Nanotechnology · 2011 · 31 citations · 19 references
Life SciencesCell BiologyImmunologyCellular ImmunologyImmunoregulationInflammationCell-mediated ImmunityCytokine BiologyImmune Cell SignalingInflammatory SignalingMacrophage BiologyNanotubesImmune Response To NanomaterialsImmunostimulatory PathwaysMacrophage ImmunomodulationMacrophage Inflammatory ResponsesMulti-walled Carbon NanotubesPro-inflammatory Cytokine ExpressionTransforming Growth Factor Beta RegulationTransforming Growth Factor-beta Signaling
Our data demonstrate that multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are internalized by macrophages, subsequently activating them to produce interleukin (IL)-12 (IL-12). This cytokine induced the proliferative response of T lymphocytes to a nonspecific mitogen and to ovalbumin (OVA). This increase in the proliferative response was accompanied by an increase in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interferon-gamma (IFNγ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) and IL-6, in mice inoculated with MWCNTs, whether or not they had been immunized with OVA. A decrease in the expression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) was observed in the mice treated with MWCNTs, whereas the suppression of the expression of both TGFβ and IL-10 was observed in mice that had been both treated and immunized. The activation of the T lymphocyte response by the pro-inflammatory cytokines leads to an increase in antibody production to OVA, suggesting the important immunostimulatory effect of carbon nanotubes.
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Nadine Wong Shi Kam, Michael O’Connell, Jeffrey Wisdom et al. · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2005 · 2.3K citations · Full text