Walters2, Edmund John Pool3

  • 1UWC, Robert Sobukwe Road, Bellville, South Africa, Cape Town, 7535.

Frontiers in Bioscience (Landmark Edition)
|November 24, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) can cause inflammation in immune cells at low doses but may reduce inflammation under certain conditions. AgNPs also impact cytokine production and proteome profiles in both cell types.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Nanotechnology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in consumer products for their antimicrobial properties.
  • Understanding the biological effects of AgNPs on human and animal immune cells is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of AgNPs on murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells and human whole blood cells (WBCs).
  • To assess AgNP-induced cytotoxicity, inflammation biomarkers, cytokine production, and proteome modulation.

Main Methods:

  • Exposure of RAW 264.7 cells and WBCs to varying concentrations of AgNPs under basal, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated conditions.
  • Assessment of cytotoxicity, inflammatory biomarkers, and cytokine profiles (IL-10, IFNγ).
  • Proteome analysis of cell supernatants to identify modulated proteins.

Main Results:

  • AgNPs exhibited cytotoxicity to WBCs at 250 μg/ml.
  • AgNPs induced inflammation biomarkers in RAW cells (≥ 62.5 μg/ml) and WBCs (> 25 μg/ml) under basal conditions.
  • At 250 μg/ml, AgNPs inhibited inflammation biomarkers in LPS-stimulated cultures.
  • WBCs produced IL-10 and IFNγ under basal conditions with AgNPs, with partial IL-10 inhibition by PHA.
  • Proteome analysis revealed AgNP-induced modulation of inflammation and anti-inflammatory biomarkers.

Conclusions:

  • AgNPs exert dose-dependent effects on immune cells, inducing inflammation at lower doses and potentially mitigating it at higher, stimulated doses.
  • AgNPs influence the production of key immune cytokines and alter cellular proteomes, indicating complex immunomodulatory effects.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the toxicological and therapeutic potential of AgNPs in biological systems.

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