The effect of the inhalation of and topical exposure to zinc oxide nanoparticles on airway inflammation in mice.

The effect of the inhalation of and topical exposure to zinc oxide nanoparticles on airway inflammation in mice. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2019 Oct 24;384:114787 Authors: Huang KL, Chang HL, Tsai FM, Lee YH, Wang CH, Cheng TJ Abstract Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) are widely used in the manufacturing of many commercial products. Workers exposed to ZnO particles may develop metal fume fever. Our previous study suggested that the oropharyngeal aspiration of ZnONPs could cause eosinophilic airway inflammation and increase T helper 2 (Th2) cytokine expression in the absence of allergens in mice. ZnO has been used topically as a sunscreen and a therapeutic agent for dermatological conditions. To understand whether inhalation and topically applied ZnONPs might cause or exert an adjuvant effect on the development of allergic airway inflammation in mice, C57BL/6 J mice were exposed to filtered air or 2.5 mg/m3 ZnONPs via whole-body inhalation for 5 h a day over 5 days, and BALB/c mice were topically exposed to ZnONPs using modified mouse models of atopic dermatitis (AD) and asthma. Ovalbumin (OVA) solution was used as an allergen in the topical exposure experiments. A significantly increased eosinophil count and mixed Th1/Th2 cytokine expression were detected in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) after ZnONP inhalation. However, only mild eosinophilia and low Th2 cytokine expression were detected in the BALF after oropharyngea...
Source: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology - Category: Toxicology Authors: Tags: Toxicol Appl Pharmacol Source Type: research