Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) impair LPS-driven immune responses by promoting a tolerogenic-like dendritic cell phenotype with altered endosomal structures

Michelini, Sara (author), Barbero, Francesco (author), Prinelli, Alessandra (author), Steiner, Philip (author), Weiss, Richard (author), Verwanger, Thomas (author), Andosch, Ancuela (author), Lütz-Meindl, Ursula (author), Puntes, Victor F. (author), Drobne, Damjana (author), Duschl, Albert (author), Horejs-Hoeck, Jutta (author)

Dendritic cells (DCs) shape immune responses by influencing T-cell activation. Thus, they are considered both an interesting model for studying nano-immune interactions and a promising target for nano-based biomedical applications. However, the accentuated ability of nanoparticles (NPs) to interact with biomolecules may have an impact on DC function that poses an unexpected risk of unbalanced immune reactions. Here, we investigated the potential effects of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on DC function and the consequences for effector and memory T-cell responses in the presence of the microbial inflammatory stimulus lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Overall, we found that, in the absence of LPS, none of the tested NPs induced a DC response. However, whereas 4-, 8-, and 11 nm AuNPs did not modulate LPS-dependent immune responses, 26 nm AuNPs shifted the phenotype of LPS-activated DCs toward a tolerogenic state, characterized by downregulation of CD86, IL-12 and IL-27, upregulation of ILT3, and induction of class E compartments. Moreover, this DC phenotype was less proficient in promoting Th1 activation and central memory T-cell proliferation. Taken together, these findings support the perception that AuNPs are safe under homeostatic conditions; however, particular care should be taken in patients experiencing a current infection or disorders of the immune system.

• Language: English
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: Str. 7648-7666
• Numbering: Vol. 13, iss. 16
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-182892
• UDC: 620.3
• ISSN on article: 2040-3364
• DOI: 10.1039/d0nr09153g
• COBISS.SI-ID: 61075203
• Publication date in RUL: 27.05.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Nanoscale
• Shortened title: Nanoscale
• Publisher: RSC Publishing
• ISSN: 2040-3364
• COBISS.SI-ID: 23642407

Licences

• License: CC BY 3.0, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
• Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en
• Description: You are free to reproduce and redistribute the material in any medium or format. You are free to remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially. You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: nanomateriali, nanoznanosti, imunski sistem