Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Exacerbate Allergic Airway Inflammation via TXNIP Upregulation in a Mouse Model of Asthma

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Jeong-Doo Heo¹  In-Sik Shin²  Se-Jin Lee²  Woong-Il Kim²  Jong-Choon Kim²  Je-Oh Lim²  Changjong Moon²  So-Won Pak²  Je-Won Ko³ 

[1] Bioenvironmental Science & Technology Division, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Jinju 52834, Korea;College of Veterinary Medicine (BK21 FOUR Program), Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea;College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34131, Korea;

关键词: titanium dioxide nanoparticle;    asthma;    airway inflammation;    thioredoxin-interacting protein;    apoptosis;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms22189924

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs) are widely used in industrial and medicinal fields and in various consumer products, and their increasing use has led to an increase in the number of toxicity studies; however, studies investigating the underlying toxicity mechanism have been rare. In this study, we evaluated potential toxic effects of TiO₂NPs exposure on lungs as well as the development of asthma through the ovalbumin (OVA)-induced mouse model of asthma. Furthermore, we also investigated the associated toxic mechanism. TiO₂NPs caused pulmonary toxicity by exacerbating the inflammatory response, indicated by an increase in the number and level of inflammatory cells and mediators, respectively. OVA-induced asthma exposed mice to TiO₂NPs led to significant increases in inflammatory mediators, cytokines, and airway hyperresponsiveness compared with those in non-exposed asthmatic mice. This was also accompanied by increased inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus production in the lung tissues. Additionally, TiO₂NPs decreased the expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) and the expressions of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), phospho-apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1, Bcl2-associated X, and cleaved-caspase 3 were escalated in the lungs of asthmatic mice compared with those in non-exposed asthmatic mice. These responses were consistent with in vitro results obtained using human airway epithelial cells. TiO₂NPs treated cells exhibited an increase in the mRNA and protein expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α with an elevation of TXNIP signaling compared to non-treated cells. Moreover, pathophysiological changes induced by TiO₂NP treatment were significantly decreased by TXNIP knockdown in airway epithelial cells. Overall, TiO₂NP exposure induced toxicological changes in the respiratory tract and exacerbated the development of asthma via activation of the TXNIP-apoptosis pathway. These results provide insights into the underlying mechanism of TiO₂NP-mediated respiratory toxicity.

【 授权许可】

Unknown