Although nanomaterials have been used in wide variety of fields, there are concerns about their effects especially on the immune system. We have developed a method for evaluating the immunotoxicity of nanomaterials by applying the human Cell Line Activation Test (h-CLAT) [1], an in vitro skin sensitization test using monocytic cell line THP-1. In this study, THP-1 and that differentiated into a macrophage-like state were exposed to nanomaterials such as silver, titanium dioxide, and silica, and activation of cells were evaluated based on gene expression of CD54, CD86 and MMP-12 [2]. The NM dispersion was added to undifferentiated and differentiated THP-1 cells. Increased expression of CD54 and MMP-12 were observed in both undifferentiated and differentiated THP-1 cells treated with nanomaterials and the degree of increase differed depending on the chemical species. There were also differences in the hydrodynamic diameter, crystalline type and morphology for titanium dioxide and the hydrodynamic diameter and preparation method for silica. From these results, it was suggested that this method can be used for the evaluation of immunotoxicity of nanomaterials.
References:[1] OECD TG442E Annex I, [2] K. Otsuka, et al., PLOS ONE, 13, e0205702 (2018).
