Many small particles of industrial or occupational origin are believed to infer an inflammatory or otherwise toxic potential to human health upon inhalation. Knowledge on this issue is especially important for the very small nanoparticles, which measure less than 100 nm and easily enter deep lung regions. Up to now OECD approved animal studies appear indispensable for the toxicological investigation of respirable nanomaterial and for making a final conclusion as to whether or not a material is regarded hazardous or even toxic.

Certainly, animal studies give an insight into the distribution of nanoparticles in the lung and allow to investigate other organs which might become affected. However, adverse reactions to inhaled nanoparticles are mostly confined to the lung. An important class of lung cells which collect microorganisms and also particles in all regions of the lung are the so-called alveolar macrophages. These cells take-up microorganisms and destroy them within intracellular compartments (phagosomes) whereas particles resisting this process are often enriched in phagosomes of these cells (Fig. 1). A particle laden alveolar macrophages can travel along the airways, leave the lungs and, by this, removes non-destroyable matter. These cells, therefore, are “real professionals” in clearing the lung from particle loads.

Fig. 1. Cultured alveolar macrophages with gold nanoparticles imaged by darkfield microscopy.

Since more than 20 years scientist have studied isolated alveolar macrophages from animals’ lungs to see how these cells act and also how their rigorous behaviour contributes to the effects of (nano)particles on the lung. However, no standardized testing strategy has yet evolved. Furthermore, macrophage tests have not been systematically compared to inhalation studies in vivo.

In a common research project, partly sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the non-profit company IBE R&D gGmbH together with BASF SE analysed effects of eighteen nanomaterials on the rat lung secondary to inhalation. These studies were carried out according to the highest industrial standards of toxicology so that data sets could be used as a basis for interpreting the responses of alveolar macrophages. These cells were subjected to various concentrations of nanoparticles. From a set of cellular responses we extracted evaluation criteria which allowed to clearly distinguish non-toxic from apparently toxic nanomaterials with an accuracy of 95%. The test is currently used to assess the safety of nanomaterials in a tiered decision-making framework.

It is important to note that the cells used for the assay multiply in culture so that donor animals for alveolar macrophages are no longer needed. Considering on the one hand, the tremendously number of nanomaterials along with the need for a reliable risk assessment and, on the other hand, the ethical imperative to reduce animal experiments, the benefit of this new macrophage assay is immediately obvious.

Prof. Dr.Martin Wiemann
IBE R&D gGmbH Institute for Lung Health
Mendelstr. 11,48149 Münster
Germany

Publication

An in vitro alveolar macrophage assay for predicting the short-term inhalation toxicity of nanomaterials.
Wiemann M, Vennemann A, Sauer UG, Wiench K, Ma-Hock L, Landsiedel R
J Nanobiotechnology. 2016 Mar 5

Read offline:

Related Articles:

	Botulinum toxin and occupational therapy for Writer’s CrampDystonia is a neurological disorder characterized by abnormal postures that interfere with making movements. Writer’s cramp is the most common type of dystonia involving the upper extremity. Patients initially experience…
	How can we tuned magnetic response of a composite particles…Composite particles contain two or more components and therefore they could have several advantages over single component particles, as multifuntionality, novel functions or enhanced properties. Their properties are induced by…
	Particularly harmful particles? Sifting out the dirt to find…Research on microplastic effects in aquatic environments has expanded dramatically in the last decade. However, many important questions remain largely unanswered. We still do not know, for example, what are…
	Satiated macrophages produce interferon-beta to orchestrate…Acute inflammation is a localized, self-limited host defense mechanism against invading microorganism and tissue injury. Rapid recruitment of white blood cells called neutrophils (polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes) from the blood to…
	Arming macrophages to stop cancer progressionMacrophages are a type of immune cells that fight infection and support tissue remodeling. They are best known as phagocytes which engulf bacteria and damaged cells stimulating other immune cells.…
	DFT for designing efficient supercapacitor electrode…Josef MacDouall once said “Chemistry is a game that electrons play”. If one were able to know the roles, they could control the game and uncover the mysteries of materials,…