How Nanotubes Suppress the Immune Function?

Jacob McDonald and colleagues report that activation and release of a signalling molecule from the lung after inhalation of low levels of nanotubes has a direct effect on the immune function of T cells -- a class of white blood cells -- in the spleen. The signalling molecule from the lung activates certain enzymes in the spleen that induce the release of other molecules that can cause T-cell dysfunction. Across the range of nanotube concentrations examined in this study, only mice exposed to 1 mg m-3 showed suppressed immune function for up to 30 days.

Because accurate levels of occupational exposures remain unknown, it should be noted that rough estimates indicate that if humans are exposed to 1 mg m-3 nanotubes in a similar setup, the burden on the lungs of humans would be approximately 7.5 times less than the burden experienced by the mice in this study. However, the authors suggest that with increasing production of carbon nanotubes and possible occupational exposures that will persist for much longer than the duration of this study, immune dysfunction may be a concern for those working in the industry.

Author contact:

Jacob McDonald (Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, USA)
Email: jmcdonal@lrri.org

Additional contact for comment on paper:

Alison Elder (University of Rochester, New York, NY, USA)
Email: Alison_elder@urmc.rochester.edu

Abstract available online.

(C) Nature Nanotechnology press release.

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