الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract The current study was conducted to explore the possible immunotoxic and genotoxic effects of orally administered nickel nanoparticles (Ni NPs) at the three dose levels (31.2, 41.67 or 62.50 mg/kg b.w) on male CD1 mice. After 24 and 48 h of the treatment, the cytokines related to T helper cells [interferon (IFN)-Þ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-Ü, and IL-10], and innate immune cells [interleukin (IL)-33] were measured by ELISA. Genotoxicity biomarkers including micronucleus and comet assays were also performed. Histology of lymphoid organs and morphometric analysis of the immunostained CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the spleen were also investigated.Characterization of Ni NPs revealed a particle size of 43.63 ± 12.85 nm. After 24 and 48 h of the treatment, the levels of TNF-Ü and IL-33 were significantly increased (P< 0.05) in Ni NPs treated-mice at dose level of 62.50 mg/kg b.w compared to control ones while IL-10 level was significantly decreased (P< 0.05) compared to control mice at the same dose level. There was a positive correlation between the time and the levels both TNF-Ü and IL-33 while a negative correlation was displayed for IFN-Þ and IL-10of Micronucleus and comet assays revealed marked elevations (P< 0.05) in the level of DNA damage at dose of 62.50 mg/kg b.w in the liver cells of treated mice after 24 and 48 h. Ni NPs administration induced histopathological alterations in the architecture of thymus, spleen, and lymph node with various degrees depending on the dose level. Immunolabeling of the splenic lymphocyte{u2019}s subpopulations (CD4+ and CD8+) showed significant elevation of their expression with increasing the dose. Collectively, the Ni NPs administration alters the balance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses as well as caused chromosomal and DNA damage. Thereby, the obtained data pointed to the possible immunotoxicity and genotoxicity induced by Ni NPs administration |