3004 Toxic and Adjuvant Effects of 3 Types of Silica Nanoparticles on Airway System

Friday, 16 October 2015
Hall D1 Foyer (Floor 3) (Coex Convention Center)

Heejae Han , Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

Hye Jung Park, MD , Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

Yoon Hee Park , Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

Yoon-Jo Kim , Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

Kangtaek Lee, PhD , Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea

Jung-Won Park, MD, PhD , Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

Jae-Hyun Lee, MD, PhD , Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

Background: Silica nanoparticles (SNPs) can be easily exposed via inhalation owing to their low particle weight and ease of dispersion. However, toxic and adjuvant effects of SNPs on the airway system according to their surface pattern are not well established. We evaluated these effects on the airway system in a murine model using 3 types of SNPs.

Methods: Female, 6-week-old, BALB/c mice were intranasally administered 3 types of SNPs (spherical-type [S-SNPs], mesoporous-type [M-SNPs], and polyethylene glycol conjugated type [P-SNPs]) with or without ovalbumin (OVA), thrice weekly for 2 weeks. All mice were sacrificed 48 h after the last dose. We evaluated airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR), bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), cytokine levels, and histology of the lungs.

Results: In the model administered SNPs alone, only M-SNPs induced significant AHR as compared to sham group, whereas all SNP-treated groups showed a significant increase in total cell, macrophage, and neutrophil counts in BALF. S-SNPs and M-SNPs induced an increase in cytokine (interleukin [IL]-5, IL-1β, and interferon-γ) levels. In the model administered SNPs with OVA, S-SNPs and M-SNPs induced significant AHR as compared to sham group and those administered OVA alone. Overall, greater inflammatory cell infiltration in BALF, extensive pathological changes, and higher cytokine levels (IL-5, IL-13, IL-1β, and IFN-γ) were observed in the group administered SNPs with OVA than those administered SNPs or OVA alone. However, P-SNPs induced lesser inflammation than the other types of SNPs in both models.

Conclusion: SNPs alone has significant toxic effectc on the airway system. Moreover, SNPs when administered with OVA cause adjuvant effects. We recommend the use of P-SNP because of its relative safety compared with S-SNP and M-SNP.