Diverse Responses of Neurons and Monocytes to Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticle Exposure

Introduction: The toxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) in neurons occurs by glutamate signaling via N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Although cellular uptake of TiO2NPs may lead to oxidative stress in macrophages, it is not known whether TiO2NPs have toxic effects on U937 monocytic cell line. Material and Methods: Human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) and U937 human monocytic cell lines were exposed to 25nm and 10nm TiO2NPs, in medium with or without fetal bovine serum (FBS). Mitochondrial metabolic activity was assessed using the MTT-assay before and after treatment with 15 mM N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and 0.1μM or 10μM neopterin.