Surfactant protein D (SP-D) alters cellular uptake of particles and nanoparticles

Nanotoxicology. 2013 Aug;7(5):963-73. doi: 10.3109/17435390.2012.689880. Epub 2012 Jul 27.

Abstract

Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is primarily expressed in the lungs and modulates pro- and anti-inflammatory processes to toxic challenge, maintaining lung homeostasis. We investigated the interaction between NPs and SP-D and subsequent uptake by cells involved in lung immunity. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measured NP aggregation, particle size and charge in native human SP-D (NhSP-D) and recombinant fragment SP-D (rfhSP-D). SP-D aggregated NPs, especially following the addition of calcium. Immunohistochemical analysis of A549 epithelial cells investigated the co-localization of NPs and rfhSP-D. rfhSP-D enhanced the co-localisation of NPs to epithelial A549 cells in vitro. NP uptake by alveolar macrophages (AMs) and lung dendritic cells (LDCs) from C57BL/6 and SP-D knock-out mice were compared. AMs and LDCs showed decreased uptake of NPs in SP-D deficient mice compared to wild-type mice. These data confirmed an interaction between SP-D and NPs, and subsequent enhanced NP uptake.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium / chemistry
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Dendritic Cells / drug effects
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Endocytosis / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Macrophages, Alveolar / cytology
  • Macrophages, Alveolar / drug effects
  • Macrophages, Alveolar / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / toxicity
  • Particle Size
  • Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D / chemistry*
  • Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D / toxicity
  • Toxicity Tests / methods

Substances

  • Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D
  • Calcium