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Nano-sized and micro-sized polystyrene particles affect phagocyte function

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Abstract

Adverse effect of nanoparticles may include impairment of phagocyte function. To identify the effect of nanoparticle size on uptake, cytotoxicity, chemotaxis, cytokine secretion, phagocytosis, oxidative burst, nitric oxide production and myeloperoxidase release, leukocytes isolated from human peripheral blood, monocytes and macrophages were studied. Carboxyl polystyrene (CPS) particles in sizes between 20 and 1,000 nm served as model particles. Twenty nanometers CPS particles were taken up passively, while larger CPS particles entered cells actively and passively. Twenty nanometers CPS were cytotoxic to all phagocytes, ≥500 nm CPS particles only to macrophages. Twenty nanometers CPS particles stimulated IL-8 secretion in human monocytes and induced oxidative burst in monocytes. Five hundred nanometers and 1,000 nm CPS particles stimulated IL-6 and IL-8 secretion in monocytes and macrophages, chemotaxis towards a chemotactic stimulus of monocytes and phagocytosis of bacteria by macrophages and provoked an oxidative burst of granulocytes. At very high concentrations, CPS particles of 20 and 500 nm stimulated myeloperoxidase release of granulocytes and nitric oxide generation in macrophages. Cytotoxic effect could contribute to some of the observed effects. In the absence of cytotoxicity, 500 and 1,000 nm CPS particles appear to influence phagocyte function to a greater extent than particles in other sizes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Diana Mujk and Nicole Muhry (ELISA), Tatjana Kueznik and Markus Absenger (microscopy) and Evelyne Höller (immune assays) for excellent technical assistance, and Alison Green for help with the manuscript. This work was supported by the FP6 European integrated project “NanoBiopharmaceutics”, NMP4-CT-2006-026723, the Austrian Science Fund grants N 214-NAN and P22576-B18 and the Research and Technology Development in Project Cluster NANO-HEALTH.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, 8036, Graz, Austria

    B. Prietl, T. R. Pieber & E. Fröhlich

  2. Center for Medical Research, Medical University of Graz, Stiftingtalstr. 24, 8010, Graz, Austria

    C. Meindl & E. Fröhlich

  3. Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Karl-Franzens-University of Graz, Humboldtstr, 46, 8010, Graz, Austria

    E. Roblegg

  4. Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 3, 8036, Graz, Austria

    G. Lanzer

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  1. B. Prietl
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Correspondence to E. Fröhlich.

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Prietl, B., Meindl, C., Roblegg, E. et al. Nano-sized and micro-sized polystyrene particles affect phagocyte function. Cell Biol Toxicol 30, 1–16 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10565-013-9265-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10565-013-9265-y

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