Exposure to Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles Induces Acute and Chronic Inflammatory Responses in Rat Lungs and Perturbs the Lung Microbiome

Abstract

Nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) are highly redox active nanoparticles. They can cause acute and chronic inflammation in rat lungs. Unlike the gut microbiome, the association between the lung microbiome’s role and pulmonary inflammatory response to inhaled nanoparticles remains largely unexplored. We aimed to explore the interaction between the lung microbiome and inflammatory responses in rats exposed to NiO NPs. Thirty female Wistar rats were randomly categorized into control and low- (50 cm2/rat), and high- (150 cm2/rat) dose NiO NPs exposure groups. NiO NPs were intratracheally instilled, and cytological, biochemical, proinflammatory cytokine, and lung microbiome analyses of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were performed at 1 day and 4 weeks after instillation. NiO NPs caused a neutrophilic and lymphocytic inflammatory response in rat lung. We demonstrated that exposure to NiO NPs can alter the lung microbial composition in rats. In particular, we found that more Burkholderiales are present in the NiO NPs exposure groups than in the control group at 1 day after instillation. Dysbiosis in the lung microbiome is thought to be associated with acute lung inflammation. We also suggested that Burkholderiales may be a key biomarker associated with lung neutrophilic inflammation after NiO NPs exposure.

Physical Characterization and Cellular Toxicity Studies of Commercial NiO Nanoparticles

“…Ni is required for both urease, and hydrogenase, two abundant and critical enzymes for the healthy existence of many micro-organisms [ 6 ]. Nickel oxide nanoparticles may also contribute to lung cancer with prolonged exposure via inhalation and have been reported to cause inflammation and oxidative tissue damage [ 7 , 8 ].…”

Clinical and Functional, Cellular and Molecular Characteristics of Occupational Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Depending on the Composition of Unintentional Nanoparticles

“…Фундаментальными исследованиями установлено, что наночастицы обладают высокой проникающей способностью и реактогенностью [6][7][8][9]. В бронхолегочной системе они запускают процессы воспаления [10], оксидативного стресса [11,12], фиброза [13], что определяет возможность их участия в патогенезе ПХОБЛ с формированием отдельного фенотипа. На данный момент недостаточно данных, свидетельствующих об ассоциации с определенными профессиональными этиологическими факторами основных значимых клинико-функциональных и клеточно-молекулярных показателей ХОБЛ.…”

An Assessment of the Oral and Inhalation Acute Toxicity of Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles in Rats

“…Many in vitro and in vivo studies evaluating a multitude of health effects have been conducted with NiO NPs. Acute and chronic studies have shown that NiO NPs are associated with increased lung injury, inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and altered biochemical indices [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. A detailed analysis of these particular endpoints with considerations of various exposure routes, exposure durations, animal species, etc., is beyond the scope of this paper.…”