Subchronic continuous inhalation exposure to zinc oxide nanoparticles induces pulmonary cell response in mice

0525577 - ÚŽFG 2021 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Vysloužil, Jan - Kulich, Pavel - Zeman, Tomáš - Vaculovič, T. - Tvrdoňová, M. - Mikuška, Pavel - Večeřa, Zbyněk - Stráská, J. - Moravec, Pavel - Balcar, Vladimír Josef - Šerý, Omar
Subchronic continuous inhalation exposure to zinc oxide nanoparticles induces pulmonary cell response in mice.
Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. Roč. 61, SEP 2020 (2020), č. článku UNSP 126511. ISSN 0946-672X. E-ISSN 1878-3252
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GBP503/12/G147
Institutional support: RVO:67985904 ; RVO:68081715 ; RVO:67985858
Keywords : mouse * zinc * nanoparticle
OECD category: Genetics and heredity (medical genetics to be 3); Analytical chemistry (UIACH-O); Physical chemistry (UCHP-M)
Impact factor: 3.849, year: 2020
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://asep.lib.cas.cz/arl-cav/cs/csg/?repo=crepo1&key=30378472939

We used mice as an animal model to investigate the entry of ZnO nanoparticles from the ambient air into the lungs and other organs, subsequent changes in Zn levels and the impact on the transcription of Zn homeostasis-related genes in the lungs.
The mice were exposed to two concentrations of ZnO nanoparticles, lower (6.46 x 10(4) particles/cm(3)) and higher (1.93 x 10(6) particles/cm(3)), allowed to breathe the nanoparticles in the air for 12 weeks and subjected to necropsy. Characterization of the ZnO nanoparticles was done using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy was used to quantify ZnO nanoparticles in the lungs, brain, liver and kidney. The total zinc content in the lungs, brain, liver, kidney, red blood cells and plasma was estimated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Transcription rate of the genes was evaluated by RealTime PCR.
The two concentration of ZnO nanoparticles in the ambient air produced two different outcomes. The lower concentration resulted in significant increases in Zn content of the liver while the higher concentration significantly increased Zn in the lungs (p < 0.05). Additionally, at the lower concentration, Zn content was found to be lower in brain tissue (p < 0.05). Using TEM/EDX we detected ZnO nanoparticles inside the cells in the lungs, kidney and liver. Inhaling ZnO NP at the higher concentration increased the levels of mRNA of the following genes in the lungs: Mt2 (2.56 fold), Slc30a1 (1.52 fold) and S1c30a5 (2.34 fold). At the lower ZnO nanoparticle concentration, only S1c30a7 mRNA levels in the lungs were up (1.74 fold). Thus the two air concentrations of ZnO nanoparticles produced distinct effects on the expression of the Zn-homeostasis related genes.
Until adverse health effects of ZnO nanoparticles deposited in organs such as lungs are further investigated and/or ruled out, the exposure to ZnO nanoparticles in aerosols should be avoided or minimised.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0309686