Immunotoxicity of Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the Leukocytes of Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

• Published in: Scientific reports 2018-04, Vol.8 (1), p.5593-12, Article 5593
• Main Authors: Li, Wen-Ta, Chang, Hui-Wen, Yang, Wei-Cheng, Lo, Chieh, Wang, Lei-Ya, Pang, Victor Fei, Chen, Meng-Hsien, Jeng, Chian-Ren
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 13/2; 13/31; 631/250/1933; 639/925/928/1067; 64; Apoptosis; Cetacea; Citric acid; Contaminants; Contamination; Cytotoxicity; Dolphins & porpoises; Humanities and Social Sciences; Immunotoxicity; Leukocytes (mononuclear); Leukocytes (polymorphonuclear); multidisciplinary; Nanoparticles; Peripheral blood mononuclear cells; Phagocytosis; Predators; Respiratory burst; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Silver; Tursiops truncatus
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-23737-0

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been extensively used and are considered as an emerging contaminant in the ocean. The environmental contamination of AgNPs is expected to increase greatly over time, and cetaceans, as the top ocean predators, will suffer the negative impacts of AgNPs. In the present study, we investigate the immunotoxicity of AgNPs on the leukocytes of cetaceans using several methods, including cytomorphology, cytotoxicity, and functional activity assays. The results reveal that 20 nm Citrate-AgNPs (C-AgNP 20 ) induce different cytomorphological alterations and intracellular distributions in cetacean polymorphonuclear cells (cPMNs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (cPBMCs). At high concentrations of C-AgNP 20 (10 and 50 μg/ml), the time- and dose-dependent cytotoxicity in cPMNs and cPBMCs involving apoptosis is demonstrated. C-AgNP 20 at sub-lethal doses (0.1 and 1 μg/ml) negatively affect the functional activities of cPMNs (phagocytosis and respiratory burst) and cPBMCs (proliferative activity). The current study presents the first evidence of the cytotoxicity and immunotoxicity of AgNPs on the leukocytes of cetaceans and improves our understanding of environmental safety concerning AgNPs. The dose-response data of AgNPs on the leukocytes of cetaceans are invaluable for evaluating the adverse health effects in cetaceans and for proposing a conservation plan for marine mammals.