The Toxic Effects and Mechanisms of Nano-Cu on the Spleen of Rats

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Bo Jing¹  Gang Ye¹  Yanyan Wang¹  Yinglun Li¹  Ling Zhao¹  Jie Luo¹  Min Xu¹  Helin Chen¹  Xiaoyu Yang¹  Fei Shi¹  Huaqiao Tang¹  Cheng Lv¹  Xuerong Zhou¹ 

[1] College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China;

关键词: nano-Cu;    rats;    spleen injury;    immune system;    oxidative stress;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms20061469

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Research has shown that nano-copper (nano-Cu) can cause damage to the spleen and immune system yet their mechanisms of cytotoxicity are poorly understood. Our aim is to explore the potential immunotoxicity in the spleen of rats after nano-Cu exposure. The results of hematologic parameters, lymphocyte subsets, immunoglobulins, and histopathology indicated that copper obviously changed the immune function of the spleen. The levels of antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GSH-Px), oxidants (iNOS, NO, MDA), and anti-oxidative signalling pathway of Nrf2 (Nrf2 and HO-1) were strongly induced by nano-Cu. The expression of mRNA and protein of pro-/anti-inflammatory (IFN-γ, TNF-α, MIP-1α, MCP-1, MIF, IL-1/-2/-4/-6) cytokines were increased by nano-Cu. The expression of regulatory signal pathways, MAPKs and PI3-K/Akt were activated, which might be involved in the inflammatory responses and immunomodulatory processes of sub-acute nano-Cu exposure. The immune function of the spleen was repressed by nano-Cu induced oxidative stress and inflammation.

【 授权许可】

Unknown