Up-regulation of T lymphocyte and antibody production by inflammatory cytokines released by macrophage exposure to multi-walled carbon nanotubes

作者：Grecco Ana Carolina P^*; Paula Rosemeire F O; Mizutani Erica; Sartorelli Juliana C; Milani Ana M; Longhini Ana Leda F; Oliveira Elaine C; Pradella Fernando; Silva Vania D R; Moraes Adriel S; Peterlevitz Alfredo C; Farias Alessandro S; Ceragioli Helder J; Santos Leonilda M B; Baranauskas Vitor

来源：Nanotechnology, 2011, 22(26): 265103.

DOI：10.1088/0957-4484/22/26/265103

Our data demonstrate that multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are internalized by macrophages, subsequently activating them to produce interleukin (IL)-12 (IL-12). This cytokine induced the proliferative response of T lymphocytes to a nonspecific mitogen and to ovalbumin (OVA). This increase in the proliferative response was accompanied by an increase in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interferon-gamma (IFN gamma), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) and IL-6, in mice inoculated with MWCNTs, whether or not they had been immunized with OVA. A decrease in the expression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) was observed in the mice treated with MWCNTs, whereas the suppression of the expression of both TGF beta and IL-10 was observed in mice that had been both treated and immunized. The activation of the T lymphocyte response by the pro-inflammatory cytokines leads to an increase in antibody production to OVA, suggesting the important immunostimulatory effect of carbon nanotubes.

• 出版日期2011-7-1