Zinc ions induce inflammatory responses in vascular endothelial cells

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2011 Aug;87(2):113-6. doi: 10.1007/s00128-011-0317-9. Epub 2011 May 26.

Abstract

Using one particulate zinc oxide (ZnO) and two soluble zinc compounds (Zn(NO(3))(2) and Zn(CH(3)COO)(2)), we aimed to clarify if zinc ions (Zn(2+)), like particulate ZnO, caused inflammatory responses in vascular endothelial cells. Treatments of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with 368.6 μM of each zinc compound caused marked increases in IκBα phosphorylation and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression. Treatments with Zn(CH(3)COO)(2) (50-350 μM) induced a dose-dependent ICAM-1 expression. These results show that Zn(2+) alone is sufficient to induce similar levels of ICAM-1 expression as ZnO particles, suggesting that dissolved Zn(2+) may play the major role in inflammatory effect of ZnO particles on vascular endothelial cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cells, Cultured
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / chemically induced*
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / analysis
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Particulate Matter / immunology
  • Particulate Matter / toxicity*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Zinc Compounds / immunology
  • Zinc Compounds / toxicity*
  • Zinc Oxide / immunology
  • Zinc Oxide / pharmacology

Substances

  • NF-kappa B
  • Particulate Matter
  • Zinc Compounds
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Zinc Oxide