<p>The NLRP3-Mediated Neuroinflammatory Responses to CdTe Quantum Dots and the Protection of ZnS Shell</p>
Tianshu Wu, Xue Liang, Keyu He, Xi Liu, Yimeng Li, Yutong Wang, Lu Kong, Meng Tang
Abstract
Introduction: Since CdTe quantum dots (QDs) are still widely considered as advanced fluorescent probes because of their far superior optical performance and fluorescence efficiency over non-cadmium QDs, it is important to find ways to control their toxicity. Methods: In this study, the adverse effects of two cadmium-containing QDs, ie, CdTe QDs and [email protected] QDs, on the nervous system of nematode C. elegans , the hippocampus of mice, and cultured microglia were measured in order to evaluate the neuroinflammation caused by cadmium-containing QDs and the potential mechanisms. Results: Firstly, we observed that cadmium-containing QD exposure-induced immune responses and neurobehavioral deficit in nematode C. elegans . In the mice treated with QDs, neuroinflammatory responses to QDs in the hippocampus, including microglial activation and IL-1ß release, occurred as well. When investigating the mechanisms of cadmium-containing QDs causing IL-1ß-mediated inflammation, the findings suggested that cadmium-containing QDs activated the NLRP3 inflammasome by causing excessive ROS generation, and resulted in IL-1ß release. Discussion: Even though the milder immune responses and neurotoxicity of [email protected] QDs compared with CdTe QDs indicated the protective role of ZnS coating, the inhibitions of NLRP3 expression and ROS production completely reduced the IL-1ß-mediated inflammation. This provided valuable information that inhibiting target molecules is an effective and efficient way to alleviate the toxicity of cadmium-containing QDs, so it is important to evaluate QDs through a mechanism-based risk assessment. Keywords: quantum dot, Caenorhabditis elegans , hippocampus, BV2 cells, interleukin-1ß, NLRP3 inflammasome